Here is a comment from “John from CT” on the “Have a Magical Night” post on October 1st. Didn’t want you to miss it.
Today IS the day.
But before I comment about Il Volo, I want to tell you a bit about another of my favorite performers of all-time, Adele, the British superstar singer-songwriter. When I found out late last year that she was going to tour the U.S. this year, my heart soared with excitement and anticipation. Over 400,000 tickets were going to go on sale! But when I read that probably half the population of the United States was going to attempt to buy those tickets, my hopes faded quickly – there goes that chance of ever seeing her live in concert. Since I live in Connecticut, I had the option to drive up to Boston or down to New York City or take Amtrak to Philadelphia or Montreal. T-Day (Ticketmaster ticket sale day) finally arrived! I logged on to Ticketmaster at exactly 10:00am plus one second, selected Boston as it was the closest to my home, and to my complete surprise, I got a message that I had successfully gotten “in line” and that there would be an 11-minute wait to select and pay for my tickets! Was this for real? I had layouts of all the arenas so I could make a quick decision right away regarding the quality of the seats. As the minutes counted down, I grew nervous with anticipation and probable disappointment. And then – “Please select ticket category” !!! – Orchestra Platinum? All gone. Orchestra half-way back? All gone. Orchestra rear? All gone. Mid-range Loge towards the front? All gone. My heart was sinking fast as I could tell by now what the outcome was going to be. Mid-range Loge towards the center? TWO SEATS AVAILABLE! Checked the layouts – not bad at all! Price $145! Could this be real? Click “Buy”. Confirmed! Click “Visa”. Confirmed! Click “e-ticket via Ticketmaster” Confirmed! I WAS GOING TO SEE ADELE IN CONCERT!!! Later that day I found out that every single one of the 400,000 tickets sold out in less than an hour.
September 15. 805pm. I’m sitting at the TD Garden in Boston in my Mid-range Loge seats, half way back from the stage. Lights dim; 20,000 screaming fans with their eyes fixed on the stage – and nothing happens. Meanwhile, from the center of the orchestra floor, about 40 feet directly in front of me, a diamond shaped platform slowly rises from below the floor. Spotlights on! “Hello!” It’s Adele! She is standing about 40 feet directly in front of my face! I can see her eyelashes move! 20,000 bodies jump to their feet in ecstasy! After the first song she asked the crowd if they were there to have a good time and 20,000 fans roar “YES”! Then she announces, “well, unfortunately, most of my songs are so friggin depressing that you’re probably going to be in tears by the end of the night.” And you know what, she was right. Her heart-wrenching lyrics coupled with her genuine rapport with the audience made you feel like she was sitting at your kitchen table telling you about how devastated she was about her recent breakup. The emotions that this woman can pull out of your soul are incredible. She did a selection of her songs from that center stage giving many more fans the chance to see her up close. The rest of the songs she did from the main stage, all with great sound quality and videos and lighting effects (yes, lasers!). She would chat a bit between each song, telling the story about what it meant to her, about what she was going through at the time, about the message she was trying to convey. Her voice, her range, her talent are truly in the world-class league that her 100 million album sales reflect. Needless to say, it was an incredible concert. Adele provided me with 110% of the joy and emotion that any other artist could ever provide. Except for one. And that my friends, is a problem for me. Because no matter how much I enjoy an artist, or a performance, or ANYTHING in life, I will always be comparing the experience to you-know-who.
Which brings us to today.
I left work early, rushed home, threw the car keys on the kitchen counter, and ran to my Mac so I could purchase Notte Magica on iTunes to tide me over until my physical CD & DVD’s arrived. I have a pretty elaborate sound system which lets me send the music to almost any room in my home. The anticipation builds. Heart rate up. I’ve had this feeling many times before. Breathing heavier now. It was happening again. New music. Il Volo. Pull the shades. Kick off my shoes. Make myself comfortable. Soft lighting. Glass of wine. Eyes closed. Press play.
Immediately, I am in Florence. The first instrumental piece begins. Placido is right in front of me conducting. Dusk dissolves into night. The first strains of “Nessun Dorma”. Their voices fill my living room. Each of their notes bounce off my walls. I know this one by heart. I’ve been studying it for months. I am following along in Italian. I am thinking in Italian. I am feeling in Italian. My heart soars in Italian. Memories of my trips to Italy come flooding back. Feelings of love not meant to be race back and forth through my mind. The piece nears its end. “Vincero!” (I will win!)
For one hour and thirty-two minutes, they did it to me again. In Italian. And in Spanish. And in English. They moved me again. With a full range of emotions, both high and low that you cannot possibly imagine that any one artist could provoke. With perfect execution. With that intense love and effort and talent that only our guys can provide. Gianluca. Ignazio, Piero. You’ve done it again.
~~John
John, what a great article! I’m so happy you were able to see Adele. She has such a captivating voice.
Your description of your one hour and thirty two minutes of listening to Il Volo’s new CD was spot on. I am thinking in Italian…my heart soars in Italian… Perfect execution…I love the way you put this. One can actually feel what you were feeling!
Thanks for starting the day on such a beautiful note.
I agree with Jane, John. You are spot on! I have read this several times and I get all soft inside each time. I also really like Adele, but even she doesn’t do to me what our guys do when I listen to their music. It’s like a whole other world and no other performer can quite get there.
Thanks John!
Loved your article. We all have a heart big enough to share but we only have one to give and that is to the boys.
What a wonderful comment you wrote John, while you in your imagination you found yourself in Florence, I in my I could see you in your home can enjoy this wonderful music and the song so you have studied.
I already have the DVD and they can also see is beautiful and more exciting ….. but never the emotion is like that night in Florence, the agitation of the boys was palpable in the air and we adoring public still does not know what to expect and it was pure emotion, emotion to tears by the skill and feelings that these guys were broadcasting.
Beautiful also the comment that you described of Adele, whom I admire so much, you have seen the video that Piero has filmed from his hotel room in Germany where only frames his feet and television which broadcast a song by Adele and he hums along her with a low and confidential tone, beautiful. If you’ve never seen let me know that I try to send it to you.
… a hug to my friend who thinks and has a heart soars in Italy.
Brilliant! Thank you! I loved every description John, from waiting on the phone to get those Adele tickets to sitting and listening to our guys with your glass of wine! My heart was beating fast! I had to smile about your rushing home to download the guys. At 12:01 I got on I-Tunes to download mine (while I waited for my purchase to come through the mail too) . It was like listening to 3 new performers yet 3 performers we have heard many times before (you know what I mean?) New music, new emotions and lots of love sprinkled in between. Memories for me as well, as I can still remember opening the doors of that beautiful church in Florence. Ahhhh!
Excellent, descriptive writing. John, you have inspired me to not delay the purchase of “Notte Magica”. Now I ‘can’t wait’, either. Thanks for the spark!
💖💗💞💖💗💗
John, I loved living your adventure into ticket buying. The adrenaline must have been pumping as you clicked on “buy”. I felt the same way buying Il Volo tickets for the first time through PBS and they said “2nd row center”. Adele is high on my list of favorites too. How wonderful for you to have been able to see her eyelashes. LOL I hope to see 3 sets of the most beautiful eyelashes soon.
Thank you John, that was great! But I am thinking that you wrote more about Adele (I like her) than about Il Volo and that is not right! haha! I am a picky fanatic! Ignazio singing Una furtiva lagrima is magnificent. When they sing Granada you can perfectly appreciate how their voices have wonderfully grown since the Detroit concert. This a serious concert, but when I listen to Granada I cannot stop myself from remembering Ignazio moving his hips to the rhythm of this song in one of their popular concerts…:)
Thank you, John! Beautiful post triggering many emotions!! So glad you were able to see Adele in Concert! I gave my heart to three adorable teenagers over four years ago!!! I can enjoy other singers but I only listen to our precious boys at home & in the car!!! Notte Magica is magnificent music!!
Thanks, John! You are so right about il Volo! I have not experienced Adele, but have seen, heard and been in awe of the guys, up close and personal! Their new cd is marvelous and the dvd is on order! My only hope is that when they come to the USA in March, they will be in traveling distance from Texas!! Nothing, and I mean NOTHING can compare with then in person!!♡♡♡
Thanks John for your experience about buying tickets. I am waiting on pins and needles to get the DVD of the Florence concert. I also will have a glass of Italian wine, dim lights, and NO interferences.Joanie G
Thank you, John, for a wonderful post about your nerve-wracking experience when buying tickets to an Adele concert. I have a feeling that very soon it will be just that hard to get tickets to our Il Volo concerts!
Has anyone received & listened to the Italian release box set of Il Volo’s new CVD’s & DVD. I read on Amazon that the DVD requires a DVD player which I guess I would have to buy a DVD player. I understand the DVD can’t be played on a CD player. can anyone help me before I buy one
Loretta,you can watch DVD not only on DVD recorder, but also on computer. My DVD recorder is few years broken, so I use a computer, on your computer, you can use Windows Media Player to play a DVD-Video.In Windows Media Player, you can play audio CDs, data CDs, and data DVDs that contain music or video files (also known as media CDs). You can also play video CDs (VCDs), which are similar to DVDs, although the video quality isn’t as high.If you have a DVD drive and a compatible DVD decoder installed on your computer, you can use Windows Media Player to play a DVD-Video disc.Insert the disc you want to play into the drive.Typically, the disc will start playing automatically. If it doesn’t play, or if you want to play a disc that is already inserted, open Windows Media Player, and then, in the Player Library, select the disc name in the navigation pane. If you inserted a DVD, select a DVD title or chapter name.If you start to play a DVD or VCD in the Player Library, the Player automatically switches to Now Playing mode. (The Blu-ray Disc format is not supported in Windows Media Player. To play a Blu-ray Disc, you need to use a non-Microsoft program that supports Blu-ray playback and a device capable of reading Blu-ray Discs.) Hope that I helped you. I wish you good evening and goodnight.
Good article for you:
http://www.aimersoft.com/tutorial/cd-vs-dvd.html
DVD recorder
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVD_recorder
https://www.amazon.com/DVD-Recorders-Players-Audio-Video/b?ie=UTF8&node=1036920
Wow thanks Lydka I have a pile of reading to do
Loretta you can play it on your computer. And buying a DVD player for the Italian release won’t help you as it won’t play on a North American one. Wait until November and the one for North America will be available then and you won’t have to buy anything–just the DVD! I got my audio CD yesterday from Amazon.com. Now I am waiting for the DVD to come out.
thanks Penina. Can yyou please give me thre Amazon.com address you got you CD’S. are they the ones with 20 something songs. I’ve called stores in Brampton, Brantford & here in Chatham they don’t have record stores. Another bum move. I sure wish I could afford to get back to Toronto
I agree Allene I am dreading the battle for front row seats or any seats the are reasonaly close
Amazon, new CD:
https://www.amazon.com/Notte-Magica-Tribute-Three-Tenors/dp/B01JP1HWBE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1475760871&sr=8-1&keywords=il+volo+tribute+to+the+three+tenors
John, I loved your article. You are a talented writer and I hope that you will continue to treat us often with more of them.
Thanks to all for your comments and feedback. I am happy that I was able to convey the sense of excitement and anguish by describing the ticket-buying process because we’ve all been there before in some way; I’m also glad that many of you agree with me about Adele; she’s incredible and she has earned a special place in my heart not only as my favorite female performer but also as a beautiful person who masterfully has opened up her private world to all of us through her music. She is a true artist in every sense of the word.
As for Notte Magica, I have listened to the CD several times over the past few days and I’d like to make a few observations.
As I have mentioned before in older posts, I was never a fan of opera or “operatic” style music; I simply was never exposed to it, never really thought I was able to understand it, and I always associated it with the stereotypical “old rich people wearing tuxedos and fur coats at Lincoln Center in New York.” Then along came our guys with their “bel canto” style of singing, with their “pop opera”, then with the more operatic “No Puede Ser” and “E lucevan le stelle”, and now with “Nessun dorma” and the works we have here. Some opera “purists” might argue that Il Volo are not true opera singers or that their music is not true opera, but that doesn’t matter to me. What is important to me is that I now find myself online researching the stories behind the pieces, reading the “libretto” or text or storylines of “Tosca” or “Turandot”, using my basic knowledge of Italian to try to understand a work by Puccini in his own language, trying to make sense of and being moved by stories written 75 or 150 or 300 years ago, and spending my free time listening to and learning about a form of art that never in a million years I ever thought I was going to study, let alone enjoy. It is truly astonishing what this little teenage trio from Italy has added to my life. I encourage all of you to try to learn a bit about the meaning of these songs because by doing so it will add a whole new dimension of appreciation and enjoyment.
Second, spend a few minutes to carefully listen to Ignazio’s voice in “Una furtiva lagrima” (A furtive tear). Pay special attention to the last minute of the piece – is it humanly possible to do what he does with the different tones going up and down in the way they do? Is there a name for this? (Myron, please educate me here!). After you think you’ve heard it all, you hear something like this and all you can do is shake your head in disbelief! There are so many examples of this type of performance on this CD that one can truly appreciate the QUALITY of what we are hearing and enjoying. Oh, and by the way, I learned a new word: furtive (adjective) – attempting to avoid notice or attention, typically because of guilt or a belief that discovery would lead to trouble; secretive: they spent a furtive day together | he stole a furtive glance at her | • suggestive of guilty nervousness: the look in his eyes became furtive. The moral of the story: If you don’t know what something means, look it up and use your new found knowledge to add to the enjoyment of what you are listening to!
Third, contrast “Torna a Surriento” to the Elvis Presley version (Surrender) that the guys have interpreted before. It’s amazing how the same song performed by the same singers in two such totally different ways can convince you that you listened to two completely different works.
Finally, pay some extra attention to “Ave Maria Mater Misericordiae” – it is such a powerful composition and it’s going to take me a while to really understand it but I think it will be worth the effort because somewhere down the line I think it is going to help me understand the true meaning of life.
Gianluca, Ignazio, Piero, – Thank you again.
Good night for now,
John
John was expecting just that someone would give the detailed comments to songs. I think you know that Ignazio is my favorite of the three, I think her performance of UNA FURTIVA LAGRIMA has been masterful, the tone of voice becomes thin almost imperceptible almost come from a distance and then gradually thickens as if the person you got close to you, I love it and I find that Ignazio also plays with the heart this song because you still can not see her facial expressions but you’ll see how much he is called into play.
Come back to Sorrento, is a song that my daughter loves, yesterday in the car with her, we listened to the CD and we concluded the same things that you said before, this song is totally different from how they interpret it usually but no less beautiful, indeed , certain passages bought in beauty.
These guys have worked hard to give more classical interpretations to songs that they usually have in the lineup, also Tonight you’ve noticed that different ending Ignazio did not doing the acute but usually the final finishing in a lower pitch and then, when you think no longer has a say in the body, starting with a final high: beautiful.
If we think that July 4, just three days after they performed at the Arena with their repertoire of pop and with the same classical pieces performed more lightly, well……very very GRANDI.
What about the unprecedented AVE MARIA song, sublime, immense choral parts, with this substrate such as a gear that goes into growing … shame not to have been able to do before the Pope, and the end … always a hymn to life, I have heard several times and each time I appreciate a part.
I have to tell you that lots of songs moved me that night in Florence because they were related to intense family memories but for the whole of the orchestra and chorus have to tell you that Adeste Fideles that night was great, perhaps the CD does not make it for what it was but believe me ever more inappropriate air (we were in summer) made me shiver.
In addition I also have to say that Piero expected the skill and maybe also by Ignazio, but hearing Gianluca in the Danza has left me speechless, bravo !!
I’m linger much and I apologize to everyone, but I’d be here hours to review the performances of our boys.
John thinks just yesterday I got angry so much for an Italian review made to the CD. The writer says he is a perfect product, but not by emotion and not be able to bring young people closer to the music because it will remain a crystallized product and that older executions.
NOTHING MORE WRONG !!!!! What you have written and I have read in many comments will test the error, many young people are listening to these tunes and approach to classical music.
I hope you did not get bored.
A hug
Hello Daniela!
Your comments can never bore us. Your participation on this site is extremely important to us because you are one of the few who live and breathe Italia while you are actually there and we all value your point of view tremendously. The opera “purists” I referred to are some writers in the press and personal contacts in my life who have made comments like “they are so young” or “they have not had 20 years of formal training” etc. etc. It is those kinds of comments that don’t matter to me because what matters is that more and more adults who never were exposed to this kind of music (like me!) are now in love with it, and more and more younger people are being exposed to and are appreciating it as well. This was a prime goal of Il Volo from the beginning – to expose and capture different audiences for this music and they have accomplished that tremendously.
Some of us share the fear that our guys are going to get “too big” and some day we will have to struggle to get tickets and yes, this might happen at some point but all we can do is make the best of it and appreciate the access we have now.
I too am waiting anxiously for the DVD; from what I understand the Italian market version will play on a computer DVD player but we will probably have to wait for the Detroit PBS / U.S. version to be able to play it on our regular DVD players here in the States. I am counting down the days where I can see my own private concert as well as hear it!
Ciao.
Thanks John for what you wrote. Here, too, the purists of the opera, turn up their noses when talking about them. I had the opportunity to respond to the comments of those really bad purists and a man (do not know him but I love it) I came to help by telling them that the boys have brought a breath of youth in opera and they all looked rather from ‘ top to bottom with a snobbish !!
The Grains teacher who follows them again in Florence told me that the night before the concert they all had the feeling listening to the evidence of the boys, that something really beautiful and well done was coming.
Have you seen the video on you tube of the songs tests? At the end there is Ignazio singing Una furtiva Lagrima and Torpedine , Barbara, Piero e Gianluca and the few present, listen to him in silence kidnapped and to the end applaud him.
Daniella, I have not seen this video of the song tests. Can you post the link for all of us to see? Thank you! Un’ abbraccio!
Penina, the video is what I published at the end of my comments, can you see it?
There are other videos of songs and tests were filmed live on PBS. If you have not seen them I’ll look for them, however, I am on you tube. Let me know.
Thanks Daniella–I didn’t know that was the video you were referring to! And Rose Marie, if that is the one you were referring to, I withdraw my request!
John, I truly enjoy your posts. You put into words what we all feel and you do it so elequently. I never followed opera but always loved certain arias. I was fortunate to see the Three Tenors when they came to Cleveland in 1996. I thought I was in heaven that day. Then, along came Il Volo. Our three teenagers showed me that the best was yet to come. Now, as young men they have fulfilled my expectations. I have listened to the new CD so many times and I am in awe of their ability at their age to use their voices the way they do. Ave Maria, Mater Misericordiae gives me chills everytime I hear it. We are in agreement on Una Furtiva Lagrima, and I can’t say enough about the othe songs, how beautiful they are. I would like to hear what Myron’s thoughts are. By the way, have you heard Ignazio’s sound check on YouTube? It is incredible.
Rose Marie, do you have a link to the sound check? I tried to find it but I was unsuccessful. Thank you!
Daniela you could never bore us. This was a wonderful piece you wrote which took me back to my musical appreciation classes in high school in England. I am still waiting for the single DVD to come out before I get to enjoy the music. I listen to their music with my heart, but now I shall be listening for the nuances that both you and John mentioned.
Thank you for sharing this with us.
Soon you will be meeting with Marie and Jane, and I wish you a wonderful time with them. Watch out for Marie, she is a handful!
Thanks Jill, you are very kind, these arguments involve me so much and sometimes I get tired of those who read me or listen to me, but it’s stronger than me.
I felt a strong hurricane in your part, I hope everything is ok.
In a few days will arrive Marie and Jane, we will meet later this month, I really want to know them personally, I think we’ll have fun and a lot ….. I’ll be careful to Marie.
Of course, we expect to read your opinion on the CD.
kisses
I have been listening the the CD every chance I get and I have to tell you this CD stirs up such emotional response in me, I have to remind myself to breathe. First off this CD is just a wonder of how they manage to reach new heights volcally, especially in Gianluca and Ignazio. I always expect fireworks from Piero and he has never disappointed me but who knew that Gianluca could coax new heights for himself or Ignazio have such breath and deeper scope? What a delight it is to have both of Piero”s gorgeous arias! Near the end I felt quite happily sated and then came the song I have played repeatedly, the song that sent me out into the stratosphere, the awe-inspiring Ave Maria, Mater Misericcordiae.. How did they accomplish that one?!!!? I am still trying to find whats left of my mind ( HUSH MARIE) What a trip. Now I look forward to seeing the concert on DVD.
I agree. Both Gianluca and Ignazio really stepped up with these solos. Ignazio’s sends shivers up and down my spine every time I hear those incredible high, sweet notes at the end of Una Furtiva Lagrima. They just continue to amaze us! This Cd is wonderful–it has all the solos and duets from last season that I never dared to hope would be recorded.
Hey Pirate, good luck on finding that mind. Now, wasn’t that nice?
Pirate, you should know by now that you can’t say “I am still trying to find what’s left of my mind”without Marie making a comment! Or did you just set her up to get a laugh like I do?lol
Buon Giorno everyone, sorry I told everyone Igna’s sound check was on YouTube. It is actually Vimeo. Google Ignazio Boschetto Soundcheck and link to Vimeo should come up. It is unbelievable the range he has.
I tried that. It says no longer available. If someone else gets it let me know. Please.
Marie, Geez, sorry again. Lots of stuff going on at my house this morning and apparently I can’t multitask. So, this is how I got audio with pictures not a video. Google Ignazio Boschetto Soundcheck, comes up as Ignazio Boschetto sound check from Il Volo Mojo. This is audio only with photos. Again I apologize for the confusion Marie.
You are forgiven and thanks.
Thanks, Phew!