Giuni Russo

Giuni Russo's a special performer, famous for her amazing vocal range (almost five octaves), combined an unquestionable technique with an original approach to music. Giuni's a unique artist, unusual to the Italian music scene and beyond. She is considered to have one of the most beautiful voices of all time. Music was the undisputed queen in Giuni's family. Her mother, like Giuni, was a natural soprano. As a child, Giuni began to study composition and singing, constantly refining her outstanding talent. In 1967, she won the Castrocaro Festival, with the song, "A Chi" (by Timi Yuro). This allowed her to participate, a year later, in the Sanremo Festival. Using the name Giusy Romeo, she took part in the 18th edition of the Sanremo Festival with, "No Amore". This song would be her first single. In 1969, Giuni made a three month tour of Japan. During that time she had her 18th birthday in Tokyo. In the same year, Giuni met Maria Antonietta Sisini, with whom she would share the rest of her career and life. She made the decision to move to Milan for good. In 1975, Giuni recorded her first album, "Love is a Woman", entirely in English. In the early 80's, Giuni began to collaborate with Franco Battiato. In 1988, the album "A Casa di Ida Rubinstein" became a turning point, marking the end of Giuni's pop phase. She sang "arias" and "romances" of Bellini, Donizetti and Verdi, a repertoire that confirmed a commitment to her own musical evolution. She began to create a new kind of music, a mixture of pop/classical/jazz. This release would see Giuni making many prestigious tours, confirming her status as the forerunner of "Musica di Confine" or border music. In 1992, Giuni recorded "Amala", an album of greatest hits. There was a brand new album in 1994, "Se Fossi Piu Simpatica Sarei Meno Antipatica". Giuni continued to follow an increasingly eclectic path. She teamed up with poets and writers, and studied old sacred texts. She performed many concerts with her newly created songs. During this period, Giuni became attracted to Carmelite spirituality. She admired Saint Teresa de Avila, Edith Stein and Juan de la Crux. Their writings were a continuous inspiration to Giuni. In 1997, she turned her attention to the theatre, working with Giorgio Albertazzi, singing Borges verses. In 2002, Giuni released "Signorina Romero Live". This was a selection of songs performed during her concerts. The outstanding track was a version of "Sakura", a traditional Japanese song that Giuni had loved during her time in Japan. 2003 marked Giuni's great return. Once again she appeared at the Sanremo Festival. She sang "Morirò d'Amore" from the new album of the same name. At the end of 2003, "Demo de Midi" was released. This was a collection of 14 previously unreleased songs recorded in demo form during the 80's and 90's. In 2004, the amazing "Napoli Che Canta" (cd + dvd) was released. This was a musical suite for the Roberto Leone Roberti's silent movie (1926). During the night, between 13th and 14th of September 2004, Giuni Russo died at her home in Milan.