Rome mourns the passing of Nora Orlandi, singer, composer and director of the famous vocal group “I 4+4”, which marked an era of Italian television and music. The artist passed away peacefully last night, at the age of 91. The news was announced by Rai journalist Barbara Carfagna, who on social media remembered Orlandi's extraordinary career: “Rip Nora Orlandi, one of the pillars of Rai. With her choir we recorded 'Viva la Rai' with Renato Zero. I remember her with affection, a kiss to her daughter Cristiana”.
Silvia Annicchiarico, former chorister of the group, also wanted to dedicate a thought to her on Facebook: "It is with great sadness that I learned of the passing of Nora Orlandi, a great music teacher who taught me so much. I am close to her loved ones".
Born in Voghera on June 28, 1933, Orlandi was encouraged by her mother, an opera singer, to pursue a musical career. After graduating from the Conservatory of Genoa, she joined the Rai Orchestra of Rome in 1951, collaborating with masters of the caliber of Bruno Canfora and Lelio Luttazzi. The following year she founded her first vocal group, the “Quartetto 2+2”, which soon evolved into the legendary “4+4 di Nora Orlandi”. With this formation, Nora became a regular face at the most important musical events of the time, from the Sanremo Festival to Canzonissima, to Un Disco per l'Estate and the Festival di Napoli.
Among the many artists with whom he collaborated, Adriano Celentano, Domenico Modugno, Gianni Morandi, Lucio Battisti and Mia Martini stand out. Not only festivals: the Orlandi choir lent its voices to film soundtracks, TV theme songs and cartoons, accompanying generations of Italians.
After having worked until the 1980s – taking part, among other things, in various editions of Fantastic – Nora decided to devote herself to teaching, also becoming a singing teacher in the second edition of Amici di Maria De Filippi. His musical legacy and the memory of his talent will forever remain etched in the collective memory.
Article published on 1 January 2025 - 21:18
I am very sorry for the death of Nora Orlandi. She was an important figure in Italian music and an example for many. Her career was rich and she left an indelible mark on the musical culture of the country.