And here it is, my Christmas present to you all. 🎄🎁

I know you are waiting and I am late, but there have been too many events to follow during this time.

But here is the translation of VERISSIMO!!

Verissimo 2022 video – Click Here

SILVIA = They are the bearers of Italian music in the world, Piero, Ignazio, Gianluca, or Il Volo!!
(enter Il Volo)

GIAN = Can I hug you?

SILVIA = Yes, welcome back.

IGNAZIO = How are you?

SILVIA = Fine and you? Hi Piero, how are you?
Welcome back, Il Volo, how elegant you are. (everyone sits down)

GIAN = We have the same trousers, look! (Silvia and Gian are wearing wide-legged trousers, which are fashionable).

SILVIA = Yes.

IGNAZIO = Because he wanted to pay homage to the “CUGINI DI CAMPAGNA”. (It’s an Italian musical group from the 70s who always wore wide-legged trousers)

SILVIA = You are all in gray clothes.

GIAN = Today yes, but we are not gray (he means temperamentally and morally)

SILVIA = No, you all are full of passion, you are red inside.

GIAN = Red like you (she is dressed in red).

IGNAZIO = Today, when I tried it on (the suit) I thought it was beige, instead they told me it’s grey.

GIAN = You’re fine, you’re fine.

IGNAZIO = I have become colorblind.

GIAN = (turning to Ignazio) I see you in great shape, as always.

SILVIA = How are you guys? Welcome back to Verissimo.

PIERO = We met a year ago.

SILVIA = Exactly one year ago.

PIERO = A year ago things were a bit different, the concerts still didn’t take place, but finally we’re back on tour, we’re back singing on stage, to meet our audience again who have been supporting us for thirteen years now with their affection, with their love.

SILVIA = But there is another trip, which you will have to make, which you will make very soon, I know you have already been there for the rehearsals, because on December 24th, there is a wonderful event that sees you as protagonists in Jerusalem: IL Volo Natale in Jerusalem, and will be broadcast on Canale 5.

PIERO = Yes.

SILVIA = Well, Jerusalem is a symbolic city, I imagine also exciting for you.

GIAN = A city where all religions, cultures, languages really meet, visiting it is truly a unique experience, but for everyone, at all ages. Experiencing it at a young age maybe helps you really understand the difference of how humans are really different, anywhere in the world, how they really dedicate their lives to spirituality. It is truly a unique place and for us, living it has been a mystical, spiritual experience that has taught us new things.

A truly unique thing, even Jerusalem, Bethlehem, are places of great inspiration.

PIERO = We try to keep the Italians company on this special day, Christmas is a special day for everyone, and so we try to keep everyone company.

SILVIA = And even more on Christmas Eve, because it’s the wait for Christmas…Ignazio, did you wait for Santa Claus when you were little?

IGNAZIO = No, I was waiting for dinner more. (laughter and applause)

SILVIA = How to ruin a poem!!

GIAN = Exactly, like ruining a poem…..

IGNAZIO = No, I’ve always liked gifts, but full plates even more.

SILVIA = Those even more, anyway, obviously to celebrate your return, I prepared some little gifts and I didn’t make a gift for everyone but a gift for each one of you.

GIAN = Indeed!!

PIERO = Ohhh

SILVIA = I’ll start with Gianluca. (a video dedicated to Gianluca starts)

Gianluca’s voice in the video: It all started as children.
I remember the first moments we didn’t know how to deal with the cameras.

In ten years life has changed us in an incredible way.

We are proud to be the only young people to bring this style of music anyway, because it all started with the great Luciano Pavarotti, the three tenors, Andrea Bocelli, so we try to follow in their footsteps.

Affections are often neglected, if at a young age we have this awareness, it allows us to live the moments more intensely, especially with the family, where everything started from there.
A mother, a brother, a father, a grandfather, will always be waiting for you, even if you are away for months.

I must say that I have a wonderful relationship with my grandfather Ernesto, and one of the most indelible memories, in 2012 grandfather came to New York and saw me sing with Barbra Streisand.

I always carry my past with me.

Reflect when you wake up each morning in different cities or even in different countries.

I see the people at concerts who are there, they are there for me, for us. (applause)

GIAN = A nice present, thank you.

SILVIA = You were a child.

GIAN = Well, little has changed, and then now they make fun of me (Ignazio and Piero) because I removed my beard and let my hair grow like when I was a child.

SILVIA = (addressing Piero and Ignazio) What are you two doing?

GIAN = Have you seen they always do this when I talk, they talk to each other, it’s not easy for me….

PIERO = (he and Ignazio are teasing Gianluca good-naturedly) The camera is over there. (they do this to say that Gianluca is always looking for the camera)

GIAN = See how they make fun of me??

SILVIA = They are imitating you….

GIAN = They imitate me.

IGNAZIO = But he was like that….

SILVIA = Was he like that when he was little?

IGNAZIO = It was impressive, the first few times, when a photographer, or a camera followed us, when turned on the camera…. (Ignazio suddenly turns his face and strikes a pose like Gianluca did).

GIAN = Then I understood why I did it.

SYLVIA = Why?

GIAN = Because when one is insecure, he needs confirmation. I also have to acknowledge, with hindsight, that looking at me as a child, I feel a certain tenderness, because in any case seeing how we grew up together, how we faced life, recognizing one’s limits, or trying to overcome them, trying to be the best version of themselves. But I’ve always remained a bit narcissistic, oh well but it’s normal (he turns to Piero and Ignazio who exchange knowing glances to confirm), but you always make fun of me for this.

PIERO = But these are our characteristics, we have three completely different personalities and perhaps it is also our strength.

SILVIA = Do you know that Gianluca studies acting? True?

GIAN = I had a very nice experience with some guys, also to try to have a little more control on stage, I was a bit stiff, I’ve always been.

IGNAZIO = Now it’s more flexible…..

GIAN = No, but really…..

IGNAZIO = Especially when he dances he is less rigid…. (he makes fun of Gian because he doesn’t know how to dance)

GIAN = I don’t know how to dance for example…

SILVIA = Can’t you dance?

GIAN = But acting is a passion that I love to cultivate, you never know, in life….

SILVIA = So maybe you would also like to act one day?

GIAN = Why not, why not.

SILVIA = What do your colleagues think?

IGNAZIO = Never limit yourself in life, because the greatest limitation of ourselves is ourselves.

SILVIA = Ah, you see?

IGNAZIO = Why limit yourself?

PIERO = But where did this sentence come from?

IGNAZIO = From my pearls of wisdom (applause)

SILVIA = Then it’s your turn (Ignazio).

IGNAZIO = To me?

SILVIA = Are you ready? It’s up to you.

IGNAZIO = Yes.

SILVIA = You too grew up with them, you too.

IGNAZIO = Oh yes.

SILVIA = In short, you shared beautiful moments, less beautiful moments, with your working family, we can say.

IGNAZIO = Absolutely.

SILVIA = Are you ready?

IGNAZIO = Yes, let’s see! I’m a little worried…..

Ignazio’s voice in the video = As a little boy every day I made my mother scream, I came from school, I ate, if I had homework I did it, when I did it, and I went behind my house because we built huts. Everything was better.

Our life is divided like a sheet divided in half: Ignazio in his life with Il Volo, and Ignazio in his private life.

Two parallel lives.

But thanks also to our parents, we always manage to keep simplicity in both lives.

Your Love is a song that means a lot to us, because we performed in Sanremo three days after my father’s death and it means a lot to me.
I haven’t lost my father, my father is always with me, well, I like to think like this.

Many ask us:
“But aren’t you afraid, afraid of the public?”, it’s all adrenaline.
There have been many difficult moments in our career, it has never been all sunshine and roses.

It’s also nice to experience things with a little ingenuity. (applause)

IGNAZIO = When I was thin.

PIERO = What subject Ignazio.

SILVIA = Oh yes. Well I have to say that reviewing that performance (Your Love) with them by your side, I got goosebumps.

IGNAZIO = It had a bit of an effect on me too, I haven’t seen it for a while, I’ve really never seen it, it’s the first time, but yes, it has an effect.

SILVIA = There your friends really gathered around you.

IGNAZIO = I’ll tell you the truth, I’m one of those people who thinks that the people closest to you are not seen in times of need, but in times of happiness, because anyway in times of need, anyone can come there and give you a hand out of tenderness, pity, anything. It is in difficult moments that it is more difficult to rejoice for a friend.

SILVIA = And you call yourself Libra, because you are from Libra by zodiac sign, but spongy, what does that mean?

IGNAZIO = But then you’ve read the book, eh!!

Spongy Libra, it’s all those people who, like me, absorb all the energies, negative, positive, whatever, and we keep everything inside, so as not to explode, to seek balance in our lives, but above all in that of others. However I am a person who likes to see happy people, I would do anything to see happy people, neglecting my happiness, more often than not. So, spongy Libra because we always try to make others happy and never think about ourselves.

SILVIA = And you don’t even vent with them, with Piero or Gianluca?

IGNAZIO = Not much.

SILVIA = Do you keep everything inside?

IGNAZIO = Absolutely.

SILVIA = But at a certain point you have to tell….

IGNAZIO = Yes, but that’s exactly the flaw, I like being a spongy Libra, but then the flaw is just that, I get to a point…..

SILVIA = (turning to Piero) And you don’t try to make him talk?

PIERO = This is one of his positive characteristics, for the group, because you know, sometimes not everything can be said, not everything one thinks. However, perhaps he stays silent for a long time and then tells you everything to your face, but the beautiful thing about Ignazio is that he tells you the truth, and you know that when he speaks he is telling the truth, and that is what perhaps at the beginning gives what shock to the group, which surprises you a little, but makes you think, because if he says so, it means that it’s all true.

IGNAZIO = For example, I’ll tell you an anecdote.

SYLVIA = Go!

IGNAZIO = I’ve never told it, it’s a scoop.

SILVIA = A scoop!

IGNAZIO = A few years ago…..(Piero touches his leg and Ignazio asks him: ) “What happened?”

PIERO = Stay….. (and imitates Ignazio with his legs spread)

IGNAZIO = I’m comfortable…..so what, excuse me (and he sits down with his legs together, and then crossed).

PIERO = Well done.

IGNAZIO = Is it okay?

PIERO = Very good.

IGNAZIO = A few years ago, it was a period in my life where I was detached from work, I have to tell the truth, I don’t know it was a moment like this, and every now and then they would throw sentences at me:

“You are never there”, “You are always away”, “You are never with us”, “You are always at home”, “You go out with others and not with us”…..and in a meeting I said: “The real reason why I’m not with you is because I don’t feel well, I can’t be with you”.

Since that day, our relationship has changed.

SILVIA= How nice, you had great courage. (applause)

IGNAZIO = (addressing Piero), Do you remember, in Bologna? (Piero nods)

SILVIA = You reacted!

IGNAZIO = They were disappointed.

PIERO = In the end you reflect on the words, you always try to understand the person, his reaction, a word spoken, but in the end he was right, because maybe he needed to be with himself for a while, he didn’t go out with us because he needed to reflect, but like everyone else, you know we go to dinner, we go out when we stay in hotels on the other side of the world we stay together, he was always in the bedroom, always in the bedroom, the first time we invite him , the second also, the third you start to leave him on his own. This thing lasted a couple of months.

IGNAZIO = Yes, yes.

PIERO = Then we tried to deal with this thing, because you know, in the end, the three of us respect our private life very much, but the truth is that we have fun when we are all three together, even off stage, and we didn’t feel like not having him anymore with us, maybe he stayed too much time alone in the bedroom, so we faced this discussion, he had the courage to tell us what was wrong, maybe certain aspects of our character that he didn’t digest…..

IGNAZIO = That is, prejudices, judgments, those things there.

PIERO = And then…..

IGNAZIO = In the end, between friends, it’s the beauty of being friends, the word friends, it’s a bit like in a relationship you say the word I LOVE YOU, you can say, but the true meaning of I love you, it has a great meaning and giving a value to the word FRIEND must be as much as I LOVE YOU. Being friends also means this, being transparent, telling each other everything, how things stand. (applause)

SILVIA = Gianluca do you remember that moment?

GIAN = Yes, but then we know each other so well that we really need not to have any kind of judgement.

SILVIA = Having the freedom to be yourself, because being together for so long, work is fine, but then one feels limited, right? I imagine!

IGNAZIO= Sure, that was the straw that broke the camel’s back, because we have to feel good together.

SILVIA = And are you all right now?

PIERO = Very well.

IGNAZIO = Unfortunately yes!! (applause)

SILVIA = Your time has come (she turns to Piero) are you ready to see you again as a little boy?

PIERO= Go, go, I’m very ready.

SILVIA= Let’s go back in time and this is our gift to you. (applause)

Piero’s voice in the video:
My grandfather Pietro discovered my voice.

“Piero’s grandfather= There was something true, I felt that slowly something had to happen.”

My father never stopped believing in me, I used to sing on the bonnet of cars in the workshop, and you would see this short child, only 1.40m tall, singing, and all the neighbors would look out to listen.
Love is a particular theme, but it is such a strong feeling that it must be protected. I see a good future with a family and children, in my opinion that is the reason for living.

I think the highlight of our career was when we sang in front of Pope Francis in Panama.

Our luck … in the midst of so many people, sometimes you feel alone …. but I think that in 10 years something like this has never happened. (applause)

IGNAZIO = (he turns to Piero) But you are the only miracle in the world without cosmetic surgery.

PIERO = Why?

IGNAZIO = Because you’ve become a handsome boy without surgery. (laughs)

SILVIA = It’s true, but he’s always been handsome.

IGNAZIO = No, it wasn’t always nice.

SYLVIA = Why?

IGNAZIO = No, come on, when we started he wasn’t handsome, now he’s a handsome boy.

PIERO = That is, do you understand who I have to stay with? (he means that Ignazio is making fun of him)

IGNAZIO = (he points to a photo of Piero) Look at that handsome boy.

SILVIA = With a beard….

PIERO = He (Ignazio) is making fun of me.

IGNAZIO = I’m not kidding you, I’m being honest.

PIERO = I still have to understand when he’s serious.

SILVIA = Yes, me too, I still have to understand.

SILVIA = Are you serious or are you joking?

IGNAZIO = I’m serious.

SILVIA = You are serious!

PIERO = Thank you, we are approaching Christmas and you have become better!

IGNAZIO = No, no, I’ve never told you, but it’s true, you’ve become a handsome boy.

PIERO = Thanks, if you tell me I believe it.

SILVIA = Well done Ignazio!!

IGNAZIO = I’m sincere!

SILVIA = Indeed! (applause)

SILVIA = (she turns to Piero) So, how much did you grow up too, together you trod the most important stages in the world, maybe you never see your videos again, but seeing you, seeing how you grew up, what effect does it have on you?

PIERO = In the video they are images from when we were 15/16 years old, you notice the difference, not only physical, but there is that maturity that only comes with time, with the experiences you live.

This is also the reason why we decided to do this concert in Jerusalem, let’s hope everything goes well, we have just returned from the inspection, an incredible place, (he then turns to the audience) I’ll see you on December 24th on Canale 5.

SILVIA = Bravo, on Christmas Eve! (applause)

PIERO = I was saying that we have decided to sing, to do an event in Jerusalem now, at the age of 28/29, because we are aware that you can only undertake such a profound and important journey if there is that extra maturity, which of course a little boy 14/15 years old cannot have, and therefore we also hope to convey these strong emotions that we experienced in this pre-trip and that we will experience on December 24th.

SILVIA = Well, we talked about you, we talked about Jerusalem, and now let’s talk about LOVE.

IGNAZIO = (ironic) I couldn’t wait.

PIERO = Excuse me, but is Silvia Bond still there? (Silvia in spy version for love topic)

SILVIA = Yes, there’s Silvia Bond, because last time  all you made some important statements to me, (she repeats a sentence in Portuguese said by Ignazio) for example, promises, question marks, look, because now it’s time for truth.

(Start a video of some pieces from the previous broadcast where Silvia had asked about their love life and I summarize their answers:

GIAN = I’m engaged and in love, I’m happy and my girlfriend has my mother’s name, Piero intervenes to say to wait for the next interview with Verissimo to confirm, because Gianluca often changes girlfriends.

Then Piero states that for now he is fine on his own .

Ignazio says that he met a girl from Brazil through the web, he went to meet her and now they are in love and he is happy and would like to be a young father.)

IGNAZIO = (he turns to Silvia) But, won’t they fire you 007?? (he is paraphrasing a James Bond film)

SILVIA = Where do I start? Voluntary question!

IGNAZIO = Go to Piero, start with him.

SILVIA = So Piero was single right?
I read stories, but I don’t know anything (because Italian newspapers write about so many absurd love stories).

PIERO = Better to change the subject. No, as you left me, you find me. (he means that nothing has changed)

SILVIA = Ok, you’re alone, always alone with them (Ignazio and Gianluca).

PIERO = I’m resigned and it will be like this for all the episodes of Verissimo….

SILVIA = But have you had acquaintances this year or just peace of sense?

PIERO = Maybe we concentrated a little too much on work.

SILVIA = Ok, just work….is that right, Ignazio?

IGNAZIO = Yes, he (Piero) will soon be giving his vows (to enter the convent, Ignazio is the usual joker)

SILVIA = It smells of sanctity.

IGNAZIO = The trip to the Holy Land has served and will also serve for this.

SILVIA = And what about you? (she turns to Ignazio but he avoids the topic)

IGNAZIO = Gianluca, so you?

GIAN = No, Ignazio is your turn.

SILVIA = Ignazio we stayed with Ana Paula, from Brazil, a beautiful, blonde girl…..

IGNAZIO = Let’s go on……yes, because it’s complicated……

SILVIA= The distance?

IGNAZIO = Eh, yes.

PIERO = But there is a positive aspect of this relationship.

IGNAZIO = I learned Portuguese.

PIERO = He learned to speak Portuguese and now we don’t do all the interviews in Brazil with the simultaneous translator, but with Ignazio.

SILVIA = Wow, see?

IGNAZIO = Yes, but it’s difficult, complicated.

SILVIA = It’s over.

IGNAZIO = Yes, yes, but for a while already, for a few months already, since June, that’s life, things have a beginning and we don’t know when the end is, when it arrives, it depends how it arrives…. …. do we go further?

SILVIA = See…..

GIAN = Curious, Silvia is curious.

SILVIA = No, I want to know, indeed the public wants to know… and you? Dear Gianluca?

GIAN = It’s a dual relationship, we are one person.
I told you I wouldn’t change.

IGNAZIO = Wait, it hasn’t been two years yet (because Il Volo was invited to Verissimo every two years, instead it’s only been a year since last time)

Usually he has a two-year contract.

SILVIA = But I understand, are you still with Eleonora?

PIERO = Yes, the surname is still the same!

GIAN = Have you seen how they do it? When I speak they jump on me.

IGNAZIO = If I jump on you, you’ll hear me more.

SILVIA = So you kept your promise, if we can say so.

GIAN = Yes, I told you!

SILVIA = Did you do it for us?

GIAN = Of course (he laughs)

PIERO = In fact in the wedding ring there will be written for Silvia (laughter)

SILVIA = Are you happy? Are you OK?

GIAN = Yes, I’m fine, because it’s not easy being around (on tour) and being in love, especially in an age where you often live in freedom, for a series of things, but I’m fine, as I said before, it’s a dual relationship, we are one person, we are similar, really, as if she were my female version and vice versa, in short.

SILVIA = Let’s go ahead and talk about music.

IGNAZIO = Please, are you coming to our concert?

SILVIA = Of course I’ll come to your concerts. So let’s remember on the 24th there’s Christmas in Jerusalem broadcast on Canale 5, then there are three other concert dates.

PIERO = Yes, the day after tomorrow we leave for Brazil, then we will return to Italy for the concerts in Turin on December 15th, Milan on the 17th and in Rome on the 23rd.

SILVIA = And since you never stop, there’s also a new single.

PIERO = Yes, Happy Christmas.

SILVIA = Happy Christmas which is a song by John Lennon which is a beautiful song, a beautiful hymn.

IGNAZIO = Many know it as War is Over.

SYLVIA = Yes

PIERO = Written in 1971 during the war in Vietnam and unfortunately still today…..

IGNAZIO = is current unfortunately.

PIERO =….. let’s keep talking about this sad topic. And with this song, with Happy Christmas and with Christmas, we try to continue giving life to this message, which is an eternal hymn to PEACE. (applause)

SILVIA = And let’s listen to it, are you ready?
Il Volo with Happy Christmas War is Over. Thank you.

(starts the song)

SILVIA = Thank you!

IGNAZIO = Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays.

SILVIA = Merry Christmas

GIAN = Happy holidays to all.

SILVIA = Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, see you on December 24th, Christmas Eve, with these three really extraordinary guys.

I+P+G= Thank you, thank you all, happy holidays to all.

To all of you at Flight Crew, our warmest wishes for a merry Christmas full of joy, from all the staff:

Daniela, Pat, Susan, Jana, Kelly and Jo Ann…..

 

Credit to owners of all photos and videos.