Italian Singer Iva Zanicchi, 86, Speaks Out About Getting Older
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Veteran Italian singer Iva Zanicchi, 86, has given a candid interview about ageing, honesty, and her plans for the future.
Zanicchi explained that she continues to feel vital because she stays involved in everything around her, refusing to withdraw from life despite her age.
She acknowledged the physical realities of growing older, saying she is well aware that pain, hot flushes and wrinkles are part of the process, and dismissed any suggestion that she is naive about it.
According to the interview, her daughter has urged her not to speak negatively about certain subjects. However, Zanicchi firmly rejected the idea of holding back, arguing that at 86 she has earned the right to express herself without restriction.
Looking ahead, Zanicchi revealed ambitious plans, saying she intends to do more work rather than slow down. Her upcoming projects reportedly include theatre performances and television appearances.
She is also working on a book of memoirs, a collection of personal recollections spanning her decades-long career in Italian entertainment.
In a more reflective moment, Zanicchi spoke about her professional relationships with fellow Italian music icons Gino Paoli and Ornella Vanoni, admitting she had, at times, felt a degree of envy toward them during her career.
She also expressed how deeply she misses someone referred to only as Pippo, though the interview summary does not clarify the identity or context of this person.
The interview paints a picture of a performer determined to remain visible and outspoken, even as she confronts the natural changes that come with advancing age. Zanicchi's insistence on speaking candidly, despite her family's concerns, reflects a broader theme in the interview: her refusal to be silenced by convention or by the expectations placed on someone her age.
While details beyond these remarks were not included in the available material, the interview underscores Zanicchi's continued relevance in Italian popular culture and her determination to keep working across multiple mediums, from stage to screen to print.
Vocabulary7 words
- vital
- full of life and energy
- naive
- believing things too easily; not realistic
- express herself
- to say what she really thinks or feels
- ambitious
- having big plans or goals
- recollections
- memories of the past
- envy
- wanting what someone else has
- mediums
- different ways of communicating, like TV or books
Quiz
Answer key
1. Staying involved in everything around her 2. Not speak negatively about certain subjects 3. True
Discussion questions
- Do you think older people should be free to say whatever they want, even if it upsets family members? Why or why not?
- How do you think society's views on ageing affect how older public figures are treated in the media?
- Zanicchi mentions feeling envy toward fellow singers Gino Paoli and Ornella Vanoni. Is it normal to feel envy toward colleagues, even after a long career?
- What value do you think memoirs have for both the writer and readers, especially from people who have had long public careers?