His big day is a little less than a month away, so we’re starting to plan his special post now.
We will try our best to make sure to get everyone’s greeting in. As answering each individual e-mail is a task that I cannot undertake right now, I will try to update this post a few times per week with the names of those whose greetings we have received, so if you don’t see your name, let us know.
DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 9Â
In addition to sending a personalized greeting, you may also participate by submitting your ideas for music to go with our video in the comment section of this post. If your suggestion is chosen, your name will be added to the credits at the end of the video…so get those thinking caps on! 😀 I will be looking for something that speaks to Gianluca, to who he is and what he likes, and something that will inspire a concept for which I can choose pictures, and I thank you in advance!
~~ Kelly
We have received greetings from the following people:
1.) Gina Hanna    2.) Allene Shipman   3.) Rosemarie P.   4.) Ineke     5.) Janet D (San Francisco)     6.) Cynthia Thomacruz    7.) Gale Wall    8.) Pat Ward    9.) Julie (Kathryn B).     10.) Hania               11.) Margaret Ladolcetta  12.) Vincent (Brooklyn, NY)    12.) Margaret Mirailh    13.) Joanie G.             14.) Jane C.    15.) Janette Hicks    16.) Penina Honig    17.) Linda Parks    18.) Anne Quinto                 19.) Marie    20.) Sandi E.    21.) Tricianna    22.) Annette Naples    23.) Beverly Krueger                     24.) Jean Haines    25.) Connie J. Bruns    26.) Harriett Eckberg    27.) Lucy Galasso                              28.) Annette Simonini    29.) Roxanne Pappas    30.) Laura Parish    31.) Janet D.   32.) Angelica Rosas.   33.) Trish Hertzel  34.) Joan Brenin   35.) Alan Hahn   36.) Sue Hemshall   37.) Leslie Newell  38.) Manola  DeMundo   39.) Julia Nanni   40.) Daniela   41.) Irene and Ann Louise   42.) Jeanine DuBois   43.) Ruth Bilotta
First of all I must tell you that Ignatius here does not provide a real recipe but it is as if he were making an imitation of some Italian chef because he uses a deeply accented language in southern Italian.
Translation:Â
So all right,
We roast the zucchini already sprinkle with the red wine. Spadelliamo ( = stir -fry) for good as Cannavacciuolo ( famoso cuoco italiano del momento) teaches.
All right, take paper towel and clean everything.  Ciao. (kiss)
Note the sharp chef’s jacket. This guy is serious about his skills! Â
Ignazio has always had a flair for cooking. Here he is way back in 2013, making Scaloppine alla Marsala!
This is a sweet short interview from 2013 where Ignazio talks about his favorite food and his Mammas cooking. Marie and I were lucky enough to actually go to Nina’s Pizzeria. It is a cozy little place with three smiling young women who make GREAT pizza!
Nina and her staff
Marie…Nina…Jane
So who would like this dashing chef to come and cook for them? I think we will all have to get in line BEHIND Marie and Loretta! 🙂
Penina sent in this video of the boys that was done about back in 2014. Thank you Penina for sending it in and Daniela for translating it for us. It really is enjoyable to watch!!
IGNAZIO:
When I was little, every day my mother was screaming, because when I came back from school, I ate, I did homework (when I did) and I went behind my house because we built huts and we were whole days inside talking, joking and playing, then we went out to play soccer.
Everything was more beautiful. Now it is very beautiful but many times I try to rethink everything that happened to me when I was little, also because I did everything with naivety, I did not think much about things.
GIANLUCA:
We need to unplug and go back to where it all started. I grew up here, all my memories, all my past, I always carry it with me, even when I’m on tour.
My adolescence has been completely different from all my friends. Sometimes I think about my life and I say, “this is my life” and reflect and think about it. When you’re on tour, when you wake up every morning in a different hotel, in different cities, even in different countries and you think, “but all those people are here for me, for us” is like a dream.
PIERO
I was short, fat, protruding ears, I had so many faults, I was a pacioccone (a plump boy).  I remember that as a child I could not stay at home, in fact I started working when I was 11. The summer immediately after school I worked two years in the bodywork by my father.
MOM OF PIERO
Nothing is done this way from today to tomorrow, there are many, many sacrifices.
OPTICAL OF PIERO
We’ve known each other for a long time and I’ve always followed him in his musical and artistic career. Every now and then he came into the shop and I always offered him glasses that were a little more special than the others.
PIERO
Immediately after the discovery of my voice, my grandfather Pietro discovered my voice, my father never, never stopped believing in me. In fact, I sang over the hood of the cars in the body shop and my father had all the customers listen to my voice.
I sang GRANADA, I sang UN AMORE COSI’ GRANDE and you saw this little boy, 1 meter and 40 (cm) singing GRANADA and all the neighbors were looking out.
THE PARISH OF NARO
Let’s say that every time there is always at least one meeting. A meeting to tell me about his things that I do not tell you because there is the secret of confession. But also to meet, because even if he is smaller (younger) and I am older there is a friendship.
IGNAZIO FROM THE STAGE OF TAORMINA
When you’re a child, you do not imagine what can happen in the future, right? And we really have to say thanks to our families, because from the first day we decided to sing, they always believed in us. Always with the same strength in all these years we are singing. Always with the same strength they are helping us.
PIETRO OGNIBENE , PIERO’S GRANDFATHER
Always followed me, as a child, I took him, put him on the table and I had him sing in the country.
There was something true. I felt that something had to happen, but I never would have thought it would come to these levels.
PIERO FROM THE STAGE OF TAORMINA
I would like to say something before this song. Two years ago we made a television program with the present Massimo Giletti.  Massimo gave me an immense gift. He let me find my grandfather on TV, because in every interview I always say, ” my dream is to sing in front of my grandfather” because it is he who has discovered my voice.
Well, today my grandfather Pietro Ognibene is here and I would like to dedicate this song to you all but especially to him because my dream has come true today.
Thank you grandfather.
GIANLUCA FROM THE STAGE OF TAORMINA
No, now that I’m here, sorry but I have to do it, grandfather Ernesto (he introduces his grandfather). I had to do it, a great grandfather.
Grandparents are the most beautiful thing in the world. Applause to all grandparents.
BARBARA DE ROSSIÂ Italian actress
For example, Piero, is the person with whom I have a true friendship. I believe that he is living all this with great simplicity, also because his grandfather is the person who brought him to lyric music. Its roots are those of a simple family that made many sacrifices to let him sing. I think he manages to keep his feet well on the ground.
I believe that in their future there will be some very important things. The important thing is that they remain a group, as they are. They are very well followed because Michele Torpedine is very good and is also a humanly very smart person.
VITO BOSCHETTO
Ours is a united family, even when traveling to the United States and Latin America. This separated me a little from my wife. Being that (Ignazio) was a minor, we accompanied him (one of them in turn) so the union is a little upset, but now, with the age of majority, my wife and I reassembled, because he is traveling alone.
We are proud of what he is doing, so even if there was a momentary gap (between the couple), I would do it again 100 times.
************
Translation by Daniela.
Credit to owner of video.
Come in and share the love of life, friends and Il Volo!
