AND Pippo Baudo died in Rome at 89the conductor who made the history of Italian television. The news, confirmed toHandle by his lawyer and friend Giorgio Assumma, He shook the world of entertainment and millions of viewers. With him a piece of Italian costume history goes away: his voice, his style and his ability to reinvent himself have accompanied entire generations.
The beginnings and success in Rai
Born in Militello in Val di Catania in 1936, Giuseppe Raimondo Vittorio Baudo – For everyone simply Pippo – he began as a pianist and singer before landing in Rai. In the sixties he conquered the public with Settevoci and, shortly after, with Song. From that moment his career was a crescendo: in the 1980s he became the reassuring and loved face on Saturday evening with television with programs like Fantastic, Evening of honor And Sunday in.
Pippo Baudo, the experience in Mediaset and the return to Rai
In 1987 Pippo Baudo landed at Canale 5 as artistic director and conductor, marking a historical step in his career. On Mediaset he led innovative programs and variety that confirmed his talent in reinventing television. After this experience He returned to Rai with renewed momentumleading programs like Grand Prix, Variety, Amusement park And Poppies and ducksconsolidating its position as an icon of Italian TV.
Sanremo Recordman and discoverer of talents
The name of Pippo Baudo will remain forever linked to the Sanremo Festival. He conducted thirteen editionsbetween 1968 and 2008, many of which are also as artistic director. Nobody has been able to tell Italian music like him. But his talent went beyond conduct: he discovered and launched stars like Lorella Cuccarini, Heather Parisi, Giorgia, Laura Pausini, Andrea Bocelli and Fabrizio Moro (and from there his iconic phrase: “I invented it!”). A unique intuition, which made it not only presenter, but also talent scout capable of changing the fate of many artists.
Private life between loves and passions
In addition to work, Baudo’s private life has often been the center of attention. Two children, a wedding with the soprano Katia Ricciarelli lasted almost twenty yearsand important relationships such as those with Alida Chelli and Adriana Russo. Pippo Baudo has never hidden his most intimate dimension, made of passions, suffering and rebirth. A man who, behind the public image of impeccable conductor, has experienced strong and authentic emotions, such as those told in his autobiography Here’s to you. An Italian story.
The legacy of Pippo Baudo
In recent years Pippo Baudo had retired to private life, appearing only on rare television occasions, the last in 2023 a Sunday in With Mara Venier. In 2021 he had been awarded the title of Knight of Gran Croce for merit of the Italian Republicrecognition that sealed his long career. Today his farewell leaves an unbridgeable void, but also an immense legacy: the television we know brings his imprint, from varieties to music shows. For millions of Italians, Pippo Baudo will always remain the master, the undisputed king of TV.
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