Armando Trovajoli, ‘voice of Rome,’ dead at age of 95

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Armando Trovajoli, ‘voice of Rome,’ dead at age of 95

ROME - Armando Trovajoli, an Italian who composed music for some 300 films and whose lush and playful serenade to Rome is a much-requested romantic standby for tourists, has died at age 95.

The city’s mayor, Gianni Alemanno, mourned Trovajoli’s passing, saying, “The voice of Rome has been extinguished.’’ The Italian news agency, ANSA, said Maria Paola Trovajoli announced the death Saturday, saying her husband died a few days earlier.

Roman by birth, Trovajoli began his career as a pianist, playing jazz and dance music. He appeared with Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Chet Baker, Louis Armstrong, Stephane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt, among others.

In the 1950s, his prolific relationship with the film world took flight. Travajoli composed for many of Italy’s hit movies, especially comedies.

He wrote the music for two of Sophia Loren’s most famous films, “A Special Day’’ and “Two Women,’’ for which she won an Oscar. Others included the neorealist classic “Riso Amaro” (“Bitter Rice”) and “Marriage Italian Style,’’ another Loren film.

Among directors turning to him were some of Italy’s best, including Ettore Scola, Vittorio De Sica, Dino Risi and Luigi Comencini.

But it’s the lushly orchestrated “Roma Nun Fa’La Stupida Stasera’’ written for the 1962 stage musical “Rugantino’’ that became Trovajoli’s most famous song.

The title, translated from the Roman dialect, literally means “Rome, don’t act silly this evening.’’ Composed as a duet, it is sung by would-be suitors who beg the city to put on its magic so romance might bloom.

The first performance was sung by Nino Manfredi and Lea Massari, and it is featured on a recently released Andrea Bocelli album of pop favorites.

AP
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