“My name is David Gilmour and I’m a legend, fuck!”
The concert film by David Gilmour “Live to the Circus Maximus. Rome” which, for a week, from Wednesday 17 until the following September 24, will be projected in Italian cinemas. At the release of the film, the publication of the Live album will then be followed on October 17th “The Luck and Strange Concerts”which will also propose the magic of the ‘Luck and Strange Tour 2024’cycle of concerts in support of the latest solo album of the former Pink Floyd, “Luck and Strange” (Read the review here), published in September 2024.
The docu-film “Live at the Circus Maximus. Rome”made by Gavin Elderis an account of the concerts, six, that David Gilmour He held last year at the Circus Maximus in Rome (Read the review here), from 27 September to 3 October.
The film is soon told: after an intro of about ten minutes in which images of the tests are given in a maximum empty circus of the public and collected some pre-concrete statements by Gilmour and the musicians who will support him on the stage, including his daughter Romany, who will sing and play the harp in “Beteween Two Points”cover of Montgolfier Brothersto then get alongside the three choristers – after the titles – detaches himself on the start of the concert in the splendid setting – and it is not a way of saying – of the ancient circus placed in the center of Rome. A night Rome which, during the live, will be taken up several times from above giving further magic to a concert already of its great intensity.
On the eighty -year -old threshold – he had seventy -eight at the time of the concert – to enchant the present to the English musician, no special effects are needed (just some beautiful image on the screen behind him) or an expensive and spectacular production. The songs and the music, in addition to his guitar, whether it is electric or acoustic, since, as he declared he declared at the opening of film with a lot of self -irony, “My name is David Gilmour and I am a legend, Fuck!”.
On the stage of the Circus Maximus in the autumn of last year Gilmour was flanked by the faithful Guy Pratt (bass and voice), Greg Phillinganes And Rob Gentry At keyboards, on drums Adam Betts and guitars Ben Worsley. In addition to the four choristers: Louise Marshall (also on the piano), Charley and Hattie Webb And the aforementioned Romny daughter. David Gilmour On stage, it appears relaxed and often smiling, as a good ceremony master, does not claim all the attention for himself, he leaves the band, exact and punctual, the space to provide color and warmth and better interpret the songs – taken from the solo repertoire and of course from that of the Pink Floyd – which are then brought to inviolable peaks by the sound and solos of his guitar.
That of David Gilmour (and gods Pink Floyd) is modern classical music. And even if it were the millionth time you listen to it, a classic can be defined as such when it always manages to surprise for beauty and depth. When, even sunk one morning in the chair of a cinema, it absorbs a pleasure that is totalizing.
Taking for granted the difference that exists between the experience of attending a live concert and that of living it on a screen – most of the time the concert films are boring managing to transfer only the evident emotion experienced by the public present – “Live at the Circus Maximus. Rome” He succeeds in the company to communicate emotion and enchantment in quantity. Enough. And advance.
