Oceans 12 fame singer Ornella Vanoni passes away at 91

Italian music legend Ornella Vanoni passed away on Friday, November 21, 2025, at her home in Milan. She was 91 and died of cardiac arrest, according to reports from Corriere della Sera and AGI news agency. Known for her warm, distinctive voice and a career spanning more than seven decades, Vanoni became a beloved figure not only in Italy but worldwide after her hit “L’appuntamento” was featured in Steven Soderbergh’s 2004 film Ocean’s Twelve.

Who was Ornella Vanoni?

Ornella Vanoni was born on 22 September 1934 in Milan, the daughter of a pharmaceutical entrepreneur. Her privileged upbringing gave her access to education in Switzerland, Britain and France, where she picked up German, English and French. Though her family wanted her to pursue a stable career, young Ornella felt drawn to the arts. She first stepped onto the stage as an actress under the mentorship of director Giorgio Strehler at Milan’s famed Piccolo Teatro, where she performed Brecht and other classics.

The remarkable creations of Ornella Vanoni

Her transition to music happened in the late 1950s. Early on, she sang folk songs that painted Milan’s underbelly, earning the nickname “Cantante della mala” (singer of the underworld). Her breakthrough came in 1961 with “Senza fine”, a song that still echoes in Italian playlists. Over the years she racked up hits like “Domani è un altro giorno” (1971) and “L’appuntamento”, the Italian version of the Brazilian “Sentado à beira do caminho” by Erasmo Carlos and Roberto Carlos. The latter, released in 1970, gained a second life when it was placed on the soundtrack of Ocean’s Twelve, introducing her music to a global audience.

More about Ornella Vanoni

Vanoni’s career was marked by versatility. She collaborated with Brazilian legends Toquinho and Vinicius de Moraes, recorded jazz pieces with George Benson, and worked with Italian greats such as Gino Paoli, Fabrizio De André and Paolo Conte. Her discography includes more than 40 studio albums and over 55 million records sold worldwide. In addition to music, she remained close to fashion, counting Gianni Versace, Giorgio Armani and Valentino among her friends.

Story Highlights

  1. Italian music icon Ornella Vanoni passed away at the age of 91 due to cardiac arrest at her home in Milan.
  2. She gained worldwide recognition when her song “L’appuntamento” was featured in Ocean’s Twelve (2004).
  3. Vanoni’s career spanned over seven decades, with more than 40 albums and 55 million records sold globally.
  4. She began as an actress at Milan’s Piccolo Teatro, later becoming known as the “Cantante della mala” for her early folk songs.

Ornella Vanoni leaves behind an extraordinary legacy built on her unmistakable voice, artistic versatility and fearless creative choices.

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