A lesson on Dylan's last folk classic packs the house

By Beatriz Fiore

ROME, April 7 - “Strike another match/ go start anew/ it’s all over now, Baby Blue”, sang a black-and-white Bob Dylan from a suspended screen in the Auditorium’s lecture hall on Sunday afternoon.

Gino Castaldo and Ernesto Assante, music critics for Italian newspaper ‘La Repubblica’ presented another unforgettable record on Sunday for their cycle of lectures on 20^th Century music, "Viaggio al Centro della Musica.Lezioni di Rock." The critics demonstrated the importance of Dylan’s 1965 release "Bringing it All Back Home" to a captivated audience, most of whom weren’t even born when the record was first released.

 

This record marked a new musical period for Dylan, explained Ernesto Assante. At that time, Dylan felt there was little or no space for innovation and social progress in the world of folk he was so dear to. His poignant live performance of "It’s All Over Now Baby Blue" at the festival in Newport that year would be the last of Dylan’s folk days.

The lecture revealed the secrets behind Dylan’s other masterpieces: ‘Subterranean Homesick Blues’, ‘Gates of Eden’, the much cherished ‘Mr Tambourine Man’ and one of his very few love songs, ‘Just Like a Woman.’ These texts were translated, interpreted and finally watched in several versions at different stages of Dylan’s career. The lecture turned out to be a pleasant and informative discussion, even for a Sunday morning, on a record that has unquestionably made history.

There was an aura of godliness around Bob Dylan. Many believed him to be a prophet of his time, Castaldo said. He was the voice of the people, a force who could move the masses with his extraordinary performances and powerful texts.

The journey through last century’s most significant blues, jazz and rock records with Castaldo and Assante is almost at its end, though previous lectures can be heard on the Auditorium’s website.

The critics have given an appointment for rock lovers on April 27 and May 4; Bruce Springsteen and Talking Heads will be the subjects on these last two Sundays.