Ornella Vanoni, Defining Voice of Italian Pop, Dies at 91 in Milan

Overview

• She died Friday night of cardiac arrest at her home in Milan, according to Italian media reports.
• Her seven-decade career produced signature songs such as L'appuntamento, the Italian version of a Brazilian hit by Erasmo and Roberto Carlos.
• She moved from stage to song after training under director Giorgio Strehler at Milan's Piccolo Teatro.
• Reported totals credit her with more than 50–55 million records sold and about 40 studio albums, including a Sanremo lifetime honor in 1999.
• Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli and Chamber President Lorenzo Fontana issued condolences, and coverage noted her stated wishes for a low-cost coffin, cremation, and ashes scattered at sea.