Robertino Loreti: the boy with the voice of an angel

The young performer of the popular hit “Jamaica,” Robertino Loreti, had the honor of an audience with the Pope for his touching solo in an opera performance at the Vatican, as well as winning a gold medal at a singing competition. Back in his native Italy, the young artist, who enjoyed tremendous success touring Europe and the U.S. in the early 1960s, was often compared to the most famous opera tenor of the time, Beniamino Gigli. In Paris, this promising boy from a large, struggling family was dubbed the “new Caruso,” and even French President Charles de Gaulle personally invited the phenomenon to perform at a gala concert featuring world stars. However, his bright future plans were altered by the onset of puberty: the loss of his childhood voice forced the once-unique talent to seek new paths, putting his concert career on a long pause.

A Star from Birth

Robertino was the fifth child in the family of Roman plasterer Orlando Loreti, who raised eight children with his wife. Born on October 22, 1947, the musically gifted boy began singing on the streets and in cafes from an early age to help his parents support their large family. At just four years old, he had a minor role in the 1951 film “Anna,” which featured a young Sophia Loren, uncredited, as a nightclub girl. Two years later, Robertino Loreti appeared in the Italian-French film “The Return of Don Camillo” alongside Fernandel.

Loreti in the film “The Return of Don Camillo”
By the age of six, Loreti was already singing in a church choir, and by eleven, he was its soloist. At eight, he performed in the choir of the Rome Opera House, and by thirteen, he was singing solo parts there. After witnessing the young talent in the opera “Murder in the Cathedral” at the Vatican, Pope John XXIII initiated a personal meeting with the performer. At ten, he helped support his sick father by delivering bread and singing along the way. Soon, restaurant owners were competing to book the singer, who had won a gold medal at a radio singing competition.

Golden Records

In 1960, during the Summer Olympics in Rome, Robertino Loreti’s rendition of the Neapolitan song “’O sole mio” was heard by many visitors at the “Grand Italia” café in the Eternal City. Among the audience was Danish television producer Sair Volmer-Sørensen, who invited the future superstar to Copenhagen, where he arranged for Robertino to perform on a television show just a week later. The Danish label Triola Records signed a contract with the Italian “nightingale,” and Robertino Loreti’s single “’O sole mio” became a gold record in 1961. The singer gained worldwide recognition.
Wherever the young man performed—be it in Europe or America—he was regarded as a phenomenal cultural phenomenon. Robertino Loreti’s songs were wildly popular in the USSR as well. In the 1960s, masterpieces like “Ave Maria” (the immortal work by Franz Schubert, which he recorded in 1961), “Santa Lucia” (one of many folk Neapolitan songs that Soviet audiences heard on his 1962 album featuring twelve hits), and, of course, “Jamaica” (which Robertino recorded at the age of thirteen) echoed from nearly every window.

It’s Impossible Not to Sing

Italians compared Robertino Loreti to Beniamino Gigli, while the French called him the “new Caruso.” During his first visit to France, the Italian boy received an invitation from President Charles de Gaulle to perform at a gala concert featuring world stars. In 1964, the seventeen-year-old artist became a finalist at the 14th San Remo Festival with the song “Little Kiss.” However, as he matured, his voice transitioned from a childhood treble to a deep tenor and baritone, which the audience did not accept.

In 1973, Robertino Loreti changed his career path. For ten years, he focused on film production and business, opening a grocery store and owning a restaurant. However, after a long hiatus from singing, the 35-year-old returned to the stage. Resuming his touring activities in 1982, he first visited the USSR in 1989, dispelling rumors about his lost vocal abilities following his voice mutation with his live performances.

Robertino Loreti Today

The artist has dispelled the common myth about losing his voice due to “the ruthless exploitation of managers for profit.” In reality, he explained, during his voice mutation, efforts were made to protect him from vocal strain. His forced break was also aided by several months of treatment for a broken leg. Thus, the singer assured his fans that no one was to blame for his departure from the stage. Nevertheless, Robertino Loreti’s concert career continues to this day. A happy father of three, he earns a living through touring and business: he breeds Arabian racehorses and owns a nightclub where he often performs.
Continuing his performing career with a new baritone voice, the renowned artist performed at a gala concert in Kyiv in 2000. At Mykhailivska Square, 100,000 spectators gathered to hear Robertino Loreti’s hit “Ave Maria.” Despite the fact that the famous musical pieces from his repertoire sound unusual in his adult rendition, people eagerly attend his concerts, eager to see the legend live. On posters, the 78-year-old Roberto remains under his childhood name, as the audience nostalgically remembers the Italian teenager with the angelic voice, Robertino Loreti.