In Sora, a town of 24,884 inhabitants in the province of Frosinone, known in Italian pop as the birthplace of Anna Tatangelo (but also the great Vittorio De Sica was born in Sora: today a plaque commemorates his birthplace in the center of the town) On the day of the finale of The Voice Senior, the Mayor Luca Di Stefano sent 3 sail trucks through the streets with the singer’s big face and instructions for televoting to help her win the third edition of the Rai1 talent show (23, 57% market share and 3.6 million viewers for the final).
Maria Teresa Reale, 61, triumphed with 34.19% of the preferences, beating the competition of Lisa Manosperti (23.07%), rocker Alex Sure (23.07%) with the cover of Alex Britti’s “Oggi sono io” 04% ) and Emilio Paolo Piluso (19.70%): “I didn’t expect this noise. On Saturday, when I came back, they greeted me with a big party: friends and acquaintances of their lives were there. I found a whole city partying,” Maria Teresa smiles.
Have you returned from Milan yet?
“Yes. On Monday I have to go to Via Teulada for my premiere, which will be moderated on TV, at the studio of ‘Today is another day’ by Serena Bortone. I took the train back from Milan on Saturday after the final. My friends picked me up by car at the train station. I’m still amazed. At home I could finally pet my 24 cats again. You know, they all bear the names of great composers or opera characters: Amadeus, Mozart, Chopin, Alfredo and Violetta like the protagonists from Giuseppe Verdi’s “Traviata”… The only one who has a different name is Clementino (laughs)”.
Didn’t he name it after his coach at The Voice Senior?
«No, not at all: I had it before. But I feel like I have to thank Clementino for the path he gave me in the program: he’s a great fun guy, as you can see. With a great culture. The other jurors Gigi D’Alessio, Ricchi e Poveri and Loredana Bertè were also charming: it was an experience that I will always carry in my heart».
How much will his life change?
“I hope not much. Also because I signed up to get involved at a difficult moment in my life, to get out of a kind of lethargy».
stories.
“Before joining The Voice Senior I had stopped singing for eight years. After the death of my partner Gabriele, with whom I had performed for forty years, I hung up the microphone. We met when I was 14. i was a little girl He played the saxophone, I sang. We’ve come a long way together. His death was a shock.”
Was it a sudden disappearance?
“Yes. One afternoon he went to play football. They called me: “Run to the hospital: Gabriele is dead”. It was April 25, 2015. I never recovered ».
How did The Voice Senior get there?
«One day I was having lunch with my friend Grazia Di Michele, who often comes to the Academy to give master classes to students. A rerun of The Voice Senior was on TV and we recognized Claudia Arvati, a mutual friend of ours, a historical backup singer to Claudio Baglioni and Renato Zero, who sadly passed away last December from a serious illness. Grazia said to me: “But why don’t you try to participate too?”. It was supposed to be a game: in the end I won».
When did you realize that something actually happened to The Voice Senior?
“When I qualified for the final. But I had no who-knows-what expectations: I thought the favorite was Lisa Manosperti. However, the result of the televoting was overwhelming. The cover of ‘Oggi sono io’ helped me a lot: I also got messages from Australia and Canada».
Have they already told you what will happen now?
«Whoever wins The Voice Senior has the right to sign a single with Universal, one of the most important Italian record companies. They haven’t contacted me yet (laughs). I want to make one thing clear.”
Which?
«I have no intention of abandoning the students at my singing academy. They are like children to me.”
Did Anna Tatangelo also go through your academy?
“NO. But I’ve seen her grow. From time to time he participated in the evenings we had with Gabriele around Sora: he also sang with us. It was clear that there was talent.”
What was your secret of success at The Voice Senior?
“I haven’t sold myself.”
What does that mean?
«I was true to myself: real in name and in fact (laughs). I also recommend this to the children who attend my academy: “Always put your head on your shoulders and your feet firmly on the floor. And don’t pretend: being phenomenal will never get you anywhere,” I tell him”.
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