Elena Bonelli, the famous Italian singer has been called “the ambassador of a Roman song in the world”. By traveling between the continents with her concerts she made Roman melodies known in many countries. The docufilm entirely produced by RAI Documentary tells the story of the birth of a Roman song on the night of San Giovanni on 23 June 1891. This very special music combined with romantic words was flourishing thanks to talented street singers in the eternal city. Elena Bonelli as their profound follower within 20 years of her carrier visited five continents with her concerts being a unique performer who made the Italian songs known and loved by public all over the world thanks to her tireless efforts. Her life was a journey of never-ending concerts, meetings, cities, people. It started from the debut at the Rome Opera House and went on to theaters such as Carnegie Hall in New York and many other realms of classical music.
The orchestras of the host nations, interpreters of the symphonic arrangements directed by Maestro Pippo Caruso, served as a backup for the singer in the “Rome in the World” project which saw Sergio Bardotti as musical producer and Carlo Lizzani as director, names that embraced the idea of the relaunch the musical traditions of the capital.
Bonelli performed with Giorgio Strehler, Pier Paolo Pasolini, Morricone and all those who sang or wrote for Rome. Elena Bonelli remains known as “Le Streghe” winner of the first festival with Leopoldo Fregoli, as well as a classic performer of the serenades “Nina si voi sleep” and “Barcarolo romano” to “How beautiful you are Rome” coming up to “Roma don’t be stupid tonight” to “Le mantellate” and to all other popular songs that the Roman people remember and love. The film “The Voice of Rome” will highlight the artist’s singing skills but also the courageous path and planning that honored Roman song and done justice to the undisputed heritage of Italian culture, which remained too long forgotten but fortunately was revived thanks to the efforts of many amazing artists in Italy.
Also present in the story are Enrico Vanzina, Pier Francesco Pingitore, Tommaso Le Pera and Duccio Forzano who shared some stages of his career with the artist. The direction is by Francesco Castellani.
This film was broadcast on Italian TV channel RAI3 on Friday 8 December at 4.20pm and depicted all the best features of this wonderful singer who in fact keeps astonishing Italian audience with her great talent which was proved by Elena Bonelli’s appearance in the Ghione Theatre in Rome in January 2024 in the leading role of a famous Italian singer Gabriella Ferri who was one of the most famous performers of Roman street songs and one of the Elena’s predecessors.
Gabriella Ferri was a talented young girl who started singing on the streets of Rome to make her living. She was noticed and became a folk heroine loved and appreciated by people of all walks of life. Her life was full of hardships but her talent and devotion to local music was so great that made her a well-known and loved through the whole of Italy and not just Rome.
Bonelli’s presentation of this wonderful singer was so sincere that it was obvious that Gabriella must have been her idol and the actress was following in Gabriella’s footsteps.
The Bonelli’s impeccable acting and wonderful singing was so touching and sincere that made the audience watch through the whole performance breathlessly. The theatre was full and everybody present was singing the famous songs together with Elena interrupting her performance by outbreaks of loud applause.
