Q = Your new single “A CHI MI DICE”, is a song with a bitter and nostalgic taste. Are you always around the world, but there are moments of bitterness and nostalgia in your life, when maybe the lights on the stage go out?
P= I state that this beautiful question, I had never been proposed, therefore, thanks. We are fortunate and have the privilege of traveling a lot, but never staying still means unfortunately giving up; distance, very often, takes us away, from a person we care about, or, even before, does not allow us to know this person, as we would like.
“A CHI MI DICE”, tells us this, the awareness, of not meeting that person anymore. I am not referring, only to the girls, but to all our loved ones, on the other hand, however, we live by our greatest passion, that is, music.
Q= Is the single from the album MUSICA, when music has become your traveling companion?
P = We were born in the midst of music, all three, we have a very similar past. My grandfather made me discover the art of musical notes.
After a concert, around the world, we continue to sing music, that’s all for us: it’s oxygen.
Q= How would you define the art of notes?
P= A life without music would be meaningless. A film cannot exist without music.
We may not notice this, and yet, wherever we are, and in whatever phase of our life we find ourselves (whether it is full of light or darkness), music is always there.
Q= You are Sicilian, precisely from the province of Agrigento, what do you always carry with you, from your land?
P= It is a particular land, mine. Many boys of my age are forced to leave it, it’s nice to come back, but it’s very difficult to re-start.
When I leave it, it’s like taking a piece of me. Sicily is a land that teaches you to fight for what you want, it allows you to get used to it and adapt to everything. When I’m away from my land, a few words in Sicilian always come out of my mouth.
Q= Everything started with TI LASCIO UNA CANZONE, with Antonella Clerici, what did you expect from that talent?
P= It was all by accident. I can say that our journey was really a fairy tale, like all those unexpected encounters that change your life forever.
TI LASCIO UNA CANZONE, it was a nine-week experience that marked us a lot. We were noticed by Michele Torpedine who is our current manager, Tony Renis and Roberto Cenci.
The great fortune is that of being a group of three boys, who have developed a great friendship.
Q= Now, to whom “would you leave a song” to say Thanks?
P= The first person, it would be my grandfather, because it was he, who when I was little, accompanied me to piano lessons: I have the same, identical voice, it was he who advised my father to insist on this path. As a blind person, he gets sad, because he can’t see me, but fortunately we can hear each other.
Q= In Sanremo, in 2015, you won with “Grande Amore”, but love to whom? What meaning do you attribute to this word?
P= It is a theme that occurs a lot in our melodies. In this profession, you can discover the positive and negative side of people and understand what is really needed.
I spend a lot of time on the phone with my brother and sister, because I love them unconditionally; a girl can leave you, but your family doesn’t, that’s a love that will never end.
In my opinion, in life we must not trust someone outside our loved ones, but we must be able to enjoy the moment of people who are really close to us.
Q = 10 years have passed since your debut, how were you?
P= We were completely different from what we are now. We were shy and insecure; today, getting on stage means emotion and to do emotion all those who are listening.
If before, we quarreled, the quarrels lasted two days, now, a few minutes. We are much more mature than before, we live and we throw ourselves headlong into what we do.
Q = You have walked the most important stages in the world, but which one really gave you the chills and much emotion?
P = I could say New York. Before “Grande Amore” we did many concerts abroad; we were sorry not to share the songs with our Italy. After Sanremo, we started here too, and I must say that our country, gives us unique places in the world, which are not found anywhere else.
Q = What message do you want people to get from your music?
P = The same desire that we all three have, to make music, and not let die, this musical genre that was born in Italy, and that is always played in our country.
Beautiful answers Piero, by now we know your character, but every time we learn something new and that we always like.
There are fixed points in your education, family, friendship, respect, very important and not obvious qualities, for an excellent artist like you.
This year is also the tenth anniversary of another event, but very sad, that concerned Italy at that time – the Aquila earthquake – a series of seismic shocks that destroyed most of the villages of Abruzzo in the province of Aquila and claimed 309 victims.
We all know that Gianluca Ginoble is a native of Abruzzo, and we know his sensitivity to his homeland, which he loves so much. Several times I heard from Gianluca that he wanted to do something, really useful for this land.
I am sure that Gianluca will have pushed a lot for this event and, knowing the sensibility of Ignazio and Piero, surely he will not have done much to convince them.
The event was announced by TG ROSETO, with this article from which I translate the most important parts.
On 26 August at 9.30 pm at the Teatro del Perdono, Piazzale di Collemaggio, the Music Show, stories and emotions entitled “Il Volo per L’Aquila” will be held, which will be accompanied by the Grand Symphony Orchestra of the Italian Conservatories, conducted by master Leonardo De Amicis.
The musical group of Il Volo, Gianluca Ginoble, Ignazio Boschetto, Piero Barone and have decided to pay homage to the city of L’Aquila on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the earthquake giving up their compensation, lending their voices and their talent for free with the will of leave something beautiful and real to the city.
Places on the Prato are free. The 1500 chairs are paid and everyone will pay, even the authorities. The proceeds of the tickets will be used to support boys who will be trained at the conservatory.
(photo during the rehearsals of the concert)
Really a beautiful initiative, thanks to the great heart and the availability of Gianluca, Piero and Ignazio, very commendable.
I liked a passage on the article, it was written that everyone, including personalities, will pay for the ticket (only 15 euros). Yes, because here, in the various concerts, often the celebrities or at least the personalities, enter without paying. Unseemly.
With the boys, on the stage, there will also be Alessandro Quarta.
Another thing that pleased me to read about the article, is that the orchestra conductor will be Leonardo De Amicis, the one who directed them in TI LASCIO UNA CANZONE, remember?
Here they are, together in this photo.
Gianluca, 10 years ago, sang for the L’Aquila earthquake, you remember a little child who was singing Gounod’s “AVE MARIA”, also this year IL VOLO, will dedicate a particular song, during this event and it will be “AVE MARIA MATER MISERICORDIAE”.
Guys, there is no song more beautiful and suitable than this one. You will sing it with all your heart and we will listen to you with great affection.
It rained in the afternoon, big clouds are still in the sky, and now the show begins.
And here’s to the TGR Abruzzo news, what they said about them.
PR = Waiting in L’Aquila for the IL VOLO concert.
Full of appointments, the PERDONANCE program, many tourists in the city.
We connect live with L’Aquila, where the 725th edition of the PERDONANCE is going on, tonight there will be the IL VOLO concert, live for you with Gianluca Ginoble interviewed by Daniela Senepa.
DS= I’m here on the stage of Collemaggio, where there is rehelase of IL VOLO that is trying the AVE MARIA. Sorry everyone, we are the TGR of Abruzzo, turn to the camera, excuse yourself guys from the orchestra. IL VOLO, for AQUILA, you are trying the Ave Maria, there is truly your embrace for this city, which is trying to re-rise.
P = We are very close to this city, also because 10 years ago, when the tragedy happened, we were at TI LASCIO UNA CANZONE, the program where we met, we lived fully that moment, there was also the maestro De Amicis, maestro , come here beside us.
DS= Here behind me, on the other hand, there is an extraordinary violin, we listened to the tests and I assure you that my heart beats fast, then when it sings IL VOLO, accompanied by these orchestral boys is a very important moment, (she he turns to Ignazio), because it’s not just your art, but also what you dedicate it to, so it’s a very important moment.
I= Absolutely, we are honored to be here and to be able to sing for all the Aquilans, and above all for all the people who came here to give a symbol of solidarity, for what happened 10 years ago, all united together, music, art, and that’s what we do every day. We must say thank you, certainly to Leonardo De Amicis, who invited us, and we could not say no, but thanks also to Alessandro Quarta, he too, like us, came to help, to spend an evening in music, all together.
DS = Gianluca, I’ll call you by name, because you were born here, you’re from Abruzzo, born in Roseto. Teramo has suffered a lot from the earthquakes of central Italy, I know that for you, it is a strong emotion, every time.
G= Yes, I’m not from L’Aquila, but I feel a little for Aquila, because 10 years ago, immediately after the earthquake, in the following months, they moved many Aquilans to the coast, so many were boys of my age, I made friends with them, but then, I never saw them again. Maybe tonight they will be here and we will sing for them and for all the inhabitants of the Aquila who are here to spend moments of joy and happiness.
Is evening, the tickets are all sold out, people arrive with great traffic difficulties and parking.
But then it all begins, and “it is music, the real one that remains.”
“IL MONDO”
“MUSICA CHE RESTA”
“GRANDE AMORE”
At the beginning this next video, the master De Amicis, says that he has known the boys since they were really small, and he finds them again, after 10 years, grown up, sensitive and immensely artistically, a gift to the Aquila and to all the people.
Then he calls the mayor, to offer the boys a little recognition.
The mayor says that they have seen so many concerts in L’Aquila, but they have rarely seen so many people, so much emotion, for such an event, which has joyfully paralyzed Aquila. “You have given us indescribable emotions, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
(in the photo the boys with the maestro De Amicis and the mayor of L’Aquila)
Here is another short video by a fan:
“MUSICA CHE RESTA”
“A CHI MI DICE”
In this photo, during their stay in L’Aquila, Gianluca, Ignazio and Piero also had time to visit a summer camp for small children.
But still, a series of beautiful shots of the event.
Guys, I have no more words and I want to conclude with these shared by Gianluca. Mr. Ercole Ginoble shared it with the maestro De Amicis.
Daniela
“Abruzzo is a wonderful land for many reasons. The biggest reason is the emotion that provokes seeing a city wounded in the depths, like L’Aquila, react to one of the most disconcerting tragedies that nature can unleash with such great strength! At 10 years from that earthquake, seeing 20 thousand people warm a square there made you more proud to be there last night! ” ❤️
Can you believe it? Just 4 weeks away now for those of us lucky enough to visit Verona again! I have to say, I really didn’t think I’d be able to go back again. As many of you know, it’s been a really rough past year and a half for me for many reasons, but I am feeling much better and finally looking forward to going to Italy again to see the guys. 🙂
I am lucky again to go with my dear friend Lorna. We will also be joined by Rose Marie from Ohio, and Betty from New Orleans! Our itinerary includes Roma this time, in fact, we will eat our way through Roma, after the Vatican, of course. Lol! We also plan to visit Lake Garda for a day, after the Verona concert, then back to Roma, and home. Will be a quick trip, but hopefully a more relaxing one than last time.
So, who’s going to Verona?? Each day, I find that there is another person that will be joining the many hundreds of fans at their last official concert in Italy – at the Arena di Verona! Alas, we don’t have front row, but do have meet/greets. Front row will have to wait for Detroit, and hopefully Chicago.
In the comments, please let me know who is going to Verona, for starters, it will be myself, Lorna, Betty, Rose Marie, Daniela P (of course 🙂 ), a few others I am aware of from the States, as well. Also, my other friend Veronica from Italy, and her friends.
I know many do not like to “join the throngs of the crowd” and that’s ok, but if anyone would like to join our group for a pre-concert gathering somewhere near the arena, please note it in the comments. If you’d like, you can email me directly at:
jvandela524@gmail.com
We also have our tickets to the soundcheck! Yay! Maybe we could plan something before or after that? Lorna, Rose Marie and I are staying at DiMoras House – about a 10-minute walk or so to the arena. We are taking the train from Roma to Verona that morning of the 24th.
I look forward to your comments and suggestions! 🙂
On another note…. I’m sure many of you have seen (and cringed) at the PBS announcement of the guys being in Detroit again on Labor Day September 2. Looks like they’ve really outpriced themselves this time as it was initially a “big secret” – now they are having trouble selling the tickets. I believe I heard there were 50 tickets and as of this writing, they still have some left. Tickets are $500 for meet/greet & Wine/Dine. Here is the link, if anyone is still interested in going… https://www.pledgecart.org/pledgeCart3/?campaign=38B55A20-6C5C-4849-B794-175DAF95CB7A&source=#/home?cmpgn=DPTVExp2
P.S. all picture credits go to me – lol 🙂 (except PBS one…)
About a month ago, my dear friend Valeria Bosch, whom you all know well by now, asked me for help in translating an article on Ignazio into English. For me it was a real pleasure and an honor, to translate Valeria’s beautiful and appropriate reflections. Surely many of you will have already read them, but I repeat them here again, in order to re-cheer your hearts. 💖
Enjoy the reading!
Daniela
IGNAZIO: the lights are dimmed on the stage, in the central cone only a young man dressed in dark, the sleeves of the shirt rolled up and a fashionable “gilet” (vest) of the past. For a few seconds he concentrates himself closing his eyes, then starts with the first notes of “Almeno tu nell’universo”, low, just whispered, to rise more and more, as the pathos of the music grows, in a conjunction between voice, music and text that captivates the viewer, keeps him suspended between earth and sky, in a region totally detached from reality and from matter. The passages of register, whispering, trembling, vibrating, acute, follow one another urgently, not as a mere demonstration of technical ability and artistic maturity, but as perfect emanations of the emotions of the mind and heart. At times a “divine violin” approaches him, it’s Alessandro, who, with pure magic, underlines, exalts, centuplicates the impact of the song on the public.
IGNAZIO is like this:his relationship with music is symbiotic, when he closes his eyes and sings, leaves for distant lands, goes beyond the mountains and the sea, and takes you with him into his secret world, where you can abstract from everything, in those few minutes you lose the connection with time and space, to get a taste of that beauty and that perfection that has always been the man’s ultimate intent, an ethereal and impalpable world, but perhaps for this reason eternal and indestructible, the world of true music.
IGNAZIO said it in the presentation: he chose the song, delivered to immortal memory by Mia Martini, because impressed by the story of this extraordinary singer, a sad and painful story, but at the same time full of greatness and genius. The text, by Bruno Lauzi, fits perfectly: in the eternal restlessness and discontent of human feelings (“people are crazy … when fashion changes … they change too”), the reference point can only be someone who can give sincerity (“tell me that you will always be sincere”), corresponding to ever-increasing love (“more, more, more”), as a promise of something finally lasting and indeed eternal (“you will not change … you will really love me, really more and more”).
IGNAZIO was very courageous in choosing this solo, because the piece is linked in the collective memory to the unique and unforgettable Mia’s interpretation and therefore presented the risk of not being accepted by the public. But precisely for this reason he chose the way of not following the normal canons of a “cover”, but he made a real revisitation of it, focusing, more than on the intensely dramatic tone and on Mia’s tension, on a very modern interpretation (30 years passed since that 1989 in which the song was presented in Sanremo!!), made of fragments and continuous contrasts, deliberately disarticulated, marked by the intense passionate expression of the face and the beautiful hands that follow all the musical movements.
IGNAZIO, I thought looking at him, has the suffered and passionate execution and “le physique du role” of a chansonnier of the golden age of the Parisian “boites de nuit” (nightclubs), where in the 50s and 60s of the last century was formed that new movement of unique musicians who sang the craft of living, the discontent, the breakup of an era, a movement that in Italy became that of songwriters, some of whom, Paoli, Guccini, de Gregori, Finardi, delight us even today. Certainly Ignazio does not sing his own texts, even though we know that he has already shown that is able to compose, doing it, and also successfully, for other interpreters; but that his empathy, so intense, in the sung notes, that deep and emotional expression of the face, his interpretation so authentic descends directly from those noble fathers who lit the musical nights of the past.
Contemporary Italian music has an urgent need to revitalize itself and Ignazio, and with him, with absolutely equal ability and talent, his friends Gianluca and Piero, with their “Musica Tour” are really teaching everyone how this innovation can happen without breaking with the most genuine Italian tradition, without freakiness, without vulgarity, without pseudo-intellectualistic nonsense raps. It’s from them, from the young people of Il Volo, foolishly accused by brains without thickness to “make old music”, that is coming the proposal that will give new life to the Italian music scene.
(Thanks to Danilo Video, for this wonderful video, “ALMENO TU NELL’UNIVERSO” – AT LEAST IN THE UNIVERSE, from the concert in Rome.)
Luca Maggitti is a good journalist who lives in Roseto degli Abruzzi. In these days of early August, he interviewed, for EMOZIONI MUSICA FESTIVAL, Gianluca Ginoble, Michele Torpedine and also Marino Bartoletti.
Of these three interventions, I will translate the most interesting moments.
Let’s start with GIANLUCA.
After the various initial pleasantries, where Luca Maggitti asks Gianluca the importance of his Abruzzo and thanks him for always bringing the knowledge of his land up high in the world, they remember together the first meeting with Massimo Ranieri, which took place in Roseto, again before Gianluca became part of IL VOLO.
Luca asks Gianluca if Massimo Ranieri is an example for his life, as he is a singer, actor and director, and that’s what Gian answers.
GG= Surely Massimo Ranieri is a great example, he is a complete artist, but I, as you know, am a big fan of American music, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and they too were great actors.
I am closer to the type of music, but also to the type of acting, more American, but Massimo Ranieri, has always been an artist that I greatly admired.
Towards the end of the interview, Maggitti asks Gianluca the plans for the future of IL VOLO.
Gianluca replies that they are celebrating their 10-year career, with a tour that started in Japan and will end in the US, and the first date will be at Radio City Music Hall in New York, for the third time.
And now let’s continue with the interesting parts of the interview with Michele Torpedine.
Maggitti asks Michele, why every year, he comes for a week in Roseto, what he likes about this place, since he could go anywhere, but he chooses to come here.
Michele answers that Roseto is his second city, perhaps more than the first, because in Bologna he lead a retired life, he live in a reserved manner. Here he has many friends, beyond the relationship with Gianluca, everyone loves him here, and for him that’s important.
Maggitti shows the book RICOMINCIO DAI TRE and asks Torpedine for an explanation of his phrase “I love music, but not the world of music.”
Michele explains that there is a lot of ingratitude in the musical world and his book served to explain this fact.
Maggitti congratulates Michele, for his cover photo, of the book, confirming that it is a shot made by Gianluca.
Michele admits that Gianluca is very good with the camera and confirms that the photos that Torpedine uses on his Facebook page are made by Gianluca.
Maggitti asks how important the figure of the manager is. Torpedine confirms that if there is a good relationship, the figure of the manager is of considerable importance. Below he talks about his experience with Pavarotti and the importance of having understood the success of combining classical music with pop music.
But in my opinion, the interview where really important things were said, is this of the dear friend Marino Bartoletti.
At the beginning, Maggitti recalls the early days when Bertoletti came to Roseto, but then, confirming that for him this place has become a fixture, for him, he admits that the second reason for his coming is to re-embrace Gianluca Ginoble. (His exact words.)“Everyone knows my respect for him, but I should say, my friendship, my affection for him.”
Maggitti’s question is very strong: “What has IL VOLO to do 11 consecutive world tours and still fills all the theaters and what is the appeal of you, great music expert and journalist, who talks about them as famous and well-liked in the world?”
Bartoletti = I could answer you by reversing the question, that is, by asking me how there are still people (even our journalist colleagues) who still do not understand, this success of theirs and their talent. I admit, that I am attached to them by affection, friendship and admiration towards them, but they have everything that is asked of bel canto, skill, the ability to transmit the Italian genius abroad. But it’s the same Italian genius that should be better understood in Italy, and then I wonder, what else do these guys have to prove?
They are boys who have reached their tenth year, and sold out everywhere, even here in Italy. I can only say that I admire them very much, that I admire their “spirit of sacrifice” which is extraordinary, because they could “sit on their laurels”, instead they continue to improve, to improve. This year they were very good, even in Sanremo, where they achieved third place, so very elegantly. I would like the Italian guys to look more like them, especially as the families of the Italian boys were more like the families of Gianluca, Piero and Ignazio, because I always say this publicly, that the strength of these guys is what they have behind them, family, culture, education, humility.
I don’t know for you, but for me to read the beautiful and deserved words of Marino Bartoletti, towards IL VOLO, is like taking a sip of fresh and clear water, when you have a throat burned by thirst.
Thanks Marino, you are a true friend !!
Daniela
Credit to owners of all photos and videos.
Come in and share the love of life, friends and Il Volo!
we will eat our way through Roma, after the Vatican, of course. Lol! We also plan to visit Lake Garda for a day, after the Verona concert, then back to Roma, and home. Will be a quick trip, but hopefully a more relaxing one than last time.
Verona! Alas, we don’t have front row, but do have meet/greets. Front row will have to wait for Detroit, and hopefully Chicago.
they’ve really outpriced themselves this time as it was initially a “big secret” – now they are having trouble selling the tickets. I believe I heard there were 50 tickets and as of this writing, they still have some left. Tickets are $500 for meet/greet & Wine/Dine. Here is the link, if anyone is still interested in going… 
