Whether or not we admit it, the music that makes an impression upon us as teens remains an important part of our lives. Italian pianist, composer, writer, and broadcaster
Stefano Bollani is no different. Born in 1972, he was too young to have encountered the excitement and controversy surrounding the 1970 recording of
Andrew Lloyd Webber and
Tim Rice's
Jesus Christ Superstar.
Deep Purple's
Ian Gillan sang as Jesus,
Yvonne Elliman was Mary Magdalene, and
Murray Head was Judas, all accompanied by a rock band alongside a symphony orchestra. It was deemed so radical that the BBC banned it from airplay straightaway. At 14,
Bollani saw
Norman Jewison's cinematic adaptation of the work and was so blown away, he bought the original album, learned all its parts, musical and vocal, and has studied it ever since.