Italian Music Icon Ornella Vanoni Dies at 91
Ornella Vanoni, one of Italy’s most celebrated singers with a career spanning six decades, has passed away at the age of 91. Italian media reports say she died at her home in Milan on Friday following a cardiac arrest.
Vanoni was a defining voice in musica leggera, Italy’s popular music scene from the 1960s onward. Instantly recognisable for her signature red curls and a voice that could glide from a smoky alto to crystal-clear highs, she sold over 50 million records and collaborated with renowned artists including George Benson, Herbie Hancock, Franco Califano, and Gino Paoli, with whom she shared both a professional and romantic connection.
Her greatest commercial successes came in the late 1960s and 1970s with hits like La Musica è Finita (“The Music is Over”), Eternità (“Eternity”), L’Appuntamento (“The Date”), and Una Ragione di Più (“One More Reason”).
Born in Milan on September 22, 1934, Vanoni began her career on stage before moving into music, performing songs inspired by the Milanese underworld under the guidance of theatre director Giorgio Strehler, who became both her mentor and lover. In 1964, she won the Festival di Napoli and later participated eight times in the prestigious Sanremo Festival, finishing second in 1968 with Casa Bianca (“White House”). She made history in 1999 as the first Sanremo singer to receive a career award.
Italian Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli paid tribute, calling Vanoni “one of Italy’s most original and refined artists.” He added, “Thanks to her unique voice and unparalleled talent as a performer, she has left her mark on the history of Italian song, theatre, and entertainment.”
In her later years, Vanoni remained in the public eye, openly sharing stories about her past relationships and continuing to perform and record music. Her final studio album, Unica (“Unparalleled”), was released in 2021, proving that her passion and artistry endured until the end.
