Italian singer Ornella Vanoni dies at 91

other · 2026-04-26

Ornella Vanoni, the renowned Italian singer and actress, passed away at the age of 91 in Milan. She was born on September 22, 1934, and studied under Giorgio Strehler at Piccolo Teatro, with whom she had a personal connection. Her acting career began in 1956 with 'Six Characters in Search of an Author,' followed by her singing debut in 1957. In 1958, Strehler produced the 'Le canzoni della malavita' EP for her. Throughout her illustrious career, she released more than a hundred albums, including her first with Ricordi in 1961, and she graced Broadway in 1964. She achieved significant fame in the 1970s with 'L'Appuntamento,' won two Tenco Awards, and received an honorary degree from the University of Milan in June 2025, the same month her memoir was published.

Key facts

Ornella Vanoni died at age 91 in Milan
Born September 22, 1934 in Milan
Studied at Piccolo Teatro's drama academy under Giorgio Strehler
Debuted as actress in 1956 and as singer in 1957
Released over 100 albums, EPs, and compilations
First album in 1961 on Ricordi label
Performed on Broadway in 1964
Major hit 'L'Appuntamento' in 1970s
Collaborated with Vinícius de Moraes and Toquinho in 1976
Appeared nude on Playboy Italia cover in 1977
Won two Tenco Awards and a Special Tenco Prize
Received honorary degree from University of Milan in June 2025
Published memoir 'Vincente o perdente' in June 2025
Was an art collector with works by Pomodoro, Melotti, Fischer

Entities

Artists

Ornella Vanoni
Giorgio Strehler
Luigi Pirandello
Gino Paoli
Vinícius de Moraes
Toquinho
Sergio Bardotti
Arnaldo Pomodoro
Pierangelo Bertoli
Lucio Dalla
Greg Walsh
Ivano Fossati
Mario Lavezzi
Mauro Pagani
Fabio Ilacqua
Pacifico (Luigi De Crescenzo)
Fausto Melotti
Lothar Fischer

Institutions

Piccolo Teatro
Ricordi
Playboy Italia
BMG Italia
La nave di Teseo
Università Statale di Milano
Artribune

Locations

Milan
Italy
Broadway
New York
Paris
France
Brazil
London
United Kingdom

Sources

Artribune — 2025-11-21