by Maria Volpe
He is 88 years old, on January 13 he will continue his tour in Bologna, with an all-female orchestra: I don’t compete with women and I don’t have envy, I don’t know if that’s solidarity. sorority? No, I don’t think so
The class, the charm, the elegance of Ornella Vanoni at 88 is unsettling. It’ll be for the old advice her mother gave her: a little makeup, a little heels. Sitting on an armchair in the living room of her Milan home, wearing a sober beige cashmere robe, random red curls, an unmistakable voice and a newfound smile. Next to her the inevitable Ondina, the black poodle she never parted with. A woman with an intense, exciting, passionate, sometimes painful life. She recently underwent thigh surgery and has already returned to tour to enchant the Teatro degli Arcimboldi in Milan.
They said it was very sensual
It will be for this gorgeous dress from the Dior archives. Everything white. I’ve worn it in black before.
On this new tour, accompanied by an all-female orchestra, Paolo Fresu told me about it and I said: why not? unusual for Italy. The fantastic pianist; there is a very good Iranian, the beautiful Neapolitan drummer. But whether they are good artists makes no difference to me, men or women.
Do you believe in solidarity between women?
I don’t compete and I don’t envy, I don’t know if that’s solidarity. sorority? No, I don’t think so. There are girlfriends who can become sisters, other women with whom there is no emotional exchange.
Christmas makes them happy. Or melancholic?
When you are little, everything is wonderful. Then when you grow up and have parents, maybe sick ones, there is an enforced joy. For family reasons, I had a sad Christmas for a long time. I’m happy this year. I spend it with my son Cristiano and his partner.
And her beloved grandchildren. You have a boundless love for Matteo, don’t you?
True. A boundless love, replies. Maybe because the first grandchild. It has a solar character, a burst of light. Mind you, I also adore my niece, but I never see her: she travels as a cook on a sailboat. a free, brave being.
Ornella seems cuter: does time pass?
If you let it pass without filling it, it’s no use. I put so much sweetness in it.
I got married dressed in yellow and thought of Gino Paoli whom I still loved. I TOLD THE LAWYER THEY WOULD ALL DIE FOR THEM, I WON’T. HE LAUGHED
Your image of a strong woman
i’m not that strong I am brave. The pandemic has made me strong. I also had heart surgery, then a femur. I strengthened myself. And sweetened together.
She doesn’t want to talk about her past anymore. Too often they asked her about her love. Only allow a few parentheses. When did you meet Giorgio Strehler?
I was a little girl and I went to the theater with him, who lent me carnival costumes. Then I entered the Scuola del Piccolo Teatro and we fell in love. I learned so much watching Giorgio work. It was a powerful, formative experience. But our love story caused a scandal: he is much older and married. I was mistreated for this relationship.
Why did she leave Giorgio?
I was at the Spoleto Festival. Luchino Visconti introduced me to Renato Salvatori (the actor of Poveri ma belli), he was a great jerk. They took photos of us together and the riot broke out. Giorgio was angry, he stalked me on the landline phone. The truth is that by that point our relationship had already ended. I wasn’t tired of him, but of something he was doing that I didn’t like anymore…
drugs, cocaine?
I don’t feel like talking about it anymore. Of course, Giorgio loved me like no other.
Even Gino Paoli wasn’t joking. He dedicated a huge song to her like Senza Fine. What was affected?
From my big hands
And what impressed you?
He was an ugly boy dressed in black with a high Rive Gauche collar. And I felt what I feel when I’m close to a “true talent.”
Then there was the marriage in 1960 to the impresario Lucio Ardenzi (and their son Cristiano was born in 1962)
I was very confused… I went to the altar dressed in yellow and thought of Gino Paoli whom I loved. The night before I wanted to blow everything up and run away. But all my friends tell me: “You can’t do this, you can’t, you have to get married in the morning”. In short, I combined mess after mess.
She broke hearts… Thanks to her sensuality and charm, she had a great gift for conquering men. Didn’t the lawyer Agnelli ever court you?
I sang for the Aga Khan and the lawyer was there that night too. At the end of the evening you lean me against the wall. I told him: “Anyone would die for her, I wouldn’t”. He laughed.
The cinema?
The ugliest movie I did was the one with Ugo Tognazzi, but I had a lot of fun.
A film you wish you had made?
Undoubtedly, Emma Thompson’s latest film My Pleasure is a great film about sexuality and female empowerment. With the final scene of autoeroticism. It is these roles that bring women’s courage forward.
What comes to mind when I say Milan?
I love Milan but I don’t love it like I used to. Those skyscrapers that I think are half empty. Too many cars, too much hysteria.
Of the people who are no longer here, who do you miss the most?
My mother and my father. And Sergio Bardotti (great author and lyricist who died in 2007, editor’s note). We had a crazy bond: he was curious, I was curious, together we achieved great things: I sang all American jazz musicians. He drank and smoked a lot. But what could I do?
Does the Sanremo Festival bring you good memories?
I don’t remember the years I was in the race because I was too scared. The saddest memory is the one linked to Tenco: I saw him strangely that evening, I said to his friends: “Stay close to Luigi”. The best memory is that of superhosting in 2021. I had a lot of fun.
On January 13th he will continue his tour in Bologna.
A city I adore, even if I love it less since Lucio Dalla died. Another city that I love madly is Naples, I adore the character of the Neapolitans.
What do you want to do in 2023?
Writing books and acting, cinema and theatre.
Are you not afraid of work? Are you afraid of the emptiness?
I’m very afraid of the void, especially here in Milan. If I were with a friend or companion and lots of animals, I would love to live in the country. I would move spontaneously.
January 1, 2023 (change January 1, 2023 | 08:03)
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