In his second ECM album Italy’s Stefano Battaglia honours his countryman Pier Paolo Pasolini (1922-1975), one of the great European filmmakers of the 20th century, as well as a distinguished poet, novelist, playwright, philosopher, journalist, painter – and political activist. Few artists of any nationality have taken on as much as the outspoken, controversial, intensively creative Pasolini. It was precisely the scope of Pasolini’s work and his tumultuous life that attracted and inspired pianist-composer-improviser Battaglia. “What made the challenge of ‘interpreting’ Pasolini musically irresistible for me was this feeling for his unitas multiplex, his extraordinary capacity to bring opposites into coexistence. Not only academic and popular culture, or the sacred and profane, but also political, ethical and religious issues. Pasolini was adept in many mediums, each of his arts influenced the other, intermeshing and blending together to communicate his message in the most varied ways. “