Born Maria Ilva Biolcati in Goro on July 17, 1939, singer and actress
Milva reigned for decades among the most popular and far-ranging performers in her native Italy. At 20, she beat out more than 7,000 rivals to claim top honors in an influential talent showcase, and in 1960 cut her debut single, a cover of
Édith Piaf's "Milord." In 1961
Milva earned third place at the influential San Remo Music Festival. A year later she came in second and returned to the competition often in the years to follow despite never earning first prize. In 1962
Milva headlined Paris' legendary Olympia Theatre, performing a set of
Piaf songs to rapturous reception. Soon after, she befriended actor and director
Giorgo Strehler, who nurtured her interest in musical theater and encouraged the expansion of her repertoire, recommending works spanning from the Italian resistance movement to
Bertolt Brecht.
Milva would become the first actress outside of Germany to prove successful in
Brecht adaptations, in addition moving into film, appearing in Mario Mattoli's musical comedy Appuntamento in Riviera. She remained a remarkably eclectic and adventurous performer in the years to follow, collaborating with composers including
Luciano Berio,
Ennio Morricone,
Mikis Theodorakis, and
Ástor Piazzolla, and performing at venues including Milan's La Scala, Berlin's Deutsche Opera, London's Royal Albert Hall, and even the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. With 1981's
Ich Hab Keine Angst,
Milva inaugurated a long-running collaboration with electronic composer
Vangelis. In the years to follow, she also worked on a recurring basis with composer
Franco Battiato. With the death of
Strehler,
Milva curtailed her theatrical pursuits, although she continued exploring new musical directions, collaborating with
Thanos Mikroutsikos,
James Last, and Giorgio Faletti.
Milva died on April 23, 2021 at her home in Milan at the age of 81. ~ Jason Ankeny