Italian music icons Gino Paoli and Ornella Vanoni missed their final studio reunion when Vanoni died in November 2025 at age 91, leaving behind an unrecorded duet titled “Quando ti rivedrò.” Rather than replacing his longtime collaborator with another singer, Paoli filled the vocal vacancy with the trumpet of jazz musician Paolo Fresu. The track anchors the updated edition of Paoli’s collection Appunti di un lungo viaggio, released via Sugar.
Quando ti rivedrò: Gino Paoli’s Final Duet With Ornella Vanoni Realized Through Paolo Fresu’s Trumpet
The Genesis of an Unfinished Duet
“Quando ti rivedrò” was written by Gino Paoli with music and production by Adriano Pennino. Conceived as a two-voice vehicle for Paoli and Vanoni, the song reflects on a reunion following a period of separation. The project faced an abrupt halt days before recording. In liner notes penned for the release, Paoli recalled waiting for Vanoni at his home in Nervi on a Monday. “She had the bad idea of leaving just before recording it… Rather than casting a substitute vocalist, Paoli elected to leave the second vocal track empty of lyrics, inserting Paolo Fresu’s brass instrumentation instead. Producer Caterina Caselli noted to Quotidiano del Sud that the song evokes deep emotion, while Fresu described the collaboration as capturing the essence of both artists’ lives. Fresu recorded his parts at Fonoprint in Bologna on December 10, 2025, utilizing the space intended for Vanoni’s voice.”
A Lifelong Artistic and Personal Bond
The release marks the final chapter of a creative partnership spanning more than sixty years. Born a day apart in September 1934—Vanoni on September 22 and Paoli on September 23—the two defined eras of Italian pop culture through enduring collaborations. Paoli previously wrote foundational standards for Vanoni, including “Senza fine” in 1961 and “Che cosa c’è” in 1964. Their relationship evolved from romance into a durable artistic friendship. Following Vanoni’s death in November 2025 and Paoli’s subsequent passing on March 24, 2026, the track serves as a memorialized closing statement to their collaborative catalog.
Release Details and Availability
“Quando ti rivedrò” debuted on September 23, timed to bridge the birthdays of the two artists. The track is distributed as part of the expanded edition of Appunti di un lungo viaggio, available through Sugar.
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