When Il Volo won Sanremo in 2015, everyone looked for news on Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca and also on who had followed them in their artistic path. Among these is the master Sergio Bertocchi.
Sergio Bertocchi is an Italian tenor born in Molinella, the same birthplace of Ignazio.
This beautiful interview was published by the Bologna newspaper: IL RESTO DEL CARLINO.
I translate it for you.
The ability to hover in a song, explained, Gianluca, Ignazio and Piero learned it in Bologna. And who knows if anyone has ever met them on the streets of Bologna, every time they took the plane to fly to the master Sergio Bertocchi, their vocal mentor, the one who taught the three singers how to breathe and how they lean, the sounds by controlling them. Il Volo, a trio of golden uvula that won in Sanremo, the techniques to be successful he learned just at the court of this Bolognese tenor who sang all over the world and who at 71 years opted for a quieter life, with teaching.
Master, how did your meeting with Il Volo happen?
“The first one I met was Gianluca Ginoble three years ago. My manager Virginio Fedeli had asked me to meet him in the studio in Rome at the request of Tony Renis, the one who believed in them after participating in the talent led by Clerici. I worked with him on the first album of the group, I needed a technical job to gain more certainty in singing, and in fact my name appears among the thanks.”
(picture credit from article…)
Then he became the vocal coach of all three singers?
“Yes, because the other two, Ignazio Boschetto and Piero Barone, have also asked for my advice and have come to my house many times. Then when they went to America they asked me to go with them to play the vocal coach but I had to give up, for health, and as soon as they returned we resumed work.”
So what they are now, they owe a lot to his work …
“Yes, I taught them a method but I must say that when I met them I thought they were three phenomena, three boys with an incredible gift and that they would have gone very far. Indeed, they have already burned several stages for their age.”
How would you describe their voices?
“Each has its own great characteristic. Gianluca has a very warm baritone voice in the notes of harmony, Ignazio has a soaring lyric tenor voice, Piero as a heroic tenor and this is his path.”
They were all born in the early nineties of the last century …
“They have a great awareness of what they are and have this great passion that leads them to commit themselves to the maximum. I, in the environment, am known as a very strict one, who does not easily gratify, but with them there have been no difficult moments because they have the innate discipline of those who want to arrive.”
So young and already so famous; will they manage to manage success?
“First of all they are fortunate to be supported and followed by families, which is very important. And in this regard I am pleased to recall a coincidence, that Ignazio was born in Molinella, just like me, and then moved with his family to Marsala. Then I always kept them with their feet on the ground, they are also prepared to be heavily criticized, but they face everything calmly because they are safe. And anyway … if they haven’t lost their mind until now I think they won’t lose it anymore … they are international stars even before winning Sanremo.”
Did you feel that they would do it?
“I heard them the first night they sang and I thought that the song had taken so much, on the audience that had been conquered by a free song that flows and emotion us … and I felt something. They are different and despite the snobby criticisms they are not a table-created product, they are three pure talents.”
Surely it is very nice to hear the opinions of “experts” who talk about Gianluca, Ignazio and Piero.
If then these people say comments like “they are three pure talents,” there is nothing else to add.
Daniela
(credit to owners of all pictures…)
Thank you Daniela, and you are right! There is nothing else to add…
It’s true, Emilia.
Thank you Daniela!
This says everything. “Three pure talents” So wonderful to read something so positive about OUR boys.
Thank you ladies.
RoseMarie, even for me it is the same thing, when I read positive news, I feel proud, as if they were my children.
Thanks Daniela. You always find interesting articles to translate for us.
I find this article to be very interesting. It seems they have several vocal coaches. There was a video clip when they were preparing for Notte Magica concerts with an older woman who was their vocal coach–makes sense–different genres require different vocal techniques. Then recently there was another video with still another vocal coach who was coaching them on rock music.
We see the polished finished product–these stories and videos help us understand all the hard work that goes into making that final product!
Thank you Daniela for this (and everything else!).
It is true, Penina, in fact, Bertocchi was their first true vocal-coach, but I believe that in reality he instructed them for a correct lyric song. Just yesterday, Piero made a video with his current vocal coach and I remember well the woman who instructed them for Notte Magica.
What matters is that kids never stop, study, train their voices and never stop learning.
Can you send the link to yesterday’s video of Piero and his coach?
I missed that one!
Here it is, Penina.
https://www.facebook.com/ilvoloflightcrewpage/videos/344959219703895/
Piero says “here I study boys, and you who do?”
His vocal coach is called Fulvio Massa.
Thanks!
Yes Gianluca, Piero and Ignazio are pure talent and very hard working guys. Everything for us. It’s wonderful to hear such nice words about them from professionals. I’m really happy I can constantly learn somthing new about our boys, thanks to this beautiful site and you Daniela. Thank you.
Thanks for the compliments, Jolanta, you are very kind.
Thanks Daniela for this “Maestro” article. It is always interesting to hear the thoughts of people who have worked with Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca. It’s not surprising that he says they have an incredible gift and are very disciplined. Of course, he also acknowledges the importance of their family, especially when they were younger. This helps us realize just how hard they work even when they aren’t performing. They strive to be the very best and they truly are!
Yes, Margaret, hearing the words of esteem, from the people who work with them, makes us understand that we are not all wrong in our considerations about these artists.
Daniela, thank you for such fabulous background articles (I think the last 4-5). I am catching up. 😊
I have lit candles in 6 churches so far for our guys praying on my pilgrimage for their continued success. I am currently in Oviedo for for 4 days of rest over Palm Sunday. I injured my right foot on the Camino Frances and hope to continue walking next Tuesday.
Best wishes to everyone. I am so grateful for this site and all the wonderful posts. Blessings!!!!!
Crystaldawn, thanks for the updates on your route.
I hope your foot has not suffered too much and that rest can bring you benefit to restart your journey.
Thanks for the compliments on what we publish.
A hug.
Christaldawn you dont know me except from the site. I am praying your foot heals to be able to continue your journey.
Daniela as I mentioned before I am happy everyone appreciates how you are always so well informed. Maybe some day we can meet at a concert someday.
Loretta, it would be great, never to lose hope.:)
Daniela I am hoping & praying every day that conditioins will change for the boys to want to come again to Canada & the States. So if I can get the oppertunity to go to Italy I’m grabbing it.
Loretta, they will come next year to Canada and the US. Wait patiently.