In the summer of 2022, the year of almost coming out of Covid, Sanguemisto prepared four performances that took place over two months, July and August, as part of the by now customary Estate Fiorentina. These were more agile productions, yet still demanding, since—as always—they sought to bring together different languages, styles, and artistic contributions.
“La guerra non si può umanizzare si può solo abolire” is one of these.
“La guerra non si può umanizzare si può solo abolire” is a famous statement by Albert Einstein and, as happened other times, it became the title, the slogan, the manifesto of the first show in the series. It premiered on July 19 at the “F. Buonarroti” Municipal Library in Florence, specifically in the Library’s garden, in the early evening. On stage, the usual alternation of readings from various testimonies, scenic actions, music, and songs took place. The musical program, in particular, played a central role in this performance, featuring reinterpretations of some famous pacifist songs such as A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall by Bob Dylan and Le Déserteur by Boris Vian.
To continue saying no to wars and shipwrecks at sea may seem like a useless exercise in idealism, since in our times wars and deaths at sea are increasing and becoming ever more tragic. But no! Even at the risk of being considered foolish, we have the duty to bear this testimony, if only for the future—for those who will come after us.