John From CT
The moment that I had been waiting for since last October had finally arrived. My first Il Volo concert!
My career as an ilvolover began exactly a year ago when a group of coworkers and I decided to learn Italian. I wanted our lesson plans to include topics of interest and all of us agreed that “traditional Italian music” should be a part of our studies. My first Google search produced a YouTube video of “O Sole Mio” by you-know-who. Before this moment, I had never even heard of Il Volo, and when I sat down with my fellow students to watch a couple of videos of the guys, everyone was floored. The rest as they say, is history.
The Oakdale Theater in Wallingford, CT is the perfect venue for this type of event, with a 4600 seat auditorium which is wider than it is deeper. Except for a few rear seats in the upper balcony, we had a full house. As the concert approached, those seats were discounted down to $33 by LiveNation so even someone with a limited budget would have been able to participate. Our seats were in the 7th row from the stage, nearly perfectly centered, and with an incredible view.
JOHN’S IL VOLO CONCERT RULE #1: BUY THE BEST TICKETS THAT YOU CAN POSSIBLY AFFORD. Although not everyone has the means to buy a $225 ticket for a meet-&-greet, the difference between a $75 standard ticket and a $125 ticket in the tenth row center is not out of reach for most people. Don’t eat for a week, skip 10 visits to Dunkin Donuts, do anything you can to get yourself up front. Even though we are all there for their voices, the additional joy of seeing their faces, their expressions, their gestures etc. up close adds an incredible dimension to the whole experience which cannot be enjoyed as much when it is projected on a side-mounted video screen from several hundred feet away. If you are not going to attend an M&G, this is the closest you are going to get to the guys, and the incremental cost is worth it.
We were lucky to be at one of the few concerts with a full orchestra conducted by Il Maestro Diego Basso; I counted about 22 musicians and to their credit, they were incredible. I know that some of the concerts have had or will have a recorded soundtrack with a lesser amount of live musicians, but don’t let that disappoint you in any way. The opening number, “Ouverture”, appeared to be a recording accompanied by a handful of musicians, and it sounded great for what it was. If you are an audiophile who demands pure symphonic perfection, an Il Volo concert is not for you anyway; for the 99.99% of the rest of us, it will do just fine. The sound level and quality were perfect but of course this is also dependent on the acoustic qualities of the venue.
We have read several negative comments elsewhere about the laser / strobe / LED lighting effects. Honestly, I did not find these to be any trouble at all. Occasionally a beam of light would hit me in the face, but in general we had no problem with the more intense lighting and in any event it was only present during the more animated numbers and not during the quieter pieces.
JOHN’S IL VOLO CONCERT RULE #2: DO NOT WASTE PRECIOUS TIME TRYING TO RECORD THE CONCERT WITH A SMARTPHONE. Time after time, I saw many others holding up their phones for extended periods of time watching the concert on a 2-inch by 4-inch screen. For what? So you can have a collection of grainy, poorly-lit, jittery videoclips of the most incredible voices of our generation? If you can afford an iPhone and a monthly AT&T bill of $150, then you can afford to buy the beautifully recorded PBS concerts from Pompeii & Detroit. If you need to prove to someone that you were there, take a picture of your ticket and put it up on Facebook.
The songs included the following – “Il Mondo, Volare, L’immensita, Io che non vivo, Tonight, En Aranjuez con tu amor, E lucevan le stelle, Piove, Beautiful that way, Delilah, Caruso, My way, Quando l’amore diventa poesia, Unchained melody, Eternally, O paese do sole, Anema e core, No puede see, O sole mio, Grande amore” etc etc. Each piece featured the perfect combination of all three, of duets, or of solo performances. Piero’s two operatic pieces and Gianluca’s “Anema e core” had me shaking my head in astonishment; Ignazio’s solos and duets were truly world-class, and their soaring voices in ALL their numbers were as close to perfect as is humanly possible, especially for a group of 20-ish year olds. I was a bit disappointed that they did not perform some of my recent favorites including “La vita, L’amore si muove, and Canzone per te”, but since it was my first concert I was glad that I was able to hear some of their earlier works in this setting. The Connecticut audience was an older, more reserved crowd, with many ethnic Italians, many first-timer Americans, and a handful of younger 20-ish and 30-ish attendees who appeared to be having a great time as well. I expected everyone to stand up and sway to “Volare” but nobody did. They guys received about 15 standing ovations, which I had never experienced in any kind of live performance of any kind. The mix of English, Italian, and a couple of Spanish selections was appropriate for this audience as well; the in-between banter and comedy was mostly in English and was entertaining without being excessive; our resident clown Ignazio was hilarious while providing smooth transitions between the songs. The evening featured 1 hour & 55 minutes of musical and vocal bliss for anyone of any age.
JOHN’S IL VOLO CONCERT RULE #3: LEARN SOME ITALIAN. We all know that Italian is a beautiful language and that even a description of a root canal procedure can sound romantic, exotic, and heavenly simply because it is in Italian. Understanding the lyrics when Gianluca croons “Te voglio bene” (I love you) or when Piero cries “E muoio disperato” (I die in desperation) or when Ignazio proclaims “Quando vivo, vivo solo in te” (When I live, I live only in you) makes a huge difference – I cannot stress how knowing some of the language will add immensely to the concert experience, as well as when you are listening to their music at home. If you cannot take professional language classes, then get yourself a Berlitz Phrase Book for travelers, enroll in low-cost classes at a nearby school or community center, or if you can navigate online then download free language podcasts that you can play on your computer, tablet, or smartphone. And if you ever get the opportunity to travel in Italy you will have a more fulfilling experience if you can communicate to any extent in Italiano. All of my fellow students were so happy that we could get more of their message in their native tongue than if we simply had imagined what they were saying or were reading about it afterwards. In preparation for the concert, we took a bunch of their songs and dissected the lyrics line by line, using the website LyricsTranslate as a starting point. I went to the extreme of copying every one of their songs on to my Notes app on my iPhone, so I can constantly have all their lyrics in Italian, English and some in Spanish with me at all times; this proved to be a great tool for expanding my vocabulary as well.
Finally – the Meet & Greet. For most of us, $225 (and more in some venues) is a lot of money. $100 of that amount was for my M&G upcharge and the reality is that all you are going to get is about an hour of waiting around nervously in a semi-circular conga line with a bunch of other fans and about sixty seconds of “semi-quality” time with your idols. I will repeat this to who ever asks: It was the best $100 I ever spent in my life. For most of us with “regular” lives, sharing even one minute in person with someone who has brought you so much joy in life is truly a special time to be cherished forever. The thrill, the “special-ness”, the anticipation, the contact that you shared is even more meaningful when the next day you have to drive to work and punch a clock and get back to the real world. This is one of things that you have to do once in your life even if it defies logic (“I could buy a week’s worth of groceries” blah blah blah). If you can afford it, DO IT.
JOHN’S IL VOLO CONCERT RULE #4: PREPARE FULLY FOR YOUR M&G AND MAKE PRELIMINARY CONTACT. As you all know, a lot has been written on FlightCrew about this topic and the advice I received from all of you proved invaluable. While we were waiting in line, we got to observe many fans who got up to the guys and only managed to blurt out a weak “Thank You” or “You were great” or “Please, can I take a picture”. Many of the attendees were so star-struck or tired or unprepared that I imagine the whole thing must have been somewhat of an anti-climax for them. Not for me! While waiting, I made sure to make eye contact with the guys as much as I could. I had the supreme advantage of being 6’2” and sporting a military-style haircut so I stood out like the proverbial sore thumb. While others were texting away on their smartphones, I was aiming to grab their attention and smiling each time so that when it would be my turn I would just not be another in an endless stream of fans going through the motions. I decided that I was not going to bother with taking low-quality selfies with my phone especially as the event photographer was in place to take a burst of properly framed and lit digital photos.
My turn arrives. I firmly shake each of their hands. “Guys, I want to thank you not just for a wonderful experience tonight, but for introducing me to your “bel canto” style of music and for opening my eyes to the world of opera, and for bringing so much joy and a little bit of Italia into my home.” Their eyes and smiles could have illuminated the darkest of nights. Then I proceeded to tell them in perfectly practiced and accented Italian – “La tua musica mi ha ispirato per imparare l’italiano!” (Your music has inspired me to learn Italian!) Gianluca gave me a big “thumbs-up”, Piero just said “WOW”, and Ignazio put his arm around my shoulder and said something like “Thank you, that’s what we like to do.” Photo time went by quickly, and then the others in my group had their turns. After the official M&G was over, the guys mingled with the crowd for a bit, I got a quick chance to say hello to Barbara V, and that was it.
I made my way back to my car on a bitterly cold night, not sad that that it was all over, but with a sense of joy and warmth that yes, even for a short 3 hours, I had a wonderful visit with my three new “friends” from Italia.
~John
Wonderful review John. My “Twin” and I are attending in Cleveland and Detroit venues and love hearing how much you enjoyed your first concert. We saw them in Nashville in 2014 and loved every minute. Got to talk to Barbara and Gianlica’s Mom outside after the M &G. It seems everyone associated with IL Volo that we spoke to were friendly and fun. Thank you.
John,
You are a man after my own heart. You obviously adore these guys and their music. Such great information. My concert has come and gone. I had PBS tickets and tried get M&G tickets but was unable to. It sounds like you had a great time!
Jill. 🙂
Jill, even though your concert has come and gone, you can still relive it through the writings of others on FlightCrew. If you don’t already have them, get the PBS concert DVD’s; they are sensational and they’re cheap compared to the price of concert tickets! Don’t fret over the M&G; when it happens it will happen. That’s why I stress the importance of staying laser-focused on them while you have them live in front of you. The memories will last a lifetime!
John, thanks for sharing your experience with us!! I will be going next week on February 24 to see IL VOLO in Cleveland!! I saved up my money last September, and purchased My Meet and Greet ticket in November. I am so excited!! It islittle over a week away!
Excellent review John! You brought up some great points. I especially have to agree with you about the people who feel they have to record the concert. Last thing I want to do is to see someones arm up in the air while I am trying to inhale the concert! As for speaking Italian, I took lessons too but when the time came at my M&G two years ago my confidence in my Italiano zipped out of my brain! You are right about making the most of the concert experience. Every dime I spend on my trip: hotel, flight, concert, M&G will be 1000 times worth it. Grazie mille!
Grazie John, I really enjoyed your post. This will be my first live concert too, and I can’t wait. Like you, I have been translating their Italian lyrins into English with the help of LyricTranslate and Babylon. I don’t speak Italian but I have learned quite a bit so I can read it and pretty much know what is being talked about. (solo un po)
Your hints about iphones and the Meet and Greet are very helpful. We have 2nd row seats so I am glad to hear the lighting is not a problem. By the way have you seen Il Volo Translations on FB?
Ciao
I have seen nearly all the FB Translations videos and in fact I have downloaded some of them to my Mac because I use them as instructional tools. A common dilemma in learning and speaking a new language is that you can master the grammar, spend years building up your vocabulary, and perfect your spoken accent with enough practice. But when a taxi driver in Rome responds to your simple request in full-speed Italian filled with regional words, local slang, and a few well-deserved obscenities towards the idiot riding a Vespa scooter that just cut him off, all you can do is stare and think (“Huh?)… By watching natives speaking when you KNOW THE FULL CONTEXT OF THE CONVERSATION, as when Il Volo is being interviewed on an Italian TV talk show, you learn to anticipate what is going to come out of their mouths, hit the pause button, look up the word you just heard, and continue. It takes a long time, but with enough patience, it can be done.
Thank you, John, for your review and great tips for the M& G! My husband and I are attending Nashville, Vegas, and Temecula, Ca concerts. Our first M& G will be in Vegas! I’m so excited!!! I just hope I will remember my speech when I am in front of them!😀
My husband loves these guys as much as I, and has been so generous allowing us to attend their concerts.
Once again, grazie!!
Thak you so much John for taking the time to give us your experience of seeing and meeting il Volo, the best singers on the planet. I loved your review and know we all feel the same way. They are so special.
Thanks for sharing. I am practicing my “M & G” and hope not to have a memory loss. At 80 one does have quite a few “senior moments”.
Gina – you can always write it down on paper? 🙂
I am 80 also and I have written down what I want to say.
I may have to read it but I am practicing now until March 20
the date of the concert.
Now after seeing the Milan concert in English I can understand why the Il volo boys want to spend their time in the Latin countries & Italy. THAT is where the audience shows their appreciation of them.
It is so sad that most US & Canadians can’t open up with their applause & standing ovations & participating in heart felt cheers that show these beautiful young men the same enthusiasum that the other countries have shown them. Granted I want to hear our boys sing the songs & not hear others beside me singing in their off key voices.
In 2013 I went to O’Keefe Centre to see them & I was the only one standing for the clapping & I was openly telling people to stand up which they did’nt do until a few songs were sung. I felt so sad for the guys who were working so hard to give an excellent show & unfortunately I felt the same way at Kleinhans.
And what really bothers me people are so mean not to give the same praise evenly for each performer for their solos.
The guys gave a full 2 hours performance in Milan & didn’t seem to want to leave the stage. We get a 2 hour performance if we are lucky. I feel like putting up a banner behind the guys at the back of the stage that flashes signs to the audience stand up & clap & cheer & scream. We are like dead fish. I think I will start saving my money for concerts in Italy. I’l have to see if they have meet & greets first.\Well us old fogies who are going to Las Vegas lets give these magnificent young men who we all adore rousing cheers & hoots & hollering. I for one am not standing on my laurels to see what the next guy is doing. If I feel like screaming I am going to do just that.
I’m an “old fogie “going to Vegas too. Couldn’t get seats up front but I will be up and screaming. American audiences have been compared to pasta with no salt and South Americans pasta with salt. I believe Ignazio said that in an interview. So everyone please bring your salt. Not literally of course.
that’s an interesting analogy!? maybe they could just take away our seats in vegas? lol! we’ll be dancing and singing to the whole thing! of course if they encouraged the audience to stand, maybe they would? I will definitely be on my feet if they sing Per Te Ci Saro! 🙂
Good. ’cause I’ll be on the floor weeping over “Eternally”!
I guess I’m not the only crying during “Eternally “.
Well Rose Marie I never knew Ignazio said that but it surely fits. So this time people lets prove him wrong
He said it during an interview on Panorama d’italia , November 6, 2015. It’s in three parts and I don’t remember which one it is. You can find it on FB search on Il Volo Translations.
Yes, some people feel they are being more polite if they don’t stand, sing, and cheer! I told someone I was going to be dancing and standing and I’m in the front row and they said “oh, but then those behind you can’t see!” Well, I guess they will have to stand, too, then!!”
I am in the mezzanine, bummer. But my heart will be in the front row. Jana do you have good seats at the Palms?
Those should be good seats? Don’t they let you roam around before the concert? Haven’t been there in ages! Which section of the mezz?
Good seats for Vegas, but not front row… 4th row, almost dead center though!
I’m in section 204. Will you be at the Fan Faire? May try to get a better seat.🎧
Loretta, I’m with you, girl!! I plan on screaming, clapping, and dancing at the Nashville, Vegas, and Temecula concerts!!! I may be nearly 74, but I’m not dead!!
A niece and sister-in-law went with us to Nashville concert. Later, our niece told one of our grandsons that I went crazy! 😀Oh, what a wonderful crazy that was!
See you in Vegas and I hope the other old fogieswill join us and show our guys how much we love them in the U. S!!
Meant they went with us last year to Nashville! Niece will be with us again this year!
OH! Me too!! Jumping, clapping, dancing and shouting “Bravooo” at the top of my lungs! Plus…I’m up close to the front for 3 concerts!!! This is a no brain-er. Couldn’t help doing those things even if I wanted to!
Since so many of us going to Vegas also have VIP/M&G seating, we will all be sitting up front and close together. Our problem won’t be showing exuberance it will be controlling it!
Marie, we will also be attending the Fan Faie Convention in Vegas, so us old fogies need to get together there and plan our granny moves!😍
Ok Anna I’m with you. Lets show them that we can show appreciation to them as well as the kids can.
I’m practicing my moves!!!! We’ll show ’em!!!!!😍
I agree with you, Loretta.
Wow John
Brilliant article and description of
Il Volo and rules for the concert. I agree with you totally . I’m also learning Italian and finding those passionate lyrics even more wonderful now. I have yet to find words to describe that feeling after one of these amazing concerts but you hit the mark really well, thank you.
Thanks to all for your feedback. For those of you that are still nervous about an upcoming M&G, remember that these are no ordinary superstars. These guys are the most humble, approachable, down-to-earth, and friendly “entertainers” imaginable. They seem to genuinely enjoy all the personal interactions with their fans. At my M&G they were joking and laughing and you got the impression that they would have stayed there for several hours if not for the fact that they had to get going to their next destination.
The day after the concert, the temperature here in Connecticut dropped down below zero, so in the evening I had the fireplace going, had a glass of my favorite Pinot Grigio, put on the live “Il Volo Takes Flight” album, and treated myself to another wonderful “concert.”
Evidently you missed dancing to Volare, and groovin in my seat thru the whole concert. GG, made eye contact with me many times and smiled. I shook with each one of them while they were onstage. My M&G wasn’t the greatest, for reasons I won’t go into,nothing to do with guys.Had a great time, can’t wait for them to come back again..If I had someone to go with,I would have gone to Las Vegas. Nice article.
Few words missing. Missed” me” dancing to Volare. Shook” hands” with each of them.
John – yes, wonderful moments you shared with us! And great advice! They do seem to have incredible memories. I will be very tickled if they remember me from the PBS meet/greet last July! Hoping for good weather in Detroit. I think the “Takes Flight” DVD is one of everyone’s favorites… 🙂
Great article, John!! Yes, they are so down to earth and approachable. Isn’t that wonderful?
I’m hoping maybe the Vegas crowd will be a little more animated (just by being in Vegas!) and give them standing ovations and cheers to make their hearts glow!
I think we will, Jane!
Thanks, John, for a wonderful article. My excitement is reaching fever pitch, and I have over a month to wait until Vegas!
Hi John, great article. Thank you for sharing. I was one of those people at my first concert who was taking pictures with my camera and my phone for video. I was so busy with my electronics I missed half the concert. Fortunately, they were performing the next night 2 hours away. I was able to get great seats so I went there just so I can watch the show. WORTH IT! This time it’s all about the show and luckily I’m in Florida where there is guaranteed a charged audience. Ciao.
Of course it’s guaranteed! Ineke and I will be sitting beside you!!! We may have to control Ineke.
Right, and who’s going to control you? Not me. I’ll be in my own zone.
The last time I saw Il Volo was in 2013. I was on my feet after every song, but I wsa in the front row. Who knows, maybe I was standing all alone!
John, What a great review. I am one that is still very nervous to meet the guys. I am going to read and re-read your comments to help me be more confident. Good idea to keep your eyes on them while you wait. Thanks for the great review you wrote. I will be seeing them on February 27. Still a little time to think about things. I was lucky to get to go to Italy in 2007. With a son that had a conference in Naples to present a paper that he wrote in a Master’s class. I totally fell in love with Italy and so want to go back.
John, I am so impressed with your beautifully written report of your Il Volo experience. It will surely be helpful information for those who have yet to attend their concerts and M&G’s. You have given me some things to think about in view of my past mistakes. I especially like the advice on eye contact….it is tempting to let the eyes try to take in everything and end up with very little…key word: focus, focus, focus on what (or who) is most important. I also like your emphasis on planning what to say. I know about this as one who has done my share of stammering when face to face. I hope those who have t his experience ahead of them will take your words to heart–you don’t realize until you get there how imbecilic you can become at this moment. And, as you pointed out, it is a wonderful experience in spite of anything and everything.
Thanks John for your advice and comments. My seat in Vegas is in row 202. I hope it isn’t too far left. I couldn’t afford an M and G, but hope maybe they will drop in to our banquet. Joanie Guyon
John your letter was great! Would like to email you. I am at CreativeStarr@aol.com (seeing the boys tonight…the 17th at Barclays Center).
Thank you for your review, I’m glad that the boys inspired you to learn Italian, I guess it’s not easy, italian is not simple. I agree with you, attend an Il Volo concert is a wonderful experience, to anyone, if you can go please go! You won’t regret it! I attended 3 of their concerts here in Italy and I can’t wait to go to a new concert in the future. I hope my english isn’t too bad! Grazie mille e saluti dal’Italia 🙂
Daniela, I appreciate your comments. To me, Il Volo is not just about a musical trio; it is about how the guys are presenting their culture to the world. I have traveled to Italy many times, always as a tourist and doing what every tourist has to do – Roma Venezia Firenze. All of us here are now involved in their passion for their music, which leads to a desire to know their language, which makes us all wanting to experience everything Italian! My next trip to Italy will be where I can spend a month with a regular family in the country, working on a farm or vineyard, learning about their lives, the language, the cuisine, the warmth of the local people, the real Italia!
John, I know exactly how you feel. I also have been to Italy many times, and as James Ernest Shaw, who wrote the popular book “An Italian Journey” wrote “Love and understand the Italians, for the people are more marvelous than the land.” Our Boys are showing this to the world – the way they live, treat their famlies and fans. He did what you want to do, he worked on olive farms.
I’m glad that you’re interested in italian culture, and the real Italia. We are proud of the guys and grateful for presenting a part of the italian culture in the world. Gianluca, that lives in the same region that I live (Abruzzo) was nominated Ambassador of his city and Abruzzo in the world, so as the two others guys was for their region (Sicilia) and their city. I wish you’ll enjoy your stay when you’ll come in Italy. You’ll find, or you had already found, that here are so many local lanuages ( we call them dialetti), I read somewhere that only Italy has so many “dialetti”. I think this is interesting, I think this comes from the history of the country, too many foreign dominations in the past (spanish, french, austriac, north european) left traces in the local languages. L’Italia ti aspetta (Italy is waiting for you) Ciao!
Grazie, Daniela!
un giorno mi piacerebbe visitare il vostro paese!
Ann, that was lovely! You sure know your Italians. Good for us!
Reblogged this on Italia ri-unita.
John, thank you for this wonderful review. Unfortunately some critics in Italy are still trying to downplay their success and just a few months ago, after their amazing concert in Florence as a Tribute to the 3 tenors, a self-declared “music expert” wrote on a national newspaper that he wished they went abroad so Italy could get rid of them. I was so outraged that I also wrote an article on a national newspaper I usually collaborate with on their culture page, saying what a wonderful job they are doing in promoting the Italian language and culture abroad. Your comments here prove I was right. http://www.ilsussidiario.net/News/Musica-e-concerti/2016/11/5/IL-VOLO-Un-successo-mondiale-che-fa-bene-al-made-in-Italy-/731425/
I discovered Il Volo only a few weeks ago but since then I’ve filled the gap and I think there are no videos of Il Volo on Youtube that I have not seen, including interviews and the videos dedicated to them by young (and not so young ) fans. I don’t usually watch TV and I’ve never followed talent shows like Sanremo, so I didn’t know they had won in 2015. One evening in October, I was zapping through tv channels and I fell on the replica of the Florence concert “Tribute to the three tenors” broadcasted by Channel 5; I was mesmerized, unable to tear myself away from the screen until the end of the concert. “Who the hell are these guys!?!” I wondered in awe.
In fact, I should take a step back, because in 2012 my students at the University of Hong Kong, where I was teaching, asked me if we could study the words of their songs and I had to admit I’d never heard of them. They were astonished, as they were convinced that the group was very famous in Italy too. Unfortunately in China youtube and FB were often banned, so I couldn’t do a research. I remember that I brought to the class the lyrics of “Vivo per lei” sung by Bocelli and Giorgia instead.
But it was only after watching another TV program focused on Il Volo that same night, right after the concert, that I realized that those three amazingly talented young men were the same group my students has asked me about. So I was curious to know more about them and the next day I started searching the net for reviews and articles and found a shameful article written by a self-declared critic called Monina, which practically insulted the trio and those who appreciated them. I was outraged and I decided to write an article too; I talked to the director of Il Sussidiario, a national newspaper for which I occasionally write on cultural issues, and they gave me the green light after consulting the head of the music column.
So I started watching reruns of their countless concerts on Youtube. In the beginning it was to get to know them and understand the reasons for their immense success everywhere in the world, later it was to try to understand why they were having such an effect on me. Because the more I listened to them the more I felt an irresistible desire, almost a need, to listen to them over and over again. In my article on my blog I wrote, jokingly, that they have only one flaw: they can cause addiction. And I have to say that I have experienced this “side effect” myself. I’m not a young girl, I went unscathed through the era of the Rolling Stones, the Queen and Pink Floyd, so I couldn’t make out why they exerted such a strong and strange attraction on me. Of course they have gorgeous soaring voices, but it couldn’t be just that, there are other talented singers with beautiful voices that don’t have the same effect on me. It is not even linked to their music genre, because I am not particularly fond of opera and I enjoy listening to them singing all types of songs, from melodic to opera arias. After hearing their versions of songs I love like “Angel”, “My Way”, “Memory” or “Bridge Over Troubled Water” the original versions seem dull and insipid to me. Then, reading the comments at the bottom of the videos I realized that many people of all ages feel the same way, the most frequent comments are: “I listen to them every day and I feel happy, they make me feel good”. I found a particularly poignant testimony: “I listen to them and they give me so much joy and serenity. I’ll tell you something confidentially; I have a sister who unfortunately suffers from Parkinson, with all the problems connected to this disease, but since I gave her albums of Il Volo including the last one when she has a crisis, especially at night, she listens to them and it calms her down. In my case now I am too addicted to Il Volo. We are not young girls, but with a passion for beautiful music including pop music.”
In the review of a concert a US journalist wrote: “Some came to the concert out of curiosity, to find out why all the fuss about Il Volo, but when the trio starts to sing it’s as if a spell is cast on the audience.” And another journalist, reviewing the New York concert, said almost the same thing: “And while there may be plenty of skeptics out there who do not like or understand “operatic-pop, rest assured that when Il Volo let out their first notes it’s as if they cast a spell “.
So it’s an extraordinary and mysterious feeling most of us experience and share while listening to them, but it’s difficult to explain it in words.
Dear John,
I am publishing on my blog some testimonies of how ilvolovers discovered for the first time Il Volo. I would like to insert your story as well and I am asking for your permission to translate part of it into Italian ( the whole article would be too long), with a link to the English version on this page. Let me know if it’s ok with you. Thank you. Patrizia
Hi Patricia,
Thanks for your interest in my story. Yes, of course you can post it on your blog. By the way, it has already been translated into Italian by our friends at “All About Il Volo”.
Here is the link:
http://www.ilvolo.mus.br/2016/02/il-volo-in-wallingford-a-review-you-cant-miss-una-recensione-da-non-perdere/
Great! Thank you John. I have to ask permission to AAIV to use their translation then. Do you want me to put your name as John from CT or with your surname?
Patrizia, Welcome! I don’t think I have seen your name before, forgive me if I am just being slow. In any case, I am tickled to hear that you are writing about Ilvolovers make first time discoveries of IL VOLO on your Italian blog. The more I hear the stories of other fans the more I am so delighted that I discovered them when I did and that a space like the Flight Crew exists AND that the Flight Crew is truly International!
Hi, yes and I would be very happy to publish yours as well. If you want to send me a few lines I’ll translate them into Italian and put a link to the English version, if it’s published on this site. Otherwise I’ll create another page with the English version and put a link to it. If you’re on Facebook you can contact me through messenger.
Patrizia which name do you use on Facebook? In the Flight Crew I am known as the Pirate ( see the little picture?) On facebook my name is Connie
My real name, Patrizia Ciava
Patrizia,
The entire world of Il Volo knows me as “John from CT” so you just can use that signature.
Gracie!
Ok, thanks John. I read that you’re going to the concert in Verona on the 20th with a few other volovers, is that correct? I’ll be there too so maybe we could meet up. It’s my first Il Volo concert. I live in Rome but I wanted it to be special the first time and the Arena is the perfect venue. So looking forward to it 🙂
Que lindo depoimento! Pude sentir a emoção!
What a beautiful statement! I could feel the excitement!