Lorenzo Salvetti is the winner of the 25th edition of Amici, the Canale 5 talent show that set a season record last night with nearly 3.5 million viewers.

Fifth place went to Angie: the singer from Uta still managed to make her mark by winning the Radio Award , an award given by radio networks and listeners to the voice and song considered the strongest in terms of airplay. This award previews the true test outside of the talent show: recording success. Despite finishing just short of the podium, Angelica Ibba was one of the most popular contestants, forging a distinct identity between emotional pop and urban sounds.

Salvetti, whose musical education spans piano, singing, and musical theater (as well as studying baroque singing), defeated dancer Alessio Di Ponzio, considered one of the favorites before the show, in the final, overturning the odds thanks to public televoting. "It all happened so suddenly, so unexpected. I entered the school with so many fears and doubts, and I didn't expect to get this far: it was a unique experience," he says. "You can only explain 'Amici' if you experience it. It makes you cry, laugh, and get angry. But I made my own path."

In 2024, at just 16, the 18-year-old from the province of Verona reached the finals of X Factor on Achille Lauro's team, but the victory eluded him. His doubts and fears were therefore justified. "Amici was a rebirth," he confides. It's difficult to make comparisons, however. "They're two different things. Let's say that embarking on a journey like this again was important. I got back into the game even though I was afraid I wasn't up to it, that I'd be out of the running." Challenge after challenge, performance after performance, Lorenzo (on Lorella Cuccarini and Veronica Peparini's team) earned the trust of the teachers, the judges, but—most importantly—the audience, who yesterday awarded him the grand prize worth €150,000 (and also the Spotify Singles Award). "I think it was my simplicity, my authenticity, and maybe my way of singing that made people like me."

During the show he released three unreleased songs: Stupida Vita (which gives the title to the EP out May 22nd), Prima di te e dopo, Dimmelo tu. E ora? «Apart from making a lot of music, nothing happens, except the fact that I'm much happier. I'm left, with a heavy baggage on my shoulders, but I'm still the same ».

(Unioneonline/D)

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