APRIL 24, 2021

of M. A. Avveduto

 

When we talk about Milva we are talking about the absolute Italian red. The "panther of Goro" as it was nicknamed was absolutely the "Queen" of Italian music. Sensual and warm voice that enveloped the sensual red of her hair.
Maria Ilva Biolcati this was the real name of the artist born in Goro on July 17, 1939 and passed away today, April 23, 2021.
Her fame has been amazing abroad, where other Italian artists have always found laurels, and we are talking about Germany, France, Japan, South Korea, South America, Spain and Greece.
Milva has a career of over fifty years behind her, recording an unspeakable number of songs.
Over the course of her career, she has sold around 80 million records worldwide, recording 173 albums that have made her go down in the history of music as the artist with the greatest number of albums made.
Her greatness as an artist has been coined by very illustrious international awards.
In fact, she is the only Italian artist to be both "Officer of the Ordre des arts et des lettres" which was delivered to her in Paris in 1995), and "Officer of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany" delivered to her in Berlin in 2006, both "Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic" delivered to her in Rome in 2007, and lastly "Knight of the Legion of Honor of the French Republic" delivered to her in Paris in 2009.
Milva was part of the quartet of great Italian performers formed by Mina nicknamed "The Tiger of Cremona", by Iva Zanicchi nicknamed "L'Aquila di Ligonchio" and Orietta Berti nicknamed "L'Usignolo di Cavriago".
Milva was nicknamed "La Rossa" both for her hair color and for her leftist passion.
In fact, Milva was a great admirer of Enrico Berlinguer.
In 1980 she also released an album called "La Rossa" dedicated to the singer Enzo Jannacci who wrote the song "La Rossa" for her.
In 1959 Milva triumphed in a competition of new voices of Rai, arriving first on 7600 participants with the songs "Acque amo" by Carla Boni and "December brought me a song" by Nilla Pizzi.
Thus he began to record records for the well-known "Cetra" record company.
In 1961 she participated in Sanremo arriving in third place with the song "The sea in the drawer".
Also in 1961 he participated in the well-known singing event called "June of the Neapolitan Song" and won the first prize with the song "Credere" by Nunzio Gallo and also the second prize with the song "Mare verde" sung in tandem with Mario Trevi.
In 1962 she comes in second place with "Italian Tango" which also comes in first place in the 45 rpm ranking.
Milva immediately conquers enormous popularity and becomes Mina's historical rival, even if this rivalry has always been denied by Milva herself.
In 1960 she records "Milord" from Edith Piaf's repertoire and dedicates an entire LP to Piaf with her songs translated into Italian.
Milva thus becomes one of the most significant heirs of the French interpreter, obtaining many triumphs at the Olympia in Paris.
In 1962, she recorded "La filanda", a cover of the greatest Portuguese singer Amália Rodrigues.
She participates in the Sanremo Festival with the song "Tango Italiano" ranking in second place and the song "Tonight at the funfair".
Following her participation in the Italian Song Festival, Milva receives a proposal from Bruno Coquatrix, historical patron of the "Olympia" in Paris, who calls her for an exceptional debut in the city of love.
She continues to record LPs and in 1965 she records LP entitled "Canti della liberty" which contains the first version of the popular song "Bella Ciao" that Milva a few years later she will propose in a new interpretation to Canzonissima.
From 1966 to 1993 she released her under the record label "Ricordi".
Milva also approaches acting, working in the theater alongside Gino Bramieri and David Riondino up to the great Giorgio Strehler who becomes an important figure for Milva's artistic growth.
Lei milva specializes in the interpretation of the Brechtian theatrical repertoire, thus becoming the greatest Italian interpreter and one of the most appreciated internationally. Milva has dedicated four recording projects and countless theatrical recitals to Bertolt Brecht's songs.
We remember in particular in 1973 the interpretation of the same in the role of "Jenny of the Pirates" in the staging of "The Threepenny Opera".
She does not abandon her musical career that follows at the same time, recording important albums to which Ennio Morricone collaborates who dedicates an LP entitled "Dedicated to Milva by Ennio Morricone", and others such as Francis Lai, Mikīs Theodōrakīs, Vangelis, Enzo Jannacci and Franco Battiato.
In the 1980s, Milva enriched collaborations with prestigious artists such as Luciano Berio performing at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan and at the Teatro Comunale in Florence, and with Astor Piazzolla, Andrea Zanzotto, Umberto Eco and Emilio Villa.
Also in the 80s she is the protagonist of the serial variety "Palcoscenico" directed by Antonello Falqui and alongside Heather Parisi and Oreste Lionello.
In 1981 she began her partnership with Franco Battiato, realizing her greatest commercial success "Milva e dintorni".
The album's promotion track is "Alexander Platz" which becomes famous throughout most of the world and is translated into several languages.
With Franco Battiato she also released in 1989 a second album "Waking up the sleeping lover".
In the 90s she participated in Sanremo with the album "Sono felice" and three years later with the song "Men addosso".
In 1993 she returns to the theater with the opera "Il bat" where she plays the character of Prince Orlofsky which is staged at the Teatro Massimo Vincenzo Bellini in Catania.
In 1999 she duets with the singer Al Bano.
In 2004 she collaborated with the poet Alda Merini and made an album entirely dedicated to the poet's lyrics.
Milva's last participation in the "Sanremo Festival" dates back to 2007 with the song "The show must go on" by Giorgio Faletti.
In 2010 he released a new album with Franco Battiato.
With this album Milva announces the farewell to the scenes with regard to live performances.
His last interview dates back to October 31, 2010 given to Massimo Giletti during the broadcast "L'arena".
In 2018 she is awarded a "Lifetime Achievement Award" at the "Sanremo Festival" which collects her daughter.
The idea for the award was by the singer and showman Cristiano Malgioglio.
On the occasion of her 80th birthday, Milva gives an interview to "Corriere della Sera" in which she tells how she carries out her life in her home in Milan in the company of her daughter Martina and her assistant Edith. .
In 2020 Milva makes her last musical appearance with a cameo for the Covid-19 emergency in the video clip "Domani è Primavera" by Dario Gay.
As for her private life, we can tell you that in 1961 she married the director Maurizio Corgnati, who was born on August 1st 1917 and died on March 30th 1992.
In 1963 from the marriage with Corgnati she was born to her daughter Martina who is a curator and art critic.
In 1969 Milva leaves her husband even though she defines him as the most important man in her life.
Thanks to her union with her director husband, Milva comes into contact with cultural environments that lead her to a very relevant artistic evolution.
Milva later had an affair with the actor Mario Piave, with the lyricist Massimo Gallerani and with the actor and voice actor Luigi Pistilli, the latter considered to be one of the best interpreters of Bertolt Brecht's works.
The grandiose and extraordinary "redhead" Milva left us today, April 23, 2021, at the age of 81 while she was in her home in Milan.
Condolences to her daughter for the loss of her mother and to all of us for the loss of an extraordinary artist.

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