Sanremo 2026 ha paid homage to Ornella Vanoniwho passed away last November 21st at the age of 91, with one of the most intense moments of the first two evenings. She took to the Ariston stage Camilla Ardenzi, niece of the Milanese singer-songwriter, to interpret Eternity, the song with which Vanoni and the Camaleonti participated in the event in 1970.
Camilla Ardenzi sings Eternity in Sanremo 2026
It is not the first time that Camilla Ardenzi has become spokesperson for the pain and love for the grandmother: already at the funeral, in the church of San Marco in Milan, he had sung a verse of the same song written by Gino Paoli. In Sanremo, however, the performance took on a different dimension. The ending took your breath away: Camilla lowered the microphone and came off the stage the original voice of Ornella Vanoni resonated. A moment of authentic emotion.
«You remembered your grandmother»Carlo Conti told her. Laura Pausini also sang along with the audience, carried away like everyone else by the chords of a song that never ages.
Camilla Ardenzi on stage at Sanremo 2026 in an imaginary “duet” with Ornella Vanoni. (ANSA/RICCARDO ANTIMIANI)
Camilla Ardenzi spoke little, letting the music say everything. When asked what the greatest teaching he received was, he responded in a few words: “Don’t think about it too much”. A perfect summary of who Ornella Vanoni was: free, instinctive, impossible to imitate. Yet, for a few minutes on the Ariston stage, Camilla Ardenzi came very close.
Ornella Vanoni and Sanremo, a 60-year history
Ornella Vanoni took the stage at the Ariston competing eight times, from 1965 to 2018with songs like The music is over, White House And Learn to love yourself. Then three guest appearances, the last in 2023. A long and coherent bond with the Sanremo Festival which, today, said goodbye to her forever.
(Images www.raiplay.it)
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