Milva

Milva
Milva in 2005
Background information
Birth name	Maria Ilva Biolcati
Also known as	Milva La Rossa, Grande Milva, La Pantera di Goro
Born	July 17, 1939 (1939-07-17) (age 72) Goro, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
Genres	Pop, schlager, tango, nuevo tango, chanson, easy listening, opera, rock
Occupations	Singer, actress, TV personality
Years active	1959–present
Labels	Cetra, Ricordi, Metronome, BMG Ricordi, BMG Ariola, BMG
Associated acts	Ástor Piazzolla, Ennio Morricone, Thanos Mikroutsikos, Mikis Theodorakis, James Last, Enzo Jannacci, Luciano Berio, Franco Battiato, Francis Lai, Shinji Tanimura, Vangelis
Website	www.MilvaLaRossa.com

Maria Ilva Biolcati Commander (Italian pronunciation: [maˈriːa ilˈva bjolˈka:ti]; born July 17, 1939), known as Milva, is an Italian singer, actress and television personality. She is also known as 'La Rossa', (Italian for 'The Red'), due to the colour of her hair, and additionally as the 'Panther of Goro', which stems from the Italian press having nicknamed the three most popular Italian female singers of the 1960s, combining the names of animals and the singers' birth places. The other two were Mina, 'The Tiger of Cremona', and Iva Zanicchi, 'The Eagle of Ligonchio'.

Popular in Italy and abroad, she has triumphed on musical and theatrical stages the world over, and has received popular acclaim in her native Italy, and particularly in Germany where she has often participated in musical events and televised musical programmes. She has also released numerous successful albums in France, Japan, Korea, Greece, Spain and South America.

Having received enormous success both in Italy and internationally, she remains to this day one of the most popular Italian personalities in the fields of music and theatre. Her artisic stature has been officially recognised by the Italian, German and French republics, each of which have bestowed her with the highest honours. She is the only Italian artist in contemporary times, in fact, who is simultaenously: 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 and Officier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Paris, 1995).

Biography

Maria Ilva Biolcati was born in Goro, province of Ferrara, Italy.

In 1959, Milva 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 with Cetra Records: Édith Piaf's song "Milord". Her real debut was on the stage of the Sanremo Music Festival in 1961, where she took third place. She has competed at the Festival a total of 15 times, the last time of which was in 2007. The highest position she has reached is second place in 1962, but she has never won to date.

Salvatore Mazzocco - Milva - Mario Trevi (1961)

In 1965, a fortunate meeting led to a definitive change in her career: Italian director Giorgio Strehler helped to develop her skills in staging and singing in Italian theatres (especially the Piccolo Teatro in Milan) and she began to perform a more committed repertoire (songs of the Italian resistance movement, songs from Bertolt Brecht's pieces, etc.). In the following years she starred in Giorgio Strehler's production of Brecht's The Threepenny Opera which was performed in several cities of Western Europe. Milva's albums were certificated gold and platinum in West Germany. In 2006 she was awarded with the First Class of the Bundesverdienstkreuz^[1]

In 1962 Milva was the first singer to sing Édith Piaf's repertoire at the prestigious Olympia theatre in Paris. In 1983 she performed the repertoire at the venue again and again received an ovation from the audience and the French press, very surprised how a non-French artist could interpret with such a feeling and energy the songs of Piaf.

She is a highly eclectic artist, performing both pop music, opera (in duet with Luciano Berio), comedy, drama, TV shows (Al Paradise in 1983 won the Rose d'Or of the Montreux Film Festival) and musicals. She also occasionally appeared in some Italian movies of the 1960s, like La bellezza di Ippolita with Gina Lollobrigida. From 1973 to 1980, Milva is on tour (Italy, USA, Greece, France, Germany, Canada, Russia and Japan) with the band "I Milvi" composed by Neno Vinciguerra on piano, Franco Paganelli on guitar, Claudio Barontini on bass, Giovanni Martelli on drums and Marco Gasperetti on flute. The entire band becomes Livorno "Black and Withe" when in concert joins the gospels of the New Folkstudio Singer composed Lois Cantor, Hazel Rogers Nat Bush, Eddie and Jesse Hawkins.

Her singing career has become more complex and various year by year, thanks to the collaboration with the European composers and musicians including Ennio 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, Franco Battiato in 1982 and 1986.

Milva in 2009

Her stage productions of Bertolt Brecht's recitals and Luciano Berio's operas have toured the world's theatres. She has performed at La Scala in Milan, at the Deutsche Oper in Berlin, at the Paris Opera, in the Royal Albert Hall in London, at the 1984 Summer Olympics, at the Edinburgh Festival, and others.

In 1984 she performed (with Ástor Piazzolla) the show El tango in the Les Bouffes du Nord Theatre in Paris. This was the beginning of a collaboration, interpreting the nuevo tango.

In 1997 her mentor Giorgio Strehler died. She temporarily reduced her theatre activities and focused on music only. She received new inspiration collaborating with Thanos Mikroutsikos, James Last and Shinji Tanimura. Then she performed her fourteenth tour in Japan.

Her 2004 CD and tour was dedicated to the Milanese poetess Alda Merini to whose poetry the music was set.

Milva has a daughter named Martina born in the marriage with Maurizio Corgnati in the early 1960s.

Discography

Albums

Studio albums

14 Successi di Milva (1961) Milva canta per voi (1962) Le Canzoni del Tabarin - Canzoni da Cortile (1963) Canti della libertà (1965) Milva (1966) Milva (1967) Tango (1968) Angeli in bandiera (1969, with Gino Bramieri) Un sorriso (1969) Milva singt Tangos deutsch und italienisch (1969) Ritratto di Milva (1970) Milva Canta Brecht (1971) Dedicato a Milva da Ennio Morricone (1972) Love Feeling in Japan (ミルバ日本の愛を歌う) (Milva, Nippon no ai o utau) (1972) Sognavo, amore mio (1973, lyrics and music by Francis Lai) Sono matta da legare (1974) Libertà (1975) Milva Brecht Volume 2 (1975) Auf den Flügeln bunter Träume (1977) Milva (1977) Von Tag zu Tag (1978, with Mikis Theodorakis) La Mia Età (1979, with Mikis Theodorakis) Was ich denke (1979) Wenn wir uns wiederseh'n (1979) Attends la vie (1980) La rossa (1980, with Enzo Jannacci) Milva International (1980) Ich hab' keine Angst (1981, with Vangelis) Moi, je n'ai pas peur (1981, with Vangelis) Immer mehr (1982) Milva e dintorni (1982, with Franco Battiato) Milva e dintorni (1982, French version with Franco Battiato)

Die sieben Todsünden der Kleinbürger (1983) Identikit (1983) Unverkennbar (1983) Corpo a corpo (1985) Mut zum Risiko (1985) Geheimnisse (1986, with Vangelis) Tra due sogni (1986, with Vangelis) Milva Canta Della Giapponesi (1987) Milva - Vento di Mezzanotte (1988) Unterwegs nach Morgen (1988, written by Tony Carey & Peter Maffay) The Threepenny Opera (1989) as Pirate Jenny Svegliando l'amante che dorme (1989, with Franco Battiato, Italian version) Una storia inventata (1989, with Franco Battiato, German version) Una historia inventada (1989, with Franco Battiato, Spanish version) Ein Kommen und Gehen (1990) Gefühl & Verstand (1991) Milva History 1960–1990 (1992) Uomini addosso (1993) Café Chantant (1994) La storia di Zaza (1994) Milva & James Last — Dein ist mein ganzes Herz (1994) Volpe d'amore (Milva sings Thanos Mikroutsikos) (1994) Tausendundeine Nacht (1995) Fammi Luce — Milva ha incontrato Shinji (Tanimura) (1996) Milva Canta un Nuovo Brecht (1996) Mia Bella Napoli (1997) Stark sein (1999) Artisti (2001) La chanson française (2004) Milva canta Merini (2004, lyrics by Alda Merini, music by Giovanni Nuti) In territorio nemico (2007, lyrics and music by Giorgio Faletti) Non conosco nessun Patrizio (2010, music by Franco Battiato) La variante di Lüneburg (2011)

Live albums

• Da Il Cantatutto con Milva e Villa (1963)
• Milva-Villa live in Japan (1968)
• Milva on Stage — Live in Tokyo at Serkey Hall (1970)
• Milva in Seoul (Live, 1972)
• Canzoni Tra Le Due Guerre (1978)
• Das Konzert (1982)
• Milva & Ástor Piazzolla — Live at the Bouffes du Nord (1984)
• Das Beste Milva Live (1988)
• Milva Dramatic Recital (Best Live in Japan) (1992)
• El Tango de Ástor Piazzolla live in Japan (1998)
• Live and More (1988, Milva Collectors' Club, limited edition album)

VHS video releases

• El tango: Milva and Ástor Piazzolla (Live at the Bouffes du Nord, 1984) (Seven Seas KIVM 242) (1998) (Japan)
• Das beste Milva live - In Concert (Metronome CDV 080534-1) (CDV, 1988) / Metronome VHS 080648-3 (VHS, 1988)
• Canzoni tra le due guerre (Ricordi 800648-3) (1989)
• Video rai Alta Classe Milva (1992)
• Milva canta Brecht BMG Ariola 74321 91723 3 (VHS, 2002)
• Artisti BMG Ariola 74321 91723 3 (VHS, 2002)

DVD video releases

• Artisti - Das Beste von gestern und heute (BMG Ariola 74321 91723 9) (DVD, 2004)
• Milva canta Merini (Live in Milan al Piccolo Teatro) (Nar International NARDV 10205 9) (DVD, 2005)
• El Tango - Live in Barcelona (DVD)
• El Tango de Ástor Piazzolla (& tangoseis, Concierto - Palau de la Musica Junio de 2005 Barcelona) (Unicas NR 005) (DVD, 2006)
• Milva canta Brecht (BMG Ariola 74321 91723 9) (DVD, 2009)

Songs

1960 Flamenco Rock 1960 Les Enfants du Pirée (Uno a te, uno a me) 1960 Milord 1960 Arlecchino gitano 1961 Il mare nel cassetto 1961 Al di la 1961 Tango della gelosia 1961 Venise que j'aime by Jean Cocteau 1961 Il primo mattino del mondo 1961 Et maintenant 1962 Tango italiano 1962 Quattro vestiti by Ennio Morricone 1962 Stanotte al luna park 1962 La risposta della novia 1962 Abat-jour 1963 Ricorda 1963 Non sapevo 1963 Balocchi e Profumi 1963 Tango delle capinere 1965 Bella ciao 1966 Nessuno di voi 1966 Blue Spanish Eyes 1966 Little Man 1966 Tamburino, ciao 1967 Dipingi un mondo per me 1967 Love Is A Feeling (Co-composed by Pino Donaggio) / Seasons Of Love (UK Major Minor MM510 Sung in English) 1968 Canzone by Don Backy 1969 Un Sorriso 1970 Iptissam 1970 Canzoni di Edith Piaf 1971 Surabaya Johnny 1971 La Filanda (her best selling song ever) 1972 È per colpa tua 1973 Da troppo tempo

1974 Monica delle bambole 1977 Non piangere più Argentina by Andrew Lloyd Webber 1978 Zusammenleben by Mikis Theodorakis 1979 Typisch Mann 1979 Libertà (Freiheit in meiner Sprache) 1980 La Rossa by Enzo Jannacci 1981 Alexanderplatz by Franco Battiato 1981 Poggibonsi by Franco Battiato 1981 Ich hab keine Angst by Vangelis 1981 Du hast es gut 1982 Immer mehr 1982 Wieder mal 1983 Hurra, wir leben noch 1985 Die Kraft unserer Liebe 1985 Nein ich ergeb mich nicht 1985 Marinero 1986 Du gibst mir mehr (Canto a Lloret) 1988 Wenn der Wind sich dreht 1988 Komm zurück zu mir 1989 Potemkin by Franco Battiato 1990 Sono felice 1990 Ein Kommen und Gehen 1992 Ich weiß es selber nicht genau 1993 Mein Weg mit dir 1993 Uomini addosso 1994 Caruso by Lucio Dalla 1995 Tausendundeine Nacht 1995 Flauten & Stürme 1998 Rinascerò by Ástor Piazzolla 2004 Sona Nata il 21 a Primavera by Alda Merini and Giovanni Nuti 2004 I Sandali by Alda Merini and Giovanni Nuti 2007 The Show Must Go On (lyrics and music by Giorgio Faletti) 2007 Jacques

Sanremo Music Festival

This is a chronologically-ordered list of Sanremo Music Festival contests in which Milva has entered. Milva has participated 15 times in the famous music festival, held annually, tying the record for most participations along with Peppino di Capri and Toto Cutugno.

Year	Song	Partner	Composer	Place
1961	"Il mare nel cassetto"	Gino Latilla		3
1962	"Tango italiano"	Sergio Bruni		2
1962	"Stanotte al Luna Park"	Miriam del Mare		5
1963	"Ricorda"	Luciano Tajoli		5
1963	"Non sapevo"	Gianni Lecommare		10
1964	"L'ultimo tram"	Frida Boccara		N.F.
1965	"Vieni con noi"	Bernd Spier		12
1966	"Nessuno di voi"	Richard Anthony		9
1967	"Uno come noi"	Los Bravos		N.F.
1968	"Canzone"	Adriano Celentano		3
1969	"Un sorriso"	Don Backy		3
1972	"Mediterraneo"	—		12
1973	"Da troppo tempo"	—		3
1974	"Monica delle bambole"	—		4 ‡
1990	"Sono felice"	—		4 ‡
1993	"Uomini addosso"	—		N.F.
2007	"The Show Must Go On"	—		16
"—" 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.

Filmography

This is a chronologically-ordered list of films in which Milva has appeared or provided singing vocals for.

Year	Title	Character	Director	Movie Studio	Notes	Ref
1962	Canzoni a tempo di twist (Italy: Original title)		Stefano Canzio	Europa	Film	[2]
1962	La bellezza di Ippolita aka "Die schöne Ippolite" (Austria / Germany: German title) aka "La belleza de Hipólita" (Argentina / Spain: Spanish title) aka "I oraia amartoli" (Greece: Greek title) aka "La beauté d'Hippolyte" (France: French title) aka "O erotas kai i gynaika" (Greece: Greek: reissue title) aka "She Got What She Asked For" (UK: English title) aka "The Beautiful Ippolita" (undefined: English title)	Adriana	Giancarlo Zagni		Film, co-starring with Gina Lollobrigida.	[3]
1962	Appuntamento in Riviera (Italy: Original title)	Singing voice	Mario Mattoli	Serena Film	Film	[4]
1972	D'amore si muore (Italy: Original title) aka "For Love One Dies" International (English title) aka "De amor se muere" (Spain: Spanish title)	Leyla	Carlo Carunchio	Clesi Cinematografica	Film	[5]
1982	Via degli specchi (Italy: Original title) "Die Straße der Spiegel" (Germany: German title) "La rue des miroirs" (France: French title) "O dromos ton dolofonon" (Greece: Greek title) "Street of Mirrors" (English title)	Veronica	Giovanna Gagliardo	Radiotelevisione Italiana (RAI) Tangram Film	Film, co-starring with Claudio Bigagli and Nicole Garcia	[6]
1986	Mon beau-frère a tué ma soeur (France: Original title) aka "My Brother-in-law Killed My Sister" (International: English title) aka "They've Killed Her!" (UK: festival title)	Renata Palozzi	Jacques Rouffio	Cinéproduction France 3 Cinéma Société des Etablissements L. Gaumont	Film, co-starring with Michel Serrault and Michel Piccoli	[7]
1988	"Wherever You Are..." "Au-delà du vertige" (France: French title) "Gdzieskolwiek jest, jeslis jest" (Poland: Polish title) "Onde Quer que Estejas" (Portugal: Portuguese title) "Wo immer du bist" (Germany: German title)	Italian diplomat's wife	Krzysztof Zanussi	AAA Classic (1989) (France) (English with subtitles) Asociace Ceských Filmových Klubu (ACFK) (Czech Republic) Columbia Pictures (USA)	Film, starring Julian Sands	[8]
1988	Prisonnières (France: Original title) aka "Women in Prison" (International: English title)	Lucie Germon	Charlotte Silvera	Capital Cinéma	Film	[9]
1991	Amaurose (Germany: Original title)		Dieter Funk	TAG/TRAUM Filmproduktion Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR)	Film	[10]
1995	Celluloid aka "Celluloide" (Italy: Original title) aka "Celuloide" (Argentina: Spanish title)		Carlo Lizzani	Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (video) Civite Films (Spain) Primer Plano Film Group (Argentina)	Film, starring Giancarlo Giannini and Massimo Ghini	[11]

Honours

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

Officier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres — Paris, 1995

See also

Biography portal

• List of Italian actresses
• List of Légion d'honneur recipients by name
• List of members of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
• The Threepenny Opera
• Sanremo Music Festival

References

1. ^ "Milva live — Gestern und Heute" (in German). Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe. 29 April 2008. http://www.staatstheater.karlsruhe.de/programm07_08/index.php?id_titel=715&show=presse. Retrieved 19 September 2008. 
2. ^ Canzoni a tempo di twist. IMDb. Retrieved 07-08-2010.
3. ^ La bellezza di Ippolita. IMDb. Retrieved 07-08-2010.
4. ^ Appuntamento in Riviera. IMDb. Retrieved 07-10-2011.
5. ^ D'amore si muore. IMDb. Retrieved 07-08-2010.
6. ^ Via degli specchi. IMDb. Retrieved 07-08-2010.
7. ^ Mon beau-frère a tué ma sœur. IMDb. Retrieved 07-08-2010.
8. ^ Wherever You Are.... IMDb. Retrieved 07-08-2010.
9. ^ Women in Prison. IMDb. Retrieved 07-08-2010.
10. ^ Amaurose. IMDb. Retrieved 07-08-2010.
11. ^ Celluloide. IMDb. Retrieved 07-08-2010.

External links

Official

• Official website (English) (Italian) (German)

Discography

• Complete international discography
• International mailing list and message board (English)

Biographies

• Milva at Allmusic
• Milva at Last.fm
• Milva at Billboard.com

Filmography

• Milva at the Internet Movie Database
• Milva at AllRovi

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