‘Twas three weeks before Christmas when all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring not even my Spouse!
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that Il Volo would soon be there!
That pretty much sums up what we all want for Christmas! Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca! Dream on, that’s not happening!
What I want for Christmas this year is for the guys to spend more time in the States!
When I was watching the lighting of the Christmas tree at Rockerfeller Center last week, I was thinking about 2012 when our guys were there! It made me think that maybe it would be nice to relive some Christmas Memories!
Let’s go back to 2011 where we find the first Christmas presentation….
Christmas 2011 ~ The Tonight Show with Jay Leno “Christmas Song”
Those were the days when we could turn on our TV and see Il Volo on one of the night shows! The night shows the guys did were amazing! Why? These were three Italian kids who came to America and stole the hearts of the American people! American groups don’t get the opportunity to go on these shows. But again, they are not Il Volo! Amazing!
And let’s not forget the Christmas Tree lighting in LA!
Il Volo performs with Pia Toscano at the LA Live Tree Lighting
How absolutely amazing is this performance? I think Pia Toscano was in awe of those three teenagers!
Christmas 2012 ~ Lighting the Christmas Tree at Rockerfeller Center
This is by far was one of the best Christmas Tree lightings at Rockerfeller Center! They stole the show! Hopefully they will be invited back to light the tree again!
Christmas 2013 ~ Home and Family Holiday Show 2013
One of the things I miss about the guys not being in the States is their appearances on Home & Family Show. The guys cooked and sang and brought us much joy! One of the greatest shows was the 2013 Holiday Show. Guest stars on that show were Il Volo. They sang such beautiful Christmas Carols!
Christmas 2013 ~ Concert at the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi
I had a hard time deciding whether to use the Home & Family Show video or the Assisi video. So, I decided let’s use both!
Christmas 2014 ~ Concerto di Natale 2014 at the Italian Senate
Before I tell you what the guys had to say about this concert, I want to tell you that this is the most amazing Christmas concert you will see this year! The guys and the kids are phenomenal! They brought me to tears! And, I must say Pietro Grasso enjoyed it, especially all the old Neapolitan songs. I thought he was going to get up and sing with the guys! Reactions like this is why the classical Neapolitan songs never die! They stay in our hearts forever! A good time was had by all!
In their book, Ignazio speaking for the guys explained how it felt to sing at the Senate.
We want to talk about the thrill of singing in front of the highest office of state! What twenty-year-old boy has something like that happen? It happened to us, and it seems to me a beautiful result, an honor.
The concert was on December 21st. You cannot imagine the emotional feeling to be called “guests of honor” inside the Senate.
The fantastic Filarmonia Orchestra Veneta conducted by Diego Basso. Half the beauty of the song is in the orchestra.
We start with Christmas classics such as Adeste Fideles and White Christmas, but then there was also Caruso, Mattinata, No Puede Ser, Memory and of course our classic ‘O Sole Mio.
The most exciting moments? Every one! But the hymn of Mameli was the heart-pounding one, the first song, singing in that place, with everyone singing along with us, including Giorgio Napolitano, (President) and Pietro Grasso (President of the Senate). It is one thing that I cannot explain.
And then, of course, the pleasure of shaking hands with the President of the Republic and of feeling that he knows Marsala, he has been there.
Christmas 2015 ~ Santa Claus is Coming to Town!!
Alright so you don’t have a sense of humor! I couldn’t find a Christmas video for 2015. Let’s face it the guys were a little busy that year! Remember Sanremo and Eurovision
Christmas 2016 ~ Il Volo & Jackie Evancho sing “Little Drummer Boy” on the Today Show
And those were the days when we could turn on the morning shows and find Il Volo! This is singer and former “America’s Got Talent” contestant Jackie Evancho. She teamed up with our guys to perform “The Little Drummer Boy” live on the TODAY Show.
Christmas 2017 ~ Adeste Fideles (O come all ye faithful)
Ok! So, I cheated. This is actually January 2017. But isn’t it spectacular!
Christmas 2018 ~ “Voci di Natale” Líbano 2018
In 2018 the guys went to Lebanon to spend Christmas with the troops! What beautiful hearts they have! There are some very touching moments in this video! It warms my heart!
This story was so beautiful that I decided to include the link to the original translation of the video by Daniela Perani. It is so worth reading! Thank you, Daniela!
Christmas 2019 ~ O Holy Night (Especial Navidad Azteca)
This was a TV Special Navidad Azteca, of the Azteca Uno Channel of Mexico, recorded during the guys visit in November 2019.
Christmas 2020 ~ Piazza Pio XII at St. Peter’s Square
That was the year that was! What a wonderful way to take a year that we all want to forget about and turn it into an absolutely amazing moment. An event that will never happen again. One of the things I love in this video is Gianluca looking back at the light in the window of the Holy Fathers apartment! He knew he was listening to them!
This event was a prelude to the Tribute to Ennio Morricone that was planned for June 2021. It never took place at Piazza Pio XII but, it did take place at the ancient Arena of Verona. And what an unforgettable event that was! Let’s pray that the guys will have an opportunity to have a concert in Piazza Pio XII when we are finished with this awful business!
This one was my personal favorite! In a year when we really needed it, they made all of our Christmases bright!
Thank you, Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca for all the wonderful moments you share with us!
So, I hope you enjoyed reliving the guys’ Christmas Memories!
Let me leave you with the lyrics to another Christmas song!