Le Orme (‘the footsteps’) is a seminal Italian progressive rock band founded in mid‑1960s Venice as a beat group. Along with Area, New Trolls, Premiata Forneria Marconi and Banco del Mutuo Soccorso, they represent the most important exponents of Rock Progressivo Italiano (RPI), achieving considerable international recognition throughout the sixties and seventies.
Across those six decades, Le Orme have evolved through several distinct phases: the beat‑psychedelic era (1966–1970), the progressive period (1970–1978), the more orchestral phase (1979–1980), and an excursion into electropop (1981–1992). Unsurprisingly, and it almost goes without saying, that many musicians have passed through the band over a span of six (6!) decades. The most prominent former members are Aldo Tagliapietra (vocals, guitars, bass guitar & sitar; 1966-2009) and Tony Pagliuca (piano & keyboards; 1968–1991, 2015, 2023–2024). Only drummer Michi Dei Rossi has remained virtually from the beginning. A detailed history of the band is excellently and extensively described in the Italian version of Wikipedia.
Le Orme’s music is widely regarded as a cornerstone of Italian progressive rock. In their heyday (such as on the masterpiece Felona e Sorona), the band relied heavily on lush synthesizers, organs, and mellotrons. This created an atmospheric, almost spatial sound that was often compared to British icons like Emerson, Lake & Palmer (ELP). Le Orme’s compositions often shift between dreamy, melodic passages with acoustic guitar to more powerful, complex instrumental outbursts, frequently drawing on European classical traditions. Many of their albums are concept‑driven and steeped in mystery or philosophical themes. In short: keyboard-driven symphonic rock in an ambitious guise.
Plays Venice is a live album recorded in a single evening on 22nd March 2025, funded through an enthusiastically supported crowdfunding campaign. Like the band’s other late‑period releases, it mixes Le Orme classics with covers and tributes. It is an ambitious tribute to the city of Venice, to the music that shaped the band, and to Le Orme themselves.
The concert by the Italian legends spans music from 1700 to the present day, performed with the Orchestra Regionale Filarmonia Veneta, guest musicians (including former member Tolo Marton), and even a group of singing Venetian gondoliers. Despite the title Plays Venice suggests otherwise, the performance takes place at the Gran Teatro Geox in Padua, a good 45 kilometers to the west. So they play music FROM Venice, not IN Venice.
The concert repertoire ranges from classic Le Orme hits, pieces inspired by the history of Venice (Vivaldi) and covers by other artists (Pink Floyd). The Pink Floyd medley which features shortened versions of Shine On You Crazy Diamond, Wish You Were Here, Money and Another Brick in the Wall Part 2 is unfortunately one of the weaker segments of the set. By contrast
the orchestra presents pieces from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, (Spring and Summer), framed by Le Orme’s own ELP‑like Collage. This combination works remarkably well, as does the rendition of Rondò Veneziano. The beautiful Adagio by the Baroque composer Tomaso di Albinoni also comes across perfectly in the orchestral and group setting, even when saxophonist Flavio Bordin and the choir finish the piece in a modernised variation.
There are popular songs too, sung in Italian, some are ‘almost’ familiar: You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me and Time To Say Goodbye, whilst others are less so, such as Forever And Ever With You and If Only. However they are delivered, without exception, and with the necessary bombast and pathos by Italian tenor Luca Minnelli who steals the show in this regard.
For the true fan of Italian progressive rock however the highlights are Le Orme’s own pieces, performed with or without guest musicians: Acqua Di Luna (Il leone e la bandiera – 2024), Sguardo Verso Il Cielo (Collage – 1971), Amico Di Ieri (Smogmagica – 1975), Gioco Di Bimba (Uomo Di Pezza – 1972), Canzone D’Amore and Sulle Ali Di Un Sogno (both from Sulle Ali Di Un Sogno – 2019). These tracks demonstrate the band’s identity: melodic, original compositions blending classical, folk, prog, and rock influences.
Before concluding, mention for something I found rather remarkable: Michele Bon’s portable keyboard, nicknamed the ‘Alien’, which emulates the electric guitar tone so convincingly that, had I not seen it on the DVD, I would not have believed this was not a real guitar.
Plays Venice is available as 2CD & DVD | 2LP & DVD | Digital [Audio]
TRACK LISTING
CD1
– Collage plus Vivaldi (1-4)
01. Collage Introduction (1:48)
02. Le Quattro Stagioni: Primavera Movimento I (3:32)
03. Collage Ripresa (1:35)
04. Le Quattro Stagioni: Estate Movimento III (3:13)
05. Io Che Non Vivo Senza Te (3:27)
06. Con Te Partiro’ (4:21)
– Pink Floyd Medley (7-10)
07. Shine On You Crazy Diamond (3:30)
08. Wish You Were Here (3:15)
09. Money (4:22)
10. Another Brick In The Wall Part 2 (3:39)
11. Forever And Ever With You (4:02)
12. If Only (3:49)
Time – 40:33
CD2
01. A Venezia (3:32)
02. Rondò Veneziano [Medley] (4:28)
03. Acqua Di Luna (4:53)
04. Adagio Di Albinoni (4:43)
05. Canzone D’Amore (4:56)
06. Sguardo Verso Il Cielo (4:35)
07. Amico Di Ieri (5:00)
08. Gioco Di Bimba (3:18)
09. Sulle Ali Di Un Sogno (4:02)
Time – 38:27
Total Time – 69:00
[DVD track listing as above]
MUSICIANS
Michi Dei Rossi: Drums, Percussion
Michele Bon: Keys, Hammond, “Alien” (Keyboard Guitar Simulator)
Luca Sparagna: Vocals, Bass, 12-String Guitar, EKO Bass Pedals
Aligi Pasqualetto: Keys, Piano, Synthesizers
~ With:
Francesco Sartori: Piano
Luca Minelli: Vocals
Tolo Marton: Electric Guitar, Harmonica
Elisabetta Sfrisio: Vocals, Background Vocals
Fabiana Visentin: Vocals, Background Vocals
Debora D’Este: Background Vocals
Marco Fanton: Electric Guitar
Davide Bettella: Drums
Filippo Casarin: Acoustic Guitar
Flavio Bordin: Saxophone
Regional Orchestra: Filarmonia Veneta (conducted by Maestro Walter Bertolo)
Sara Mazzarotto: First Violin
The Gondoliers: Luca Minnelli, Michael Malvic, Claudio Deidda
Duo Imaginaerum: Giulia Basso, Marina Rulli
Valentino Morabito
DJ Gaggia
ADDITIONAL INFO
Record Label: Hi-QU Music
Country of Origin: Italy
Date of Release: 13th October 2025
DISCOGRAPHY
Studio
– Il leone e la bandiera/Le Orme & friends (2023)
– Sulle ali di un sogno (2019)
– ClassicOrme (2017)
– La via della seta (2011)
– L’infinito (2004)
– Elementi (2001)
– Il fiume (1996)
– Orme (1990)
– Venerdi (1982)
– Piccola rhapsodia dell’ape (1980)
– Florian (1979)
– Story o layingda (1977)
– Verità nascoste (1976)
– Smog Magic (1975)
– Contrappunti (1974)
– Felona e Sorona (1973)
– Uomo di pezza (1972)
– Collage (1971)
– L’aurora delle Orme (1970)
– Ad Gloria (1969)
Live
– Le Orme plays Venice (2025)
– Progfiles – Live in Rome (2010)
– Live Orme (2009)
– Live in Pennsylvania (2008)
– In concerto (1974)
LINKS
Le Orme – Website | Facebook | Facebook Plays Venice) | Bandcamp (Plays Venice: Part 1) | Bandcamp (Plays Venice: Part 2) | YouTube | Instagram
