She passed away at the age of 87 Angela Luceone of the most authentic and refined voices of Neapolitan song. Film and theater actress, but above all a cultured interpreter of the Neapolitan tradition, Angela Savino, this is her real name, leaves a profound void in Italian musical culture. His career spanned over half a century of entertainment history, intertwining popular art and great dramaturgy.
The latest public thought of Angela Luce had been dedicated to the burning of Sannazaro Theatre of Naples. On February 17 he wrote: “Thinking about the destroyed Sannazaro theater is truly painful. I hope it will be rebuilt soon”. A message that contained all her love for Naples and for that world of entertainment that she defined as “divine dust”.
Angela Luce's musical career: from Sanremo to Neapolitan song
Born in Naples on 3 December 1937, Angela Luce She made her debut at a very young age in Piedigrotta Bideri of 1955, still presenting himself with the surname Savino and performing the song Uncle Carmili. He was just fourteen, but already showed a magnetic stage presence and a warm voice, tinged with melancholy.
The high point of her musical career came in 1975, when she ranked second in the Sanremo Festival with Hypocrisy by Pino Giordano and Eduardo Alfieri, ex aequo with Go hope go by Rosanna Fratello. A result that consecrated her to the general national public, despite already being known for her interpretation of the Neapolitan tradition.
He also participated in A record for the summer in 1973 with The devil's house and in 1975 with My dear friend. In 1970 she placed second in the Naples Festival with 'Or divorceconfirming his deep connection with the music of his city.
The iconic “So' Bammenella”: a piece of history
But the song that most of all marked his musical career is I know 'Bammenella' and copp' 'and Quartiere Of Raffaele Vivianiplayed in the show Naples night and day directed by Giuseppe Patroni Griffi. Her interpretation of this song entered the history of Neapolitan song, so much so that it made her the only artist present in theHistorical archive of Neapolitan song with a double performance of the same piece.
His discography is vast and spans decades: from seventies albums such as What do you want? And Café Chantantuntil Light for Totò of 2009, a tribute to the great Neapolitan actor. She was also the author of texts: Wantswith music by Angelo Fiore.
Cinema, theater and love for Eduardo
Parallel to music, Angela Luce he built an extraordinary career in cinema and theater. He worked with the greatest: from Eduardo De Filippowho he considered his master, a Pier Paolo Pasolini, Toto, Marcello Mastroianni, Luchino Visconti And Mario Martone.
In 1995 he won the Donatello's David as best supporting actress for Troublesome love by Mario Martone, a film also nominated for the Palme d'Or at Cannes. In 2006 he was nominated for the Silver Ribbon with a film by Avati.
Theater was his great love. Written by Eduardo De Filippoworked with him for four years playing central roles in the Edwardian repertoire, until the television recording of The contract for Rai in 1981. He brought the Neapolitan tradition to the major international festivals: Wiesbaden, Paris, London, Buenos Aires and New York.
The love never forgotten for Peppino Gagliardi
In his private life, Angela Luce he had experienced a great love with Peppino Gagliardithe refined singer and multi-instrumentalist who passed away in 2023. In an interview with Very true he confessed: “We were engaged for two years, I fell madly in love with him, I truly loved him”. An intense love but broken by a betrayal that she, faithful to her proud character, was never able to forgive.
Naples and the whole of Italy lose one of the most authentic voices of Neapolitan song, an artist who knew how to weave tradition and innovation, bringing his city into the hearts of the large national and international public.
Photo from the artist's official Instagram profile.
