Antonella Ruggiero
Encyclopedia
Biography
Antonella Ruggiero was born in GenoaGenoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
, Liguria
Liguria
Liguria is a coastal region of north-western Italy, the third smallest of the Italian regions. Its capital is Genoa. It is a popular region with tourists for its beautiful beaches, picturesque little towns, and good food.-Geography:...
and made her first recording, Io Matia ("I Matia" in English), in 1974. Matia is the stage name under which Antonella Ruggiero officially began her solo career with the first and rare 45 rpm vinyl record, however had already collaborated (unofficially) with the Jet in their LP vinyl record Faith, Hope and Charity lending her leading voice in the choruses. It was from the union of some members of both the Jet and Matia that in 1975 the Matia Bazar
Matia Bazar
Matia Bazar is an Italian musical group formed in Genoa in 1975. The original members of the group are Piero Cassano, Aldo Stellita and Carlo Marrale. Antonella Ruggiero was the first singer in the group. The group represented Italy in the 1979 Eurovision Song Contest with a song called Raggio di...
were born.
She is classified as a light soprano and has extraordinary vocal range; capable of singing in 4 octaves.
In 1975 with Piero Cassano (voice and keyboards), Aldo Stellita (bass), Giancarlo Golzi (drums), Carlo Marrale (voice and guitars) she gave birth to the historical group Matia Bazar
Matia Bazar
Matia Bazar is an Italian musical group formed in Genoa in 1975. The original members of the group are Piero Cassano, Aldo Stellita and Carlo Marrale. Antonella Ruggiero was the first singer in the group. The group represented Italy in the 1979 Eurovision Song Contest with a song called Raggio di...
. Pop hits from the band included: “Ma perché”, “Solo tu”, “Per un’ora d’amore”, “Stasera che sera”, “Cavallo bianco”, “Il video sono io”, “Mister Mandarino”, “Ti Sento
Ti Sento
"Ti Sento" is a single by German techno group Scooter, based on the 1986 song of the same name by Italian group Matia Bazar. The single features the former singer of Matia Bazar, Antonella Ruggiero, and was the second release from the 2009 album Under the Radar Over the Top.-Track listings:CD...
” and “Vacanze romane”.
Ti Sento
Ti Sento
"Ti Sento" is a single by German techno group Scooter, based on the 1986 song of the same name by Italian group Matia Bazar. The single features the former singer of Matia Bazar, Antonella Ruggiero, and was the second release from the 2009 album Under the Radar Over the Top.-Track listings:CD...
was their major hit. It was number one in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
Her partnership with the group lasted until 1989. Then, seven years after, in 1996 she made her solo debut with the album Libera, the result of a cathartic journey carried out in new cultural and musical atmospheres.
In the 1998 edition of the Sanremo Festival placed second with “Amore lontanissimo”, which also earned the critics' award for best arrangement. In 1999 she stood up at the Ariston Theater stage with “Non ti dimentico (Se non ci fossero le nuvole)” written together with her husband Roberto Colombo, and was classified in second place again. This song was dedicated to Aldo Stellita, former stage companion (was founder member/author/bass player of the Matia Bazar) and for many years her friend, who died prematurely in 1998. Immediately after the festival, Ruggiero released her third CD as soloist, Sospesa. This album included the participations of Ennio Morricone
Ennio Morricone
Ennio Morricone, Grand Officer OMRI, , is an Italian composer and conductor, who wrote music to more than 500 motion pictures and television series, in a career lasting over 50 years. His scores have been included in over 20 award-winning films as well as several symphonic and choral pieces...
, who companied "And Will You Love Me", and Giovanni Lindo Ferretti
Giovanni Lindo Ferretti
Giovanni Lindo Ferretti is an Italian singer-songwriter, composer and author.- Biography:Giovanni Lindo Ferretti was born in Cerreto Alpi , in the province of Reggio Emilia, in the western part of the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna...
, who co-wrote "Di perle e inverni" with Ruggiero and Roberto Colombo.
In 2003 she was back in the Sanremo contest with “Di un amore” (where she finished in ninth place).
On June 4, 2004 she performed a concert in the Brooklyn Museum of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
as a worldwide preview of her CD/DVD entitled Sacrarmonia Live (Il viaggio) with sacred songs of Christian inspiration from several parts of the world. On November 25, 2004 she performed at The Sugar Club in Dublin, accompanied by Mark Harris (piano), Carlo Cantini (strings) and Ivan Ciccarelli (percussions).
In 2005 she re-entered the Sanremo contest with “Echi d’infinito”, she was awarded first prize in the “Women” category, and third in overall classification.
In 2005, together with both the Chorus Sant'Ilario di Rovereto and the Chorus of Valle Dei Laghi di Padergnone she became the character of the “Echi d’infinito” project, a recovery of Alpine pop songs and also of her own songs accompanied only by human voice.
She is frequently touring with different kinds of concerts: "Sacrarmonia", a concert dedicated to sacred music of the world; "Tribute to Amalia Rodrigues
Amália Rodrigues
Amália da Piedade Rodrigues, GCSE, GCIH, , also known as Amália Rodrigues was a Portuguese singer and actress.She was known as the "Rainha do Fado" and was most influential in popularizing the fado worldwide. She was one of the most important figures in the genre's development, and enjoyed a...
", a concert committed to the Portuguese fado and its more famous performer, "Four steps for Broadway", a recital devoted to the most popular Broadway musicals (“Tonight
Tonight (1956 song)
"Tonight" is a popular song with music written by Leonard Bernstein and the lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and was published in 1956.It was introduced in the Broadway musical West Side Story. The song was revived in 1961 on single records in versions by Ferrante & Teicher and Eddie Fisher, whose...
”, “Over The Rainbow
Over the Rainbow
"Over the Rainbow" is a classic Academy Award-winning ballad song with music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by E.Y. Harburg. It was written for the movie The Wizard of Oz, and was sung by Judy Garland in the movie...
”, “Summertime
Summertime (song)
"Summertime" is an aria composed by George Gershwin for the 1935 opera Porgy and Bess. The lyrics are by DuBose Heyward, the author of the novel Porgy on which the opera was based, although the song is also co-credited to Ira Gershwin by ASCAP....
”); and the Stralunato Recital Concert where she performs her most meaningful and famous songs.
In 2007 she participated once again in Sanremo with the song "Canzone fra le guerre" (written in collaboration with Cristian Carrara), which was ranked in tenth place in the end. During Sanremo’s third evening (dedicated to hosts), she performed unaccompanied singing in contest with both the Chorus of Valle Dei Laghi and the Chorus of S. Ilario.
While maintaining the pop music that made her famous even abroad, Antonella Ruggiero also lends her voice to music of different origins and culture. She has performed many times in English-language countries, including a version of “Ti sento” known in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
as “I Feel You”.
In October 2009, the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
dance act Scooter
Scooter (band)
Scooter are a German hard dance band founded in Hamburg, who have sold over 25 million records and earned over 80 gold and platinum awards. Scooter are considered the most successful single-record German act with 23 top ten hits. The band is currently composed of members H.P. Baxxter, Rick J....
released a cover version of "Ti Sento
Ti Sento
"Ti Sento" is a single by German techno group Scooter, based on the 1986 song of the same name by Italian group Matia Bazar. The single features the former singer of Matia Bazar, Antonella Ruggiero, and was the second release from the 2009 album Under the Radar Over the Top.-Track listings:CD...
" featuring the vocals of Ruggiero. She also appeared in the accompanying music video, playing an opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
singer. The single peaked at number ten on the German Singles Chart in October 2009, becoming Ruggiero's first German top ten hit in her career. The Matia Bazar original version peaked at number eleven in August 1986.
In 2010 she made two new album: "Contemporanea tango" (live CD), is a "trip" in the history of Tango and "I regali di natale" (double CD) is an album dedicated to the Christmas music from the Middle Ages to 40's years, the disc contains musical atmospheres from the classic music to the jazz music, with slight hints of pop and electronic music.
Discography
- Libera (1996)
- Registrazioni moderne (1998)
- Sospesa (1999)
- Luna crescente (2001)
- Antonella Ruggiero (2003)
- Sacrarmonia Live (2004, also DVD)
- Big Band! (2005)
- L'abitudine della luce (2006)
- Stralunato Recital (2006, live)
- Souvenir d'Italie (2007)
- Genova, La Superba (2007)
- Pomodoro Genetico (2008, also DVD)
- Cjanta Vilotis (2009, also DVD)
- Contemporanea tango (2010, live)
- I regali di natale (2010)