Cristina Barbieri (born 12 June 1963), best known as Diana Est, is an Italian singer who retired in the mid-1980s.
Diana Est | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Cristina Barbieri |
| Born | 12 June 1963 (age 61) |
| Origin | Milan, Italy |
| Genres | Italo disco |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Years active | 1981–1985 |
| Labels | Dischi Ricordi |
Life and career edit
Born in Milan, Barbieri started her career as the vocalist in a new wave group formed by alumni of the Santa Marta Music School in her hometown, first using her birth name Cristina, then adopting a number of stage names.[1] In 1981, she was put under contract by Dischi Ricordi and adopted the stage name Diana Est.[1] Shortly later, she made her record debut with "Tenax", an Italo disco song written by Enrico Ruggeri whose lyrics were partly in Italian and partly in Latin.[1][2] In 1983, she got her main hit with the song "Le Louvre", still written by Ruggeri.[1][3]
Following a further single, and once her contract with Ricordi expired, Est abruptly decided to quit showbusiness in the mid-1980s.[1][2] In 2002, the novelist Matteo B. Bianchi wrote a short story, Magnifica ossessione (i.e. "Magnificent obsession") about the imaginary life of Est after her retirement.[4]
Barbieri is the niece of singer-songwriter Mario Lavezzi.[1]
Discography edit
- Singles
- "Tenax" / "Notte senza pietà" (1982)
- "Le louvre" / "Marmo di città" / "Le louvre" (instrumental) (1983)
- "Diamanti" / "Pekino" (1984)[2]
Further reading edit
- Cristian Cizmar. "Diana Est, una meteora dalla scia luminosa". Raro! (245). July 2012. pp. 59–63.
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f Dario Salvatori. "Est, Diana". Gino Castaldo (edited by). Dizionario della canzone italiana. Curcio Editore, 1990–2013. ISBN 8897508774.
- ^ a b c Francesco Roggero (1 December 2008). "Diana Est – Discografia". Orrore a 33 Giri. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
- ^ Dario Salvatori (1989). Storia dell'Hit Parade. Gramese, 1989. ISBN 8876054391.
- ^ Matteo B. Bianchi. "Magnifica ossessione". Max. August 2002.