Monthly Archives: September 2013

Il Volo, In Case You Missed It

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…

11 Comments

outradio cityReport

Hi Everyone,

Today is the long awaited Radio City concert for Il Volo. We celebrate with them this important milestone in their career.
I’m taking bets that Gianluca will be so overwhelmed, he will cry!

The picture in the heading is a night view of this beautiful theatre, lit up in all it’s glory. There is also a picture, tweeted by Piero of the “Sold Out” sign for tonight!

BIG STARS ON THE BIG STAGE

Radio City Music Hall has been a magnet for celebrities since that first night more than six decades ago. Stars shine here.

Radio City is the ultimate destination for the brightest and the best. Future stars, including the budding new comedian, Ray Bolger, and Metropolitan Opera star-to-be, Jan Peerce, shone here first. Many others came to bask in stardom already won. During the golden years of the silver screen, film celebrities rarely missed an opportunity to make an appearance on opening day. It wasn’t unusual to find the likes of Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Merle Oberon, Mary Pickford, Barbara Stanwyck, Jimmy Stewart, Robert Taylor, Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell stopping by to greet fans.

For decades, America’s most popular entertainers have thrilled audiences here. Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Linda Ronstadt, Bill Cosby, Liberace, Sammy Davis, Jr., Ann Margaret, Johnny Mathis, John Denver, The Count Basie Orchestra, Itzhak Perlman, Jose Carreras, Ray Charles and BB King have all appeared on the Great Stage. Today, the Music Hall continues to attract celebrities from the worlds of entertainment, sports, the media and national life. Shows starring Bette Midler, Stevie Wonder and Riverdance pack the house. Our reopening gala features Tony Bennett, Billy Crystal, The Eurythmics, Barry Manilow, Liza Minnelli, Sting, 98 Degrees, The Radio City Rockettes…and many others. Celine Dion stars in the first solo concert following the reopening. In the past decade, Radio City has hosted the Grammy’s and the Tony’s, The MTV Video Music Awards and the ESPY Awards. It has been the site for TIME Magazine’s celebration of its 75th year, complete with a visit from the President, and a host of benefit events. It has remained a magical place for people in the spotlight. To step out on the Great Stage of the Music Hall is to know what it is to be a star.

Twitters, Tweets and keeks:

Gianluca tweets a picture of himself with Ignazio behind him being Ignazio, “With the loquito” (loquito meaning ‘a little crazy’) He tweeted this morning “Today is the day, getting ready, I’m excited since I opened my eyes this morning”
Piero tweeted yesterday “Love what you do”. He tweeted this morning “GOOD MORNING #NYC are you ready for tonight? #RadioCityMusicHall SOLD OUT!
Ignazio must be too excited to tweet, who can blame him?

Check out the very nice article on Team Il Volo, It’s has some inaccuracies, but it’s very flattering. The title is
Talented voices of Il Volo take Italian heartthrobs to New Heights.

Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca, we are so proud of you. You have all worked so hard for this wonderful moment. Our love and prayers go with you as you step on the stage of this historic and beautiful theatre. Blessings from all of us at the “Flight Crew”

Linda

Il Volo, In Case You Missed It

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…..

38 Comments

grandReport

Hi Everyone,

Just one day to go until one of the biggest concerts ever for Il Volo. The concert at the Radio City Music Hall is a dream come true for Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca. As promised here are more facts about this Grand Theatre. The picture in the heading is of the “Grand Foyer”

Just two weeks after its gala opening, Radio City Music Hall premiered its first film, The Bitter Tea of General Yen. Before long, a first showing at the Music Hall virtually guaranteed a successful run in the theatres around the country. Radio City’s huge screen and widely spaced seats make it the ideal movie house. Since 1933 more than 700 movies have opened here. They include the original King Kong; National Velvet, the film that secured Elizabeth Taylor’s hold on the silver screen; White Christmas; Mame; Breakfast at Tiffany’s; To Kill a Mockingbird, starring former Radio City usher, Gregory Peck; Mary Poppins; 101 Dalmatians; and The Lion King. In the early years, a standard movie run lasted one week. Later, extended runs of five or six weeks became common. Cary Grant, Ginger Rogers, and Katharine Hepburn have taken Radio City box office prizes for the number of films screened here. All three had more than 22 of their films shown at the Hall. The popular movie-and-stage-show format remained a Radio City signature until 1979, when the mass showcasing of new films called for a new focus. Today, the Music Hall still premieres selected films, but is best known as the country’s leading hall for popular concerts, stage shows, special attractions and media events.

CHRISTMAS AT ROCKEFELLER CENTER: A HOLIDAY TRADITION

Lights twinkling on the tree, skaters gliding across the ice, carols ringing in the air and the annual Radio City Christmas Spectacular.

Rockefeller Center is the nation’s favorite Christmas destination. The spirit of the laborers who decorated the first tree on the site almost seventy years ago lives on in the giant, gloriously lit spruce that graces the Plaza throughout the holiday season. The tree lighting ceremony draws huge crowds eagerly awaiting the official start of the season. And for weeks, happy kids and harried commuters are stopped in their tracks by the sight of the gossamer angels with golden trumpets and the sound of music in the winter air.

For 80 years, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, starring the Rockettes, has continued to create lasting memories for generations of families that have made this cherished show a holiday tradition. As America’s #1 holiday production, the Christmas Spectacular is attended by more than one million people annually and has played to 74 different cities outside of New York with its regional touring production.

Since 1932, the Christmas Spectacular has played at the famed Radio City Music Hall and today’s show still features beloved favorite numbers, including Parade of the Wooden Soldiers and the Living Nativity, which have been performed since its inception.

This year, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular celebrates 85 magical years of the Rockettes and will perform to cities outside of New York including Nashville, Chicago, Dallas and St. Louis.

Twitters, Tweets and Keeks:
Not much coming from the “Guys” today.Check out some photos of Il Volo on Mundial with some fans from Miami Beach. Also a video from Gianluca singing “Come Fly With Me.”

This is just a guess, i’m assuming they will fly to NY today to settle in before the concert.

We on the Board of “The Flight Crew” are as disappointed as Il Volo and all of you, that they did not get a nomination for a Latin Grammy. We also realize that they are young and with their amazing talent and dedication they will receive many awards during their careers. In the interest of moving on we wish to concentrate on a very exciting time of their careers; a concert at Radio City Music hall on Friday, September 27th. We hope all of you that love Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca will join us in celebrating this milestone with them!!

Safe trip to NY Guys!!! Tomorrow is the day!!!

Linda

Gianluca, Ignazio, Il Volo, Piero

The Place Where Cellphones Have No Bars

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cabin

I know you already don’t believe my story but, that place does exist.  It is the black hole my sisters refer to as The Family Cabin.

Let me digress;

I have done my share of primitive camping.  My first husband and I were hikers.  We even back-packed into Yellow Stone National Park.  We spent nights in large iron cages in the woods so that bears could not take off with an arm or a leg while we slept.  It’s sort of a reverse zoo affect.  My travel buddy, sister, and I have been into Alaska’s Denali National Park to get as close to Mt. McKinley as possible.  We went as far as humans are allowed to go without special permission from the Forestry Service.

Now, back to The Black Hole  Family Cabin;

I have managed to avoid trips there this summer,  much to my family’s dismay.  I much prefer spending my days off blogging with all of you about my favorite subject –  how much I love Gianluca, Ignazio and Piero.  For some reason my family thinks I’m obsessed.  Missing “Sisters Weekend” October 4th, is not an option!  They call it a three day weekend.  I call it 28 days short of a month.  Oh, we have TV and DVD.  Heck, we even have a dishwasher!  But, no cellphone bars!!  What I have neglected to tell you until now, because you really won’t believe this part…NO INTERNET ACCESS!  Now, I ask you, how can that possibly be in this day and age?  Now that’s Primitive Camping!  No contact with you guys for nearly 72 hours!  I don’t know if I can do this.  I know I don’t want to do this!

I have a plan.  After everyone goes to sleep I’ll drive the 2 1/2 hours back home, while listening to Il Volo.  Then talk to you guys, read my email, leave emails, Pick up some donuts.  Then drive 2 1/2 hours back, while listening to Il Volo.  I’ll tell the girls that I love them so much that I drove for miles to bring them donuts for breakfast.  They won’t believe me, of course, but, I’m the oldest sister and I can stare the others down.

Have I mentioned that Big Foot lives there?  According to the local’s  it’s true.  One of the best foot prints ever was discovered there.  I have seen the plaster cast.  That dishwasher isn’t going to do much good when Yeti comes knocking on the cabin door!  If I had my trusty computer I could Google “The 10 Things Big Foot Hates Most” and end up the family hero instead of the family Il Volo nut case.

Worse than Big Foot is the fact that I won’t be playing Il Volo Music or watching Il Volo DVD’s.  Two of my four sisters blame those Sweet Faced Boys for my absence from the family and don’t want to see or hear them.  Can you imagine?  FOOLS!  I’ll  have my tiny MP 3 under my pillow!

So, Please think of me that weekend when you’re phoning and blogging!

Well, it’s almost Halloween.  What’s your horror story?

~Marie

Il Volo, In Case You Missed It

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…..

65 Comments

stageReport

Hi Everyone,

The excitement is building!! If it’s exciting for us, can you imagine how Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca feel about their concert at Radio City Music Hall this Friday? They have dreamed of this since the beginning. In a walking tour of New York City 3 years ago they pointed to the Grand Old Theatre and said “Someday we’ll sing there” Their dream has come true and we are so happy for them!!!
For the next few days I will share pictures and the extensive history of this beautiful theatre.The picture in the heading is of the “Great Stage.” It especially brings fond memories for me; as a child my parents would take us to New York City to see the famous Christmas Spectacular at this historic theatre. The following is a partial history of “Radio City” from it’s web site. We’ll have more tomorrow!

When the stock market crashed in 1929, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. held a $91 million, 24-year lease on a piece of midtown Manhattan property properly known as “the speakeasy belt.” Plans to gentrify the neighborhood by building a new Metropolitan Opera House on the site were dashed by the failing economy and the business outlook was dim. Nevertheless, Rockefeller made a bold decision that would leave a lasting impact on the city’s architectural and cultural landscape. He decided to build an entire complex of buildings on the property-buildings so superior that they would attract commercial tenants even in a depressed city flooded with vacant rental space. The project would express the highest ideals of architecture and design and stand as a symbol of optimism and hope.

The search for a commercial partner led to the Radio Corporation of America, a young company whose NBC radio programs were attracting huge audiences and whose RKO studios were producing and distributing popular motion pictures that offered welcome diversion in hard times. Rockefeller’s financial power and RCA’s media might were joined by the unusual talents of impresario S.L. “Roxy” Rothafel. Roxy had earned a reputation as a theatrical genius by employing an innovative combination of vaudeville, movies and razzle-dazzle decor to revive struggling theatres across America. Together Rockefeller, RCA and Roxy realized a fantastic dream – a theatre unlike any in the world, and the first completed project within the complex that RCA head David Sarnoff dubbed “Radio City.” Radio City Music Hall was to be a palace for the people. A place of beauty offering high-quality entertainment at prices ordinary people could afford. It was intended to entertain and amuse, but also to elevate and inspire.

“The Boys” are enjoying some leisure time in Miami, but are also recording. I hope they get enough down time, they’ll need their best energy for New York!!

Twitters Tweets, Keeks and Brabbles: Ignazio has Brabbled a Picture of palm trees and ocean saying “Which is more beautiful than this?” Gianluca tweeted “Good morning Miami” and you can see a short Brabble video of Piero on Mundial during a recording session.

Check out Team Il Volo for a glowing review of the Orlando concert. “Il Volo at the Amway Arena-Orlando”, courtesy of thehotspotorlando.

Please remember to sign Ignazio’s Birthday card!!!

Linda

Il Volo, In Case You Missed It

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT……

44 Comments

amwayReport

Hi Everyone,

By all accounts the concert in Orlando at The Amway Center last night was another huge success! We’re waiting to hear from LeeLee who attended her second concert two nights in a row.

The Amway Center not only hosts the Orlando Magic but tons of musical performers and many other events. With a venue as nice as this the Amway Center is a must see and quite an improvement over the old Amway Arena. The Amway Center recently opened on October 1, 2010 on 400 West Church Street in download Orlando, Florida at a total construction cost of $480 million no expense was spared. In the future tha Amway Center will look to hosting Rodeos, Monster Truck Jam Shows and maybe even a UFC fight. The Amway Center is home to the National Basketball Association’s Orlando Magic and the Orlando Predators of the AFL. The Amway Center took over for Amway Arena that was among one of the oldest venues in the NBA. The Amway Center box office provides a seating capacity of over 18,500 for NBA games. The Amway Center tickets for upcoming events should be a hot item. The venue has all the most recent venue technologies and amenities.

Twitters, Tweets and Keeks:
Gianluca tweeted from Miami, “I have been left speechless by your continued support, THATS amazing!! Thank you #miami #wearelovetour” He tweeted from Orlando, Fantastic concert in Orlando, see you soon,” He tweets, “Going back to Miami!!! can you believe it???!!?”
Piero tweeted Saturday night “Speachless #Miami, I’ll never forget this night”!!! He later tweeted, “After one hour and a half talking on the phone with my #mom, now I can go to sleep, love you Mama, I miss you, buonanotte.”
Piero tweeted early yesterday “For me there is one goal, let me feel your feelings through my voice”
Ignazio tweeted “Amazing people tonight in Orlando” Then this morning “Good morning beautiful”, then “At the restaurant”, “chocolate!!”

Team Il Volo has several articles worth reading “Il Volo’s Big Success in Miami”, “Il Volo Ready to Woo Honduran Fans”, “Il Volo language of Love” and “Il Volo Anxious To Be in Nicaragua.”

Check some good photos and videos on Mundial.

Ignazio’s Birthday!, please remember to sign the card. If you requested, but have not received an invite, let Kelly know!

Il Volo is back in Miami! Word has it they are going to finish some recordings. I hope they take a few days here to relax, although a lot of rain is predicted for the next few days.

The next concert is a big one, Radio City Music Hall In NY on September 27th, The Guys are very excited! I hope they get some down time while in Miami, they deserve it!!!!

Linda