Ornella Vanoni's career spanning seven decades established her as a key figure in Italian music, connecting various styles and eras. Ita...
Ornella Vanoni's career spanning seven decades established her as a key figure in Italian music, connecting various styles and eras. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni honored Vanoni and her "distinctive" voice.
Ornella Vanoni, a prominent Italian vocalist whose voice shaped multiple eras of mainstream music, passed away at her residence in Milan at the age of 91.
Italian media outlets, such as Corriere della Sera, La Stampa, and the AGI news agency, stated that she experienced a heart attack late on Friday.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni honored him on Saturday, describing Vanoni's voice as "unmistakable" and stating that Italy had lost "a unique artist who leaves us with an irreplaceable artistic legacy."
A prominent voice of 'musica leggera'
Vanoni was born in Milan in 1934 and was raised in a wealthy family that enrolled her in schools throughout Italy and Europe.
Her initial artistic environment was the theater: Milan's Piccolo Teatro, where director Giorgio Strehler served as her mentor and, at one point, her partner.
In her later years, she mentioned that performing on the Piccolo's stage for the first time was a moment when she "realized her true self."
The shift towards music was surprising, but following encouragement from Strehler, Vanoni started performing songs related to Milan's criminal underworld, which earned her the title "Cantante della mala" ("singer of the underworld").
Nevertheless, it was her performances at Italy's televised music festivals in the early 1960s that earned her widespread recognition and showcased her distinctive, sultry voice, which would later define her style.
"Ocean's Twelve" attracted a new viewership.
During the following seven decades, Vanoni issued over 40 studio albums and completed more than 100 recordings, with global sales surpassing 50 million copies.
Among her most cherished songs "Senza fine," "L'appuntamento," "La musica è finita," and "Una ragione di più," were notable.
"The Appointment" gained a new worldwide audience after being featured on the soundtrack of Steven Soderbergh's Ocean's Twelve in 2004.
Vanoni's work spanning different genres and international boundaries
The singer, born in Milan, has a wide musical style — ranging from jazz and Brazilian beats to Italian pop love songs — which made her a highly desired partner in collaborations.
Vanoni collaborated with Gino Paoli, with whom she had both a creative relationship and a long-suspected romantic connection, as well as with global artists such as Herbie Hancock, George Benson, and Gil Evans.
She participated in the Sanremo Music Festival eight times, placing second in 1968 with "Casa Bianca," and in 1999 was the first performer to be honored with a lifetime achievement award at the event.
She was also awarded the Tenco Prize twice — a renowned Italian honor given each year by Club Tenco to musicians who have greatly impacted songwriting.
Her record of achievements expanded when she became the sole woman to receive the Tenco Award on two occasions and the only Italian musician to be honored both as a songwriter and a performer.
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In addition to her musical career, Vanoni became a prominent figure in Italian cultural life. Her unique red hair, sophisticated fashion sense, and straightforward humor made her a well-liked television personality throughout her later years.
She made appearances on talk programs, openly discussed her previous relationships, and recounted anecdotes from her extensive career, frequently displaying what Italian media referred to as a "total disregard for political correctness."
In her 2021 album Unica, launched when she was 87 years old, she contemplated aging, loneliness, and strength.
Her autobiography portrayed her as "one of those women — burning with passion, delicate and full of care, concealed beneath nervous outbursts, refined distance, and wit."
Vanoni, who previously expressed her desire to have her ashes dispersed in the ocean — "perhaps in Venice" — leaves behind a musical heritage that influenced Italy's cultural scene for over five decades.
Edtied by: Karl Sexton
Author: Kalika Mehta (with AP, AFP, dpa)
