An Italian musician was fined
2,000 euros Thursday for playing his clarinet in the underpass
of the rail station at Bordighera in Liguria, in breach of a
1931 Royal Decree that says street musicians have to be
registered before they play outdoors.
Marco Fusi, 31, who has worked with top names including
Moni Ovadia, Ottavia Piccolo, Alex Britti and Fiorella Mannoia,
said "when I was asked if I was on the register I felt like
laughing and I quipped that they could also hold me in breach of
Charlemagne's imperial decree".
A traffic cop gave Fusi a fine amounting to 2,064 euros,
which could have been halved to 1,032 euros if paid on the spot.
Fusi, who has recorded four albums, distributed in 50
countries, said: "I'm here to organise some summer music
evenings and given the good weather I decided to improvise a
concert, as you do abroad.
"In Italy they're light years behind. I wasn't asking for
money".
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
