Biography. Why did the brilliant Robertino Loretti disappear from the stage after a resounding success Break and continuation of his musical career

"WHITE VOICE" ROBERTINO LORETTI

There was a time when in the Soviet Union almost all open windows could hear "O sole mio", "Jamaika" and others famous songs performed by an Italian boy. He began to sing almost from birth, which is not so unusual for Italy. In this country everyone sings, and most Italians have beautiful strong voices. The child was waiting for a different future, and his voice was not just beautiful and strong. He was unique. Therefore, at the age of six, the boy became a soloist in the church choir, and at eight he sang in the choir of the Rome Opera House.

Carousel

Is in classical operas choral parts for the so-called "white voice". Its timbre, light and clear, is typical only for children's boyish voices before the mutation. tall adults female voices they cannot play these parts, because they still give too much chest sound. When Robertino performed one of these parts in the choir, he was noticed by the Danish impresario and decided to make a star out of the boy.

Cyr Volmer-Sørensen, who gave impetus to the professional singing career Roberto (under the name Robertino) invited the future world "star" to Copenhagen, where a week later he performed on the TV show "TV i Tivoli" and signed a contract for recording and releasing records with the Danish label "Triola Records". Soon a single was released with the song "O Sole mio", which became "gold". Tours in Europe and the USA were a huge success. The French press called Loretti"new Caruso". During his first visit to France, President Charles de Gaulle invited Robertino perform at a special gala concert of world stars at the Chancellery Palace. Soon, the singer's popularity reached the USSR, where his records were also released (at the Melodiya VSG) and he acquires a cult status, despite the fact that his first trip there took place only in 1989.

USSR and Robertino Loretti

The life of a young Loretti spinning like a kaleidoscope. Tours followed one after another, records were released in millions of copies. They were also sold in the USSR. Robertinodreamed of visiting this distant and mysterious country for him. However, he did not know that in the USSR it was not customary for artists to be paid as much as in the whole world. The main income from any concerts was received by the state. And yet the Soviet leadership really wanted to arrange a concert Robertino in Moscow, because his popularity here was great. One of the Komsomol leaders went to Italy. But the impresario Robertino, bearing in mind that performing in the USSR is financially unprofitable, did not allow the singer to meet with the Soviet representative.

A difficult situation has arisen. Tour Robertino looking forward to the whole Soviet Union. And the public would hardly be satisfied with any explanation whatsoever. Something had to be done. The resourceful official came up with the myth that the boy had lost his voice.

It was a fabrication. Voice Robertino did not lose, but the complex process of restructuring the voice did not go unnoticed. During the mutation of the voice, one of the Danish musical professors said that the boy needed to wait with performances for at least 4-5 months to make a tenor out of his voice. But the entrepreneur Robertino refused to heed this advice. And again began touring in different countries.

Soon Robertino really fell ill, as everyone claimed, and seriously. In Austria, on the set of the film "Cavalina Rossa", he caught a very bad cold. Treatment was needed. In Rome, the boy was given an injection and, through negligence, a contaminated needle. A tumor formed, it captured the right thigh and was already approaching the spine. The little Italian was threatened with paralysis. Life Robertino saved by one of the best professors in Rome. Everything ended well. And, having recovered completely, the singer again returned to work in Copenhagen.

Robertino, but not the one

The whole world was looking forward to the singer's return to the stage and speculated what his "new" voice would be like. Loretti came out with honor difficult situation. His new voice turned out to be not a lyrical soft tenor, as one might expect, but rather a dramatic tenor. Performances resumed. And in 1964 Loretti entered the top five strongest performers at the festival Italian song in Sanremo with the song "Little Kiss". He performed both new and old songs that the audience loved. Among them were hits of the fifties "Jamaica" and "Come back to Sorrento". They sounded new, but, unfortunately, less interesting than before. The glory that the boy had Robertino, the adult Roberto was no longer ...

In 1973 Loretti decides to change occupation. There were several reasons why he left the stage. Firstly, the singer is tired of the life of a guest performer. I wanted to live a different life. Secondly, styles began to change on the stage. new ones came into fashion musical directions. They were not close to Roberto. He remained a lifelong fan of the traditional Italian song.

Having finished with solo performances, Loretti took up production. This did not bring him much income, but it did not ruin him either. For 10 years he was also engaged in commerce. However, in 1982 he returned to touring, because at night he dreamed of concerts and applause.

Difficult turn

The way back to Olympus is incredibly thorny. Coming back is always harder than leaving. But Loretti passed this road with dignity. He is one of the few singers in the world who never uses a phonogram. Almost ten years of voice Loretti rested, and it did him good. In the eighties, the singer found a second youth. He began to record opera arias, Neapolitan songs, and pop hits. And in 1989, an old dream came true. He went on tour in the Soviet Union. It was then that the myth of the loss of voice was finally dispelled.

Family Loretti lives in a huge house with a garden. The singer owns a nightclub, a bar and a restaurant, where he often sings himself. He has a stable in Rome where he breeds thoroughbred horses and prepares them for racing. Other hobby Robertino- kitchen. He loves to cook dinners for family and guests.

The singer's first wife died, leaving him two children, and his second wife's name is Maura, she is 15 years younger than Roberto. They had a son Lorenzo - exact copy father, from whom he inherited a beautiful voice. He is predicted a stellar future. But Loretti Sr. is not enthusiastic about such a prospect, because hard work is hidden behind the tinsel of applause and delight from the fans. Not everyone is capable of it. Loretti wants son to get serious first education. This can be understood, since Roberto himself was unable to do this due to a series of endless tours.

About myself Loretti says he is a big liar. And he always smiles slyly. He is a devout Catholic. His wife Maura takes an oath on the cross every time he goes on tour that he will not cheat on her.

Until now, he continues to perform around the world and record records. The singer is in his sixties, but his name will always be associated with a thirteen-year-old Italian boy Robertino, who captivated the whole world with his angelic voice in the late fifties.

DATA

Roberto Loreti was born in Rome in 1947 in a poor family with 8 children. IN early childhood starred in episodic roles in the films Anna and The Return of Don Camillo.

Once at the opera performance "Murder in cathedral”, held in the Vatican, Pope John XXIII was so touched by the performance Robertino of his party that he wished to meet him personally.

When Loretti was 10 years old, the owners of local cafes competed for the right to have him perform at their place.

Once, speaking at the press festival, the singer received the first prize in his life - the Silver Sign. Then he participated in a radio competition for non-professional singers, where he won first place and a gold medal.

Updated: April 14, 2019 by: Elena

When Valentina Tereshkova was the first female cosmonaut to fly around the Earth in 1963, she was asked during a communication session how she felt. “I feel good,” Tereshkova replied. “But here, in space, there is such an unusual silence, there are not enough human voices. Let me hear the voice of Robertino Loretti.” This phrase was immediately replicated by all the world's media. And young italian singer became even more popular.

But fame comes and goes. Moreover, Robertino Loretti became famous at the age of 13, when he sang "O sole mio" and "Jamaica" with an angelic young voice. After that, the boy grew up and could no longer sing treble. At some point, rumors spread that Loretti had lost his voice altogether and quit performing. In fact, the Italian singer gave concerts throughout conscious life He traveled all over the countries and continents.

About how the fate of a boy with an angelic voice turned out - says "RG".

Pope blessed

Robertino Loretti was born in Rome on October 22, 1947 in a poor large family of plasterer Orlando Loretti, who had seven more children. Father was a communist. There was never enough money for a large family. And since little Robertino had a naturally good voice, he was constantly sent to sing on the streets and in cafes. Thus, the boy practically from the cradle began to earn money. At the age of 6, he became a soloist in the church choir, where he received the basics of musical literacy. In early childhood, he also starred in cameo roles in the films Anna and The Return of Don Camillo.

At the age of 8, the boy was already a soloist in the choir of the Rome Opera House. The choir consisted of 120 boys. “Once in the Vatican, in the presence of Pope John XXIII, we presented the opera Murder in the Cathedral by the composer Pizzetti,” Robertino Loretti said in an interview. clean children's voice. It was I who played the part of the angel. The archbishop was killed on the eve of Christmas, and the angel announced that Jesus Christ was born on that day. Even though the episode only lasted a few seconds, it was very emotional. The opera made a great impression on John XXIII, he wanted to personally greet all the artists. And, first of all, our children's choir. Dad asked: "Which of you sang with such an angelic voice?" I was taken to him. Everyone immediately whispered, "Kneel down and kiss his hand." I will never forget this moment. During my life, I have had several occasions to feel the hand of God touching me. I am a deeply religious person and I believe that all these moments were destined for me from above.

Quarreled with his wife - found a "diamond"

The boy often began to perform at the Grand Italia cafe in Ephedra Square in Rome. And he immediately showed up a lot of fans and admirers. So that they would not smash the cafe to smithereens, the police stood in a cordon. Even the mother of the young singer could not get inside. " For performances, I was paid 3,000 lire a week, which is today's 30 euros, - recalls Loretti. - But visitors always gave me a tip: 10-50 thousand lire per evening. Often a gentleman came and gave me 100,000 lire!" In the same cafe young talent noted the Dane Volmer-Sorensen. He was a pianist and accompanied many famous singers around the world, and later became a television producer. He came to Rome in the 1950s to film documentary. One evening, Sorensen was arguing with his wife in the middle of the street. She wanted to go back to the hotel, but he insisted on walking a little more. And so, gradually moving forward, they heard an angelic youthful voice, and then they saw a crowd in the square. “After I finished, he came up to me and said: “Tomorrow I will come to record you. I will give you a microphone and you will sing two songs to me. If you sing well and my companions like your singing, I promise to take you to Denmark, where you will constantly perform," Loretti said. "After 15 days, he called me, and the wheel started spinning. I first traveled all over Northern Europe and then the rest. IN Western Europe 18 million of my CDs were sold, and in the East - 56 million.

In various interviews later, Loretti expressed various versions of what goals the Dane pursued, helping him break into the stage. "He was just proud that he found me," the singer said. And he immodestly compared himself to a diamond that happened to be in the way of the producer.

However, another version looks more plausible - an experienced Dane realized that the boy would bring him a lot of money. “From the age of 12 to 15, I never went on vacation, I didn’t know what a vacation was,” Robertino Loretti later said. “My tours lasted 5 months and meant two or three concerts a day. I had a personal helicopter and plane , and I wanted to ride a bike with friends. Still, there are years when it is better to climb fences and run around the yard with friends than to collect stadiums and sign autographs. By the way, in the USSR, where Robertino was incredibly popular, he never came in his golden years. "My impresarios were not interested in your country, because its inhabitants did not have enough money at that time to make good money from concerts," the singer admitted. Russian journalists. His first trip to the USSR took place only at the end of the 80s of the last century.

Dangerous shot

It was in the USSR that the myth was invented that Robertino lost his voice. In the Union they really wanted to see and hear the boy, but our officials did not manage to agree with his foreign producers. Some convincing version was needed.

Robertino did not lose his voice, but the complex process of restructuring it did not go unnoticed. During the mutation of the voice, one of the Danish music professors said that the boy had to wait at least 4-5 months from performances to make a tenor voice out of his voice. But the entrepreneur Robertino did not want to heed this advice.

And soon Robertino really fell ill. In parallel with the concerts, he was invited to star in the film "Cavalina Ross". Filming took place in Austria. The young singer caught a cold and left for Rome. There, in one of the clinics, the boy was given an injection, and, through negligence, they brought the infection. A tumor formed, it captured the right thigh and was already approaching the spine. Robertino's life was saved by one of the best professors in Rome. Everything ended well. Having recovered, the singer again returned to work in Copenhagen.

But his voice was already different - not a lyrical soft tenor, as one might expect, but rather a dramatic tenor. In 1964, with the song "Little Kiss", Loretti entered the top five performers at the Italian Song Festival in Sanremo. But the glory of the past was gone. “I had a hard time during the period when my voice was changing,” the singer later admitted. “I had to sort of learn to sing again. I felt like I had a potato in my mouth. After my return, I could no longer be the best. Without doubt, there were those who excelled me in singing."

To Russia - like home

In 1973, Loretti decided to change his occupation. opera singer he did not. And on the stage, new musical trends came into fashion. They were not close to Robertino, who had always been an adherent of the traditional Italian song.

Having finished with solo performances, Loretti took up producing activities. This did not bring him much income, but it did not ruin him either. For 10 years he was also engaged in commerce. However, in 1982 he nevertheless returned to touring. And in 1989, his old dream came true - he went on tour in the Soviet Union. It was then that the myth of the loss of voice was finally dispelled.

Today, Robertino Loretti continues to perform around the world and record records. “Now I’m coming to Russia, as if to my home,” the singer says, “Because I always find many people here who have been following my work for a long time, who are waiting for me and always receive me with great warmth and love. These are not only people of the older generation. There are always a lot of young people aged 15-17 at concerts who know about me, listen to my songs with lighters in their hands. It's very touching!"

"I have never cheated on my wife..."

The family of 67-year-old Loretti lives in a huge house with a garden and four kitchens in the most prestigious area of ​​Rome, next to the villas of Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni. Robertino's constant hobby is cooking. He loves to cook dinners for family and guests.

WITH young years Robertino was surrounded by crowds of fans. Moreover, even from high society. Was acquainted with many famous people, for example, with Countess Nadia di Navarro from New York. A billionaire, known throughout the world for her collections of masterpieces by Titian, Goya. In her house, chic parties were often held. “The countess’s daughter was in love with me and dreamed of marrying me,” Loretti admits. “She said how beautiful I am, what a magical voice I have. But then I was not going to marry anyone. I was 16 years old. a few romantic kisses." Robertino was closely acquainted with the daughter of Josephine Becker, the famous dancer of the variety show and cabaret "Folies-Bezher" in Paris. But, as the singer admits, he always "listened to his heart and never coveted money."

Robertino met his first wife when he was 20. “She was from a family of theater and operetta artists,” the singer said. “I immediately fell in love with her, we got married, and very quickly we had a child. Then her parents died. "That made her depressed and started drinking. She turned out to be weak-willed. She was constantly in the clinic. So 20 years have passed. I spent half my life trying to cure her, and tried to be around as much as possible. But it was all in vain." At some point, the singer left the house to his wife and left. But he still helps her and his two children from his first marriage. He says that after his departure, the ex-wife was immediately cured of her addiction (although there were rumors that she had died).

Loretti's second wife's name is Maura. When the singer met her, she worked in one of the famous dental clinics in the center of Rome, which was visited by Marcello Mastroianni, Sophia Loren, Federico Fellini. Maura is 14 years younger than Loretti. The golden voice of the 60s adores her current wife: “Believe it or not, but in all the years that Maura and I have been together, I have never cheated on her, although you can imagine how many opportunities there were,” Loretti assures. And he adds that she is always very simple and sweet in communication. And it was this simplicity of hers that immediately struck the singer. The meeting took place at the hippodrome. Then Loretti kept a stable. Maura was also fond of horses, she was a rider. After the marriage, Loretti kept the stable for some time, but then refused, as there was not enough time and energy. “Horses require care and attention,” he says. “One suddenly gets a stomach ache, the other limps ... At 40, I still had enough energy for everything, then I had to give up this hobby.”

Loretti once had a restaurant. But he also had to give up. But the singer's sister has a pastry shop in the Don Bosco district, next to the Cinecitta film studio. He financially helps to maintain a candy store.

Robertino has not yet put on his feet the youngest son from his second marriage - Lorenzo. Him good voice and he is also predicted a stellar future. But Loretti Sr. is not thrilled with such a prospect, because hard work is hidden behind the applause and delight of the fans. Not everyone is capable of it. Loretti wants her son to get a serious education first. After all, Robertino himself did not manage to do this because of a series of endless tours.

Robertino Loretti, whose biography is presented in this article, is a singer from Italy who has won world fame and popularity during adolescence due to his unique voice.

Biography

Robertino Loretti, whose photo is presented in this article, was born in Rome in 1947. He was from a poor large family. His father worked as a plasterer. Very early Robertino showed musical talent. The family was in constant need of money. Instead of studying music, Robertino sang in cafes and on the streets. When the boy was 6 years old, he became a soloist in the church choir. Also in early childhood, he played bit parts in two films.

At the age of 8, Robertino began to sing in the choir of the Opera House in Rome. Soon the head of the Loretti family fell ill. Robertino was then 10 years old. The boy had to look for work. He got a job as a baker's assistant and continued to sing. When in Rome passed Olympic Games, Robertino, singing in a cafe, was noticed by producer S. Volmer-Sorensen. It was thanks to him that the boy became a world celebrity. The man organized the recording of singles and tours of the young talent.

Adult Robertino

The wonderful treble Robertino Loretti, whose biography is presented in this article, changed as the boy grew up. It was no longer that pure and angelic voice that conquered the whole world. His fame soon faded. There were even rumors that he lost his voice. But it's not. Robertino Loretti age turned from a treble into a baritone. But he continued his career as crooner. Although there was a 10-year break in his activities. During this time, he left the stage and worked in film production and commerce. But then Loretti returned to music again and is now touring all over the world.

Robertino Loretti lives with his family in a huge house in a prestigious house. His hobby is cooking. He enjoys cooking for family and guests.

Robertino has a lot of fans. When he was still a sixteen-year-old boy, girls were already falling in love with him. Girls even from the richest families in Italy dreamed of marrying him. But the singer never coveted money and always listened to his heart. At the age of 20, R. Loretti fell in love with a girl whose parents were operetta artists. They got married and soon had children. After the death of her parents, Robertino's wife fell into depression and became addicted to alcohol. R. Loretti lived with her for 20 years, trying to cure and trying to be near her as often as possible. But his attempts were in vain, and after 20 years of marriage, he divorced his first wife and left her house. To this day, the singer helps his ex-wife and their joint children.

R. Loretti's second wife is 14 years younger than him. Her name is Maura. She worked at a well-known dental clinic. Maura conquered famous artist because she is very sweet and simple. The couple met at the hippodrome. R. Loretti kept the stable, and Maura was a rider. The singer says that to this day he adores his wife and has never cheated on her, although he still has many fans.

Then Robertino Loretti got carried away restaurant business. But he soon abandoned it. And the singer's sister still owns a confectionery, in this he helps her a lot financially.

The youngest son Robertino has beautiful voice and he is prophesied a stellar future, like his father had. But R. Loretti wants the heir to receive a serious education and be able not only to sing, because the career of an artist is very difficult, not everyone can do it, and not everyone gets the opportunity for self-realization.

Loretti Robertino was very famous and loved in the USSR. His records were released large circulations. The following songs were published in the Soviet Union:

• "Oh my sun."
• "Mother".
• "Lullaby".
• "Santa Lucia".
• "Dove".
• "Duck and poppy".
• "Serenade".
• "Jamaica".
• "Ave Maria".
• "Come back to Sorrento."
• "Girl from Rome"
• "Lady Luck".
• "Soul and Heart".
• "Happiness".
• "Present".
• "Fire Moon"
• "Tube sweeper".
• "Letter".
• "Parrot".
• "Cherazella".
• "Martin".

Young Loretti Robertino was so popular in our country that songs performed by him were often heard in films. Also, often in films and cartoons, characters performed his compositions, imitating a unique voice. For example: “Moscow does not believe in tears”, “I walk around Moscow”, “Adventures of Electronics”, “Well, you wait!”, “Smeshariki”, “Boys”, “Brother” and so on.

The USSR had its own Robertino Loretti. This boy's name was Seryozha Paramonov. But his fate is tragic.

Russian Robertino

IN Nizhny Novgorod there lives a boy named Felix Karamyan. He is only ten years old, and his voice is as unique as R. Loretti's. Robertino once heard this young artist sing and was amazed. The singer considers the boy his successor, and now he produces his performances and writes songs for him. Felix has already managed to win many awards at world competitions. Recently held in Norway solo concert. Felix dreams of becoming a very famous opera singer.

In the early 1960s about Robertino Loretti the whole world spoke. His songs became super hits far beyond the borders of Italy, and the heads of state vied with each other inviting the little angel to perform with them in a concert. Crystal-clear treble caressed the ears of the most captious music critics. However, the boy disappeared from the stage as unexpectedly as he appeared on it.

Soviet newspapers vied with each other that the greedy capitalists ruined health Robertino. Our readers, having no alternative sources of information, believed these fables. The guy really stopped giving concerts, but Soviet propaganda embellished the scale of the tragedy.

Loretti was born in the Italian capital in a large plasterer family, he was the fifth of eight children. musical talent the baby appeared literally from the cradle. Since his family was extremely poor, Robertino already worked from the age of 4 singing songs in the neighboring streets and cafes.

At the age of five, the charming toddler managed to star in the film " Anna", and after 2 years in the tape The Return of Don Camillo". At the age of six, Loretti became the soloist of the church choir. His talent was quickly appreciated and at the age of eight he was sent to the choir of the Rome Opera House.

Once Robertino had a chance to sing in the opera "Murder in the Cathedral" in the Vatican. Pope John XXIII I was so imbued with the boy's talent that he invited him to a personal meeting.

As soon as Loretti was 10 years old, his family lost its breadwinner - his father became seriously ill. The boy began to help the local baker, delivering pastries to the cafe. The owners of the establishments almost fought for the right to invite the singer to sing for the guests in the evening.

The beginning of a new life for Robertino can be called a victory in a radio competition for non-professional singers, where he won first place and a gold medal.

In 1960, the Olympic Games were held in Rome, which attracted many foreign tourists. Our hero sang songs " 'O sole mio at the Café Grande Italia in Esedra Square, as heard by a Danish TV producer Cyr Volmer-Sørensen.

The musician appreciated the talent of the young singer. Returning to his homeland, Sayre consulted with colleagues and invited Robertino to Denmark. The young man was offered to sign a contract with a Danish label Triola Records, and a week later he appeared on local television.

Very soon, the whole world learned about the Italian. His single with the song "'O sole mio" went gold. Tours began, which literally exhausted the singer. " Sometimes I had to give three concerts a day. The cold of the Scandinavian countries was unusual for me. I even cried at first, remembering sunny Italy with its warm sea ”, the musician later recalled.

Nevertheless, touring Europe and the United States brought Loretti a resounding success. In Italy, he was compared with Beniamino Gigli, and the French press called the young man " new Caruso". President of France Charles de Gaulle personally invited the talent to sing along with world stars in Paris.

The glory of Loretti reached the USSR. Especially popular with us were his songs “’O sole mio” and “ Jamaica". However, in the early 70s musical genius disappeared. The Soviet press wrote that Robertino's health had deteriorated, and the greedy producers who did not spare him were to blame. Someone said that the guy lost his voice.

The matter was somewhat different. Loretti's voice did not disappear, but broke, and instead of a childish treble, the singer sang in a male baritone. This was a tragedy for the artist: the audience wanted to hear his old voice and attended his concerts less and less.

The musician continued to perform: he recorded new songs and performed folk romances, but his former popularity left him.

Robertino Loretti (b. 1946) is a legend of the 20th century, a famous Italian singer who, as a teenager, conquered the whole world with his not just strong and beautiful, but unique voice. He was called the "golden boy of Italy" and the voice of the universe, Robertino's records were distributed around the world in millions of copies. In the middle of the twentieth century there was a period when from each open window this amazingly beautiful, angelic voice flowed, his songs “Jamaica”, “Come back to Sorrento”, “Santa Lucia” and “My sun” (“O, sole mio”) sounded from every radio.

Childhood

Real name star boy- Roberto. He was born on December 22, 1946 in the Italian capital - the city of Rome. His father, Orlando Loretti, worked as a plasterer, his mother was engaged in raising children, of whom there were eight in the family. Roberto was born fifth in a row.

The boy's musical talent manifested itself in his early childhood. But since the family lived in poverty, the parents did not have the opportunity to develop this gift and send the child to school. Therefore, little Roberto sang in the streets. His voice impressed passers-by so much that the child even earned some money. An interesting little prodigy singing in the streets of Rome was noticed by the assistant directors. So Roberto played small roles in the films Anna (1951) and The Return of Don Camillo (1953).

At the age of six, Loretti was called to the local church choir as a soloist. Here, in addition to singing, he studied the basics of musical literacy. And two years later the boy was invited to the Rimsky Opera theatre sing in a choir. Once the theater performed in the Vatican, performing opera performance"Murder in the Cathedral". Pope John XXIII was so impressed with Loretti's solo part that he expressed a desire to personally meet with young performer.

When Roberto was ten years old, his dad fell seriously ill. The older children in the family had to earn extra money to have something to live on. Roberto began to help the baker and deliver fresh pastries. To make it not so boring, the boy constantly sang songs. Hearing such an angelic voice, the owners of local cafes began to compete for it. They vied with each other to invite the child to sing in their institution. So he got another job, which he was incredibly happy about, then that he managed to help his father and family.

Dizzy takeoff

His first performance on stage took place during the city holiday - Press Day. Here he won the first award in his life for unique singing - the Silver Sign. After that, the child was invited to take part in the radio contest, there was also a success - Golden medal and first place.

In the summer of 1960, the XVII Olympic Games were held in Rome. On the central square of Esedra there is a large cafe "Grand Italia", where Roberto worked part-time during the Olympics. When he performed the song "O, sole mio", Danish television producer Sair Volmer-Sørensen drew attention to him. This was the beginning of the professional star career of singer Robertino Loretti.

Sayre invited the boy to Copenhagen. A week later, Robertino performed in television show and signed a record deal. The released disc with the song "O, sole mio" went gold. The subsequent tour in America and Europe was deafening. He was young, pure and innocent, with a crystal ringing voice, he was loved by everyone without exception. The boy recorded songs, performed at the most significant and large-scale concerts, on the world's best stages.

Each new song performed by him immediately became a world hit:

• "My sun";
• "Cherazella";
• "Come back to Sorento";
• "Girl from Rome";
• "Parrot";
• "Present";
• "Jamaica";
• "Martin";
• "Chimney sweep";
• "Soul and Heart";
• "Lullaby";
• "Santa Lucia";
• "Duck and poppy";
• "Mother".

Of course, it was a lost childhood. From the age of twelve until the age of fifteen, the boy never went on vacation and had no idea about the holidays. The tour lasted for five months, the child gave several concerts a day. Loretti had his own plane and helicopter, but he wanted to ride his bike with his friends. The singer is deeply convinced that in childhood it is better not to gather full stadiums and sign autographs, but to run around the yard and climb trees with the boys.

Break and continuation of a musical career

Roberto grew up, and over time his voice changed, the childish timbre disappeared. But he did not abandon his pop career, at the age of seventeen he took part in music competition in Sanremo, where he performed the song "Little Kiss" with a baritone timbre. In 1973, the singer took a break from his career.

Many said that Robertino lost his voice. In fact, he did not lose anything, just a natural teenage mutation occurred, the vocal range moved down a few octaves. During this period, he felt like a fish without water, but all the time he believed that his voice would be revived, it only takes time. The singer studied with teachers, restored his voice, there were friends, teachers and fans nearby. All this gave him the opportunity to sing again, albeit in a different way.

After a long break, he returned to touring. The way back to Olympus is always very difficult. Coming back is much harder than leaving. But Roberto went this way with dignity. For ten years, the singer's voice rested, which benefited him. This was not a bid for his place in show business, but rather a nostalgic memory of unsurpassed success in the early 60s. Loretti recorded many Neapolitan songs, opera arias, pop hits, as well as ten years ago, continued to travel around the world with tours.

Now the singer is already seventy years old, but the name Robertino Loretti will always be associated with a thirteen-year-old boy from Italy, who enchanted the whole planet with his angelic voice. There has never been a more popular child in the history of the world. They said that a person cannot sing like that, it is an angel.

In the USSR, Robertino was idolized. But he managed to get into this country, being already an adult. It happened at the very peak of perestroika, in 1989.

The singer said then that he had long known about the huge beautiful people who adored him. During the period of Loretti's wild popularity, he received thousands of gifts and 4-5 bags of letters from the Soviet Union every day. But then he was a little boy. It now understands that it turned out to be just a machine with which the producers made money. They made contracts only with those countries that paid a lot, and the USSR was not on this list. People in this country didn't have enough money to make a good income from concerts.

special relationship with the Soviet Union little boy It was also formed thanks to his father, who was a faithful Italian communist. He adored this country and really wanted to visit it, he always told his son that if he went on tour to the USSR, he would not forget to take his father with him. Unfortunately, Pope Robertino never got to see the Soviet Union.

Loretti knows that even now Russian fans adore him, for which he is eternally grateful to them. He says that the Russians are the kind of people who find him everywhere. Wherever he is in this moment, Russians will always write, support and warmly greet.

Now Roberto often comes to Russia with concerts, traveled all over it - all the way to Siberia. He also went on tour in almost all the former Soviet Republics. Loves Russian cuisine. Wherever he performs, he always prefers to try local dishes. He says that he can eat his favorite spaghetti at home, anyway, nowhere can they be cooked better than in Italy.

Personal life

The singer was married twice in his life. By his own admission, he did not really love his first wife, perhaps because he married too young. Rather, they were brought together by a love of music and creativity, the girl's parents were operetta artists, and she herself had acting profession. As the years passed, Roberto realized more and more clearly that this was not the woman with whom he would like to live his whole life. Then the singer went on tour around the world, on his way there were hundreds of different women to which he paid attention.

When his wife's parents died, she fell into a terrible depression and became very addicted to alcohol. Roberto did his best to help her cope with this addiction, but his efforts were in vain. Over time, the couple realized that for each other they were completely strangers, and after twenty years life together broke up. Two children were born in this marriage, but now Loretti does not even know if they sing or not. The singer says that it is as if they are not his children, they are too much like their mother. His first wife died quite young, shortly after the divorce.

Roberto was lucky to find his soul mate in life. Having met Maura, the daughter of the most famous Italian jockey Vitorio Rozzo, a woman who is absolutely not connected with art and creativity, Loretti found a kindred spirit in her. Maura worked in one of the famous Italian dental clinics, she was fourteen years younger than Roberto. They met at the hippodrome, the singer already kept a stable at that time, and Maura, in her spare time, was fond of equestrian sports and was a good rider. She became his second wife, and in this marriage, which has lasted for almost thirty years, Loretti never once wanted to even look in the direction of other women.

From them strong love the son of Lorenzo was born, who in childhood was an absolute copy of Robertino in everything, even had the same amazing vocal abilities. The singer admitted that his son had a very beautiful and strong voice, maybe even more beautiful than his own, but he did not encourage this passion for singing. He wanted Lorenzo, first of all, to receive a good education.

Today's life of a singer

Now the singer, of course, does not have that light transparent voice. Loretti stepped over the pinnacle of fame with dignity and gradually became a respectable plump man, although those around him, as before, call him Robertino in a childish way. He lives in the prestigious area of ​​Rome - Castel Romano, where the air is very clean. The singer has a multi-room villa with four kitchens and a large garden.

His neighbors used to be no less famous Italians - Marcello Mastroianni and Sophia Loren. Then Marcello died, Sophie sold her villa. Now Roberto is next door to the famous Italian film director Bernardo Bertolucci and the daughter of former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. By the way, once Silvio offered Loretti to try his hand in politics, but the singer immediately replied that this was not for him. Perhaps the only thing that could attract him is the post of Minister of Culture of Italy.

Loretti does not make a living by singing; he, together with his brothers, owns two restaurants, a bar and a nightclub. I am convinced that a wonderful chef could come out of him. He likes to spoil his family and numerous guests with gourmet dinners, he does not hide the fact that he himself is a great lover of delicious food.

But his main business and passion is the stable. Roberto can tell even more about his horses than about cooking. Breeding purebred horses of the highest category is a very profitable business. Prizes during the races reach tens of millions of dollars. You can become a millionaire with just one stallion. Now Loretti's horses are not so high category, but hundreds of thousands of dollars win. One of his horses never wins, but always comes second or third, and this also brings a good income.

According to Roberto himself, he used to feel like a light, and now a sunset. The singer summed up his life and told readers about it in his published autobiographical book “Once it happened to me ...” It has everything: love and separation, travel and tour, friendship and betrayal, hunger and wealth, - in a word, the whole life of the great Robertino Loretti.

An immortal talent, a masterpiece of nature, so many years have passed, but its charm seems to be eternal. Someone said about him that this is the voice of God in childhood. It is not given to us to judge whether this is true or not, we have the opportunity to listen to the recordings, enjoy the inimitable voice and for a moment return to a distant and sweet youth.