Canzonissima

Canzonissima
Paolo Panelli, Delia Scala and Nino Manfredi hosting Canzonissima in 1959
GenreVariety show
Directed by
  • Antonello Falqui
  • Mario Landi
  • Eros Macchi
  • Vito Molonari
  • Romolo Siena
Presented by
Country of originItaly
Original languageItalian
No. of seasons12
No. of episodes158
Original release
NetworkRai 1
Release22 October 1958 (1958-10-22) –
6 January 1975 (1975-01-06)
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Canzonissima (Italian pronunciation: [kantsoˈnissima]; transl. "[The] Utmost Song") was an Italian musical variety show broadcast by Rai 1 from 1958 to 1975, aired on Saturday evenings except for the last two editions, which were aired on Sunday afternoon. The program has been referred to as "the synthesis and paradigm of Italian television variety".[1]

During its last six editions (1969–1974), the show constituted the national selection for the artist that would represent Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest the following year.[2]

  1. ^ Grasso, Aldo; Scaglioni, Massimo (1996–2003). Enciclopedia della Televisione (in Italian). Milan: Garzanti.
  2. ^ "Eurovision: tutte le partecipazioni italiane e piazzamento". Eurofestival News (in Italian). Retrieved 24 April 2024.