Monthly Archives: January 2023

General news

TWO FLAGS, THREE HEARTS by Daniela

23 Comments
Always looking for something interesting to offer you, while I finished the translation of the Bosky TV video for you, I found this beautiful and interesting interview that Ignazio, Piero and Gianluca had before the American tour.
It was written by Umberto Mucci and published by WE THE ITALIANS.
Maybe not all of you have read it and so here it is.
Enjoy the reading. ☺
TWO FLAGS, THREE HEARTS 💗💗💗
In 2015 I attended my first National Italian American Foundation Gala in Washington, DC. Somewhat intimidated by the size of the venue, the 2,000 hosts in tuxedos or evening gowns, and the importance of those in attendance, I discovered that at my table were CEOs and managers of the highest caliber, with their respective spouses.
My surprise, was great, when the time came for the musical performance, I saw them snapping to their feet and dancing enthusiastically. Driving them crazy with joy and Italian pride were three young very talented Italian boys, Gianluca, Ignazio and Piero: Il Volo. I will never forget it, which is also why I am happy and proud to welcome them on “We the Italians”, on the eve of their new prestigious fall tour in the United States.

IL VOLO on stage

Ciao ragazzi! Thanks for being on We the Italians. How did you meet and how did you start singing together?
We met in 2009 on a RAI television show called “Ti Lascio Una Canzone” (I Leave You a Song). The producer of this television show heard these three boys with adult voices and decided to put our three voices together and remember the three tenors in a nice way, asking us to sing “O Sole Mio”. That was the first song that we sang together, and from that Italian program that had great success with the audience and online shares, we were catapulted into the American market, signing a contract with a major American label, Iterscope, part of Universal Music. Ours was 100% the famous American dream. We signed the American contract and recorded our first album, Il Volo. And from there our artistic journey began.

A young IL VOLO on stage

Were you in love with America since you were children?
For sure the greatest curiosity, as children, was to see the cars and the streets, and the yellow taxis, because we had always seen them in films and television: the first that comes to mind is “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.” So the yellow taxis, the immense six-lane roads, and the huge cars are the first memories as children that we have of the curiosity to one day see America: we are from three different parts of Italy, none of which had these things.
We were very small. It was difficult to dream of anything else at that age. Obviously even as a child thinking of going to America was difficult, we wondered how many hours the trip lasted … but when we were children we also listened to Elvis Presley and of course Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, because our parents also passed on to us the passion for American music. Some of us also have some relatives in America, like a large part of the Italians living in Italy. It all seemed so far away then, but instead then in the end we lived it and we continue to live it every day and it’s fantastic.

IL VOLO on a New York City street

What names do you give me, if I ask you your favorite Italian American singer or group?
The greatest Italian American singers that we admire are Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Perry Como, Lady Gaga, Tony Bennett, and also Michael Bublé, who even though is Canadian sings in English and it’s the same continent. Moreover, two of us, Ignazio and Piero, are Sicilian like Frank Sinatra and Lady Gaga, while Gianluca has Abruzzese origins like Perry Como, Dean Martin and Michael Bublé. Instead Tony Bennett is of Calabrese descent.
IL VOLO with Lady GaGa and Tony Bennett
How many concerts have you put on in the United States up to now? What memory do you have or your past US tours? 
We think we have put on about 350/400 concerts in America, in our 13-year career, considering that our first tour had 55/60 dates, and then we did tours of about 20/30 concerts every year. The nicest thing is that obviously the descendants of the Italians who emigrated are, everywhere, our first fans, and they always show us a lot of affection.
The tradition of Italians abroad is exceptional, even subsequent generations retain the Italian blood, the attachment to our country. But it is also true that our type of music, as Pavarotti and Bocelli teach us, manages to conquer not only the Italian abroad but also the real American or the Japanese or Brazilian who have no Italian origins. This is sometimes striking. When we travel the world, of course we find many people who have Italian origins, however most of our audience is not Italian and it is amazing how the strength of this type of music – like when you sing ”Nessun Dorma” – is that it completely breaks through any cultural and linguistic barrier. This is the strength of Italian music, of our vocalism, of the Italian musical genre.

IL VOLO on stage during their last tour with IL VOLO in lights behind them

Is there an anecdote, a curiosity, something nice that you want to tell about your musical adventures in America among Italian Americans? 
Well, it was exciting to meet Dean Martin’s daughter in New York. Perhaps the best anecdote happened in Los Angeles. We were there on our tour with Barbra Streisand, and we were in this barbershop for men but also hairdresser for women to get our hair cut. Next to us a lady was looking at us from the mirror and at one point she told us: “Ah, tomorrow night you will be performing here in L.A.”.  We say yes, not knowing who she is. And the hairdresser, who was cutting our hair, trying to signal us without being seen by the lady, wanted me to understand that this lady was a famous person. We ask the lady if she will come to see us, but she does not answer us. In short, in the end the hairdresser reveals that that was Priscilla Presley, Elvis’s wife. In the end we invited her to the concert and a great friendship was born from there.

IL VOLO with Priscilla Presley

Let’s talk about the 2022 tour. Let’s remind our readers the dates and cities of your concerts and how they can purchase tickets if they haven’t already done so. 
They can find all the details and can purchase tickets for all the dates on our website. The tour was originally planned for the spring of this year but was postponed to September and October because of Covid.
The tour starts in Canada and arrives in Detroit, MI September 10; Cleveland, OH September 12; Chicago, IL September 13; Indianapolis, IN September 15; Uncasville, CT September 17; Boston, MA September 20; Atlantic City, NJ September 23; Oxon Hill, MD September 25; New York, NY September 27; Bethlehem, PA September 29; Atlanta, GA October 2; Fort Myers, FL October 4; Clearwater, FL October 7; Sunrise, FL October 9; Phoenix, AZ October 13; and finally Los Angeles, CA October 15.

IL VOLO poster

What is your favorite song to sing in your American concerts? Is there one that you do as a tribute to an Italian-American artist? 
Perhaps one of the most beautiful moments is when we sing “Smile” by Charlie Chaplin or “Caruso” by Lucio Dalla, and of course also “My Way” by Frank Sinatra. Perhaps the most exciting moment is “Nessun Dorma”. Because now, we are sorry for those who perhaps think differently but we believe we must be realistic, “Nessun Dorma” is now considered a song. When our fans hear “Nessun Dorma” they have been waiting for it from the beginning of the concert, and they know that this is the ending. When we finish singing it there is a great standing ovation. For us it is really a great joy to sing it, always, but we understand that it is the same also for those who came to hear us.

Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra

Il Volo sings Morricone: a great success dedicated to an extraordinary and unforgettable Italian master. Can you tell me the emotions you felt in paying homage to such a gigantic Italian? 
It is authoritative, elite music, which gives great prestige to our repertoire, brings us a musical level up that expands our repertoire, which is already an elegant and varied repertoire. This further upgrade for us also means a new and greater responsibility and musical maturity, progress.  In our repertoire we try to represent Italian music but not only that, we also sing “My Way” by Frank Sinatra and “Smile “by Charlie Chaplin, in addition to ”Nessun Dorma” and “O Sole Mio”. So in addition to representing Italy, we try to represent what it is the bel canto from all points of view. Now let’s add these incredible soundtracks that have been a fundamental and beloved part of the most important films in the history of cinema. For us it is a matter of pride to give a further touch of prestige and elegance to each project. 

IL VOLO sings Morricone CD

Would you like to send a greeting to the many Italian-American readers of We the Italians? 
Of course. Obviously we are very young to know directly the stories of these people, who are sons and daughters and grandchildren of courageous people who emigrated from Italy to America with a lot of courage, trying to find luck and their way. We have enormous respect for these Italians and their ancestors, and it will certainly be nice to be able to meet them around America at our concerts. We will see them in September or October, depending on which city they live in. We want to thank them for the great support they have always shown us in our 13-year career.

IL VOLO in blue suits singing on stage

We the Italians logo

Meanwhile the staff of Il Volo continues to announce new dates for the 2023 tour, here is the ever-increasing list for now…………of course I’m crossing my fingers for some Italian dates!!
Here are the confirmed dates to date:

2023 Latin America concert dates

Furthermore, the date of May 27 in Krakow, Poland has already been confirmed.
It is clear that from the end of March to May, other dates will be added, and will you go to any of these concerts?
Ignazio, Piero and Gianluca are also working on some new projects or music, as Gianluca tells us in this photo:

#Repost @gianginoble11
making some new music

And then, as already anticipated in December, Il Volo released a song by Roberto Carlos, entitled COMO VAI VOCÊ, available only for Brazil.

IL VOLO - COMO VAI VOCÊ cover photo

Very sweet song!!

And from this video message from Piero, Gianluca and Ignazio announcing the new single, we are waiting for a surprise for February 17th!!! ❤❤❤
Last thing.
I found this short piece of “I COLORI DELL’AMORE” sung by our boys, from which the musical base has been removed, and therefore we only hear the voices……..chills…..those wonderful voices!!! 😘😘😘

~ Click Here to listen ~

Really nice interview, I really liked the introduction and the title: “Two Flag, Three hearts”, very apt indeed .😊
Your interpretation of Roberto Carlos’ song is very beautiful. 😊
“Guys, we hope for new music and we are here ready to listen to what you will do and it will surely be well done!!” 😘
Your South American tour will be fantastic, your fans have been waiting for you for three years. 😊
Then there are rumors, for now, that speak of a presence of Il Volo, as guests in an episode of an Italian television program ….. we will keep you updated. 😉
That’s all for now, see you soon:
Daniela 🤗

 

Credit to owners of all photos and videos.

General news, Ignazio

TOGETHER IS BETTER by Daniela

32 Comments
Surely you have already had the opportunity to see this video, and I know that the video also has the possibility of having the translation, but as I know that some of you have difficulty activating this function, I preferred to translate this very special moment of which our Ignazio had us participate, also in order to explain the situation well and the words that are said. So, I hope I’ve done something that you like. ☺
But first I want to translate this message from Ignazio, which anticipates the video.
IGNAZIO = Guys, the video just came out on you tube.
We went to visit some children at the Bellaria hospital, didn’t we, Pelle? Is the video out?
PELLE = Ah, yes!
IGNAZIO = We went to visit some children at the Bellaria hospital, together with an association called BIMBOTU. Watch it, click the link below, it’s a beautiful video, it was very nice to go and find these children, we brought some things, watch it, it’s very exciting, I was excited to see it again.
PELLE = Me too. I enjoyed watching it again and importantly, watch it all the way to the end, and it’s the first in a long series.
IGNAZIO = And subscribe to the channel, it’s free, on you tube. Bye, watch it!!

(The scene begins with Ignazio and his friend Stefano , called Pelle, taking some boxes).
IGNAZIO = Are you ready?
PELLE = I’m here, born ready.
(They get into the car and while Ignazio is driving, he contacts someone by telephone)
IGNAZIO = Good morning Alice.
ALICE = Good morning
IGNAZIO = Hello, first of all, Bellaria San Lazzaro right? (it is the name of the place that Ignazio is reaching).
I’m not doing bullshit (Italian way of saying he’s not wrong).
ALICE = You’re Ignazio, right?
IGNAZIO = Yes,
ALICE = Because I didn’t save the number (phone number). Okay, sorry. Yes, we are in Bellaria San Lazzaro.
IGNAZIO = We’ll be right there, we’ll be there in a minute. (Ignazio and Pelle arrive in front of the entrance to the structure, Giulia is waiting for them).
How are you?
GIULIA = Good.
IGNAZIO = We are very happy.
GIULIA = Well, so are we.
IGNAZIO = We woke up energetic, he was at 10.37 am, but he woke up.
GIULIA = Blessed are you. (Together they enter the ISNB structure, Institute of Neurological Sciences of Bologna).
Welcome to our department. (being a hospital ward, everyone wears surgical masks) This is our kitchen that we have set up for the kids and families who live here. (It is a support structure for the hospital, where children who undergo therapies and also their families are hosted). Every now and then we do some workshops.
IGNAZIO = Sometimes we could come and cook, he’s the cook.
GIULIA = Really?
PELLE = In fact, I was watching because I’m curious and I’m liking it.
GIULIA = Ah, excellent.
IGNAZIO= Whenever you want, you call me and say “Ignà, when you want, come and cook”, and we’ll come here to cook for you. I have an idea (of what to do) and you cook (Pelle).
(Ignazio and Pelle brought boxes of sweets to be delivered to the children/teenagers present)
Hi Angelica, (a young girl who is hosted in the structure) I’m Ignazio and he……
PELLE = I’m Stefano.
IGNAZIO = …..his name is Stefano, but everyone calls him Pelle. (Pelle = Skin)
ANGELICA = Why?
IGNAZIO = Since his surname is a bit disgusting, Pellegatta (Catskin).... so everyone calls him Pelle.
PELLE = Boschetto spoke (ironic,  he want to say that Boschetto is not a wonderful surname either, Boschetto= Smallwood) 
IGNAZIO = today I brought you some things. Do you like Chupa Chups (lollipops).
ANGELICA = Yes.
IGNAZIO = But you want to keep the line. Do you train?
ANGELICA = Yes.
IGNAZIO = He trains too (Pelle). Since you’re the first, we’ll let you open it (the package), okay? Do you want to?
(Angelica and Ignazio begin to open the package.)
You look sorry? (to Pellle).
PELLE = I look, I observe.
IGNAZIO = (addressing Angelica) He looks, understood?
Please, when choosing friends, find them useful, who do things, not who look.
Here are a few things for everyone, there are Goleadors (a type of candy) that you don’t like because you want to keep fit.
ANGELICA = My sister likes them.
IGNAZIO = Ah, does she like them? Well then they might be of interest to her.
(Another young boy arrives, a guest of the structure.)
How are you?
BOY = Good.
IGNAZIO = Fist (post-Covid greeting method).
Do you eat sweets? Because she doesn’t eat them, she wants to stay fit.
(Another young boy arrives)
How are you? Good?
I am Ignazio and this is Stefano. (Pelle)
PELLE = Hello.
IGNAZIO = You write messages to girls on instagram ?
ANGELICA = Where do I put this? (she is holding a box of sweets)
IGNAZIO = But, I don’t know, in the bathroom, is there a place in the bathroom? (the usual Ignazio joker) 😁
IGNAZIO = (addressing the second young boy) Of course you too can give me a hand, he (Pelle) is already enough, he looks and does nothing.
ANGELICA = My sister is crazy about these!!
IGNAZIO = But everything to your sister, excuse me?  Have we taken all the things for your sister?
ANGELICA = In the end yes.
IGNAZIO = (addressing the second young boy who slightly, physically, reminds Ignazio as a younger and more robust) When I was younger I was like you, indeed, you are like me.
GIULIA = He likes to sing.
IGNAZIO = How?
GIULIA = He likes to sing and play the guitar.
IGNAZIO = Ah! Then I’ll bring you a guitar, I didn’t know.
What genre do you like?
BOY = Rock.
IGNAZIO = I love you (and hugs the boy).
He is Pelle981 on Twitch (channel, like Twitter), if you have it, look for him and he plays, that is, he does this job: he plays.
Hi Luigi (another boy enters, a guest of the facility), I’m Ignazio and he’s Stefano.
PELLE = Pleasure, Stefano!
IGNAZIO = I am very happy to be here, because due to my job, I am never at home.
When I’m at home I like to come and find these associations where they really help and I think that you too feel comfortable here, right? (turning to the boy )
You can talk, I swear I won’t eat you, and he (Pelle)  seems big either, but he won’t eat you.
We wanted to say thank you for hosting us. Will you take me somewhere? (in this way Ignazio asks the boy to let him visit the structure). Hello everyone!
WOMAN = (A woman’s voice, perhaps the robust boy’s mother).
We arrived today. (She means that the boy cannot guide Ignazio in the structure because he doesn’t know it well yet)
IGNAZIO = Ah, did you arrive today? I took the worst (meaning he can’t accompany him in the facility – laughter) 😁
Are you from Bologna?
ANGELICA = Province of Carpi.
IGNAZIO = And you?
BOY = I from Correggio
LUIGI = I’m from Bologna.
GIULIA = Gabriele has also arrived.
IGNAZIO = Gabriele, pleasure. I am Ignazio and this is Stefano. How old are you?
GABRIELE = 12
IGNAZIO = What is the thing you would eat now?
GABRIELE = Kinder (chocolate egg)
PELLE = No, Ignazio, you’re on a diet.
IGNAZIO = Think for yourself!
(while Ignazio offers a chocolate egg to Gabriele he sees the robust boy)  Look at those little heart eyes he has?
Thanks to all of you and to all the staff. ☺
GIULIA = Can you sing us something?
IGNAZIO = What song do we know that we all sing together? I won’t tell you mine because you don’t know them.
PELLE = You are old Igna (ironic)
IGNAZIO = Ah, I’m old….come on, tell me a song.
So, we can sing “Io tu e le rose” (it’s an old Italian song).….do you know it??😁
ALL = No!!
IGNAZIO = “La Fisarmonica” , no! (another song from the 70s.)😁 “We are the champions” by Queen? Yup? You all know this, right? Here we are? Are you there? (and Ignazio starts singing the refrain of the song and tries to make the stout boy sing the two final words – applause) ☺
Thank you very much, see you soon, (Ignazio greets all the boys) …. young lady (he greets Angelica), bring something to your sister.
PELLE = On the last day (he means when she gets home) you get something and bring it to your sister.
IGNAZIO = (embraces the hefty boy) Don’t harm the little girls on instagram too much!  ☺
(A hug to the younger boy, meanwhile Angelica takes a chocolate egg)
ANGELICA = It’s for my sister!!
ALICE = He is Tommaso, anyway. (another boy)
IGNAZIO = Tommaso, excuse me, pleasure, Ignazio.
(in addition to the desserts, the board games that Ignazio and Pelle have brought are also shown.
Gabriele asks Ignazio and Pelle for an autograph) ☺
GIULIA = (She leads Ignazio and Pelle in the various rooms of the structure.)
I can challenge you to table football, but I advise against it.
IGNAZIO = Excuse me, miss, what’s her name?
GIULIA = Gabriele
IGNAZIO = Gabriele where do you want to play?
PELLE = I watch this match.
She (Giulia) is the champion!
(Ignazio takes the ball and pretends to open it like an egg) . 😁
We are not in the kitchen!
IGNAZIO = Ah, isn’t it an egg?? Sorry! Go!! 😁
GIULIA = What’s in the prize, guys?? Shall we reward a Kinder egg?
IGNAZIO = A Kinder egg, go!!
Go Gabriele, go Gabriele, go Gabriele…..NO!!!
I made you score this goal!
PELLE = (To Ignazio) Are you putting the point on yourself?
IGNAZIO = Ah, sorry! (The game ends, everyone shakes hands). I won’t give you the Kinder egg (because it was defeated 😁…. below is a nice group photo ❤)
IGNAZIO = (to Luigi) Do you support Juve? (Italian soccer team, favored by Ignazio)
LUIGI = If I want YES.
PELLE = Sure, he can change his mind.
IGNAZIO = I understand, but it’s not correct…
LUIGI = So I’m rooting for Juventus!!😁
IGNAZIO = Bravo, bravo!!
(Ignazio lends himself to various photographs with the hospitalized children and their families). 😘
Bye bye!!
PELLE = Hello everyone!!
(This is followed by a fake scholastic interrogation made to Ignazio and Pelle by the teacher of the structure, since the boys have long hospitalizations, they also have to study during those periods)
IGNAZIO = Well, I swear I’ve studied.
TEACHER = Yes?
IGNAZIO = I know everything!!
TEACHER = The fall of the Roman Empire.
IGNAZIO = I was very sorry about this fact. 😁
PELLE = Maybe she wanted to know the year it happened! 😁
IGNAZIO = Good times those.
TEACHER = (to Pelle) And by whom was the discovery of America made?
PELLE = Surely someone discovered it (Ignazio tries to suggest, as students do at school)……it’s Italian…perhaps Christopher Columbus?? The year ….1492??
TEACHER = Now let’s do algebra?
IGNAZIO = Algebra, yes.
TEACHER = The addition of fractions ….. what should I do here?
IGNAZIO = They add up….
TEACHER = I have to do the minimum……
PELLE = Least common multiple!
TEACHER = Well done!!
IGNAZIO = The guaranteed minimum, because there is always a guaranteed minimum!!😁  Are we promoted?
TEACHER = Yes, yes, but you have to review the lessons.
IGNAZIO = We have to study, all right.
(to Pelle)
Today we are with Giulia, let me introduce her to you.
GIULIA =  Giulia!
IGNAZIO = She’s very strong at table football.
GIULIA =  Tell us about the association.
We have opened this channel, where we will create this format, where the idea is to receive emails with requests, wishes, which we will try to fulfill.
We wanted to start with an association, there are many that help children with illnesses, special cases and really help people. Unfortunately people don’t know these associations, or know them little, so our idea is to be able to make them known more through that channel, through my work, his work (Pelle), to make known as many associations as possible, and today we are from you.
GIULIA = Good
IGNAZIO = Who are you? What do you do? (He means as an association)
GIULIA = I am Giulia, I am part of this beautiful association called BIMBOTU. Bimbotu was born in 2007 from the will of Alessandro and Federica, husband and wife, who had a personal experience of their son’s illness, who is fortunately doing well now.
This was 15 years ago and they decided that the difficulties they had to face as parents, as a family, they didn’t want other families to have to face, or at least give those families support. So since 2007 we have been dealing with assistance in the wards, therefore from the simplest things, as we have done together today, being together with the children and their families, chatting, lending a hand, offering a coffee….
IGNAZIO = So are you volunteers or…..??
GIULIA = We currently have about 200 volunteers….
IGNAZIO = 202 now (he offers himself and Pelle as volunteers)
GIULIA = We are active in this hospital, therefore the Institute of Neurological Sciences of Bologna at the Bellaria hospital, also at Sant’Orsola and Maggiore (other hospitals).
We are dealing with children and families who arrive from all over Italy, as you saw today.
IGNAZIO = Are all pathologies treated here?
GIULIA = In particular, in this department, we follow the pathologies of the central nervous system and also eating disorders which is a world to which we too are only recently approaching.
IGNAZIO = I knew a person, very close to me, who suffered from bulimia and it’s very complicated, it’s very psychological and it doesn’t make you think, it’s not a matter of drinking or eating badly, because maybe people think: “Come on, you ate too much, what are you doing?”
Instead bulimia is a serious matter, if you think you need support, talk to someone, because it’s important. There are certain things that should not be trivialized or talked about and approached in a superficial way.
GIULIA = Absolutely yes, in fact, even the volunteers we have all follow a training course to be able to better face the experience within the departments and the volunteers who are in contact with the kids who have eating disorders follow a further specific course on the subject, first of all to always be updated and informed, precisely because there is always a tendency to trivialize it, it is a taboo that is rarely talked about, and getting information is essential to be able to help those suffering from this pathology.
PELLE = Also to know how to approach children and teenagers.
GIULIA = Exactly.
IGNAZIO = That’s why you have wards inside the hospital, right? Because there is also the support of doctors.
GIULIA = Yes, exactly, indeed it is the hospital that hosts us as an association and each volunteer brings what they know how to do. For example, when I come here, even if my job is in the office, I play foosball, then there are those who play the guitar, those who sing, those who draw, everyone brings their own way of approaching…..
PELLE = A piece of yourself…
GIULIA = Yes, a piece of himself.
In addition to being present in the wards, we also have apartments where we welcome families arriving from outside Bologna free of charge, because they often have very long hospitalizations, and on average we welcome around fifty families a year, and we know and assist around 800/900 children and families in the various wards.
IGNAZIO = I often go to visit (hospitalized) children because…..I don’t know, we are all important,….but there is something that attracts you about a child or a young boy, something that pushes us to do our best and always give more. Every time when I enter the hospital wards and I see a child with a drip, or without hair, I see situations that are unacceptable to me, and I always have a reaction of not knowing how to behave, not knowing if I can accept that situation so, to a volunteer or even for you when you arrived, how was this impact? ❤
GIULIA = It’s not simple and in any case I don’t want to get emotional in front of the camera, I’m telling you about my personal experience, when I started being part of the BIMBOTU team I asked myself:
“Giulia, do you feel up to it?”, because in any case it’s not obvious, it’s not easy, and at the beginning I too was struggling in the first approach, I wondered how I could be useful. Being yourself is the key to first being able to empathize with children and their families. ❤
IGNAZIO = Those are the things that make you feel good.
If I wanted to support this association, how can I do it, where can I find information? 😉
GIULIA = Volunteering is a great way to help, because donating can be done in many ways, so you can donate your time, or you can make a cash donation that always helps because we have many activities and many services that we offer , we always offer them for free, so financial support is also very important.
IGNAZIO = So for those who live in Bologna, or in Emilia Romagna (region with capital Bologna), or near Bologna, if you want to come and spend your time helping someone, to volunteer for BIMBOTU, you can do it. 😘
GIULIA = We have the headquarters of our offices which is in San Lazzaro and then there are also other ways to donate and support this very important cause, for example, if one is a tailor, he can help us to pack objects to be exhibited in our solidarity banquets.
PELLE = So everyone can put their own, (make available what they can do)

GIULIA = Yes, exactly. For more information, the website is www.bimbotu.it, and then they can follow us on social networks with BIMBOTU OFFICIAL, also because we are super active and we always have many new projects to present, and they can subscribe to our newsletters to stay up to date and see what we are doing.
For example , we have started a fundraising campaign to be able to buy neonatal ventilators for the pediatric department of the Maggiore Hospital , and they have a very significant cost and therefore anyone who wants to lend a hand is welcome.
Often there are also those who call us and tell us:
“I do this in life, what can I do for you?” And it’s the most beautiful thing in the world. ☺
IGNAZIO = Sometimes, supporting an association, or doing charity, it’s not always and only to give money. Doing charity, helping someone or these associations can also be helped with one’s work, with one’s time, as Giulia said, with very few things.
Little or big help is equally important for people in need. Every gesture is important. ❤
PELLE = Since when are you with Bimbotu?
GIULIA = For almost two years.
IGNAZIO = Ok, the people who follow us, are also contributing to this. ❤
PELLE = We say it a lot and we push it a lot because we want to make it clear that what we say, we do and we will do  (it won’t be just words).❤
IGNAZIO = Anyway, it’s not an initiative that is limited to just the two of us, it’s from the whole Bosky TV community, it’s something we’re all doing together, to help everyone. ❤
GIULIA = Congratulations.
IGNAZIO = Thank you very much.
GIULIA = Thanks to you.
IGNAZIO = Thank you for having hosted us, for giving us this opportunity, we hope to see you soon, we will return.
GIULIA = Absolutely. We are waiting for you.
PELLE = I have to cook, now I have this thing in my head.
IGNAZIO = And I have to take the guitar to the rocker (strong boy).😘
(to the camera) Thank you so much for being with us, for watching this video. Support this channel, because thanks to your support, we were able to do what we did today. Hello everybody. ❤🤗
GIULIA = Don’t forget, bye!
PELLE = Thanks again!!
IGNAZIO = (Now Ignazio and Pelle are in the car). Good thing you were in Algebra, because I just…..
PELLE = Thank goodness, I only said one right word at the end.
IGNAZIO = I understand, at least we made a half figure, a good impression.
PELLE = Beautiful, even the teacher was happy.
IGNAZIO = Do you know what the beautiful thing is? We’ll have more meetings like this!!! ❤
I have no words to compliment Ignazio and Pelle for what they have done.
Truly something that honors them and all those who are supporting them.
It’s not the first time that Ignazio offers us these great gestures of the heart, remember when he donated equipment to the Bologna Pediatric Hospital?
Thank you Ignazio for being such a big-hearted person, we appreciate you so much for that and we are so proud of you!!  ❤
Daniela 🤗

Credit to owners of all photos and videos.

Through the Fields of My Mind

A Walk Down Memory Lane by Susan

25 Comments

Adorable then! Drop dead gorgeous now!
Two years ago, I wrote a story called Moments to Remember. It was moments from the time the guys met in 2009 until 2021.  Those were great moments, and I will talk about them again in this story, but I will also add some more recent moments to remember on this Walk Down Memory Lane.
Let me start by saying in the United States there is no better sport or more favored sport than Baseball. It’s a part of American culture. It’s one of our great American pastimes. Every kid in America has a baseball team they root for. Boys are more passionate about it, but girls certainly are all on board with it.
As a child living in New York, I had a choice. New York Yankees or Dodgers. I was born and raised in Brooklyn, so this one is a no brainer. Dodgers, it is! I even forgave them when they moved to LA. That’s true love!
So, what am I getting at here? Americans are passionate people and we, like other countries in the world begin every event, every gathering of large groups of people with our National Anthem. For me, when I hear the Star-Spangled Banner, I rise, put my hand across my heart and I sing. What does this all mean? To me it means that I am thanking God for being an American, for having the opportunity to live in America where we can stand and sing our Anthem. Where we are free to go to any house of worship to pray and where we can say what we believe in the privacy of our homes or on our streets. The home of the free and the brave. We all know who those brave people are. There is no need for me to get into it.
But why am I telling you this at the beginning of an Il Volo story?
Today when I was watching Ignazio’s CHAT on Bosky TV I asked him this question, “What was it like to sing the American National Anthem at the opening of the Dogers game?”
His beautiful reply was, “It was great, one of the best experiences of my life! One of the BEST experiences of my life!” 

So, let’s start this story with “one of the best experiences” of Ignazio’s life, the day the guys sang our National Anthem.

What I love about all of this, beyond what Ignazio said, these young men were proud to sing our Anthem. Furthermore, on many American holidays, wherever they are they sing our Anthem.  
This video is when they sang it in New York with Bruno Vespa on a special Porta Porta! It was to honor those lost on 911.
Guys for us you are Americans! As teenagers you were indoctrinated into our culture, and we are so proud of you!

On July 11, 2013, after singing our National Anthem in Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles they met an American legend, Tommy Lasorda.  Tommy Lasorda was a baseball player and coach for the Dodgers. Lasorda coached the Dodgers for 20 years, from 1976-96. He passed away on January 7, 2021, at the age of 93.

Il Volo and baseball, what a score!

If I asked you “What would you consider to be a memorable moment in the career of Il Volo?” I’m sure you could come up with at least 10 if not 50 moments. So, I needed to take these moments and decide what I thought were the most memorable and the following were my choices for memorable moments.

So where do we begin? Well, you might say the night the three won not just Ti Lascio una Canzone but, the greatest prize of all, their destiny, Il Volo. Yes, that certainly was a memorable moment but, I think there was a moment before then that was very important and very memorable. Gianluca points to that moment, “I thought there were three hundred thousand boys singing like me, and instead that night I discovered that there are only two: Ignazio and Piero.” Of course, Gianluca was referring to the night they sang together for the first time on Ti Lascio Una Canzone.  So, let’s begin there with a man who gets a great surprise on that night!
For the fourth episode of Ti Lascio Una Canzone, the boys are given the music for “O Sole Mio.” They walked out on the stage, sang “O Sole Mio” and walked off stars!  

Alone in his apartment, Michele Torpedine was sitting on his sofa with the volume off on his TV. The show he was watching was Ti Lascio Una Canzone. He keeps looking at the screen and he suddenly thinks, Ignazio reminds him of Luciano Pavaroti, Gianluca seemed similar to Jose Carreras and Piero is similar to Placido Domingo. He still had not heard them sing. Out of curiosity, he raised the volume and Michele says, “Here I am aware of another element, that is even more important than the first. The three casually put together to sing a song of the program possess an incredible vocality for their age.”
At this point Michele’s head is spinning. He’s thinking these guys are good and again repeats it to himself, they’re good! He thinks, “What if I try to put them together seriously? A trio, he tells himself.”

The rest is history!

We Are the World for Haiti  
In 2010 shortly after arriving in America, the guys were invited by Quincy Jones to join “We Are the World for Haiti,” together with 80 international artists such as Celine Dion, Bono, Lady Gaga, Carlos Santana, Barbra Streisand, Enrique Iglesias, Usher, Natalie Cole. Il Volo were the only Italian artists to be invited. The three voices from the background caused such a sensation. “Who was that?” Everyone present couldn’t believe what they were hearing but, “Who were they?” Soon they would find out!

Barbara Streisand’s Back to Brooklyn Tour
In 2012 Barbra Streisand invited the guys to be an integral part of her “Back to Brooklyn” tour. They performed with her in America and Canada. They were not an opening act, no, they shared the stage with Barbara. To the guys this was a dream come true!

2014 Latin Billboard Music Awards 
In 2013, “Más Que Amor” was certified “Gold” in Mexico and Argentina. And this catapulted the guys into the Latin market. From that day on they took the Latin market by storm.  In February 2014, they receive two nominations at the 2014 Latin Billboard Music Awards, as “Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year, Duo or Group” and “Latin Pop Albums Artist of the Year, Duo or Group.” At the awards show they were awarded as “Best Group of the Year in the Latin Pop Album” category and they also won the “El Pulso Social Award,” as the artist who dominated interactions on social networking sites during the Billboard Awards. This is unheard of! Three Italian kids taking over the Latin market! What a win!

The Christmas Concert at the Italian Senate, December 21, 2014
Ignazio wrote in their book:
We want to talk about the thrill of singing in front of the highest offices 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. You cannot imagine the emotional feeling to be called “guests of honor” inside the Senate. We were accompanied by the, fantastic, Filarmonia Orchestra Veneta conducted by Diego Basso. Half the beauty of the song is in the orchestra.
The most exciting moments? Everyone! 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.

Sanremo Music Festival 2015 
On February 14, 2015, the guys participated in and won the Sanremo Music Festival with “Grande Amore.” This is the top award in the Music Industry in Italy. With this win the guys really came home. They were finally recognized by the Italian people. This win also gave them the opportunity to represent Italy at the Eurovision Song Contest 2015.

Eurovision 2015 
As Italy is a member of the Big Five, Il Volo went straight into the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest, which was held in Vienna on May 23, 2015. Grande Amore came in 3rd with 292 points but, they won the televote with 366 points and won the Marcel Bezencon Press Award, as best song according to the collective voting of the accredited press. The extended play Sanremo Grande Amore was released in Italy on February 20, 2015, and it was certified triple platinum by FIMI. At the Latin Billboard Awards, they dominated the social networking sites and now, they win the televote and the best song according to collective voting by the accredited press. The people speak!

 

Piazza Santa Croce in Florence, July 1, 2016 “Notte Magica” 
2016-2017 were the years dedicated to the “Notte Magica” project, the tribute to the 1990 event where the Three Tenors, Josè Carreras, Placido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti, enchanted the whole world from the stage of the Baths of Caracalla. On July 1st in Piazza Santa Croce in Florence Il Volo presented on stage “Notte Magica – A Tribute to the Three Tenors,” which was broadcast in prime time on Canale 5.  The guys were joined by Placido Domingo who conducted the orchestra. This marks the beginning of the world tour of “Notte Magica – A Tribute to The Three Tenors” which debuted on March 4, 2017, at Radio City Music Hall in New York. The show was sold out. After 15 stops in the United States, all sold out, the tour is extended to Europe from May 5, 2017, for 29 performances and from September it extended to Latin America. The concert “Notte Magica – Tribute to the Three Tenors” was filmed and broadcast in the United States by the national television network PBS, and in Italy by Canale 5 and, starting in June, it was broadcast in over 500 cinemas in Italy and around the world.

Ignazio Conducts the Asti Symphony Orchestra on Jul 5th, 2017 
During the rehearsals of the last date of the Notte Magica Tour in Naples, Ignazio steps in as conductor of the Symphonic Orchestra of Asti while Maestro Marcello Rota sings Ignazio’s tenor part! They sang “Libiam ne lieti calici.” Ignazio had everyone in awe of his performance as a conductor. The guys enjoyed singing with Marcello who usually conducts for their Concerts. Gianluca enjoyed it so much that he hugged Marcella in the middle of the song! All good sports! They all had lots of fun! A unique performance!

World Youth Day Jan 27, 2019 
If you ask the guys after winning Sanremo, which truly brought them home, “What was your greatest performance,” they would probably answer, there were two. Singing for the Holy Father at World Youth Day was one of the most amazing events in their life!

The night they turned on the lights!

The SMA Awards September 12, 2020
The guys went to the Verona Arena to perform at the first live performance since everything thing was shut down in Italy in March 2020.
Before the show they were stopped and asked this question by a woman reporter:
Reporter: You are international entertainers therefore you know how much the live dimension is missing.  But above all you have defined the stage as your natural element. So, how is it for you to return to a live performance tonight?
Ignazio: It’s like giving candy to a baby. We are happy because we missed it. We missed it to die for but not only for our personal thing but because this is to me the music slowly restarting with the safety measures. But we are restarting it all with Italian music. It’s like I am starting again to grow up on stage and hope that it can be a message of hope for the groups, in the cities, in the emerging local areas who want to start making music.  We have to continue making music and we hope that by 2021 full concerts and full live.
It was an absolutely beautiful statement that said it all! What I liked best about this statement was Ignazio saying “It’s like I am restarting it all with Italian music. I’m starting again to grow up on stage…” What did he mean? This time he is starting in Italy not America. He finally feels like he is at home! Bravo Ignazio! You are home.
When the guys arrived on stage, they had a message for the world and all people in the industry.

Ignazio: 2020 will be remembered as the year where the world would be constrained to be turned off.
Gianluca: For the music employees the verb turnoff means the end of the show, when the curtains close and it is the waiting moment for the next show, but this time the waiting lasted more than expected, the silence was unavoidable.
Piero: Now, the world is getting ready to start again! Now the moment has arrived to raise the curtain! Now, we will turn on the music!”
After they sang Carlo Conti and Vanessa Incontrada spoke with them.
Conti: Il Volo
Vanessa: What a moment you made us live, what can we tell you?
Conti: Thanks guys.
Gianluca: Good evening everyone.
Conti: I must say: You are always better!
Vanessa: Guys we were, Carlo and I, in silence looking at you, with goosebumps, good!!
Of course, for Puccini’s Turandot, but also for what you said at the beginning.
Ignazio: Yes, it is a doubly exciting moment, because we have been standing still for some months, with music on the stages. There is music on social media, but on the stage it is a different emotion, and especially it was a great emotion to remember all those who unfortunately left us, due to this Covid.
It was dedicated to them. My thoughts go to them and all their families.
Conti: You three are wonderful stars who travel the world and bring Italian music up in the world.
Vanessa: Singing live, of course you miss it, but what do you expect from this future?
Gianluca: Here I read a billboard that says: ‘Not even a pandemic will stop the music,’ that’s the point. This year’s motto is let’s turn the music back on, but in truth, the music has never turned off, and it has kept us company all these months. As Ignazio said, especially for us, it is our job and we missed it a lot, not being able to sing for all of you. Sooner or later, we will start again, we will go back to singing in concerts, which are a way to escape from the world, two hours of joy and tears.
Vanessa: For you and the entire audience, it’s obvious.
Piero: When we leave the house, our fans often ask us when the concerts will resume. We want to say that this is an evening of hope, and to tell everyone that in 2021, in any way, we will return to the stage.
Vanessa: Good.
Conti: You were supposed to be here just a week ago in concert, instead it’s postponed. It’s just, all just postponed, but we’ll be back. Thanks, Gianluca, thanks Piero, thanks Ignazio.
Vanessa: Thanks for being here with us.
Gianluca: (addressed to the audience) We love you.
Gianluca, Piero and Ignazio: Bye!
Conti: Great protagonists of this evening, they had the task of starting the official part.
This beautiful statement was followed by the performance of the evening. Their choice of “Nessun Dorma” sent an even stronger message. It’s says, we may have to perform under these new world conditions, but we don’t have to change who we are or why we’re here. In this ancient Arena we look to the past while following the path to the future. From their first note the whole arena lit up. Their voices were clean and crisp. Their presence was illuminating. Their notes rose above the Arena into the night sky to let the world know music is back! The final note of their song sent the final statement. All three voices rose in unison and their voices sent forth a note that took our breaths away! It said We Have Returned! Turn on the Lights!

New Beginnings!

Verona ~ Il Volo Sings Morricone
One of the most memorable Il Volo concerts in history. They walked on the stage and set the world on Fire!

In my story Phenomenal, I say I could write a book about this concert, and I could but, this is what I had to say about the opening number, The Ecstasy of Gold.
The first note and we immediately know it’s “The Ecstasy of Gold.” The whistle of the wind!
The setting is gold! Then white! Then gold! Look at the gold flecks that come in and out! The orchestra vibrates! Each note intensifies our senses. We’re drawn to the back of the stage To a tunnel where we know our guys will appear! The focus is always rear center stage! The lights change to intense red and now we are looking at the stage from the back of the arena. We are coming forward. The shadow of Il Volo turns into a force that is coming towards us! The theme of the concert is set!
Listen to the intensity of their voices! What force! Watch their motions. Look at Gianluca! Watch his body react to the music! The fist that comes at you saying this is the punch, just the beginning.  Listen to how Ignazio rides the note that guides us into the story! Now we’re sailing on the wind! Piero intensifies the moment with his powerful voice that says the journey has begun! Follow us!
For me, this was one of their most amazing concerts! Very memorable! To read more about it got to www.Ilvoloflightcrw.com ~ Phenomenal

Por Una Cabeza, Il Volo at Luna Park Buenos Aires October 30, 2019 
So, I will end by going back to the beginning. This last moment tells me how far the guys have come and how the strangers became brothers.
When these three young men started out, they were 15 and 16 years old. Think of being 15 or 16 years old and you have a dream, and someone tells you that that dream, needs to be shared. To fulfill that dream you have to leave your family, your friends, your home, you have to go to another country, and you have to share this journey with two people who you really know nothing about except that they had the same dream you did. You have to trust that the decision that was made by you and your family, was the right decision. If not, it’s back to square one! You’re going to be lonely, and you have to learn to survive without the people you love. So, you learn to lean on one another. That dependence turns into a friendship and that friendship into a brotherhood. It enabled them to trust enough to collaborate and perfect something truly amazing. Something that revolutionized the music industry. Let me go further by showing you a collaboration by these three amazing, very, very talented, young men that is so unreal that it boggles your mind. This is a collaboration of love. You will notice that the whole Orchestra is in awe and Giampiero Grani can’t stop smiling. Stop and listen to this performance of “Por Una Cabeza”.

Look at how they smile at one another during the performance. A smile that says yes that’s it! Their faces are ablaze! Their expressions let one another know that it works. And, finally, when it’s over, they are so excited they can hardly contain themselves. Look at their smiles, their faces are lit up in joy and their embrace says it all! They are brothers who love one another! This is truly an amazing moment!
So, we end here with some of the most memorable moments in Il Volo history. It was an amazing Walk Down Memory Lane that leads us to where they are today! Back on the road sharing their lives with us!
Join me next week as I go back Through the Fields of My Mind and open the door to a new adventure!
If you would like to share a story with me, please email:  susan.flightcrew@yahoo.com
To read more Il Volo stories visit us at www.ilvoloflightcrw.com
Thanks to Judy Paullin Thurman who provided many of the photos in this story. And thanks to the owners of videos!
Article or Video Translations, Our Stories

INTERVIEW WITH IL VOLO IN JAPAN by Keisyuu

17 Comments
Today I come back to you with a nice interview.
It is not a simple Italian interview, far from it. In August 2022, Il Volo went to Japan for three concerts, this interview was released the day before the last concert, of course it’s all written in Japanese and I don’t know anything about this language, but our Chinese friend Xinjie, that you have already met here in Flight Crew in two posts : (https://ilvoloflightcrw.com/2019/06/03/capri-history-of-a-meeting/), (https://ilvoloflightcrw.com/2019/07/05/roma-my-first-concert-by-xinjie/) and that you see here in the photo together with Il Volo and two other fans in Capri.

Xinjie contacted me telling me that she translated an interview for a friend and then she thought that the same interview could be appreciated by all the readers of Flight Crew and all the fans of Il Volo, so she sent me the beautiful translation.
From now on, Xinjie will be our eastern correspondent, under the name of KEISYUU. ☺
Thank you on behalf of all, all fans will appreciate this read!! ☺😘
Daniela 🤗

INTERVIEW WITH IL VOLO IN JAPAN

Japanese fans are very polite and elegant. The strong love from everyone can be clearly felt even on stage. (Gianluca)
INTERVIEW: YUKO KATO

I interviewed them the morning before the show in Nagoya. This time, there was also a live recording at Kiyomizu Temple, and Il Volo stayed in Japan for a long time. They had plenty of time to enjoy Japan. What was troubling was the heat of summer in Japan, and even at Kiyomizu Temple, the makeup was ruined by the dripping sweat, and had to be fixed for each song. Because of that, the three got tired of the heat. Just before the interview, the location was changed to a hotel, therefore photography was not allowed.

On the other hand, they enjoyed Japanese cuisine. “Those boys would be happy every day if they eat sushi”, I was told so by people involved. But in addition to sushi, it seems that they have discovered new favorites such as okonomiyaki.

Well, much earlier than the interview time, Piero comes first. Next is Gianluca. And Ignazio is on the verge. Ignazio, who was greeted with a cold gaze from both of them, “Isn’t it just the correct time!? I’m not late,” he said, showing off his watch and making a big appeal. The two smiled wryly. Probably he’s always doing it.

— I heard that you recorded a live video at Kiyomizu Temple without audience,  I wanted to see it live.

Piero Barone: It was a great experience. We make music called bel canto, which is an Italian tradition, and thanks to bel canto, we can sing in many beautiful places. This is also true in Italy, and again we can sing in a very beautiful temple in Japan. Kiyomizu Temple is the most important temple in Kyoto and has a great history, so it was really an honor to sing in such a wonderful place. It’s a very small place, so we couldn’t let the audience in, but I hope you enjoy what we’ve done by watching the video. Personally, I feel that Japanese culture and Italian culture are very compatible. Anyway, it has become an unforgettable memory for a lifetime, and I will continue to talk about live performances at Kiyomizu Temple in the future.

— How did you feel about performing at a Buddhist temple? 

PIero: We respect all religions. In fact, before the performance, we asked the monk of the temple to offer a prayer. Honestly, I didn’t understand what was said.. ( bitter smile). But we also have a lot of respect for that.

— But the high temperature and humidity made it difficult for you, didn’t they? You spent nearly 4 hours in the heat, right?

Gianluca: No, it didn’t affect the singing. But it was hard for the hair! That was the only problem (laughs).

Everyone: (laughs).

Gianluca: Two years ago we gave a Christmas concert at St. Peter’s Basilica in front of the Pope, and it was very cold. It was harder back then. Personally, it’s much harder to sing in the cold than it is to sing in the heat.

Ignazio: By the way, the performance at Kiyomizu Temple started recording around 9pm and ended around 1am.

Gianluca: Everything was perfect for us. It is the first time that overseas artists perform at Kiyomizu Temple. It is truly an honor and I will never forget it.

— When is this video going to be distributed?

Piero: It will be in September. (Note: Published on September 18)

— We’ll look forward to it. By the way, I recently released “Grande Amore” featuring Japan’s Little Glee Monster. Whose idea was this?

Piero: It was originally an idea from the label, but we also like Little Glee Monster very much that we wanted to collaborate.

Ignazio: We’ve wanted to collaborate on Grande Amore with Japanese artists for a couple of years. And have already done the same thing with the Brazilian and German artists. When we told the Japanese label about it, they looked for different artists and we chose Little Glee Monster.

— Did you actually meet these girls?

Piero: No, unfortunately we didn’t. We invited them to our show, and they’re also on the tour right now.

— That’s a pity.

Ignazio: It’s the first tour after years, so that’s actually a good thing! Because of the pandemic, we spent our days without doing anything at home.


— The Tokyo and Osaka shows are over, how did the audience react?

Gianluca: It was fantastic, the Japanese fans have always given us so much love from the first day, it is exactly the “Grande Amore”. Japanese audiences are very different from audiences in other countries.

— Oh, really? How?

Gianluca: Japanese fans are very polite and elegant. They have the utmost respect for artists, and the strong love from everyone can be clearly felt even on stage. I feel that Japanese culture and traditions are very unique in all aspects, and it means so much to us that Japanese people show so much love for Italian artists on the other side of the world.

— You have prepared a special set list for Japan, right?

PIero: Oh, yes. We talked to the conductor and the orchestra and changed the set list a little bit. Japanese fans prefer classical and symphonic songs, so we sing songs that we don’t do in other countries. As a result, it became a very long set.

— There are 28 songs in all.

PIero: Yes, that’s a pretty long show. But that’s how we love to sing on stage. We love sharing our music with everyone and we always want to do something special for our fans in Japan.

— Singing 28 songs for 2 hours non-stop is amazing.

Ignazio: Every night.

Gianluca: Just like football players. Some players play non-stop for 90 minutes. Of course, we don’t miss our daily training, too. It’s our job, also our passion. This is our lifestyle.

— Can you tell me the highlights of the show?

Piero: Uhmm…For me it’s the first song. You get on stage and see all sorts of new faces, I like to see everyone’s facial expressions that shine brightly when I start singing the first song. We’ve had great reactions in Tokyo and Osaka, and I hope we get the same reactions here in Nagoya.

— I’ve read a few live reviews by fans, and some have said they were so emotional that they brought tears to their eyes.

Piero: I’m glad for that.

Ignazio: At the beginning of the show, I always say, “Tonight is going to be a night full of emotions. I want you to have a lot of fun, to be emotional, to cry, to laugh. “ That’s the right way. You can be emotional, you can have fun, and that’s the beauty of our music. We love what we do and we do it with passion. Of course it’s a business, but before that there’s a lot of passion and love for music.

Gianluca: We’re doing this music for the elderly who’ve been hearing bel canto and the Three Tenors, and for the younger generation who don’t know that. We want to follow those whom we respect and convey this genre to the future.

— Japanese young people don’t listen to classical music very much, so that’s the problem.

Gianluca: It’s the same in any country, it’s normal. This genre is not so commercial. Pop has always been commercial, while classical is not. Even in this way, the existence of The Three Tenors has prevailed in the world.

Piero: (Luciano) Pavarotti at the top of the list.

Ignazio: The younger generation grew up listening to commercial music from the time they were born, so it’s hard to let them listen to classical music. The music used in TikTok, Instagram, etc. is also easy to listen to. Like rap or electronics. So, there are a lot of young people who don’t know this kind of music, and they have to discover it by themselves. Of course, I’m not saying that you should only listen to this kind of music, but I think it’s best to listen to a variety of music, but I also want them to listen to this kind of music we do, and through that, I hope them can get a sense of comfort and feel a lot of emotion. I’m not saying it’s wrong to listen to commercial music.

Gianluca: Yeah, we listen to a lot of music ourselves. From Elton John to Elvis Presley, The Weekend, Michael Jackson…

Ignazio: Ariana Grande, Drake…

Gianluca: Yes, that’s right. We listen to everything. Music is a part of our life.

We’re currently working on a very big new project while touring (Piero)

— Do you (Piero) also listen to music other than opera? I can’t imagine…

PIero: Certainly. After all, I have the strongest passion for opera, but as a singer, I have to broaden my horizons while listening to other genres of music!

Gianluca: Can you imagine listening to only one genre in your life? You can also say that about food. It’s like that I go to Japan and look for Italian restaurants. If you only eat the same food, only listen to the same music, you can’t grow and can’t expand your horizons. You have to try a lot of things anyway. Regardless of the genre, you should enjoy good quality music and good food.

Ignazio: Because you may be the one who limits yourself the most. I have to get rid of it first.

— Ignazio, you’re interested in producing, aren’t you?

Ignazio: Yes, I am interested, and I hope to do it someday. I’m not ready to do it alone yet. We work with a lot of producers and we learn a lot from them.

— Gianluca, you’ve taken acting lessons, but are you interested in acting?

Gianluca: Even if you are a singer, if you study acting and stage, you can become a better performer on stage.

Piero: That’s for sure.

Gianluca: For me, I started studying acting to become a better artist and to have more confidence on stage. But if I continue to practice like this, I may be blessed with the opportunity to work as an actor someday.

— And you bought a piano 3 years ago to write songs, right?

Gianluca: Yes. I have a lot of goals and things I want to do. I’m still not very good at playing the piano…

Ignazio: You’ve gotten a lot better!

Gianluca: Ah yeah, compared to before. I will resume my lesson when I get home. I hope someday I can write a song myself.

— Piero, when I first met you, you seemed very shy, but now you seem to be full of confidence.

Piero: It depends on the day (laughs). Waking up good or bad, changes the mood of the day.

Gianluca: When he looks shy, he’s just sleepy.

Piero: (laughs).

— Every time I do an interview, you announce a new project, so do you have any upcoming projects?

Piero: The last thing we did was the Morricone’s album (Il Volo Sings Morricone in ‘21), but then we went on tour and now we are on tour and working on a really big new project. But it’s too early to tell the details.

— Can you tell a little?

Piero: I can’t tell you anything. It’s a project for next year.

— Is it a new album?

Ignazio: Well~~(laughs)?

PIero: It’s going to be a big project. But we are working on it now, and it’s still a very early staircase, so unfortunately we can’t say anything.

— This tour is like Greatest Hits, not a tour of Morricone…

PIero: It also includes Morricone’s songs.

Gianluca: There are 5 Morricone songs.

Ignazio: Yes yes. We can’t do all 28 songs of Morricone. We do that plus other songs.

— When will you return to Japan next time?

Ignazio: We’ll be back next year!

Gianluca: Before that, I’d like to come back for a personal vacation.

Piero: But this time, we have plenty of time to travel around Kyoto and Tokyo. We also went to the Shinsekai of Osaka. By the way, we are going back to Italy tomorrow night, but we will go to Nagoya Castle before that. We love to explore different places.

Gianluca: also to eat a lot of traditional foods. Such as okonomiyaki.

Ignazio: Daisuki, Nippon! (I love you, Japan!)

Recorded August 12 in Nagoya.

General news

BOSKY TV by Susan

19 Comments

Before I begin, I want to say Ignazio holds a special place in my heart because of stories like this that show how kind and compassionate he is! And now I am finding a place in my heart for Stefano too!

Where do I begin to tell you about Bosky TV! I could say it’s Ignazio’s fun TV and that would be true. Or I can say it’s about open discussions on any topic whether suggested by Ignazio, Stefano or one of the listeners. Or a guest speaker! It’s about asking questions and having people answer live and surveying the answers. It’s about agreeing and disagreeing. It’s an open forum for whatever you may be feeling! Some place to bring that question to and possibly find an answer for! Is it a show about Il Volo? No! But every now and then, questions do come up about the guys and Ignazio will answer them if he can.

                                             Bosky TV

What I can truly say about Bosky TV is, it’s about having fun in the afternoon, for people in America, or at night for those in other parts of the world.
All this being said, the real truth is, it’s about one of Ignazio’s greatest ideas, and he has had many, but this one goes to the heart of who Ignazio is! I’ve been talking about Bosky TV for weeks and now we are seeing the fruits of its labors.

For those of us who follow Ignazio everywhere, we know that Bosky is Ignazio’s pen name, nom de plume, his literary double, it is his pseudonym. It’s not a name he uses to hide who he is but, in fact, it is a name he uses in different social media like videos games. It gives him the opportunity to live a normal life under a name other than Ignazio Boschetto, which is known worldwide! Bosky like our well-known Ignazio is a fun guy!

A few weeks ago, Ignazio introduced us to Bosky TV and what we learned from it is for as easily as Ignazio can make you laugh he can equally make you cry. They are tears of joy, for the work he does! And, sometimes, they are tears for children who suffer every day of their lives!

One thing I want to mention, you will notice in the video, that Stefano refers to Ignazio as The Grove! For those of you who don’t know the English word for Boschetto, it is Grove! Thus, when Ignazio’s name comes up in the subtitles, it will come up as Grove not Boschetto!
I also want you to pay special attention to a particular part of the video where Ignazio is drawn to a young boy who he jokes with.
He says, “You mostly write messages on Instagram (to girls)?”  
He continues to say to the young boy, “you too could help me. He’s (Stefano) already enough for me, watching and doing nothing.”
Now I want you to take a good look at this young boy!  Does he remind you of anyone?

This is what Ignazio had to say about this young boy!
Ignazio: When I was younger, I was like you, in fact you’re like me.
Someone interrupts and says, “He likes to sing and play.”
Ignazio replies: Then I will bring you a guitar, I didn’t know.
Ignazio asks: What genre do you like?
Young boy: Rock!
Ignazio: I love you!
At this point, I want you to stop and look at the face of the young boy when Ignazio hugs him. It’s almost like looking at Ignazio’s face at that age!

I think what I love best about this particular part of the video is that the young boy is very much like Ignazio at his age. He kind of resembles him, he is a little shy like him, and he loves his music! This may be a special moment in this young boy’s life that will lead him on a special path in life!

             

That’s what, BIMBO TU, this organization, is all about. The struggles of young people today and a promise for a better future. These wonderful young people have many problems mental and physical. And BIMBO TU is an organization to help them. It is free to everyone.
Enjoy the video and I will talk more after you watch it!
Don’t forget to go into Settings in YouTube and Click on subtitles and select your language. If your language is English click on English for the English translation. If you don’t know where this is, it’s at the bottom of the video. Go to the bottom and a selection will pop up that includes Settings.
Don’t forget to Subscribe, Like and Leave a Message on YouTube!
This is one of the most beautiful videos you will see this year, and this is only, January! Make sure you have tissues when you watch it! Tears flow easily! Ignazio said he watched the video a number of times and he cried. I did too and so will you!

Before I go on, I want you to know that Daniela Perani will translate this video for those who don’t know how to use YouTube or don’t quite understand how to work certain parts of it. Daniela’s translation will be out next week! Look for it on Flight Crew!
There were some very emotional moments in this video. I can tell Ignazio is holding back tears when he is speaking about the children in the wards!

Near the end of the video, Ignazio talks about Bulimia. He says a person close to him had it.  He talks about how serious it is and, if you have it, you need support. He advises that you talk to someone! This is a very important issue. And a very serious disease.

Then Ignazio, Stefano and Giulia end by discussing ways to support BIMBO TU.
Ignazio says, “it isn’t always about money.” They suggest, if you live in the Bologna area or in Emilia Romagna or near Bologna, you can contact BIMBO TU and discuss how you can volunteer. Of course, cash donations are always acceptable.  
Giulia says: “Volunteering is a great way to help because giving can be done in so many ways. To donate your time, make a cash donation that always helps because we have so many activities and all the services are offered free of charge, so it is also very important in terms of financial support.
We have the operational headquarters of our offices which is San Lazzaro and in addition there are also other ways to donate and support this very important project.
I’ll give you an example. Follow us on social networks with BIMBO TU. Because we have a lot of new projects to present. We ask that you follow on social networks or subscribe to the newsletter in order to stay up to date and see what we are doing, for example, we have now opened a fundraising campaign to be able to buy neonatal ventilators for the ward of pediatrics at the Ospedale Maggiore which have a pretty important cost, so anyone who wants to lend a hand, here’s an opportunity.”
Ignazio: So, for those who live in Bologna or in Emilia Romagna or near Bologna, come and spend your time helping someone and volunteering for BIMBO TU!
Thank you, Giulia, for hosting Ignazio and Stefano! BIMBO TU is a great organization that has great people like you volunteering and supporting it!
To learn more, go online to BIMBO TU that is www.bimbotu.it It’s in Italian so for our Italian friends, go online to find out how to volunteer or donate!
Or follow    on: 
FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/bimbotuofficial/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bimbotuofficial/
For our English-speaking audience, you can also donate on that site. Go to the top right-hand corner and you will see the donate button. Donations are in EURO.
The best way to donate is on Bosky TV. This is how Ignazio explained it in English.  If you are already on Twitch at   https://www.subs.twitch.tv/Bosky_tv
 Or at https://www.twitch.tv/Bosky_tv
This is what you do!  To just donate go to Gift a Subscription below the video in the purple box and donate!
To donate in Attack go to the Red Tomato or Purple Character on the bottom right side of the video and donate! To donate at Sound Alert and send a BIT donation, do the same!
I will also ask Ignazio to explain it again on Bosky TV in English for those who will join now.
What did Ignazio say in conclusion about the video, “The beautiful thing is we are going to make more!”
So, we have more of these videos to look forward to.
Also remember every time you go on Bosky TV and subscribe or donate, you are also helping other causes besides BIMBO TU!  Ignazio will keep us informed about what organizations he will help in the future.
So again, I give you all the information to follow Ignazio on Bosky TV.
Please sign up today to be a part of this wonderful project.
Below are all the ways you can follow Ignazio’s CHAT. Of course, TWITCH is where most of the videos will originate and the best place to donate.
Subscribe on Twitch: https://www.subs.twitch.tv/Bosky_tv
TWITCH: https://www.twitch.tv/Bosky_tv
DISCORD PER LA COMMUNITY: https://discord.com/channels/97569074…
INSTAGRAM PELLE: https://www.instagram.com/pells.offic…
INSTAGRAM IGNAZIO: 
https://instagram.com/ignazioboschett…
SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0ZZ…
TIKTOK BOSKYTV: 
https://www.tiktok.com/@boskytiktok?_…
Link your AMAZON PRIME Account to https://gaming.amazon.com/links/twitch/manage  then go to  https://subs.twitch.tv/Bosky_tv
I hope you enjoyed the video. When you sign up on Ignazio’s social media CHAT on Twitch, you will receive an email when these videos are available.
It is very important that you sign up and join Ignazio to help him to continue his support for organizations like BIMBO TU. When you subscribe, you help in these worthy causes.
Sign up today on one of the social media channels I mentioned!
So, I leave you with a song from a young Ignazio and also the Concert at Verona because no article should end without important music! Enjoy!

Join me next week as I go back Through the Fields of My Mind and open the door to a new adventure!
If you would like to share a story with me, please email:  susan.flightcrew@yahoo.com
To read more Il Volo stories visit us at www.ilvoloflightcrw.com.
Credit to owners of all photos and videos.