"A dream has come true tonight", said the Roman songwriter who played at a sold-out concert in Caracas last October. The concert was part of the Un Solo Mondo Tour. Baglioni, a living legend, finally fulfilled the dream of a vast italian community in Venezuela. At least a big part of it. The tickets went sold-out two months before the event.

Baglioni career started back in the 60's, but his real breakthrough came with the beautiful song Questo Piccolo Grande Amore in 1972 when we was only 18. The song became worldwide famous and was sung in more than 100 countries in various different languages. After more than 40 years of musical career, Claudio Baglioni stands as one of the most relevant musicians in his native Italy and around the world. He sold-out at the Royal Albert Hall last year, too. His lyrics show his concern for a meticulous work in which music and words are a song within a song. Words that often draw the inner side of a human being thru sublime phrases that often tell of love, hope and a spirituality that can be listened in great works like Strada Facendo, Oltre and La Vita É Adesso.

During his brief staying in Caracas, Claudio Baglioni had a short conversation with TBP thanks to guitar virtuoso Flavio Sala who is also a fan of Baglioni's music and who called on Giovanni Baglioni (Claudio's son) to play in his latest album De La Buena Onda.

The legendary musician talked about his career, one that has seen him share with greats like Tony Levin, Manú Katché, Pino Palladino, Paco de Lucia and Andrea Bocelli, among other great artists.

Is this your first visit to our country?

No, it isn't. I was here as part of a long tour back in 1975 or 1976. The tour promoted several artists and I was one of them.

What have you liked the most so far?

You don't really get to see much when you are on tour. It's not like many people think. However, I was here on vacation 4 years ago. I was in Los Roques and it was fantastic. It's a great place.

Your lyrics are very poetic. How do you develop them?

First of all, I am a musician who composes music and music has a very mysterious and interesting way to develop itself. The sung words have great importance to me because they are like a song within a song and it is incredible how they emerge.

How have musicians like Tony Levin come to you?

When I recorded Oltre I did it at Peter Gabriel's recording studio. That's how I met Manú Katché, Tony Levin and others. However, I must say that over the years, I have recorded and played with various musicians of different genres, classical, jazz and ethnic music. One example is Gavin Harrison who now plays with Porcupine Tree. Paco de Lucia and Vangelis are other examples.

What is your most significant album?

I think each decade has its important album. Year after year, I have matured my work towards something more elaborated, better thought, I ought to say. To me, Oltre is the more complete. I also think that Strada Facendo still sounds contemporary just like La Vita É Adesso.

Have you thought about recording with younger artists?

Perhaps. I don't know if you know that I have a festival for young artists of various disciplines. In any case, I believe that a collaboration with another artist must come natural, spontaneous and not via management.

I once heard you have leanings towards Sufism. Is that so?

Yes, it is. I'd like to say that it is so only because there is an internal philosophy, something metaphysical, something healing. Music has a way of developing itself that it is similar to a religion. I'd love to write a modern mass, I've always had that dream. It'll come true some day.

What's coming after this tour?

There is a DVD, must be out by now, on the concert at Royal Albert Hall. I think is one of the three most significant places in the world that an artist can play. And realax of course!