NICOSIA, Cyprus — Ornella Vanoni, a beloved performer who had a seven-decade singing career with international hits such as “Senza Fine” and “L'appuntamento”, has died. She was 91 years old.
In a message on Saturday, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed deep sadness at the loss of Vanoni, whose “unmistakable voice” has left an imprint on Italian culture for generations. “Italy is losing a unique artist who left us a unique creative heritage,” Meloni said.
Vanoni died of cardiac arrest at her home in Milan, Italian newspaper La Stampa reported.
Vanoni has recorded more than 100 albums with sales of more than 55 million copies, earning her cult status among generations of fans and earning her the nickname “Lady of Italian Song,” according to LaPresse newspaper.
Vanoni was born in Milan in 1937. Vanoni's first love was the theater, which culminated in performances on the Broadway stage in 1964. But her passion for music, combined with what LaPresse called a “very personal and sophisticated performance style” and a vast repertoire from jazz to pop, has led her to collaborate with some of the most famous songwriters in Italy and abroad.
Vanoni's partnership and romance with the famous Genoese singer-songwriter Gino Paoli resulted in the hit “Senza Fine” (“Without End”), which launched her onto the international stage in 1961.
Her later collaborations spanned a range of artistic talents, including Gil Evans, Herbie Hancock and George Benson, according to Italian news agency ANSA.
Vanoni has distinguished herself at numerous prestigious music festivals in Italy, including the country's most popular music festival, Sanremo, in which she participated eight times, finishing second in 1968 with the song “Casa Bianca”.
Her talent extended to songwriting, which was recognized when she won the prestigious Tenco Award twice – the only Italian singer to win the award as a songwriter and the only woman to win it twice.
ANSA said Vanoni was in high demand as a guest on television programs in the last years of her life due to her unpredictable nature, the sheer volume of anecdotes she shared and her “complete indifference to political correctness”.
