There seemed to be a moment of calm until August 3rd, but a good interview with Il Volo was published in the weekly magazine OGGI.
A nice article written by Dea Verna, in which I appreciated some questions and beautiful photos, and the possibility for our boys to remove some “pebbles from their shoes”. I will translate for you.
They joke with each other, make fun of each other, tease each other.
“Gianluca and I always talk, Ignazio on the other hand is the one who disappears”, says Piero Barone. “I’m like this, I need to pull the plug, I’m hurt,” explains Boschetto.
The three guys from Il Volo will celebrate 15 years of their career in 2024. “We spent half a life together, think how lucky”.
It all started on 25 April 2009 when very young competitors of Ti Lascio una Canzone conducted by Antonella Clerici, were put together to sing O SOLE MIO.
Now, after conquering the world, having sold out several times at Radio City Music Hall in New York, winning the Sanremo festival in 2015, they are giving themselves a whim in Italy.
For the first time they bring their show, ALL FOR ONE, to a theater, at the Arcimboldi in Milan, on 2,3,4,6,8,9 September.
“We wanted an intimate atmosphere, to have the audience close,” they say.
“We used to sing together and it was almost impossible to tell one from the other. Now we’ve grown up, there are solo moments, we want to surprise the audience and expand it.”
What’s your life like when you’re not on tour?
PIERO= Simple, I live in Sicily, in the province of Agrigento. I wake up at 05:30AM, I go out on the boat with a friend, we go fishing. Then I run, I’m preparing for the New York Marathon, or I play tennis. After sport, a nice gin and tonic with friends.
GIANLUCA= I live in Roseto degli Abruzzi. I wake up early, work out at the gym, have lunch with my grandpa, hang out with family and friends. Of the three, I am the only boyfriend.
IGNAZIO= (He lives in Bologna) Before, I used to go to sleep very late, I did nothing except stay closed in a studio with video games. Now I wake up early and go play tennis.
Then there’s your Hollywood life. The best meeting?
PIERO= Placido Domingo, who came to do vocals in our dressing room before the New York concert, José Carreras. We met Woody Allen in a New York restaurant, and we started singing together. He told us his favorite wine is Montepulciano d’Abruzzo.
GIANLUCA= As teenagers we sang with Barbra Streisand, a privilege. I was thrilled when I met John Meyers in Malibu, who is considered the new Eric Clapton.
And Pope Francis?
GIANLUCA= We met him three times. The first time in 2014, when I was just over 18, I greeted him by saying “Hello” to the Pope……but he remained calm and replied: “Hello”.
The madness of a fan?
PIERO= One day I was in Austin, Texas, running on a treadmill. I see the woman next to me has something on her left ankle that looks familiar. She had my autograph tattooed on her.”
Has this extraordinary career that began at the age of 14 taken anything away from you?
GIANLUCA= The possibility of going to school. Ten years ago my peers read the DIVINE COMEDY, perhaps reluctantly, I regret not having done so. I’m recovering.”
IGNAZIO= I’ve missed the bullshit you do as a kid, like riding a moped with friends until four in the morning. We grew up quickly, with many responsibilities.
You challenged prejudices about your musical genre, loved by the public, less by the critics.
GIANLUCA= Every artist should be the first critic of himself. What can you expect from three 15-year-old boys? We could not have the depth of De Andrè or Guccini, who we listen to and love.
Now we want to build a repertoire that is not only based on virtuosity.
PIERO= There is a difference between criticism and offense. Why rage against three guys who love what they do?
There is nothing built in us, otherwise we wouldn’t still be here after almost 15 years.
In 2019 in Sanremo, some journalists in the press room insulted you.
IGNAZIO= As long as they take it out on us, as long as they say we make music for old men, amen.
But Sanremo was an offense to music, to those who make it and those who love it, to the public.
Meanwhile, you and the Maneskin are our export groups.
IGNAZIO= Look, let’s make two genres that were considered extinct. Rock had been forgotten in the 2000s. And no one does bel canto anymore, only Bocelli and us.
We have a female prime minister. Does it make you proud?
PIERO= Sure. There are more and more women leaders, the patriarchy is weakening.
IGNAZIO= The bad thing is being surprised, it should be normal.
What do you think of Meloni (Giorgia Meloni as our Prime Minister)
PIERO= She is a woman who is working, bringing results. Let’s hope everything goes well. We hope that those who represent us, who have been elected by the pool, do a good job.
What should the government do?
PIERO= Investing in culture, education, school. Trust young people, encourage them.
GIANLUCA= It’s a society in which television and social media give importance to wealth, to perfection, but it’s crap. Only culture can save us.
As you may have noticed, one of the photos was taken in the Vatican, exactly in the Sistine Chapel, Gianluca Ignazio and Piero with the background of Michelangelo’s “Universal Flood”, wonderful photo!!
This second shot is also very nice, which shows us our loved ones in their current maturity.
But that’s not all, there is a beautiful video, a nice surprise made to a fan of Gianluca, here is the video, it will touch your heart! ❤
This fan comes from Calabria, her dream was to meet Gianluca, a dream fulfilled, the emotion of the girl who can’tsay anything at the beginning from the emotion is palpable. Great Gianluca who allowed this dream to come true.
At the beginning of the video, you can clearly see the alley of Montepagano where Gianluca lives, he comes out exactly from his house to greet Martina.
Thanks Gianluca, once again we could see your kind and good soul.
The friend Donatella Merlotti, florist in Roseto degli Abruzzi, acted as a bridge to be able to realize the meeting between Martina and Gianluca.
She posted the video with these words: “Martina’s dream was to meet Gianluca Ginoble. In her condition it wasn’t easy, but when love and goodwill come together, nothing is impossible. From Calabria, to Piedmont and then to Abruzzo. A heartfelt thanks to Gianluca for his availability and kindness. I am happy to have contributed to Martina’s happiness, together with her parents and my sister.”
I found the same video with the original audio and I translated the few words said:
(You must have an Instagram account to view these video stories.)
GIANLUCA= Hello, how are you, are you all right? (Gianluca embraces and squeezes Martina who is very excited and unable to speak)
DONATELLA= For her it is a historic moment.
GIANLUCA= Wait, you dropped your phone. You brought me flowers, thank you, thank you very much, are you happy?
DONATELLA= She can’t speak! (for the emotion)
GIANLUCA= Thank you, thank you!
DONATELLA= But thanks to you Gianluca for being so kind, a really great gift.
GIANLUCA= But this is the minimum, you think, for so little, thank you, thank you (Gianluca takes the flowers). Usually it’s the gentlemen who bring the flowers and you brought them to me.
DONATELLA= And you give them back to her.
GIANLUCA = Hello, how are you? (Gianluca greets Martina’s parents) ,
DONATELLA= (turning to Martina) Love, let’s put us in the shade that there is a strong sun.
MARTINA’S MOM = Good morning,….. sorry…..
GIANLUCA= Where are you from?
MARTINA’S FATHER = Calabrian.
GIANLUCA= Ah, from Calabria! Shall we go for a coffee?
MARTINA’S MOM = Thank you, we don’t want to disturb you.
GIANLUCA= It’s not a nuisance.
(now they are at the bar) …… no, here in Abruzzo.
MARTINA= Unfortunately we are leaving now.
MARTINA’ S MOM= We will arrive home tonight.
Well, I’d say there’s not much to add, words are useless, we all enjoyed this nice gesture, not just Martina. ❤
Just one last thing, I remind you that on August 3 Il Volo will sing with Placido Domingo at the REGGIA DI CASERTA.
It’s that time of the year again and I am traveling! This year I will be at World Youth Day in Lisbon. If you recall, the guys performed at World Youth Day in Panama. Unfortunately, they will not be in Lisbon.
As you know, when I travel, I bring you some of the old stories and I always advise you to visit the Archives of http://www.ilvoloflightcrw.com for all of my stories and Daniela’s stories as well as other contributors over the years.
I wanted to start with a story that the new fans have not heard before. The guy’s celebrating Domenico Dolce’s 62nd birthday in his native Polizzi Generosa. The guys were special guests of Domenico. Some of the videos from the original story are gone but the important ones have survived.
To make up for the lost videos, I will post some Morricone songs which fit into the time frame of this event!
So, without further ado let’s join the guys for An Extraordinary Event!
Let’s begin with the musical part of our story. The most popular song to come out of the Il Volo Sings Morricone CD, was TheEcstasy of Gold but the most requested song, the one everyone knows the words to, the one with the most meaning for Il Volo fans is Your Love. The song always brings back memories of our guys on the Sanremo stage singing through their tears and each and every one of us cried along with them! We’ll never forget the love and support the guys gave, and all the fans gave, to Ignazio. In memory of Vito Boschetto, let’s begin with Your Love.
In August 2020 many of us had the opportunity to witness a spectacular event on Instagram and Facebook. It was an event that will live long in my mind. This was the culmination of a five-city tour of the movie “Devotion” the story of Dolce & Gabbana. It was a love story for Sicily.
People waited in long lines in Piazza Trinità to grab tickets for the event of the year in Polizzi Generosa, namely the screening of the film “Devotion” by Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana.
From the early hours of dawn, many people stormed the square for the opening of the Info Point. Seven hundred applicants arrived around noon. In addition to the issue of the single ticket, the delivery of the related Covid-19 self-declaration form to be completed and presented for entry.
Given the number of seats in the square and the number of people booked, the film was screened in three sessions with the first show starting at 9.15 pm.
Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca were special guests of Domenico and Stefano. They were there to celebrate Domenico’s birthday and to join the family and to participate in many events.
After the squares of Syracuse, Caltagirone, Castellammare del Golfo and Palermo, the Dolce & Gabbana tour ended in Polizzi Generosa, the birthplace of Domenico Dolce, in the fifth stage of the most beautiful places in Sicily. “Devotion” was a great success with the public. “Devotion” reflects the history, originality and love of Dolce for his country, together with his inseparable colleague Stefano Gabbana, “Sicilian by adoption”.
The event brought an influx of people, from the early hours of the day. The guys spent part of the day walking around the town and meeting the people. Stopping to take photos with anyone who asked them.
Piero had a great time traveling around town in a truck decorated with the colors of Sicily.
He was accompanied by some of the Dolce family. Gianluca walked around town and stopped to take some interesting pictures including one of him on a balcony posing as the Holy Father at a Sunday Angelus! And Ignazio walked around the town stopping to talk to people along the way.
There was a big treat for Piero when the local Pastry shop brought him some yummy treats.
From the balcony of Domenico’s house, the guys sang, “Grande Amore” and were accompanied by the whole town.
And the highlight of the afternoon was Ignazio singing with the Gabbana children. I don’t know who had more fun! Ignazio or the kids. I haven’t seen the boys have this much fun in a long time.
During the week Domenico Dolce shuttled between his town and the first four Sicilian stops and, inaugurated the Dolce Foundation, and in the context he celebrated his 62nd birthday among his fellow citizens, with party, joy, and the music of Riccardo Termini another Polizzano artist now known to all who, with his friscaletto (wind instrument, typical Sicilian) played in a week of joy for everyone.
The parade commenced with Domenico walking through the town with Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca. Then the festivities began. Spectacular performances by Sicilian folklore groups. Men and women in traditional Sicilian costumes danced to traditional folklore music. Their costumes were all the splendid colors of Sicily. The horses were in grand regalia. Domenico’s family and the guys watched all the events below from the balcony.
After dinner everyone sang Happy Birthday to Domenico and the guys presented Domenico with a painting by Fabio Ingrassia.
The painting depicts Domenico at 6 years old making his first trousers helped by tailors from his fathers’ tailor shop. On Instagram, Gianluca points out one of the men in the painting who looks very much like Fabio Ingrassia. A statement in the painting! Why not, all great artists represent themselves in their work. After the presentation, Piero sang a beautiful, Sicilian, folk song for Domenico.
In the evening everyone went to the square to watch the movie which was followed by a grand fireworks display. As Ignazio was watching and recording he was singing along with the music some of the old Sicilian songs.
The event was a Testimonial of Sicily in Italy and in the world. A truly once in a lifetime event, An Extraordinary Event and we got to witness it along with our dear guys!! Thank you for bringing us along!
Just a few weeks before Domenico’s birthday, the guys were at the Taormina Film Festival where Devotion was released.
Photos from the Taormina Film Festival 2020
The guys only sang three songs. The one I chose for this story is E Vui Durmiti Ancora. It’s a song I love. The words of this Sicilian song are really beautiful. This song was often used by young Sicilian males to serenade their girlfriends who listened to them from the window or from the balcony. Very romantic!
My friend Katerina Tsaousi published the text and the video. The original text and the translation was made by Rita Spera. Many thanks to my very special friends Katerina and Rita! See you in Athens!
E VUI DURMITI ANCORA
Gianluca: Lu suli è già spuntatu di lu mari E vui, bidduzza mia, durmiti ancora, L’aceddi sunnu stanchi di cantari E affriddateddi aspettanu ccà fora;
Ignazio: Supra ‘ssu barcuneddu su pusati E aspettanu quann’è ca v’affacciati.
Piero: Lassati stari, non durmiti cchiui, Ca ‘nzemi a iddi, dintra sta vanedda, Ci sugnu puru iù, c’aspettu a vui, Ppi viriri ‘ssa facci accussì bedda;
G + I + P: Passu cca fora tutti li nuttati E aspettu suru quannu v’affacciati.
English Translation:
AND YOU SLEEP, AGAIN
The sun has already risen above the sea And you my beautiful, You sleep, again Birds are tired of singing And full of cold, they wait out here Above the small balcony, they are supported And they wait when it is That you, you lean out of the balcony.
You stop, Don’t sleep anymore because in their midst Inside this little street I’m here too, I’m waiting for you To see your face so beautiful. I spend all the nights out here To see when you look out on the balcony.
And now for your listening pleasure the full concert Tributo a Ennio Morricone.
This video is about Pollizi Generosa. The guys come in and out of this video.
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
The evening before the concert in Ascoli Piceno, there was also another engagement for Gianluca, Ignazio and Piero, the “Partita del cuore”.
The event does not have a competitive response, everyone wins, but the aim is something else, solidarity, in fact the proceeds will go to charity.
Ignazio, Piero and Gianluca were part of the singers’ team, which won the match.
Moments of physiotherapy before taking the field.
In the locker room before starting.
Here is the beginning and the entry of our boys.
As you have noticed, Ignazio was missing the child in front of him and he jokingly knelt down. 😁
A few moments before the start.
Muscle warm-up.
Now a few moments during the match.
Interview with Piero.
These small pitchside interviews are done to get people watching from home to send in a small contribution by calling a pre-set phone number.
SPEAKER= Match of the Heart for Romagna, we are with Piero Barone, already hot!
PIERO= We seem almost serious, don’t we? (He means they look like real footballers).
SPEAKER= You are very sweaty. (like real football players)
PIERO= Already sweaty before starting, water, we are loaded. But I have to tell you that there is great professionalism and I like this a lot, indeed, they are making me too anxious, I have more anxiety here than….
SPEAKER= Do you think you are a football player?
PIERO= But no, I’m a tennis fan, the sport I practice is tennis, but I repeat, a lot of anxiety before entering the court because I see that there’s a lot of competitive spirit. I’m loaded.
SPEAKER= Of course you’re energetic, do you think you sweat more in tennis or football, since you’re trying it?
PIERO= Tennis maybe, but with this heat, everywhere ….. but tonight we’re all here for a simple reason, you know someone says it to remember this number (for donations), so the goal we have to score today is common to all, it’s a common goal which is solidarity. Some more, some less, were affected by what happened (flood in Emilia Romagna), but I like running and this morning I ran and here they are very pragmatic, here they get up immediately, they give little space to words but much to deeds. (Piero means that after the flood the tourist places were devastated and he, going for a run, realized that people worked very hard to quickly bring everything back to how it was).
SPEAKER= I’ll ask you a question, what is your favorite thing about Romagna?
PIERO= I really like the optimism and personality here in Romagna, they give you a smile and make you forget about life’s problems.
SPEAKER= And it’s a beautiful thing!
PIERO= I think everyone agrees with me, and it’s true, it can’t be hidden.
SPEAKER= Yes, after everything they’ve been through, they’re off to a great start right away.
PIERO= Did you see how they immediately got back on their feet? Chapeau, congratulations!
SPEAKER= Great. Good game!
PIERO = Thank you!
PIERO= What should I say, that we are here at the Partita del Cuore. Tonight we all have a common purpose, solidarity.
We take the field with a smile, without great pretensions of scoring or not, but it’s nice, we need to stay united in these moments and we’re all here.
Interview with Ignazio
(Ignazio was called by the speaker to do the interview, then the team goalkeeper arrived)
IGNAZIO= I want to tell you something, she (the speaker) went to the coolest, the most beautiful to interview them then she said, ok let’s do the interview with you. Then you came (the goalkeeper is a nice guy), it’s over! 😁
GOALKEEPER = (laughs) It’s better thanks, come on it was a moment of fear, every now and then the blows on the head also create something positive (he refers to the fact that at the beginning of the match, in the action which also involved Gianluca, the goalkeeper received a knee on the head).
SPEAKER= Did they update you on the result, on the score? (His team lost)
GOALKEEPER = Unfortunately yes, we also taken a goal from Moreno (partially from him in the video).
MORENO= You would have taken my goal.
SPEAKER= I’m noticing that there are three of you here, Ignazio are you trying to change your partners?
IGNAZIO= No, absolutely not, I adore them two (goalkeeper and Moreno), but I love my partners (Piero and Gianluca) too much, and then he raps (Moreno is a rapper). NO, I keep my mates!
SPEAKER= Piero (he can’t be seen in the video) he wanted to replace you….no, I asked him if he wanted to make a change but he said he doesn’t change his two partners.
PIERO= Do you want a serious interview? Do it to me, tell me.
SPEAKER= Free theme.
IGNAZIO= Guys, I speak for everyone, 45597 (it’s the telephone number for donations), today we are all united for a great cause, for Emilia Romagna, I live in Bologna, I don’t know if you know, so it’s something that has touched me closely, and it’s nice that in music there are no barriers, we know it, we are 28 players, we all play different music, and there are no barriers, and that’s the same in football. We are therefore all happy to be together, send a message, donate to 45597. Thank you all so much for your support of the National Singers team and Romagna.
Now I’ll leave you the microphone, you can interview the cool ones! 😁
SPEAKER= There could be no better closure than this.
Interview with Gianluca
SPEAKER= Gianluca, nice to see you, among other things in an almost new guise.
GIANLUCA= Almost, the last time with the National Singers team it’s already been 5 years, but this time it’s for an important cause, we need to make everyone aware, especially the youngest, not to be indifferent to what’s happening, but to make a contribution, this is the most important thing right now.
SPEAKER= Also because you don’t live so far from Romagna, so it’s a situation you’ve experienced.
GIANLUCA= Yes, we were out, unfortunately (Il Volo was on tour) and this hurts even more, when you know that friends or loved ones are experiencing a period of difficulty and you are distant and you are powerless and this happens because we are often travelling, so I am really close to everyone, it was a difficult moment, but I see that there are so many events that are needed to make a contribution to revive this great region.
SPEAKER= As for Il Volo, Arena di Verona was extraordinary, now there will be a very special concert in Ascoli Piceno and then at the Arcimboldi.
GIANLUCA= There are many projects. Next year it’s 15 years of career and we’ll come out with something new and you’ll really see Il Volo in a new guise, maybe like you’ve never seen before.
SPEAKER= It’s a music that remains, what you sang four years ago.
GIANLUCA= But it is also true that we have changed over time, what we would like to show is that we are not just one thing, because we are not three tenors, we can really show something else, building a new repertoire which I believe is the most important thing at this point in an artist’s career, that of building one’s own repertoire, and this will be the “keystone” which we hope will bring us many more years of career.
SPEAKER= What you did in the Arena, we will also see in Milan, thank you very much Gianluca.
GIANLUCA= Thank you.
So, in summary, Il Volo took part in the Partita del Cuore on Thursday evening, on Friday they had the concert in Ascoli…………..but that’s not all!!!!
Saturday they were at the VIP Master!!
But what is the VIP MASTER?
It is a summer event, this year it is the 32nd event (our boys have already participated in 2017), it is a tennis tournament between VIPs. It usually starts on Friday evening at a beach facility, where attendees can take selfies with people in attendance.
There is also a lunch on the beach, where the tables of the VIPs will be separated only by a simple rope, so that people can easily photograph them.
On Saturday the real tournament begins at the Tennis Club in Milano Marittima (a seaside resort in Emilia Romagna). So people can see their VIP darlings having a real game of tennis and maybe take pictures with them.
This year the organizers also wanted to think about solidarity, joining the fundraising for the flood victims.
Among the various VIPs, this year there will also be Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca.
Access to the grandstands of the central field is – as per tradition – free admission. An important appendix will then be the one in a solidarity key, with a fundraiser for the flood victims.
(Gianluca with Patrick, one of the organizers of the event)
PATRICK= Here, Gianluca from Il Volo is here.
GIANLUCA= A third, but the other two will soon arrive too. Great Patrick.
PATRICK= How are you?
GIANLUCA= Great.
PATRICK= You got some sun!
GIANLUCA= A little, not as much as you.
PATRICK= My goodness, guys!
GIANLUCA= Bye everyone!
PATRICK= Here we are, Ignazio from Il Volo has also arrived.
IGNAZIO= Bye, see you tonight!
(in this video Gianluca is interviewed together with Antonio Razzi ex politician)
SPEAKER= The protagonist is the music, also this time I promised you that I would bring you beautiful music. Antonio has already done the interview with us yesterday as well ….. are there also neighbors Antonio?
ANTONIO= Yes, Gianluca is my great friend from Abruzzo, from Roseto. He often comes to Pescara (it’s Antonio’s city), we’ve been friends for some time.
GIANLUCA= We share the love for our region which is Abruzzo and we try, each in his own field, to take it higher and higher, because Abruzzo is a great land and we must always promote it to the maximum.
ANTONIO= And Gianluca and I always do it, because we are two well-known people, he in music and I in other things, but we always do good for our Abruzzo.
In this case you also have tennis in common. Greetings to the studio.
GIANLUCA= Greetings to the studio, obviously these are events where we have fun, we are together, but the goal is always important to remember that it has not been a peaceful period for many people, who are continuing to suffer and make their economic contribution and not only it is an important thing to support the towns and all the cities that have been affected by the flood.
ANTONIO= And then I was able to see my friend Gianluca, a great footballer (Partita del Cuore), I saw him play and technically he can play in Serie A easily.
SPEAKER= Now let’s go collect the prizes, you’re the line!
Michele Torpedine with Valeria Marini (Italian actress), Eleonora and Gianluca.
Some moments of the tournament.
And here are some photos from the evening.
Il Volo VIP Master 2023 and 2017.
Again guys, I was speechless.
It was a really intense weekend, which started with the Partita del Cuore, continued with the concert in Ascoli and finished with the VIP Master tournament, and two of these events were done for charity.
I am really very proud of everything you do and also of the fact that you always think of people in need.
Thank you guys!!! ❤❤❤
Daniela 🤗
ATTENTION LATEST NEWS!
……in fact it didn’t end here, Il Volo has just announced that on August 3rd there will be a concert at the wonderful Royal Palace of Caserta (near Naples) and there will also be Placido Domingo and the soprano Daria Rybak in the event A NIGHT FOR KINGS.
And we have reached the week of the great free concert in Ascoli Piceno.
Piazza del Popolo in Ascoli Piceno is certainly a beautiful location, in fact it is also called “the drawing room of Italy”.
Despite all the various problems related to the delivery of the free tickets (we remind you that the concert was offered by the companies Fainplast and Panichi) everything went very well. In an adjacent square there was also the possibility of following the event on a big screen.
But let’s let today’s newspapers do the talking, I translate this article from PICENE CHRONICLES, for you.
IL VOLO, DREAM CONCERT IN PIAZZA DEL POPOLO “WE FEEL AT HOME HERE”
Almost two hours of concert for the trio composed by Gianluca Ginoble, Piero Barone and Ignazio Boschetto. Two thousand people sing the great classics of an ageless songbook.
Tributes to Endrigo, Morricone, Battiato, Dalla, Elvis and Sinatra. Then the final riot on the notes of “Grande Amore”: “Being able to express emotions through the voice is a privilege”. Success of the evening offered by the companies Fainplast and Pamichi.
It ends with Piazza del Popolo standing up, mobile phones in video mode and the public singing “Grande Amore”, the song that in 2015 saw them triumph at the Sanremo Festival.
And if this too is not a triumph, we are close. From Ennio Morricone to Sergio Endrigo, from Lucio Dalla to Frank Sinatra, from Mia Martini to Celine Dion. A varied repertoire, no doubt. However, the timbre is unique. And it is that of Il Volo. The three “tenorini” who from TV, little more than teenagers, have known worldwide success, performing everywhere.
And that in Ascoli they find a new “debut” full of affection, reciprocated: “This is my second home, (Gianluca) we are happy to perform here for the first time”.
The confirmation comes directly from Gianluca Ginoble, from Abruzzo from Roseto, who together with the Sicilians Piero Barone and Ignazio Boschetto (born in Bologna but raised in Marsala) give life to the three musketeers of the Italian musical tradition.
A vibrant square (there were about 2,000 people) could not help but certify their vocal quality, after a 15-year career and after the direct experience of almost two hours of concerts, with an orchestra of 30 elements and a songbook skillfully weighted to enhance the quality of the trio and keep alive the memory of the great classics.
There are those who, on this Friday evening, have stood in line for hours, arriving to stay overnight in front of the box office, for what is undoubtedly the main event of the Picene summer. In the nearby Piazza Arringo there is also a huge screen that allows the many who have not been able to enter to enjoy the concert anyway.
A special evening therefore, offered by the companies Fainplast and Panichi as part of the multidisciplinary festival “Palco di Travertino”, organized by the Compagnia dei Folli.
Returning to the live, what to add. The beginning is fulminating, thanks to the Morriconian atmospheres of “L’estasi dell’oro”, from the epoch-making film “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly”.
Gianluca, Ignazio and Piero, in impeccable black suits despite the stifling heat, embark on a journey that leads them to rattle off one masterpiece after another, among which it is worth mentioning Puccini’s Nessun Dorma, Se telefonando, La Cura (I hope I’m up to it, says Gianluca before performing it, chapeau), Caruso, Nuovo Cinema Paradiso, Almeno tu nell’universo, Once upon a time in the west, My heart will go on.
And then again the homage to Endrigo with Canzone per te, and Lontano dagli occhi, then Can’t help falling in love by Elvis and My Way by the good Sinatra,
“We all come from four difficult years. First the pandemic, then the war. Many people have suffered and still suffer today. This is why last year we decided to include this song in the setlist. Since then we always sing it to dedicate it to those who didn’t make it and are still struggling .”
It is the prodrome to “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen, followed by the standing ovation of the public.
“Being able to express emotions through the voice is a privilege. Our life changed when we were very young, we started traveling and touring the world. I repeat, we are privileged. Values and roots, however, have remained fundamental to remain what we really are and to constantly improve.”
More intense moments, therefore, which alternate with smiles, jokes with the public, the question “Olives or arrosticini?” (Ascoli is famous for its olives, Roseto for its arrosticini), Gianluca, despite the difficulty, gets along with a diplomat: “Let’s create a new recipe, we put them both on a skewer” and a visit to the audience during the performance of “Here’s to you”, a song taken from the film Sacco and Vanzetti.
But it is on stage that the three find their natural habitat, as consummate performers at the expense of their still young age, thirty years on average, and with the strength of a journey that began in 2009 thanks to the TV program “Ti lascio una canzone”. That’s why “O Sole Mio” the first song they performed together, can’t be missed.
How can’t miss “In the blue painted blue”. The square sings, here too, inevitably. And before the Sanremo finale, thanks, first of all to their manager Michele Torpedine, and then to Barbara Vitali, a real guardian angel: “They created us artistically, without them we wouldn’t be here”.
A thank you to which the listening public can do nothing but join. Especially after such an evening. The one offered by Battista Faraotti, who wanted to pay homage to Ascoli on the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of his “Fainplast”.
From left: Battista Faraotti, his son Daniele, Stefano Panichi, Gianluca, Ignazio, Roberta Faraotti, Piero and Simone Panichi.
At the end of the song Il Volo greets the audience and Gianluca greets his two Sicilian colleagues as he, from Abruzzo, is in his second home. (Because Ascoli is in the Marche region, bordering on Abruzzo, much frequented by Gianluca as Ascoli is the city of his twin friends)
Roberta Faraotti, posted this nice comment:
Unforgettable !!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️ Il Volo made our city shine and excited our hearts!!
We worked 7 months.
A work team that defining exceptional is an understatement.
And here is the comment passed by the news of the Marche region.
We’re on the subject of shows.
Piazza del Popolo in Ascoli was not enough to contain the fans of Il Volo and their first performance in the Piceno capital.
Two hours in the company of timeless Italian and international hits, 70 years of songs with a few leaps back to opera. The listeners sang and danced together with Il Volo, a gift to the city of two local companies, through the tax mechanism of the Art Bonus (the possibility of companies to pay for events and be able to deduct a part of it, a rule made by the Italian State to disseminate art). A much appreciated gift from Piazza del Popolo which proved to be the perfect setting for the music of Il Volo.
A summer with almost no concerts except for two exceptions to the rule, the Arena di Verona and Ascoli Piceno.
IGNAZIO= Absolutely, this summer we took some time off, because we are preparing the Arcimboldi concerts in September in Milan at the Arcimboldi theater (there are now 6 concerts in September).
GIANLUCA= I have many friends here, best friends, like a second family, for me it’s like being at home, I’m very excited to sing here for the people of Ascoli and for all the people who love us and have followed us for years.
PIERO= Are Sicilians allowed to be interviewed here in Ascoli?
SPEAKER= It’s allowed!
PIERO= It is the first time that I personally come to Ascoli….
IGNAZIO= Me too.
PIERO= ….I was really impressed by the architecture of the square, Italy always surprises, we have magnificent places and also the people here are really delicious.
Truly a beautiful event, all successful, despite the great heat. Beautiful location and what about Il Volo?
Wonderful voices, elegance, kindness, I have read many comments from the people of Ascoli and they are all enthusiastic.
The articles in the local newspapers are also very beautiful, which give credit to Il Volo.
Once again a beautiful concert, thanks Ignazio, Gianluca and Piero!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️
……. but there is still a lot to read….. see you soon:
Those of you who follow my stories follow the people who I follow. Those of you who are new to Il Volo or new to my stories, let me introduce you to Giada Luppi and let me tell you about The Three!
Giada Luppi is a world champion roller skater and she is also a phenomenal singer.
Let me start by telling you a little bit about Giada the skater.
Giada has a story that is very similar to Il Volo’s story because like Il Volo, from a very young age she has dedicated her life to her career ~ in her case, skating.
In October 2021, I wrote an article about Giada after she won the Junior World Figure Skating Championships. So, you might ask yourself, why am I, a writer who writes about Il Volo, writing a story about a World Championships Figure Skater? Read my story and you will know the answer.
Giada Luppi is from Crespellano-Valsamoggia, in the province of Bologna. She has been skating since she was five years old. She has won two European Championships and five Italian championships, and she has won the Junior World Figure Skating Championships. This translates to two European golds, in 2019 and in Riccione, two world championship silvers and five titles at the Italian championships. Her win was in the junior world champion in the free single program at the World Figure Skating Championship. An amazing career for the young Emilian skater. Her artistic skills, strength and gracefulness is a perfect mix that has allowed her in recent years to establish herself nationally and internationally. Always to the rhythm of music, which never fails in her workouts, Giada prefers to work out to a lot of soul music, including Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Alicia Keys, but also Giorgia, Mia Martini, Mina, Alex Britti.
Over the last week, we couldn’t help but notice Giada’s great achievements! She won the 2023 Italian Figure Skating Championships and she released a new song! Principe!
Giada has a beautiful voice that I could listen to all day! She has a soulful voice that is very expressive, and her passionate delivery is always impeccable! It’s amazing that such feelings come from so young a singer. She has feelings and emotions that usually come along with age. She’s deep!
Whether skating or singing, Giada always gives her best. She delivers on the rink and she delivers on the stage. I see a beautiful future for Giada!
After winning her medal, Giada posted…
I’ve been skating for 15 years now, yet every single time I enter the track it’s like it’s the first, it’s an unmanageable, terrifying and wonderful emotion…Indescribable…
I am proud to have been able to compete in the first place, despite my bone edema that I have been carrying with me since October and above all I am happy to have been able to choreograph both programs this year … I really hope that my emotions can be bounced from my heart to the track and to all the people who have followed me.
This Italian championship has been a tornado of emotions… Maybe the best of my entire career, maybe my biggest revenge… in short, a huge satisfaction.
I want to thank all the people who believed in me, sometimes even more than I believed in myself.
Giada thanked he coaches and her team for all their support and for being a second family to her.
Giada went on to thank, “my wonderful friends for always being close to me, and finally my Wonderful Angel ~ thank you for all the work we have done together, for training me with your patience and your love, for being there as a friend, for always being there at all times without ever leaving me … My beautiful butterfly this is our dream, we realized it together and it’s all ours… I miss you to💔 death.”
Who is this Angel Giada referring to?
Perhaps this interview will explain it!
Interviewer: Giada Luppi for the first time Italian Senior Champion even a little surprisingly, Ponte di Legno gold medal. How did it go?
Giada: I am very happy because I have returned from a bad injury which is always one of the wounds always that of last year’s world championships which I carry with me very sadly, but at the same time I am very happy for having brought home another medal and above all in the maximum missed category which was really an unexpected result for me and for all my team but I’m satisfied all the sacrifices were found screaming, second, second place.
Interviewer: What made the difference even with so much competition?
Giada: Yes, lots and lots of competition. And what made the difference I believe it is always mental work, ultimately mental and yes, be mentally ready, be ready to attack the track, despite the level being very high, always focus on yourself and try to give your best by thinking do not frustrate the work done at home.
Interviewer: What about these past very difficult months, I know there is a special dedication for this victory too.
Giada: Yes, I dedicated my medal to Michele Sica. He is a friend of mine and former coach who, however, has now flown to heaven (died). It was very exciting to skate for him because I believe he was there with me in sight always and I have to say I feel him. I just feel the presence of his person. He was always with me, and this gives me so much strength.
The relationship we had was both a friend of mine because we aged together for so many years and he also was my coach and my idol. When I was little he was already Segna in the top category, and he really always won. He was so much to me! It was truly an honor for me to recognize him, it is a great pain.
As you can see Giada is a phenomenal skater but what does this have to do with Ignazio and Michele. Giada, the singer, is produced and managed by Ignazio and Michele.
Giada has a very clear idea about her future. “I will compete a few more years because I think I have already dedicated so much of my life to skating and then I would like to devote myself completely to music.”
Certainly, Giada is not ready to hang up her skates. Giada’s proves skating and singing are not incompatible activities. She would like to carry on these two passions, on the model of the R&B star Usher.
Giada says, “Skating is part of my life, while singing started as an outlet and then became a necessity, something I can’t do without.”
So, what does Giada say about what skating does for her? “It brings out my personality!” And what a personality she has.
Let me say one final word about Giada, the skater. Skating is her whole life, and Giada credits her mother for always being there for her. She has a mother who supports her and leads her by inspiration.
Giada said of her mother: “You and I always lift each other up. You are my light!”
In Giada I see a lot of the qualities of Ignazio.
So now let’s turn to Ignazio…
Enter Ignazio!
He is the voice that never ends! The voice that intrigues! The voice that takes your breath away! The voice that leads you to ecstasy!
During the pandemic, Ignazio proved to us that being in quarantine doesn’t quarantine your mind. No, it opens your mind to different ways of producing! This video showed just how brilliant this man is. He wouldn’t be held back by his circumstances. He felt a need to produce and even though the moment didn’t allow it, he found a way to overcome his confinement and sing out! An absolutely phenomenal performance by Ignazio! And let’s not forget the amazing men who accompanied him. Giampiero Grani, Alessandro Quarta, Bruno Farinelli, Gino de Vita, Pierluigi Mingotti and Andrea Morelli.
Ignazio’s experience and love of the production has led him to take a giant step into his future!
It seems our, sexy, romantic, Italian tenor/producer knows how to move and shake in the music industry!
If there’s one thing I can say about Ignazio, he is a dreamer and he always has his eyes open for young talent. Ignazio’s dream is to help other young people have the opportunity he had along with Piero and Gianluca.
From when he was on the competition circuit, Ignazio always wanted healthy competition and fair opportunities for everyone. His failure to see this in the competitions led him to almost give up his dreams. He never wants to see that happen to another young person. What better way to help these young people than to give them the opportunity to record with a small label run by a very famous person who is the epitome of music!
I predict that someday that small label will become a leader in the music industry!
Let’s talk about that label!
In January 2020 Ignazio, at age 25 started his own production company ~ Floki Productions. Does that surprise you? It doesn’t surprise me. It makes a lot of sense to me.
Floki Productions I’m sure is Ignazio’s dream.
And how did Ignazio come up with the name Floki for his production company? He says….
I took the name of my label from the Viking shipbuilder Hrafna-Floki Vilgerðarson. As a fan of the TV series Vikings, Floki seemed like the right reference for the desire to get involved in this new adventure, because if you want to reach the continent from an island you can jump into the sea at the risk of drowning or invent something.
Working through a small label gives you the opportunity to follow means, believing in people even before the project and following them step by step in their path, discarding logic on the side.
Ignazio signed Giada Luppi to a contract with Floki in 2021!
I mention that Giada has some of Ignazio’s qualities. For one, she is very determined, she is also sweet, and kind and she loves sharing her life and her career with her fans.
Giada like Ignazio is a song writer. She has written over 60 songs! So, I have to ask the same question that I’ve asked Ignazio. When do you sleep? She must be taking lessons from Ignazio!
And who might her manger be?
Enter Michele Torpedine….
With her debut single, in collaboration with Ignazio and manager Michele Torpedine, she entered what she hoped would become her career in the entertainment world. But in the meantime, Giada says, “I dream of singing and skating together, why not? I will compete for a few more years, then my life will be music.”
Giada continues, “In the future I would like to continue to walk the road of music, but without hanging up my skates. I will compete a few more years because I think I have already dedicated so much of my life to skating and I would like to devote myself completely to music.”
It seems Michele and Ignazio are happy to walk that road with Giada.
In his book, Michele talks about the guys and how when he met them, he met the right people. Michele said….
I have many enemies, which will increase after this book but, I met the right people: Gianluca Ginoble, Ignazio Boschetto and Piero Barone.
Yes, as you can tell from the title of the book, when I met them and put them together as a trio, they were so young… to think that ten years have already passed! With them and with their families, good people, a relationship was born that goes far beyond the professional one.
Together we joke and laugh, then we get serious, enjoying worldwide successes: but the human side, their being real and clean, for me is an added value, which is priceless. And, especially in this environment, is a rare commodity.
It’s so hard to be told ‘thank you.’ For this reason, the boys, Gianluca, Piero and Ignazio are different: grateful, so much so that I had to tell them to stop making my name and thanking me during interviews or at the end of the concerts, everything seems prepared.
Michele has always been thankful for being able to get back into the game with such honest young men. Recently Michele talked about this at an event which he attended with Giada. No doubt Michele decided to take Giada on because he saw in her a nice respectable young lady who has values like the guys and who will allow him to continue on this wonderful path of honesty and integrity.
So, this is also the story of how Michele found a new life first in Il Volo and now in Giada. The best way to explain this is probably to say Michele realized after Il Volo that honesty and truth can be found in the young.
Recently, Michele joined Giada at the Eurocommunication Awards. It was an award ceremony dedicated to women where Giada won the award for her dedication to sports and fair play in the sport!
To reward Giada’s already consolidated sporting career was Ruggero Alcanterini, National President of the Italian Fair Play Committee, who gave the young champion an official CONI badge.
Below the video is some of what was said by Michele and Giada.
Michele is a record producer, television personality, drummer and Italian music manager of high-level artists.
Interviewer: We are with Michele Torpedine producer to the stars.
Michele talks about some people who he managed before Il Volo then he talked about Il Volo.
Michele: Let’s begin with the afternoon of the three. I had many disappointments, despite all that I had.
At a certain point, the director of Ti Lascio una Canzone had an idea to put the three together for a song.
I signed them immediately.
As to Giada, Michele said, “We rely on her, and we know that she will be participating in a new era of music. I certainly hope it is condensed very well.
Interviewer: Giada is a world champion of figure skating who has also launched herself into the world of entertainment most recently with the beautiful song “Principe.”
Interviewer (to Giada): Thank you very much. We are already ready for the artistic roller-skating champion who is starting a new adventure.
Giada: Actively I’m trying to throw myself into my musical bed. Because in addition to my recent passion for figure skating and being led to win a championship this year, I have a totally different matter which is singing music and so I’m trying to bring myself to this stage where I would like to transform my life. I would like to transform the music and my position level of my work.
Interviewer: And so how much of your sporting life are you putting to help you.
Giada:In my musical world in any case, I want to bring music and sport together and as much as possible I am always part of music and the music I feel as part of the sport. So, I’m trying to integrate everything and bring it together myself. That is, that the will always wins so much more.
What I will say about Michele is something I always say about Ignazio. He is, they are, brilliant!
The genius of Michele will live on in Ignazio!
In my interview, I asked Giada the question that everyone is thinking about right now. “How did you meet Michele and Ignazio?”
Giada said:I was at a competition in 2018 and I met Michele. Not long after that he contacted me, and we started a collaboration. After that he introduced me to Ignazio. Most of the work with Michele right now is to combine the music with the skating.
My final question to Giada was, “What would you like people to know about you.”
Giada: I dedicate myself a lot to songwriting. I write my songs on piano.
It seems Giada is also an accomplished pianist who writes her own songs.
I told you I see a lot of Ignazio in Giada. A very ambitious young lady who takes her career in skating and singing into her own hands and makes a beautiful presentation whether singing or skating! She is a composer, singer and skater who choreographs her own programs for competition! Again I have to ask the question! Do you ever sleep?
So now you have heard the story of The Three no, not Il Volo but Ignazio, Giada and Michele. I can see that Giada has had a phenomenal career in skating and I have no doubt she will have a phenomenal career as a singer!
For your listening pleasure I give you the REAL THREE!
Il Volo full concert in Taormina June 1, 2017 NotteMagica Tour
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 the owners of videos and photos.
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