Gianni Morandi on the psychoanalyst's couch: "When I sing I feel free"

Bologna, 1 July 2025 – The fourth edition of Tutto esaurito – Il Festival dello Stress began with Gianni Morandi, the event created by Emilio Marrese that brings great personalities to the stage of the Arena del Sole to talk about the fears and tensions related to careers.

Each evening, with free admission , includes a dialogue between the guest and a psychoanalyst, who – at the end of the meeting – gives the 'patient' a diagnosis and an appropriate therapy based on the perceived level of stress. This evening, in conversation with Morandi – in addition to Marrese – there was Stefano Bolognini who opened with irony : "I never thought I would be a psychoanalyst and find myself here with Gianni Morandi". Behind the scenes Morandi comments: "This is one of the most important theatres in Bologna . Even this evening I will be in a different role, we will see where the dialogue takes us". But he has no doubts about what relaxes him: "Before going on stage there is a bit of stress , then I sing and I feel free . As a boy I did it with fear, now it relaxes me ". A thought also goes to his beloved Bologna, right after the presentation of the new shirt.

Greeted by the applause of the packed Arena (800 people present), Morandi talks about his career, between successes and crises: "I have never been to a psychoanalyst, even if at certain times I would have needed one. After the boom of the '60s, at the beginning of the '70s everything changed. I asked myself: what now?".

When asked “How would you feel if no one recognized you anymore?” he replies: “I’ve been used to being stopped in the street since I was 16 or 17… sure, it would be strange. When I go on holiday abroad it happens that no one recognizes me , and I feel bad, so sometimes I start singing and playing music” he jokes.

And Bolognini comments: “Sometimes through laughter you confess important personal aspects : it could be a 'popularity withdrawal syndrome'”. The dialogue then continues among many topics, from childhood to career, with great participation from the audience. “When Marianna was born – he reflects –, I was at the height of my success and I admit that I didn't dedicate so much time to my first two children. Then I remarried and paid more attention to the third, a different awareness. Maybe I was better as a son than as a father”.

What is something you regret? I once did something wrong to an actress , Paola Pitagora, a very good and beautiful woman. We put on a show, trying to go down the musical theatre route at a time when things weren't going well for me, and it was a disaster in every sense: I lost a lot of money and few people came. I spoke badly of her to the newspapers to find a justification for my difficult time: she didn't speak to me for twenty years, until she gave a book presentation in Pianoro, and I went to apologize. I've made many mistakes in life, but this was a big one : I treated her badly for the things that were going badly for me".

The festival, produced by Si Produzioni di Luigi Tortato with the support of San Paolo Invest, Hera and Società Dolce, continues with great guests.