Giovanni Sollima (Palerm, 24 d'octubre del 1962) és un compositor i violoncel·lista italià. També és el director de l'orquestra 100 Cellos, que va néixer com a acte de protesta quan l'alcalde de Roma volia privatitzar i convertir en un restaurant l'emblemàtic Teatro Valle (inaugurat el 1727). Per evitar-ho va ser ocupat per un gran grup d'artistes, des de músics fins a actors. Va ser llavors quan Giovanni i Enrico Melozzi van fer una crida a violoncel·listes d'arreu del món per formar aquesta orquestra. El resultat va ser ben especial: entre arquets i cordes, ha arribat a estar formada per nens de 6 anys fins a avis de 75, i han interpretat des de peces clàssiques fins a cançons de rock.
Al seu repertori hi ha una peça que no falta mai: l'Hallelujah de Leonard Cohen (21 de setembre del 1934 – 7 de novembre del 2016). Giovanni Sollima ens explica què té d'especial: "L'hem tocat des que vam començar i l'hem convertit en la nostra cançó. Intensa i dolça. És com un somni capaç de tocar la realitat".
I've heard there was a secret chord
that David played to please the Lord,
but you don't really care for music, do you?
It goes like this: the fourth, the fifth
the minor fall, the major lift;
the baffled king composing Hallelujah!
Your faith was strong but you needed proof.
You saw her bathing on the roof;
her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you.
She tied you to a kitchen chair
she broke your throne, she cut your hair,
and from your lips she drew the Hallellujah!
Now maybe there's a God above
but all I ever learned from love
is how to shoot at someone who outdrew you.
And it's no complaint you hear tonight,
and it's not some pilgrim who's seen the light -
it's a cold and i'ts a broken Hallellujah!
Baby, I've been here before.
I know this room, I've walked this floor.
I used to live alone before I knew you.
I've seen your flag on the marble arch,
but love is not a vctory march,
it's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah!
There was a time you let me know
what's really going on below
but now you never show it to me, do you?
I remember when I moved in you,
and the holy dove was moving too,
and every breath we drew was Hallellujah!
I did my best; it wasn't much.
I couldn't feel, so I learned to touch.
I've told the truth, I didn't come to fool you.
And even though it all went wrong,
I'll stand before the Lord of Song
with nothing on my lips but Halellujah!
