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.)
Credit to owners of all photos and videos.
Thanks Daniela for this awesome translation!! 👍❤️🇨🇦
Thanks Linda, it’s always a pleasure to translate beautiful words
This is one of Ignazio’s best solo performances. He sings from the depth of his being bringing an emotion and passion to new heights. He respects Mia Martini. Ignazio is without peer.
Doris, Ignazio certainly made an excellent interpretation. Mia Martini would have appreciated!
Agree with you, Doris: Ignazio is without peer!
We all feel the same about Ignazio, but none of us would be able to express it as beautifully as Valeria, talking from our hearts and souls…
Just recently I watched him on YouTube singing the most beautiful opera aria Una Furtiva Lagrima from Donizetti famous opera L’elisir D’amore, I’m going see this opera in Fl Sarasota opera house in Feb, believe me, when I close my eyes, I will see and hear Ignacio, because nobody can sing this aria more passionately, emotionally that him!!
Daniella, Valeria, thank you so much for your work, please keep us informed always,
Irene.
Irene, I’ve always said that Valeria, has a special gift, to interpret our thoughts.
Don’t worry, I’ll keep you informed, thanks
When, 3 years ago, I learned that Ignazio would have interpreted the aria Una furtiva lagrima in the tour “Notte Magica”, I cried with emotion. Because I knew that with his passion he would have made a masterpiece. Thanks Irene.
I had never seen this before. Beautiful! Many thanks to Daniela. Ignazio sings with his Heart, Soul, & much passion! He has always said, Music is my life! So true!
Anne, then, I am even more happy to have re-proposed it. It was a piece of writing you absolutely shouldn’t have missed,all thanks to Valeria.
Thank you Daniela and Anne!
“…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.” ….
That’s the whole truth! And the magic of OUR BOYS. !!! Thank you, Daniela! You rejoiced me again!
…. Antohena, it is really well said, and it is a truth to which “brains without thickness” cannot escape.
Glad I made you re-rejoice.
Absolutely beautiful & very true ! Thank you for interpreting Daniela & thanks to Valeria for writing down what I’ve always felt in my heart when it comes to Ignazio ! I love my Boys !!
Chris, we all love them for their talents, not only singing but also human and for their “way of being”
Ignazio has a very passionate and instinctive spirit and immediately we feel it in his singing. Thanks Chris!
You express so well Daniela the feelings of Ignazio I believe. This was the first site I found info on IL Volo and was captured by the words, pictures, and stories about Gianluca, Ignazio, Piero. These men have captured my heart and the feelings I have cannot be explained except it was instantaneous with love. I admire their stamina, their love for each other, their friendship, and their singing whether solo or together. I think their parents should stand on stage with them so we can applaud them for giving us this magic love for their singing. My bucket list has only one item… to see them in 2020 in America and Meet and Greet with them. I am old and I walk slow, but my heart beats fast when I see them cut up and I laugh and laugh with joy at their mischief. Thank you so much and if you are in touch with them, please tell them I’m coming to see them in 2020. Thank you. Hugs and love to “my guys” somethin about my guys I love to the moon and back.
Sassylady, you are so sweet, you say you are old and you walk slowly, but the music does not need your legs, you need good ears and a big heart, like what you have and these guys have been able to excite. I’m glad you enjoyed the words of this post, the credit goes to Valeria, I’ve only translated. A hug.
dear Sassylady, I have health problems too, but music is joy for everyone and I am happy to hear that in 2020 you’ll go to the boys’ concert. A big hug
Hi Sassylady I am Loretta Foley from this site my question is have you got tickets to see the boys in the States or anywhere else that is close to the States or Canada I live in Chatham near Toronto. I thought if you knew if tickets were being sold now I would appreciate it if you could let me know then I might have a chance of seeing my sweethearts..
Your friend writes so well. I loved the translation because Ignazio is my boy. I think he is having a great time this years. Have not seen him so happy and out on the beach ever.
True Regina Hanna, Ignazio is having wonderful holidays! Thanks for your words!
Yes Regina, Ignazio looks really happy, did you see how he shows off his beautiful body after the diet? He no longer hides. And he’s really happy.
Of this beautiful written by Valeria, you and I, had already spoken in private !! 🙂
Oh Ignazio, how well you pour your heart into your voice as you interpret that beautiful and emtional song. Thank you so much for posting this gem of a song by a gem of a performer!
I completely agree with Connie, so much feeling, Ignazio, pours into this song.
Many thanks for your words, Connie!
Daniela I reiterate again your posts are perfection especially about my hearthrob. I look forward to your next post.
Daniela is quite a magnificent writer. When she tells a story, one can picture & feel every word intimately💕🇭🇺🇺🇸
Merci beaucoup Daniela comme toujours un super article Vivement le prochain