From the dream of the Pooh to Casanova, the journey of a man who has made simplicity and values his strength.
Red Canzian tells herself. He does it delicately, authenticity, and with those “centoparole” that give the title to his new book, in which he retraces an intense life made of music, friendship, values and dreams. Deliberately leaves aside the word “love” – too abused – although aware that it is love that moves the world.
“It was my father who taught me to smile. I had a wonderful childhood, I breathed humanity, courage, real values,” says Canzian. “I lived in a villa of the 1700s, frescoed, with a secular park. It was Villa Borghesan, in Quinto di Treviso. He had been given to the poorest families, my father paid two thousand lire a month for two rooms, but that house was wonderful for me.”
One day, however, the eviction came: “They told us that the villa was dangerous. After a short time it was demolished, the razed park on the ground and many bad houses arose in its place. They destroyed a piece of history.”
In the book, and during the many presentations around Italy, Red opens to the public. He speaks of the nature he loves deeply, of the family, of the intimacy, of the embrace and inevitably of the Pooh. “We have chosen us. We are true friends, like brothers. I remember when I told Stefano D’Orazio that I was separating because I had fallen in love with Bea: he didn’t said anything to me, but he wrote ‘to be without you’. A gesture of pure friendship.”
And then there is the memory of the father, who made enormous sacrifices to support his passion for music. “At 12 years of age I wanted a guitar, even if it cost only 5,000 lire, my dad bought it in installments. At ten years I sang on the street in Jesolo, climbing over a chair in via Bafile. I participated in all the festivals in the area, I won the one of Stroppolo d’oro with Pippo Baudo at the conduction.
Then the Pooh came, almost by destiny. “They were looking for a bassist, I was guitarist, but we resembled the friendship that binds us has grown over time, like a house built brick after brick. With dodi and Roby we often hear each other, even a few days ago we felt and messed up at midnight. July 5th Then, the realization of a dream, my musical, Casanova Operapop, after the success achieved in China, will go on the scene in Piazza San Marco, in Venice!
Red also speaks of the difficult moment in which he was hospitalized, at the beginning of 2022: “I had been in the hospital for two months, but I got a permit to see ‘Casanova’ that two months after my hospitalization arrived in my city … it was wonderful.”
In his book, the artist wants to convey a simple but powerful message: “We need courage. We must dare, believe in dreams and not fear failures. We must keep that child spirit within us that makes us amaze. Every day has the potential to be the most important of our life.”
A book that does not claim to have all the answers, but that is written sincerely: “I said what I feel. Within these hundred words there is my vision of life.”
Red is also a peaceful father and husband. “We are a united family, extended, built with respect and participation. We have not imposed choices to the children, we involved them. My father always said: ‘What beauty’ when we were all at the table. Today, I feel the same joy.”
The love for his wife Bea has lasted for more than 25 years: “Love has noticed before us who had become something great. He made him understand over time.”
Today, at 73, Red is looking for the essential. “There are strong trees that, however, if too thick, break with the wind. I am trying to make room in my life, to let the wind pass through my branches. I go by subtraction: less things, but all beautiful, all true. I love my family, my brothers, music, bonsai, painting, nature. I don’t need anything else. I am a man who costs little. to the knees. “
Meanwhile, Casanova – the Italian musical produced by Canzian – after China and after Piazza San Marco will start again for a long tour from November 2025 in the major Italian theaters. Another dream come true.