The Milanese singer and actress, a mythical figure in Italian music, passed away on November 21, 2025. A look back at a career spanning more than 70 years.
A unique style: jazz, modesty, and Italian elegance
Born in 1934 into a well-to-do Milanese family, Ornella Vanoni established herself in the 1960s as one of the most distinctive voices in the Italian music scene. Her deep, almost whispered, and instantly recognizable tone became her signature.
She performed songs that became classics, such as Senza fine, Domani è un altro giorno, L’appuntamento, and Una ragione di più.
Her approach, both modern and deeply personal, blends jazz, bossa nova, singer-songwriter tradition, and stage elegance.
A rich career: music, cinema, and theater
Vanoni was not only a singer; she was also a theater and film actress, collaborating with Giorgio Strehler at the Piccolo Teatro di Milano, and later with major directors and musicians on the Italian scene.
Always curious and independent, she regularly reinvented herself, recorded duets with new generations—from Fabio Concato to Renato Zero—and remained a kind and ironic presence in the media into her advanced age.
In France too, Ornella Vanoni left a mark
Though she was first a profoundly Italian phenomenon, Ornella Vanoni also caught attention beyond the Alps. French critics often highlighted her refinement, intimate interpretation, and unique relationship with the text.
Her songs circulated widely in France, especially among circles attached to singer-songwriter tradition and vocal jazz.
An artist true to herself, to the end
Until recent years, Vanoni continued to perform, record, engage with young artists, and promote Italian culture. Her free-spirited personality, often disarming candor, and the depth of her performance earned her a unique place in the country’s musical memory.
A vast legacy for Italian song
With Ornella Vanoni’s passing, one of the last great ladies of 20th-century Italian song is gone. Her legacy, made of delicacy, sincerity, and timeless elegance, will remain in people’s minds, on stages, and in the many covers her songs continue to inspire.
Nice and the French Riviera, lands known for welcoming Italian artists, pay tribute to her today.
Her gentle and profound voice will continue to accompany music lovers on both sides of the border.
With the loss of Ornella Vanoni, an essential part of Italian song has faded, leaving behind a vibrant and timeless legacy.
