Gianna Nannini rocks Locarno's Piazza Grande

After the first third of the concert, Gianna Nannini really warms up. Many sing along to her "Ragazzo dell'Europa" from 1982, and Nannini has already taken off her leather jacket decorated with flowers after the second song.

Although the "rock star" turned 71 years old on June 14, she is bursting with energy, sometimes hugging the microphone pole, sometimes the guitarist and again and again, through the air, the Locarno audience, which is actually a Swiss-German audience.

After a good half hour, men in dark clothing nimbly rearrange the stage and install glowing poles that are vaguely reminiscent of reed-like plants. Gianna Nannini also changes her outfit and now wears a glittery leather jacket, in which she belts out her wonderfully independent Italian version of "Me and Bobby McGee" as a reference to Janis Joplin.

Rocky version of "Meravigliosa creatura"

The longer the almost sold-out concert lasts, the more Nannini gets into her stride. With "I maschi" from 1987, the evening really takes off, the audience sings along and Nannini's eyes sparkle with mischief.

The singer from Siena then sings her catchy tune "Io" from 2006 before calling out "Siamo tutte meravigliose creature!" to the crowd, announcing what is probably one of her most expressive songs, this time in a rock version. She then takes her leave briefly, only to return a little later in a bright red trouser suit and sing "Primadonna" from 1982.

And then - finally - comes the highlight of the evening with "Bello e impossibile" and a bright blue light show. This story of unattainable love leaves no one in the audience cold, many hug each other and film the moment on video.

Nannini repeatedly asks the Locarno audience to sing, is not always satisfied with the result, demands more and louder singing, turns and twists, dances.

Gianna Nannini is drenched in sweat, it is around 27 degrees in Locarno. The rock star has also quickly shed her red jacket and shows off her toned arms in a white tank top.

After a first exit, the applause draws her back onto the stage for her anthem to the Italian summer of football in 1990. "Un'estate italiana", also known as "Notti Magiche", was the official song of the 1990 World Cup in Italy; Nannini wrote it together with Giorgio Moroder and Edoardo Bennato. Perhaps nowhere does it fit as well as in Piazza Grande - a place that exudes magic, and not just during the film festival.

Then it's over, the whole band comes to the edge of the stage and a visibly moved Gianna Nannini bids farewell to Locarno. She bowed again and again, pranced backwards into the darkness of the stage, only to come forward again and embrace the Ticino audience through the air. Whether there are even a few tears shimmering in her eyes remains the secret of a "Notte magica".