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Richard CoccianteItalian singer and composer, author of the musicals Notre-Dame de Paris, The Little Prince and Romeo and Juliet.
Country:
 Italy |
Content:
- Biography of Riccardo Cocciante
- Early Life
- Early Musical Career
- Breakthrough Success
- Continued Success
- International Recognition
- Later Career
- Recognition and Continued Success
Biography of Riccardo Cocciante
Riccardo Cocciante is an Italian singer, composer, and author of musicals such as "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," "The Little Prince," and "Romeo and Juliet." His contributions to the arts have been recognized not only by his fans and music critics but also by official authorities. Former President of Italy, Oscar Luigi Scalfaro, bestowed upon Cocciante the title of "Grande Ufficiale de la Repubblica Italiana" (Distinguished Artist of the Italian Republic).
Early Life
Riccardo Cocciante was born in Saigon, Vietnam in 1946 to an Italian father and a French mother. In his early childhood, his parents took him to France, and when he was eleven years old, the family relocated to Rome to be closer to his father's relatives. Riccardo had to adapt not only to a different language but also to a completely new way of life.
Early Musical Career
During his youth, Riccardo Cocciante developed an interest in opera and classical music. He began singing, exploring the possibilities of his deep, husky voice. He soon formed his own group, "The Nations," and in his free time, he taught himself to play the piano. While still loving classical music, he discovered The Beatles and blues. After several years of experimentation, Cocciante started working on his first solo album, "Mu," which was recorded in Italy in 1972 and also released in the French market. The album received high praise from critics, and Cocciante's talent gained attention in the music industry.
Breakthrough Success
Cocciante's second album, "Poesia," was released in 1973. It was in 1974, however, that he gained widespread recognition in Italy and Spain with the release of the single "Bella senz'anima" arranged by the renowned Italian composer Ennio Morricone. In 1978, his composition "Marguerite," the French version of the Italian hit "Margherita," brought him recognition in France. The original version, included in the album "Concerto per Margherita," was arranged by another famous composer, Vangelis. In 1979, Cocciante released another highly successful single, "Coup de soleil," written in collaboration with Jean-Paul Dreau.
Continued Success
In 1983, Cocciante signed a contract with Virgin Records and traveled to Los Angeles to release his new album, "Sincerita." The album was recorded in four languages (Italian, English, Spanish, and French), with the lyrics for the French version written by the renowned French songwriter Etienne Roda-Gil. Cocciante's concerts during his tour of Italy in 1984 received great success, with one concert in Florence attracting an audience of forty thousand people. In 1985, he released his album "Il mare dei papaveri," followed by the hit single "Quando si vuole bene" in 1986.
International Recognition
While Cocciante's popularity grew in South America, with each new album selling out within weeks, he planned an extensive concert tour of Latin America in 1989. Despite initially declining invitations, Cocciante finally appeared at the Sanremo Music Festival in 1991 and won the top prize for his song "Se stiamo insieme" from the album "Cocciante."
Later Career
In addition to his music career, Cocciante ventured into acting, playing Frédéric Chopin in Catherine Lara's film "Sand et les Romantiques" in 1991. He released two more albums in 1993, "Empreinte" in French and "Eventi e mutamenti" in Italian. In 1994, Cocciante released his greatest hits album, which sold 350,000 copies worldwide. He continued to perform in Italy, Chile (at the Vina del Mar Festival), and France (at the Francofolies festival).
Cocciante's collaboration with lyricist Luc Plamondon resulted in the highly successful musical adaptation of Victor Hugo's novel "The Hunchback of Notre Dame." The presentation took place at the MIDEM festival in Cannes in 1998, followed by the premiere in Paris. However, the success of the musical strained the relationship between Cocciante and Plamondon. Cocciante accused Plamondon of stealing his work on the production. Despite the tension, both artists went on to create new musical spectacles individually, with Plamondon producing "Cindy" based on Cinderella, and Cocciante creating a musical adaptation of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's "The Little Prince."
Recognition and Continued Success
Riccardo Cocciante's contributions to the arts have been widely recognized, including receiving the title of "Grande Ufficiale de la Repubblica Italiana" from former President Oscar Luigi Scalfaro. Cocciante's music and performances have captivated audiences worldwide, and his enduring career continues to delight fans both old and new.
