Liza Minnelli, 75 years old for the voice of New York

(ANSA) - ROME, MARCH 11 - Liza May Minnelli turns 75 and it is a pity that the celebration, Friday March 12, can only be celebrated virtually.

At eight o'clock in the evening (New York time) the Stellar platform will light up for a great show in its honor conceived by producer Daniel Nardicio, with a charitable collection.

Among the greats who guaranteed their participation and who represent the three careers of the diva (music, theater, cinema): Joel Gray, Lily Tomlin, CatherineZeta-Jones, Chita Rivera, Joan Collins, Harry Connick Jr, UteLemper, Billy Stritch, Sandra Bernhard, Mario Cantone, TonyHale, Coco Peru, John Cameron Mitchell, Andrea Martin, SethSikes and Neil Meron.

    Born in Los Angeles in 1946 to Judy Garland and VincenteMinnelli, little Liza had to bite into life from an early age to cope with the estrangement of her father and the excesses of her mother, now prey to overwhelming alcohol.

At 16, her mother pushed her to the Broadway stage in the musical "Best Foot Forever" (1963) and the following year with Judy Garland in London in a concert that will remain in the annals.

If in the recording studio and on stage Liza Minnelli affirms very early, in both cases at the beginning of the 60s, the cinema really welcomes her only in 1969 with "Pookie" by Alan J. Pakula which will win her the first nomination 'Oscar.

His filmography is more than selective - just 15 titles - and mostly unmemorable, while the fraternity and music path is studded with awards and ovations: six statues between Emmys and Grammys.

But two films are enough for her to enter the Hollywood legend: thanks to Bob Fosse (who later played her for "Chicago") she won the Oscar for Best Actress in 1973 with "Cabaret", whose songs remain very popular even today.

Five years later, in 1977, Martin Scorsese called her alongside Robert De Niro in "New York, New York": it was a triumph for both of them: the guide song, dedicated to Manhattan and written by John Kander for the film, remains a symbol stainless steel of the Big Apple and the cover engraved by Frank Sinatra in 1980 only revived the myth.

   (HANDLE).