Milva | |
|---|---|
 Milva at a theatre presentation ofLa variante diLüneburg (2009) | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as |
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| Born | Maria Ilva Biolcati (1939-07-17)17 July 1939 Goro, Emilia–Romagna, Kingdom of Italy |
| Died | 23 April 2021(2021-04-23) (aged 81) Milan, Italy |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1958–2012 |
| Labels | |
| Website | www.MilvaLaRossa.com |
Maria Ilva Biolcati,OMRI (Italian:[maˈriːaˈilvabjolˈkaːti]; 17 July 1939 – 23 April 2021),[1] known asMilva (Italian:[ˈmilva]), was an Italian singer, stage and film actress, and television personality. She was also known asLa Rossa (Italian for "The Redhead"), due to the characteristic colour of her hair, and additionally asLa Pantera di Goro ("The Panther ofGoro"), which stemmed from the Italian press having nicknamed the three most popular Italian female singers of the 1960s, combining the names of animals and the singers' birthplaces. The colour also characterised her leftist political beliefs, claimed in numerous statements.[2][3] Popular in Italy and abroad, she performed on musical and theatrical stages the world over, and received popular acclaim in her native Italy, and particularly in Germany and Japan, where she often participated in musical events and televised musical programmes. She released numerous albums in France, Japan, Korea, Greece, Spain, and South America.[4]
She collaborated with European composers and musicians includingEnnio Morricone in 1965,Francis Lai in 1973,Mikis Theodorakis in 1978 (Was ich denke became a best selling album in Germany),Enzo Jannacci in 1980,Vangelis in 1981 and 1986, andFranco Battiato in 1982, 1986 and 2010.
Her stage productions ofBertolt Brecht's recitals andLuciano Berio's operas toured the world's theatres. She performed atLa Scala in Milan, at theDeutsche Oper in Berlin, at theParis Opera, in theRoyal Albert Hall in London and at theEdinburgh Festival, amongst others.[5]
Having had success both in Italy and internationally, she remained one of the most popular Italian personalities in the fields of music and theatre. Her artistic stature was officially recognised by the Italian, German and French Republics, each of which bestowed her with the highest honours. She was the only Italian artist in contemporary times who was simultaneously:Chevalier of the National Order of the Legion of Honour of the French Republic (Paris, 11 September 2009),Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (Rome, 2 June 2007),Officer of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (Berlin, 2006), andOfficier of theOrdre des Arts et des Lettres (Paris, 1995).
Maria Ilva Biolcati was born inGoro,Province of Ferrara, Italy, on 17 July 1939.[6] In 1959, when she was twenty, she won a contest for new voices, and was named the overall winner from more than seven thousand six hundred participants. In 1960 she recorded her first 7" single withCetra Records:Édith Piaf's song "Milord", included on her first LP release,14 Successi di Milva (Cetra, 1961). Her live debut was on the stage of theSanremo Music Festival in 1961, where she took third place.[7]
In 1962 Milva was the first singer to singÉdith Piaf's repertoire at the prestigiousOlympia theatre in Paris. In 1983 she performed the repertoire at the venue again, receiving an ovation from the audience and the French press, very surprised how a non-French artist could interpret the songs of Piaf with such feeling and energy. Music critics named her singer of the year.[8]
Shortly afterwards, Milva released her secondLP record,Milva canta per voi, a studio album that compiled several songs previously published as singles, in addition to covers of Édith Piaf songs, such asNon, je ne regrette rien, translated to Italian asNulla rimpiangerò, andEt maintenant, written by composerGilbert Bécaud and lyricistPierre Delanoë (a song which, in English, would later become known asWhat Now, My Love?").[9]
In 1962 Milva co-starred in the Italian filmLa bellezza di Ippolita alongsideGina Lollobrigida andEnrico Maria Salerno acomedy film directed byGiancarlo Zagni, playing the role of Adriana. The film was entered into the 12thBerlin International Film Festival. In the same year, she also appeared in the filmCanzoni a tempo di twist, an Italian film directed byStefano Canzio [it].[10]
In February, Milva participated in theSanremo Musical Festival of 1962, competing withTango italiano, a jazz-infused song written by Bruno Pallesi and Walter Malgoni. Her performance earned her second place in the competition and the single that followed reached number one on the Italian charts.[11]
From 30 April to 4 May 1963, Milva was a television presenter on the Italian variety showIl Cantatutto.[12]
Shortly after, Milva released her third LP recordDa Il Cantatutto con Milva e Villa, in which she performed studio versions of the songs she had sung onIl Cantatutto. In the album, she performedQuattro Vestiti, composed byEnnio Morricone, a song which would be released on an EP by the same name.[13][14] Milva also recorded an EP for the Spanish market:Milva canta en español.[15]
Later in the year, she released her fourth studio albumLe Canzoni del Tabarin – Canzoni da Cortile, an Italian-language album that covered Italian songs from the 1920s and 1930s, featuring new musical arrangements, released on the Fonit Cetra label.[16]
In January 1965, Milva released themultilingual studio albumCanti della libertà, an album in which she sang revolutionary songs and songs of freedom, including thenational anthem of France,La Marseilleise, written byClaude Joseph Rouget de Lisle,[17] andLa Carmagnole, a French song created and made popular during theFrench Revolution. Amongst the other songs that composed the album were Italian-language versions of themarching songJohn Brown's Song, the SpanishLos cuatro generales, andFischia il vento, an Italian popular song based on the music of the Russian popular songKatyusha.[17]
In 1965, a meeting led to a definitive change in her career: Italian directorGiorgio Strehler helped to develop her skills in staging and singing in Italian theatres (especially thePiccolo Teatro inMilan) and she began to perform a more committed repertoire, including songs of theItalian resistance movement, songs fromBertolt Brecht's pieces). In the following years she starred inGiorgio Strehler's production of Brecht'sThe Threepenny Opera which was performed in several cities of Western Europe. Milva's albums were certificated gold and platinum in West Germany.[18]
In 1968, Milva released her fifth studio album,Tango, an album that consisted of tango standards sung in Italian. The album was released in Italy, Germany, Spain and Brazil and featured an orchestra conducted byIller Pattacini.[19]In 1969, she released her sixth studio albumTango Inspirationen, an album released in Germany and composed of tango standards performed in German and Italian. Amongst the songs performed on the album wereLa Cumparsita,A Media Luz (Guardando intorno a te) andAdios, Pampa Mía.[20] In 1975, the album was reissued asMilva singt Tangos deutsch und italienisch.[21]
In late 1969, Milva co-starred in the Italian musical comedyAngeli in bandiera, alongside Gino Bramieri. The musical was written by Italian playwrightsPietro Garinei and Sandro Giovannini and featured music byBruno Canfora and premiered on 20 October, at theTeatro Sistina, in Rome, Italy.[22] An original cast recording of the musical featuring I cantori moderni diAlessandroni was released in Italy and Canada in the same year.[23]
During the same year, Milva appeared in the Italian filmAppuntamento in Riviera, a musical comedy directed by Mario Mattoli.[24]
1970 saw the release of the studio albumRitratto di Milva, an Italian-language featuring orchestrations composed and conducted byDetto Mariano, infused with pop andchanson elements.[25]In September 1970, Milva performed concerts atSankei Hall, in Tokyo, Japan, accompanied byNobuo Hara and his big band, the Sharps & Flats. Excerpts of the recordings of the concerts were compiled and published on the live albumMilva on Stage (Live at Tokyo Sankei Hall), released shortly thereafter on the Ricordi label.[26]
In 1971, Milva releasedMilva canta Brecht, an album of music written by Bertolt Brecht and music composed byHanns Eisler andKurt Weill, directed by Giorgio Strehler.[27]
In 1972, Milva appeared in the Italian filmD'amore si muore, directed by Carlo Carunchio, starring in the role of Leyla.[28] She also covered the title song of the movie, titledD'amore si muore, a song composed and conducted by Italian composer, conductor and orchestrator Ennio Morricone with lyrics written by Carlo Carunchio andGiuseppe Patroni Griffi, which was included in her albumDedicato a Milva da Ennio Morricone, released in the same year.[29] Following Milva's appearance inD'amore si muore, Ennio Morricone dedicated a series of songs from his film scores to Milva for her to sing lyrics to.[30] The collaboration between the two musicians produced the studio albumDedicato a Milva da Ennio Morricone (Dedicated to Milva by Ennio Morricone), an album that featured music entirely written, composed, orchestrated and conducted by Morricone in which Milva covered twelve of his works, such asChi Mai,La Califfa, and thebossa nova infusedMetti, una sera a cena.[31]
During the same year, Milva released aJapanese-language album,Love Feeling in Japan, containing twelve songs sung entirely in Japanese, released on the Ricordi label.[32] She then released the live albumMilva in Seoul inSouth Korea, accompanied by theKorean Broadcasting System Symphony Orchestra. It includes her singing "Barley Road" inKorean.[33]
1972 additionally saw the release of her compilation albumLa filanda e altre storie.[34]
In 1973, Milva collaborated with French composer Francis Lai, the output of their work resulting in the studio albumMilva & Francis Lai – Sognavo Amore Mio, which was directed and orchestrated by Lai. Amongst the ten Lai compositions covered by Milva in the album wereA Man and a Woman (Un homme et une femme) andLove Story. Milva also duetted with Lai on the songOltre le colline.[35]
In 1974, she released the studio albumSono matta da legare.[36] The songMonica delle bambole was its lead single, released in 7" format in Italy and Yugoslavia.[37]
In 1975, Milva releasedLibertà, a studio album composed of military hymns, marches and folk songs whose central themes revolve around freedom and liberty. Among the songs featured on the album was Bertolt Brecht'sKälbermarsch, a parody of the songHorst Wessel Lied. The album was released on the Ricordi label in Italy, Germany and Japan.[38]
In 1977, Milva released the eponymously titled studio albumMilva,[39]in which she performedAndrew Lloyd Webber'sDon't Cry for Me Argentina from the musicalEvita, in Italian, titledNon pianger più Argentina, which was the album's lead single.[40]Milva was released in Italy, Spain, Belgium,Austria and Japan.[41] In Germany, the album was released asNon pianger più Argentina.[41]
In 1977, Milva released the studio albumAuf den Flügeln bunter Träume, an album composed of popular German film andcabaret standards, including a version ofLili Marleen andTango notturno. The album was released in America, Canada and Germany and in 1998 was reissued in Japan.[42]
In 1978, she released the live albumCanzoni tra le due guerre, an album flavoured with chanson and jazz elements that was recorded live at the Piccolo Teatro di Milano in October 1977, in a musical show produced by Filippo Crivelli.[43] The album was released in Germany asLieder Zwischen den Kriegen.[44]
In 1978, Milva began collaborating with Greek composerMikis Theodorakis, resulting in the release of the studio albumVon Tag zu Tag in Germany and Austria, which became a best-selling album in Germany.[45][46] In 1979, the albumLa Mia Età, the Italian-language counterpart ofVon Tag zu Tag was released.[47] The album was released in Italy, Germany, Austria, Brazil, Japan, Greece, Spain, and Venezuela.[48]
In 1979, Milva released the studio albumWenn wir uns Wiederseh'n, a German-language album that consisted of songs written by Austrian songwriter, composer and conductorRobert Stolz.[42] The album was also released under the alternate titleSchön war's heute Abend (Milva singt Robert Stolz).[49]
From 1973 to 1980, Milva was on tour (Italy, USA, Greece, France, Germany, Canada, Russia and Japan) with the band "I Milvi" with Neno Vinciguerra on piano, Franco Paganelli on guitar, Claudio Barontini on bass, Giovanni Martelli on drums and Marco Gasperetti on flute.[50]
In 1980, Milva released the studio album,Attends, la vie, a French language album featuring songs composed by Greek composerMikis Theodorakis, whose orchestrations were arranged by Italian composerNatale Massara. The album was released on the RCA Victor label in France, and on Metronome label in Germany. Milva had already worked with Mikis Theodorakis two years earlier, when she recordedVon Tag zu Tag andLa Mia Età.[51]
1980 also saw the release ofLa Rossa, a studio album featuring songs written and composed by Italian composer Enzo Jannacci. The album was released in Italy, Germany and Argentina. The title song,La Rossa, was released on the singleLa rossa/Quando il sipario and would come to be considered Milva's signature song.[52] In the course of the same year, Milva released the multilingual compilation albumMilva International which she sang in English, French, Spanish, Italian and German. It was released in Germany.[53]
1981 saw the commencement of a collaboration between Milva and Greek composer Vangelis, with whom she has collaborated on several occasions.[54] The 1981 collaboration would result in the release of both a French and a German language album. The first, sung in German, wasIch hab' keine Angst. It was released in Germany, Austria, Japan and South Korea,[55] and produced the German 7" singleIch hab' keine Angst/Christine.[56] The title song,Ich hab' keine Angst, is based on Vangelis' compositionTo the Unknown Man, a song which, in French, would become the title of her next album of 1981,Moi, je n'ai pas peur, which was released in France, and covered the songs included on the German release.[57]
In 1982, Milva starred in the role of Veronica in the Italian filmVia degli specchi, a crime-drama film directed by Giovanna Gagliardo.[58] The film was entered into the 33rd Berlin International Film Festival.[59] Later in the year, Milva released the German studio albumImmer mehr,[60] as well as the live double albumDas Konzert. The album was released in Germany, Austria and Japan.[61]
In 1983, Milva hosted an episode of the Italian variety showAl paradise, a television series directed by Antonello Falqui.[62] That same year, Milva released the Italian language studio albumIdentikit, distributed in Italy under the Metronome label. She collaborated with Vangelis for the album, covering two of his songs;To the Unknown Man, this time recorded in Italian under the titleDicono di me, as well as an Italian language version ofI'll Find My Way Home.[63] Later that year, she released the studio albumUnverkennbar, an album sung entirely in German.[64] In 1984, the singleVielleicht war es Liebe/Eva was released in Germany.[65] 1983 additionally saw the release of the original cast recording of the German ballet chanté Die sieben Todsünden der Kleinbürger(The Seven Deadly Sins [of the Petty Bourgeoisie]), which had been recorded in Berlin in January 1981. The cast recording featured all nine movements of the musical in which Milva had starred two years earlier, in the leading roles of Anna I and Anna II. In 1990, the album was re-released in Japan.[66]
On 29 September 1984, Milva performed with Argentine tango composer, arranger andbandoneón player Ástor Piazzolla and hisquintet, the Quintette de tango contemporain, at theThéâtre des Bouffes du Nord, in Paris, France.[67] A recording of the performance would become the basis of Milva's next album and would mark the beginning of a series of future collaborations with Ástor Piazzolla in which Milva interpreted the composer's nuevo tango compositions.[68] Later that year, Milva released the live albumMilva & Ástor Piazzolla – Live at the Bouffes du Nord, released in collaboration withÁstor Piazzolla. The album featured nuevo tango compositions composed by Piazzolla and sung by Milva, in a musical style that incorporates elements from jazz and classical music, with Piazzolla accompanying his quintet on his bandoneón. Milva interpreted his compositions in French, Italian and Spanish. The album was published in Argentina, Japan, France, Germany and Italy.[69]
On 1 January 1985, she released the studio albumMut zum Risiko, an album containing schlager and europop musical styles.It was released in Germany on the Metronome and Bertelsmann Club labels. The release of singlesDie Kraft unserer Liebe/Du bist ein Freund andNein – Ich ergeb mich nicht/Rosa soon followed.[70]
In April 1985, Milva participated in the ItaliansupergroupMusicaitalia per l'Etiopia, recordingDomenico Modugno'sVolare (Nel blù di pinto di blù) as part of a fundraising effort for the benefit of those affected bythe 1983–85 famine in Ethiopia.[71] A 12" single and an EP were released.[72]
Over the course of the same year, she releasedCorpo a Corpo, a studio album infused with schlager, italo-disco, europop, and synthpop influences. The album was released in Italy, Japan and Germany.[73] The album produced the singleMarinero, an italo-disco pop song sung in English, released in Italy, Germany, Japan and Spain in various 7" and 12" formats.[74]
In March 1986, Milva played the role of Renata Palozzi in the French filmMon beau-frère a tué ma soeur (My Brother-in-law Killed My Sister), a film byJacques Rouffio which received a nomination for aGolden Bear Award at theBerlin International Film Festival.[75]
In 1986, Milva returned to collaborating with Greek composer Vangelis, five years after her success withIch hab' keine Angst andMoi, je n'ai pas peur. This new collaboration would result in the release of two new studio albums, one in Italian and one in German;Tra due sogni andGeheimnisse.[76] The studio albumTra due sogni was released on the Metronome label in Germany, Greece, Spain, Japan and Argentina. In Italy, it was released on the Dischi Ricordi label, while in France it was released on the Polydor label.[77] It was released in Argentina asTra Due Sogni – Entre Dos Sueños on the Polydor label in 1987.[78] The album spawned three singles; the Maxi singleCanto a Lloret, released in Italy, the 7" singleCanto a Lloret/Blue Notte, released in France on the Barclay label, as well as the 7" singleCanto a Lloret/Spring, Summer, Winter and Fall, which was released by the Polydor label in Spain. The album was released on the Seven Seas label in Japan in 1987, and was reissued in 1992.[79][80] Shortly after the release ofTra due sogni, Milva recorded a German version of the album, entitledGeheimnisse, which was released on the Metronome label.[81] The album contained German versions of the songs presented onTra due sogni, plus one song,Venedig im Winter, which was omitted from the Italian version. The Italian version,Tra due sogni, contained an Italian language version of the songDa oben ist sein Zimmer,In sogno, which had appeared on her 1981 albumIch hab' keine Angst.Geheimnisse produced two 7" singles;Du gibst mir mehr/Etwas mehr andDeine Frau/Arie, both released in West Germany on the Metronome label in 1986.[82][83] Vangelis was credited with composing all songs on bothTra due sogni andGeheimnisse and was credited as the arranger on the songs "Canto a Lloret" (Du gibst mir mehr), "Cuori di passagio" (Wunche) and "L'Ultima Carmen" (Die letzte Carmen). Milva coveredSpring, Summer, Winter and Fall, originally by Aphrodite's Child, in English, a track which appeared on both Italian and German versions of the album. She also covered Bizet'sHabanera.[76]
In 1988, Milva released the studio albumUnterwegs nach Morgen, written by Tony Carey and Peter Maffay, released in Germany and Japan, on the Metronome and Seven Seas labels, respectively.[84] In the album, she covered Tony Carey'sWenn der Wind sich dreht and Melanie Safka'sTo Be a Star in German, titledWer niemals stirbt. The album spawned three singles;Wenn der Wind sich dreht, released in both Maxi single and 7" formats, as well asKomm zurück zu mir, released in 7" format, all of which were released in Germany.[85][86] Following the success ofWenn der Wind sich dreht, Milva recorded an Italian version of the song calledVento di Mezzanotte, which was released as a 7" single by the same name, under the Metronome label, in the Netherlands.[87]Vento di Mezzanotte also appeared on the Italian albumMilva, published under the Ricordi label, in the same year.[88]
At the end of 1988, Milva appeared in the French filmPrisonnières (Women in Prison), a crime drama written and directed byCharlotte Silvera, in the role of Lucie Germon, a prisoner in a women's prison who has given up on life and fears the day of her release. The film was released on 12 October 1988.[89]
In 1989, she appeared inLudi Boeken's filmWherever You Are..., playing the role of a wife of an Italian diplomat.[90] That same year, Milva returned to collaborating with composer Franco Battiato, producing a total of three studio albums containing synth-pop arrangements, in which Milva sings in Italian, Spanish, French and German. This collaboration between Milva and Battiato produced the studio albumSvegliando l'amante che dorme,[91] released in Italy. Milva also recorded the album in Spanish, with the album released asUna historia inventada, released in Spain later that year.[92] The Spanish version of the album generated the 7" singleUna historia inventada, which was released in Spain.[93]
In December 1989, Milva participated for a second time in the Italian supergroup Musicaitalia in a fundraising project organised and spearheaded byCharles Aznavour for the benefit of those affected by the1988 earthquake in Armenia, contributing vocals for the songPer te, Armenia, which was released as a single.[94]Two music videos to accompany the song were later recorded and released in May 1990 as part of the fundraising effort.[95]
In 1990, the Italian version of the album was released in Japan under the original Italian title but contained two additional tracks that were not present on the original Italian release;Via lattea andCentro di gravità permanente, the latter of which is a duet with Battiato.[96] The album was also released asUna Storia Inventata [Eine erfundene geschichte] in Germany.[97]
In 1990, Milva returned to theSanremo Music Festival for the first time since 1974, this time competing withSono felice, a song written and composed by Rosalino Cellamare,[98] finishing in 4th place.[99] On 3 October 1990, Milva released the German language studio album,Ein Kommen und Gehen. The album contained pop/rock ballads and a cover ofUdo Lindenberg'sEin Kommen und Gehen, which was also released as a single. For the album, Milva collaborated with German songwriters and composersUdo Lindenberg,Peter Maffay,Udo Jürgens,Herbert Grönemeyer,Heinz Rudolf Kunze,Roland Kaiser andTony Carey. The album was produced by German producersEdo Zanki andVilko Zanki and was considered a success.[100][101]
The following year, on 27 September 1991, Milva released the studio albumGefühl und Verstand, an album containing pop/rock ballads sung in German.[102]
In 1992,Ich weiß es selber nicht genau andMein Weg mit dir, two singles recorded by Milva, were released in Germany.[103][104]
In 1993, Milva released the studio albumUomini addosso, which was released in Italy, Germany, Japan and Spain.[105] The title track of the album,Uomini addosso, was presented by Milva at the Sanremo Music Festival.[106] Two songs from the German and Japanese editions of the album,Se ti va andLe ombre del giardino, written by G. Conte and Natale Massara, were used as the opening and closing theme songs of the 1993 Italian mini television seriesPrivate Crimes (Delitti privati).[107][108]
Later in the year, she starred as the protagonist in the acting and singing role of Zazà, in the Italian musicalLa Storia di Zazà (The Story of Zaza), a stage musical directed by Giancarlo Sepe and produced by the Comunità teatrale di Italia, premiering on 26 October 1993, at the Teatro Nuovo di Milano.[109] An originalcast recording of the musical was produced and an album was released asMilva in La Storia di Zazà, with music composed by Stefano Marcucci and lyrics written by Giancarlo Sepe, on the Hollywood Records (Italy) label. The album, however, only saw a limited release.[110]
In 1994, Milva collaborated on the promotional albumMilva in Café Chantant, a studio album featuringCafé-chantant-inspired songs recorded in studio by Milva in Italian andNapolitan, with music arranged by Italian film composer and arranger Natale Massara. The musical release was part of the promotionalCafé chantant volumes distributed to the public by the Italian coffee manufacturerLavazza. The overall theme of the album was coffee, with songs arranged and presented in abelle époque and nuevo tango style. In the album, Milva performs Édith Piaf's 1956 songLes amants d'un jour in Italian language asAlbergo an Ore, with lyrics translated byHerbert Pagani, a song Milva had once recorded in 1970 for her albumCanzoni di Édith Piaf, and interprets Venezuelan composerHugo Blanco'sMoliendo café with Italian lyrics, in addition to 'A tazza 'e café, a song made famous by Claudio Villa, in Napolitan language.[111] The album concludes with Milva's EuroPop songIm Schatten der Träume, a song she had previously released on her 1991 German albumGefühl und Verstand.[112]
In 1994, Milva collaborated with German composer and big band leader James Last, releasing the studio albumMilva & James Last – Dein ist mein ganzes Herz, in which she sings a number of pop ballads and classical-oriented pieces in German, Italian and French.[113] Milva had previously worked with James Last, who arranged a cover of Manos Haddidakis' Greek folksongThe Children of Piraeus, popularly known in English asNever on Sunday, which she sang in German and was released on James Last's 1982 albumNimm mich mit, Käpt'n James, auf die Reise, under the title ofEin Schiff wird kommen.[114] Milva had previously covered the song in Italian, twice. InDein ist mein ganzes Herz, she covered a version of the title song, known in English as "Yours Is My Heart Alone" or "You Are My Heart's Delight", an aria from the 1929operettaThe Land of Smiles (Das Land des Lächelns), with music composed byFranz Lehár and libretto byFritz Löhner-Beda andLudwig Herzer, arranged by James Last. In French, she covered French composerGeorges Bizet'sLes Pêcheurs de Perles. She sang the second movement of Spanish composerJoaquín Rodrigo'sConcierto de Aranjuez, as well as an interpretation ofOmbra mai fu, the opening aria from the 1738 operaSerse, byGeorge Frideric Händel. In addition to other classical pieces composed by Russian composerPyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky andCzech composerAntonín Dvořák, all of which were arranged by James Last for the album, Milva covers some pop ballads, including a German interpretation of American recording artistRichard Marx'sNow and Forever, under the titleImmer und Ewig. She also covered Italian singer-songwriterLucio Dalla's ballad,Caruso, a song dedicated to ItaliantenorEnrico Caruso.[113] In 1995, the album was released in Japan.[115]
Beginning in 1994, Milva once again collaborated with Greek composerThanos Mikroutsikos, releasing the studio albumVolpe d'amore (Milva sings Thanos Mikroutsikos), an album featuring music composed by the composer and sung completely in Italian, with the exception of one song,Thalassa, which she sang inGreek. The album was released in Greece, Japan and Italy. In 1995, the album was re-released in Japan with the titleVolpe d'amore[116] and the album was subsequently re-released asMilva canta Thanos Mikroutsikos in 1998 with a new song replacingVolpe d'amore entitledVento d'amore.[117] In 2006,Volpe d'amore was re-released in Greece with the original album track listing.[118]
Following the release ofVolpe d'amore in 1994, Milva re-recorded the album in German, an album that was released in Germany under the titleTausendundeine Nacht, featuring the same orchestrations by Thanos Mikroutsikos. The title track featured a choir, differentiating it fromIl canto di un'eneide diversa, its Italian-language counterpart.[119]
In May 1994, she embarked on her fourteenth Japanese tour.[109]
In 1995, Milva starred in theWerner Herzog television filmGesualdo: Death for Five Voices (Tod für fünf Stimmen), in a film inspired by the life and music ofCarlo Gesualdo, portraying the role of Maria d'Atalos, the adulterous wife murdered by Gesualdo along with her lover.[120] In the same year, she appeared in the Italian filmCelluloide, a dramatic film directed and written byCarlo Lizzani, playing the role of an Italian countess, a portrayal that garnered her praise.[121][122] Later that year, Milva was appointed Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters(Officier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres) by the French Ministry of Culture.[123]
In 1996, the albumMilva canta un Nuovo Brecht produced byJimmy Bowien was released in Germany.[124] The album consisted of songs written by Bertolt Brecht and Giorgio Strehler set to music primarily composed by Kurt Weill, sung in German and Italian. In the same year, Milva releasedFammi Luce – Milva ha incontrato Shinji, an album written by and recorded in collaboration with Japanese composerShinji Tanimura. The album was released in Japan, Germany and Italy.[125]
In September 1997, Milva released the albumMia Bella Napoli, a studio album in which she interpreted covers of Napolitan folksongs in the Napolitan language.[126][127]
In 1998, she sang withAlexia Vassiliou on Alexia's album,Alexia – Mikis Theodorakis, a double album with new approaches to 26Mikis Theodorakis compositions.[128]
In 1999, Milva releasedStark sein, a studio album produced by Chris Flanger and Isabel Silverstone and sung in the German language. In the album, Milva coveredAmália Rodrigues'fado songCanção do mar in German, titled asDas ja zum Leben. She also duetted with Italian singerAl Bano Carrisi, recording a new version ofIo di notte, in German and in Italian under the titleZuviel nachte ohne dich (Io di notte), a duet of a song that both singers had individually recorded at the end of the 1960s.[129][130] The duet also appeared on Al Bano's 1999 compilation albumGrazie (Meine Schönsten Lieder – Meine Größten Erfolge).Stark sein was released in Europe under the BMG Ariola München label, and on the Seven Seas label in Japan.[131]
In 2001, Milva released the German studio albumArtisti, in which she performed songs in German, Italian, Spanish and Latin. The album was released and distributed by BMG Ariola. In the album, she coveredJulio Iglesias' "Abrázame", a Spanish language pop standard rewritten with German lyrics, titledKomm halt mich Fest, as well as an Italian-language cover ofJohn Denver'sPerhaps Love. She also performedDa troppo tempo, a song which she had previously recorded in Italian and competed with at theSanremo Music Festival of 1973, finishing in 3rd place, this time in German. In Spanish, she sangYo soy María, a song from Ástor Piazzolla's tango operaMaría de Buenos Aires. InLatin and Italian, she performed the classicalariaAve Maria, arranged and given to her by Ástor Piazzolla before his death.[132]
In the same year, Milva releasedLa chanson française, a studio album sung entirely in the French language, revisiting and covering songs from theFrench popular music repertoire originally composed and performed byCharles Aznavour,Gilbert Bécaud,Jacques Brel andÉdith Piaf, some of which Milva had previously recorded in French, Italian and German at different points throughout her career. The album featuredsymphony orchestrations composed by Hubert Stuppner and performed by theHaydn Orchestra of Bolzano and Trento, under the conductorship of Peter Keuschnig. The album was first released in Italy on the Agorá label and then reissued on the Accademia Crossover label in 2004.[133]
In 2004, Milva released the studio albumSono nata il 21 a Primavera – Milva canta Merini, an Italian-language album featuring the poetry of contemporary Italian poetAlda Merini, whose poetry was set to music composed by Italian singer and composerGiovanni Nuti and interpreted by Milva in sung form. The album was subsequently released in Japan and Germany.[134]
In May of the same year, Milva performedMilva canta Merini, a series of recitals at the Teatro Stehler di Milano of thePiccolo Teatro di Milano, in collaboration with Alda Merini and Giovanni Nuti, in which Milva performed the songs from her albumSono nata il 21 a Primavera, released earlier that year. Milva again performed a concert at the Teatro Strehler di Milano in 2005, a performance that was recorded and released on the live DVDMilva canta Merini – Live, in March 2006.[135]
In 2006, Milva was awarded the Grand Cross 1st Class of theBundesverdienstkreuz, the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany(Verdienstorden der Bundesrepublik Deutschland) by the thenPresident of the Federal Republic of GermanyHorst Köhler, in "recognition and appreciation of her extraordinary career and artistry in Germany". The medal was personally presented to her by German President Horst Köhler on Thursday, 2 June 2006.[136][137][138]
In February 2007, Milva released the singleThe Show Must Go On, a song written and composed by Giorgio Faletti, published in anticipation of her upcoming album. On 27 February 2007, she performedThe Show Must Go On at the2007 edition of theSanremo Music Festival, finishing the 57th edition of the competition in 16th place.[139]
On 2 March 2007, Milva released the studio albumIn territorio nemico, an Italian-language album written, composed and produced byGiorgio Faletti.[140]
On 2 June 2007, in Rome, Milva was madeCommander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic(Ordine al merito della Repubblica italiana), the highest ranking honour and most senior order of the Republic of Italy, an honour bestowed upon her by the thenPresident of the Italian RepublicGiorgio Napolitano, for her "intense and luminous career" during which she went from music to theatre performances, cinema, tolyric opera.[141]
Milva was made Knight (Chevalier) of theNational Order of the Legion of Honour of the French Republic in 2009.[142] The knighthood was conferred upon her by French ambassador to Italy,Jean-Marc de La Sablière, who presented the honour to her at a ceremony held on 11 September 2009 at thePalazzo Farnese in Rome.[143][144]
In 2010, Milva released the studio albumNon Conosco Nessun Patrizio! – Dieci canzoni di Franco Battiato. The album marked her third produced in collaboration with Italian composer Franco Battiato.[145] Milva had previously collaborated with Battiato on her 1982 Italian albumMilva e dintorni, and its French-language counterpart released the same year, as well as on her 1989 albumSvegliando l'amante che dorme (released and known asUna storia inventata [Eine Erfundene Geschichte]) in Germany,[146] andUna storia inventada, its Spanish-language counterpart.[92] In this album, Milva performed nine new versions of songs written and composed by Battiato that she had previously recorded in 1989, in addition to two newly composed songs. The title song,Non Conosco Nessun Patrizio! is based on a text written by philosopherManlio Sgalambro. The album was produced by Fonit Cetra and distributed by Universal Music.[147]
In 2011, Milva released the Italian albumLa Variante di Lüneburg [Fabula in Musica], composed by Valter Sivilotti and written byPaolo Maurensig, in which she performed with actor Walter Mramor the songs from the musicalLa Variante di Lüneburg. It was released on the Artesuono label.[148]
On 2 March 2012, Milva released the German singleDer Mensch, der Dich liebt, a single containing two songs composed by Sascha Merlin and Kersten Kenan.[149]
Milva had a daughter, Martina, born during her marriage to Maurizio Corgnati in the early 1960s.[150]
She also dated film starLuigi Pistilli for four years; Pistilli committed suicide.[151]
On 23 April 2021, Milva died at her Milan home.[152]
Source:[153]
This is a list ofSanremo Music Festival contests which Milva entered. Milva participated 15 times in the annual music festival, tying the record for most participations (as of 2023[update]) withAl Bano,Anna Oxa,Peppino di Capri andToto Cutugno.[154]
| Year | Song | Partner | Writer(s) | Place | Ref | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | "Il mare nel cassetto" | Gino Latilla | Piero Carlo Rolla; Eligio La Valle, Fernando Lattuada | 3 | [155] | |||||||||
| 1962 | "Tango italiano" | Sergio Bruni | Bruno Pallesi, Walter Malgoni; Sergio Bruni | 2 | [156] | |||||||||
| 1962 | "Stanotte al Luna Park" | Miriam del Mare | Vito Pallavicini, Biri;Carlo Alberto Rossi | 5 | [156] | |||||||||
| 1963 | "Ricorda" | Luciano Tajoli | Carlo Donida; Mogol | 5 | [157] | |||||||||
| 1963 | "Non sapevo" | Gianni Lecommare | Pino Calvi;Bruno Pallesi | 10 | [157] | |||||||||
| 1964 | "L'ultimo tram" | Frida Boccara | Giorgio Calabrese;Eros Sciorilli | N.F. | [157] | |||||||||
| 1965 | "Vieni con noi" | Bernd Spier | Franco Maresca; Mario Pagano | 12 | [158] | |||||||||
| 1966 | "Nessuno di voi" | Richard Anthony | Gorni Kramer; Vito Pallavicini | 9 | [159] | |||||||||
| 1967 | "Uno come noi" | Los Bravos | Umberto Martucci, Giorgio Bertero;Marino Marini | N.F. | [160] | |||||||||
| 1968 | "Canzone" | Adriano Celentano | Don Backy; Don Backy,Detto Mariano | 3 | [161] | |||||||||
| 1969 | "Un sorriso" | Don Backy | Aldo Caponi; Detto Mariano | 3 | [162] | |||||||||
| 1972 | "Mediterraneo" | — | Luigi Albertelli; Enrico Riccardi | 12 | [163] | |||||||||
| 1973 | "Da troppo tempo" | — | Gene Colonnello; Luigi Albertelli | 3 | [164] | |||||||||
| 1974 | "Monica delle bambole" | — | Luciano Beretta; Elide Suligoj | 4‡ | [165] | |||||||||
| 1990 | "Sono felice" | Sandie Shaw | Rosalino Cellamare | 4‡ | [166] | |||||||||
| 1993 | "Uomini addosso" | — | Roby Facchinetti;Valerio Negrini | N.F. | [167] | |||||||||
| 2007 | "The Show Must Go On" | — | Giorgio Faletti | 16 | [168] | |||||||||
| "—" denotes that Milva entered the contest as a soloist. "‡" Denotes a tie. | ||||||||||||||
NOTE: N.F. signifies that the song did not qualify for the main event.
This is a chronologically orderedlist of films in which Milva appeared or provided singing vocals for.
| Year | Title | Character | Director | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Canzoni a tempo di twist (Italy: Original title) | Stefano Canzio | Film | [169] | |
| 1962 | La bellezza di Ippolita a.k.a. "Die schöne Ippolita" (Austria / Germany: German title) | Adriana | Giancarlo Zagni | Film, co-starring withGina Lollobrigida andEnrico Maria Salerno. | [170] |
| 1962 | Appuntamento in Riviera (Italy: Original title) | Singing voice | Mario Mattoli | Film | [171] |
| 1963 | Mondo Cane 2 (Italy: Original title) | Singing voice | Gualtiero Jacopetti | Film | [172] |
| 1972 | D'amore si muore (Italy: Original title) a.k.a. "For Love One Dies" (International: English title) | Leyla | Carlo Carunchio | Film | [173] |
| 1982 | Via degli specchi (Italy: Original title) a.k.a. "Die Straße der Spiegel" (Germany: German title) | Veronica | Giovanna Gagliardo | Film, co-starring withClaudio Bigagli andNicole Garcia | [174] |
| 1986 | Mon beau-frère a tué ma soeur (France: Original title) a.k.a. "My Brother-in-Law Killed My Sister" (International: English title) | Renata Palozzi | Jacques Rouffio | Film, co-starring withMichel Serrault andMichel Piccoli | [175] |
| 1988 | "Wherever You Are... [pl]" a.k.a. "Au-delà du vertige" (France: French title) | Italian diplomat's wife | Krzysztof Zanussi | Film, starringJulian Sands | [176] |
| 1988 | Prisonnières (France: Original title) a.k.a. "Women in Prison" (International: English title) | Lucie Germon | Charlotte Silvera | Film | [177] |
| 1991 | Amaurose (Germany: Original title) | Dieter Funk | Film | [178] | |
| 1995 | Celluloid a.k.a."Celluloide" (Italy: Original title) | Italiancountess | Carlo Lizzani | Film, starringGiancarlo Giannini andMassimo Ghini | [179] |
| 1995 | Tod für fünf Stimmen (Germany: Original title) a.k.a. "Death for Five Voices" (International: English title) | Maria d'Avalos | Werner Herzog | Film, based on the life and music ofCarlo Gesualdo | [180] |
| Year(s) | Title | Role | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | Il Cantatutto | Television presenter | [181] |
| 1983 | Al paradise | Television presenter | [182] |
Chevalier of the National Order of the Legion of Honour of the French Republic — Paris, 11 September 2009
Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic — Rome, byPresident of the Italian RepublicGiorgio Napolitano, 2 June 2007
Officer of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany —Berlin, 2006
Officier of theOrdre des Arts et des Lettres — Paris, 1995
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