As I told you, I was in the Arena in Verona for the Il Volo concert “Tutti per uno” on the evening of May 11th.
To say that it was a MAGNIFICENT concert is truly an understatement, because everything was beautiful and well prepared.
What can we say about the stage and sets?
Stunning, an alternation of lights, colors, images appropriate to the songs!!!
What can we say about the excellent orchestra of 54 elements, the excellent members of the choir positioned on two sides and the fantastic conducting of the friendly Maestro Rota?
What can we say about the numerous but spectacular guests who took turns with our guys?
What about the choice of songs, all beautiful and representative?
What about the fantastic Arena, an enchanting place, packed with a participating, cheering and collaborative audience, who illuminated the Arena with thousands of lights and sang at the top of their lungs?
And finally what to say about our three musketeers, our fantastic ones PIERO IGNAZIO GIANLUCA from their wonderful voices, their mastery on stage, their sympathy, kindness, humility and strength, they force themselves to perform in concert on TV recording without “downtime”, with numerous guests, different songs, different rhythms…… ….Priceless. Attending one of their concerts is a wonderful event, and……….a small but important note, this year it didn’t rain!!!
I realize that the first three concerts in the Arena, which have also been recorded and will be broadcast as early as May 14th by Canale 5, are designed for Italian TV, and therefore the dialogues are in Italian and the guests are known here in Italy, but the foreign audience present still appreciated it a lot and the Italian audience sang and rejoiced listening to beautiful Italian songs that are sometimes forgotten and which have triggered beautiful memories in each of us.
I didn’t make videos, because the three evenings will certainly be broadcast in excellent quality by Canale 5 and I will show them to you and translate the speeches so you too will be able to understand better, I only took some photos with my cell phone but the resolution is certainly not good, but we will have time to put better videos and photos and we will talk a lot about these concerts. This time I am attaching some videos made by my friend Francesca Brazzale who I thank very much.
Know that the emotion of our three boys was palpable.
The start of the evening was amazing, they started by singing the beautiful song from the film GLADIATOR, how exciting: “NELLE TUE MANI”.
I don’t know exactly how the three concerts will be edited by Canale 5, but I can tell you that during the one I attended, it was nice to see Piero and Gianluca join their mothers in the Arena and give them a kiss and it was sweet to listen to the beautiful words dedicated by Ignazio to his deceased father.
In the next video I propose the duet with Irama also contained in the new CD Ad Astra: SATURNO E VENERE.
My husband and I had seats in the fifth row on the far left looking at the stage and I must say that they were not bad seats at all. Near us on the first steps were Torpedine, Barbara, Michelle, Ernesto and his father Ercole who I was able to meet personally that evening.
At a certain point in Capolavoro, Gianluca came to sing right on the stage in front of where we were and we could all see that he was very emotional, to the point of tears.
The last video I propose for this little roundup is LA VITA (LIFE), a beautiful song with very important words.
And here is the roundup of my photos which, as I told you, are not very beautiful, but they are mine and we will certainly have time to see some beautiful ones.
It goes without saying that the Arena is also the ideal place for meetings between fans.
Even though my husband and I arrived at the last moment because we couldn’t find free parking for the car, I was able to say hello to Kirsten and her husband from Denmark, Laura and Ugo from Trieste, Judith from Canada, Susan and her brother from Chicago, too bad I didn’t see Jolanta from Poland then I have know Martina Gerlach-Bunz from Germany, and even if these brief hugs and greetings fill our hearts, this is yet another power of Il Volo, that of bringing together people of different cultures in the name of music.
In this photo: me, my husband Beppe, Kirsten Langer and her husband Steen.
And what about our amazing loving boys??
May 12th was the birthday of Michele Torpedine who was turning 72 years old and during the rehearsals, Ignazio conducted all the orchestral members and choristers and everyone wished Michele a happy birthday, these three were truly UNIQUE!!!
Surely Michele Torpedine will have been happy!
AUGURI TORPEDINE!! 🎂🍾🍾🥰
I don’t want to say anything else so as not to spoil the various surprises that you will be able to see during the three evenings of television.
Meanwhile, Canale 5 has broadcast this nice promo which anticipates the broadcast of the concerts.
I conclude with this beautiful comment published by my journalist friend Antonella Esposito who was present at the concert, never more beautiful words to express what an Il Volo concert is!!
Il Volo: “Tutti per uno” is not a simple concert, it is a multiplayer show in which all the pieces intersect creating the intermittent vision of a body in a periodic way. From the lighting system, to the stage scaffolding, through the graphic mood, up to the perfection of the fluidly diffused and never aggressive sound, everything is there and in the right place.
There is the setting of the Arena, there are guests, many of them.
There is charisma, the different color of voices and character, there is lightness, solemnity, memory.
There is the history of music of which it is a full part.
ARE YOU READY TO SEE THE FIRST ENTIRE CONCERT?
SEE YOU SOON!!
Credit to Daniela Perani and others for their photos and to Francesca Brazzale and others for their videos.
Hi everyone! Sorry I’m on the road again! This time I’m in Las Vegas for a wedding! Not mine! At least not this year!
Between the wedding, my business, my new book, and all the other things and people in my life, I have very little time to spare so I decided since the guys are in Verona, I will repost a story I call Revisiting Verona!
Verona May 2023 the Live Concerts
We all watched intently as each concert was performed live on May 1st and 3rd. So many people were Live Streaming. It didn’t take long before the entire concert was on YouTube.
Then we waited for the concerts on Mediasetinfinity. Of course, there were many people streaming which was good because most people don’t have Italian cable.
Many of you immediately noticed a difference from the live concert to the televised program. People were saying but it was raining and now it’s not. That’s because when it was edited, the two concerts came together and then were split into two programs. They did a great job of editing. They gave us two absolutely amazing programs. Two nights of sheer pleasure! Double the Pleasure!
Let’s move on to the venue ~ the Arena di Verona.
The introduction of the first concert makes us aware of where we are in this vast world. We are small among the treasures of the world that span time and eternity! It’s always amazing to see the Arena di Verona from above. It gives you a sense of time immortal.
The Verona Arena is a Roman amphitheater built in 30 AD. It is one of the best-preserved ancient structures of its kind. In ancient times, the arena’s capacity was nearly 30,000 people. Concerts and operas demand a lot of stage space so for performances today the space has decreased. The maximum capacity today is approximately 22,000.
The voices that rise from this amazing Arena resound throughout the city and pass well into our lives by the videos and programs produced within its walls.
There has never been a moment that the guys were on this stage that we didn’t feel the enormity of their voices. This Arena was meant to be a place where performers like Il Volo could show us their amazing worth, their amazing voices.
There is a gradual crescendo as their voices rise from the stage to the walls of antiquity and encircle the Arena spinning high into the night sky; forever captured in time and space!
Il Volo forever!
On to the Stage
The stage is totally awesome. It’s like watching two concerts. There is so much going on behind the guys that I think they even stop to look once in a while. Lights have become a big part of their production.
The motions in the background produces unbelievably beautiful scenery. It is constantly changing. Using backgrounds that are in motion elevates the experience by creating movement towards and away from the entertainer. It is the means by which the audience is drawn into the production. It adds dimension and life to the presentation.
Of course, the audience also participates in this background production when they join in with the lights of their cell phones. Think of how impressive it is to see a sea of lights before you while singing. A treat for the guys!
The Orchestra
When Marcello Rota walks on the stage the production is ready.
Marcello Rota is an Italian conductor. Some of the famous Orchestras he has conducted are the Asti Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana, the Orchestra Sinfonica Siciliana, the orchestra of the Munich Staatsoper, the Berlin Philharmonic, the National Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Moscow Philharmonic, the Buenos Aires Philharmonic, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.
Besides Il Volo, he has collaborated with Andrea Bocelli on his numerous world tours.
On September 27, 1997, on the occasion of the 23rd National Eucharistic Congress, Rota participated in the mega-concert at the Caab in Bologna, with Bocelli and several other artists including Bob Dylan. They performed in the presence of Pope John Paul II.
His lyric repertoire includes over 40 titles, notably by Rossini, Bellini, Donizetti, Verdi and Puccini.
Now that’s a repertoire that our guys know well!
The TV Concerts
In both concerts, the guys opened with Granada. The perfect song to open with. Granada adds to the majesty of this amazing arena because it is a song that spans time. It always pleases and the way our guys sing it is amazing. Above all, it was the perfect place to present their new version of this amazing song. They reintroduced us to their three amazing and, so we found out, very different voices. Classical, Soul and Pop!
After singing Grande Amore, the guys introduced their first guests.
The Pooh is an Italian band that came together in 1966 in Bologna. When Il Volo started out, they were the first group to invite them to sing in concert. They are very close friends, and our guys love them and appreciate all of their encouragement over the years. The guys sang a medley of Pooh songs. Tanta Voglia di Lei, Pensiero, Chi Fermerà La Musica, and Uomini Soli.
After the performance, Pooh gave this advice to the guys:
We have never followed trends, don’t do this either and you will always be personal.
My advice instead is this, there are three of you, alone you represent 30%, instead together you represent 3000%, this is the strength of the group, remember this.
I believe that the Pooh’s real success was a little talent and a lot of passion, the same talent and the same passion that I see in your eyes and in your career, and this is a good sign for you.
Beautiful advice from beautiful people. They certainly know Il Volo!
Next we meet the beautiful Frederica Panicucci who will be the presenter of the concert.
Federica explains that during the evening Il Volo will show unpublished moments with solos and duets they never performed before. It will be their way of showing their different personalities.
Yes Federica is right, that night was different because we’ve heard these voices before but not in the way we heard them that night. The guys introduced us to their personal feelings about their music.
A great example of this is in Ignazio’s words before both concerts:
In the first concert Ignazio said, “I’ve always loved great female voices….”
And in the second concert he said, “I will try to take a trip to the most beautiful female songs in the world tonight.
When Ignazio said this, he brought me back to his childhood. If you recall in Ignazio’s story he talks about meeting Lilliana Adreanò, his singing teacher, for the first time. She asked Ignazio what kinds of songs he likes to sing and Ignazio replies, “You know, Liliana, I like to sing Giorgia’s songs.” Lilliana said: “Strange for a kid to sing this kind of song.”
So, it seems Ignazio still enjoys singing these (female) songs. And why wouldn’t he? He is the only one of the three that can sing that kind of song because they are songs that require a strong voice that is very clear, crisp and very lyrical and a lot of passion must be put into each song! I think I just described Ignazio’s voice! Let me add and, “very soulful!”
We meet the real Gianluca in his rock mode and he introduces us to his feelings for Elvis, Sinatra, Dylan and the Beatles.
Piero brings us his perfect operatic voice. Whimsical and joyful. He has a great love and sincerity for this music. Opera is in his soul. He opens up that soul to us in these concerts with arias we have never heard before.
Amid a thousand points of light that sparkled like stars in the night sky, our guys were the brightest stars on the stage. They showed not just their love for one another’s music but their love and appreciation for the music of the other performers.
During their solos, the other two guys sit on the side stage and listen. In these moments, we see the admiration these men have for one another. Truly amazing!
This was a nice way of presenting each of them.
I remember Piero saying, in his story, that when he did a solo he couldn’t wait for it to end when Ignazio and Gianluca would return. He has to love this new arrangement.
These concerts were different. They show a beautiful evolution from where the guys were to where they are now. Their new direction! Their future!
This new arrangement is thrilling because there is a lot of feeling in the music. The songs they have sung from the beginning have always had feeling but in a different way.
Here we feel each man’s thoughts, ideas and mindset. In the soul of each man there is a longing to bring you their music unlike you’ve ever heard it before. It is the movement within their souls when they sing. They were restless to release these feelings and make you feel what they feel. They bring a feeling of sheer bliss to each note in each song. Think about expressing your feelings for someone you love. Put that to music and you have each guy’s mindset.
Of course, they have not departed from their Bel Canto.
What is a concert without Nessun Dorma.
Or, Surrender and O Sole Mio
Now let’s listen to some of the beautiful solos that we have never heard before.
Let’s start with Piero singing Viva il Vino Spumeggiante (Long Live the Sparkling Wine) the beautiful aria from Cavalleria Rusticana. This is one of my favorite operas and every time Piero sings one of the arias, he brings joy to my heart. His voice is so ready for La Scala.
Gianluca choses Bob Dylans song Knockin’ on Heavens Door to express a feeling of loss and grief. It is a very poignant song, and we can feel Gianluca’s heart in it. A very beautiful delivery!
Ignazio sings a Loredana Bertè medley. From the pop of Sei Bellissimo (You are Beautiful) to the very reggae of È Luna Bussò (The Moon Knocked) Ignazio is singing out his soul.
Reggae is a music style that was strongly influenced by American jazz and rhythm and blues. Like Loredana, Ignazio was inspired by jazz and rhythm and blues. Both Loredana and Ignazio were fans of Pino Daniele. In fact, Loredana sang with Pino Daniele. No wonder this was a choice for Ignazio. Loredana is the sister of Mia Martina who Ignazio dedicates Almeno tu Nell’universo to. This is truly the soul of Ignazio!
Ignazio with Fiorella Mannoia accompanied by Danilo Rea on piano sing the very sophiscated pop song Una Ragione di Più (One more reason)
Gianluca and Irama sing the very beautiful La Cura (the Cure) which was written by Italian songwriter Battiato. He wrote the song for his lady when he discovered she had a serious illness. Gianluca and Irama sing this song from depths of their hearts.
Piero and Aida Garifullina sing Libiamo ne, i lieti calici from La Traviata. This is an absolutely delightful and whimsical delivery. Notice how comfortable Piero is on stage with this amazing soprano! The voices blend beautifully!
It’s time for a great comedian, Giorgio Panariello.
Giorgio tells us the plot of the film Nuovo Cinema Paradiso by Giuseppe Tornatore.
This is followed by the guys singing Se Telefonando.
After they sing, Panariello returns to have some fun with the guys!
Panariello tries to convince the boys that being three is not good and proposes himself as the fourth element for Il Volo.
He challenges the guys to sing Nessun Dorma with him to see if he wins the role of the fourth Il Volo. He repeats VINCERÒ and in the highest moment, he doesn’t sing he says, “I will win….a draw is enough for me”.
Of course, Ignazio get hysterical!
The guys and Panariello sing an Italian song Il Pullover and now we can truly witness four amazing entertainers who can sing and joke together.
I am a longtime fan of Panariello and I am happy he was included in this concert!
When Panariello leaves, he says “But we are friends……(it’s true they are)….don’t call me anymore in your concerts!”
Panariello is a very funny man with a very dry sense of humor that makes you laugh out loud!
Over the last few years, the guys have been singing Hallelujah. Before they begin the song, Ignazio explains how the guys feel about this song.
Ignazio:Now is a very emotional moment for us, we have decided to sing this next song to reach all the people who have suffered in these years, to all the people who continue to suffer, and to all those people who unfortunately today, we, they watch from up there. Let’s hope that our song, our thoughts, can reach them up there.
There are no words! One magical moment and people respond by lighting up their hearts through the lights on their cell phones.
This song goes deep and touches everyone’s heart. No need to change voices here, you can feel the guy’s voices in this song.
Let’s go back to some duets!
The guys mix it up with Antonello Venditti. They sing Che Fantastica Storia è La Vita (What a Fantastic Story Life is). They can sing anything with anybody!
Back to two amazing songs L’Amore si move and Musica Che Resta. These are two songs that I love and they never sing in New York. Are you listening guys?
Federica returns to the stage for her next round of questions. She immediately asks Gianluca what gift Piero would like to receive on his birthday. Gianluca replies, “a nice tennis racket,” of course, Ignazio jokingly says that he would have given him “a watering can for the flower on his jacket!”
Next, Federica asks Ignazio what superpower Gianluca would like to have and Ignazio replies “the power to lengthen his legs.”
She then asks Piero to tell some funny story of Ignazio and Piero replies, “In Vienna Ignazio greeted the public saying….‘Good evening Berlin.’ ”
Federica compliments the boys on the tour they just finished and a video of beautiful images starts. Federica asks what is the best memory.
Gianluca:Seeing people’s faces is oxygen for us and a privilege. We are young and we are living the life we have always wanted to live, and it is amazing how this music overcomes the barrier of language, and reaches all ages, and we are proud to be able to give these emotions to all of you.
At this point they do a tribute to Italian singer-songwriter: Sergio Endrigo.
This is just a part of the tribute.
A few solos before I close.
Piero singing Voglio Vivere Così reminds me of Sunday mornings at my grandparents’ house. After church my grandparent would put on all their favorite operas and we would listen to them while we had breakfast. My grandparents loved opera and Neapolitan Songs! They would have loved Il Volo!
Magnificent! I feel Pavaroti in Piero’s voice!
I talked about Ignazio’s tribute to Mia Martina. Now I present it because we all need that moment when Ignazio brings down the house. Oh, excuse me he does that in every solo! God bless his amazing voice!
Gianluca presents a Beatles medley. Gianluca is becoming very comfortable in this new direction! His fondness for 50’s, 60’s and 70’s music seems to be his niche as he is moving forward!
Orietta Berti is a pop and folk singer whose popularity began is the 1960’s. She is revered in the entertainment industry as is evident when she steps on the stage and Ignazio bows and praises her. In 2021 Fedez, Achille Lauro and Orietta Berti published a hit song Mille. In a duet with Ignazio Orietta sings Quando L’amore Diventa Poesia.
I can think of no better way to end these concerts than with an icon in the music industry. The guys were honored to sing with Orietta.
So how do I end this story? I’m finished but it is not over. Two new collaborations came out of these concerts. The guys will sing in concert with Pooh and it seems they are anxious to have Aida Garifullina back in concert. Aida wrote in her story today, “Thank you! There is more to come.” I’m sure with the success of these two concerts there will be more concerts like these in the future!
And where did we leave the guys? With their new Classical, Soul and Pop sounds we will follow them to the ends of the earth in any direction they choose. We always knew that they were phenomenal individuals. We knew they had heart, and we always knew they gave their all but now we know by Revisiting Verona, we can double the pleasure of their performances with their individually and personal feelings in every concert!
Join me next week as I go back Through the Fields of My Mind and open the door to a new adventure!
The start of the Il Volo tour in 2024 starts from the east:JAPAN.
Here are Gianluca, Ignazio and Piero at the airport together with maestro Rota, leaving for the Land of the Rising Sun.
The first concert is in Nagoya, on April 25th, but there is time for some promotion, so here they are on the TOKAI RADIO for an interview.
And here they are during concert rehearsals.
On the evening of the concert, unfortunately there are very few images and videos, and as you can see, the evening’s program includes very classic songs.
A comment from Japan at the end of the concert: “The Nagoya show of Il Volo Japan Tour has ended. The overwhelming singing voices of Il Volo echoed along with the orchestra’s performance….it was a truly wonderful performance.”
The next concert is scheduled for April 28th, so there is time to visit this beautiful country a little.
One evening for dinner.
A visit to Nara and the Buddha temple.
In the following video some moments of the trip to Nara.
In the taxi, Piero shows off 5 yen which is considered a lucky charm in Japan.
At the end of the video Piero has the train ticket to Nara in his glasses and he says:“I am going to Nara, sister of Naro (his town), cousin of the Nari and niece of the Naresi (inhabitants of Naro).” 😂😂😂
Only Ignazio can do certain things, to the embarrassment of Piero and Gianluca. 😂😂
APRIL 28 OSAKA
The rehearsals.
The concert.
The Osaka Symphony Orchestra, where the concert was held, posted this:
“Young Italian vocal unit Il Volo with a sparkling and powerful voice, and the warm gaze of the fans, the performance was full of enthusiasm. The conductor was the very cheerful Mr. Marcello Rota. 👍🏻 Thank you so much for coming. ♪”
A collage of songs from the concert. I think you can’t make videos in Japan, so they were taken without permission.
Il Volo conquers Japan:
“Music overcomes the barriers of language.”
Gianluca, Ignazio and Piero flew to the Land of the Rising Sun with their ‘World Tour’ which, which started on April 25th, made stops in Nagoya, Osaka, Tokyo and Sapporo.
The Japanese leg of the Il Volo World Tour has ended which saw Piero Barone, Ignazio Boschetto and Gianluca Ginoble return to perform in the Land of the Rising Sun. In fact, since last April 25th, the Italian trio has enchanted the Nagoya audience accompanied by a 54-piece orchestra conducted by Marcello Rota, before making a stop at the prestigious Symphony Hall in Osaka. And again, at the International Forum in Tokyo with the grand finale in Sapporo.
“We came here [to Japan] for the first time in 2017,” recalls Ginoble who, together with his colleagues, took the opportunity to visit the country. “And every time it’s as if it were the first. We always remain ourselves, singing our repertoire. And this shows that it still overcomes the barriers of language. [Japanese] is a culture that has always fascinated us.”
Barone then adds regarding its popularity in the Far East: “They discovered Il Volo thanks to a song we recorded in 2011, which was entitled Starry Night. So, we had the opportunity to listen to our repertoire and also add our unreleased songs such as Grande amore and Capolavoro. The reaction is incredible.”
Now, after Japan, Gianluca, Ignazio and Piero are expected in Italy with Tutti Per Uno, four special concert events at the Arena di Verona – 9 May (sold out), 11 May (sold out), 12 May (sold out ), 13 May. The first three evenings will subsequently be broadcast in prime time on Canale 5 and will see the participation of numerous important guests from the Italian music scene.
“It will be interesting for us to sing a repertoire of unreleased songs for the first time on tour,” explains Boschetto. “We are very happy to bring back to meet our fans and maybe even new people who started following us this year”. In fact, between June and September, the trio will be involved in twenty live dates in the most evocative venues in Italy while in autumn they will be the protagonists of a tour in the main European capitals. The World Tour will continue in 2025 in the USA, Canada and Latin America.
The Italian national news program RAI 1 also published the news:
During the TG1 report, we see our friends Yukio and Kumiko Kobayashi: hello friends, how nice to see you at the concert.
And now a summary of many beautiful moments spent in Japan.
During the visit to Nara, our boys were accompanied by Marco Ferrari, an Italian who acts as a guide in Japan. Marco had met Il Volo two years ago on tour in Japan and a beautiful friendship was born.☺️
Marco published this video with these words: “The words of Gianluca Ginoble from Il Volo after the day spent with me in Nara. I am truly moved what can I say, his words speak for themselves. ❤️”
GIANLUCA= I have to thank you because between one date and another, coming here for work we found some time to visit Nara. You are truly number 1, an incredible guide.
MARCO= Oh, thanks Gianluca.
GIANLUCA= It was wonderful. Japan is incredible, it’s a culture that always strikes me, every time it’s like it’s the first time.
MARCO= Thanks Gianluca. I wait for you again.
GIANLUCA= See you soon!
Some photos and videos of extra tour moments in Japan.🏯
Beautiful moments, in different cultures but united by music.
Lots of affection from the Japanese fans and just as much love and respect from Il Volo.
Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca have already returned to Italy, just enough time for a couple of days with the family and then off they go, straight to Verona, the Arena awaits them.
In days at the end of April, as you well know, there was the anniversary of the start of Il Volo’s career.
Searching on YouTube for something that documented their beginnings (I have been following them since 2015), I came across many videos with Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca who were really young, in their first interviews, what sweet treasures, they didn’t yet know how to speak English well, and it’s so nice to hear their answers, even though they were really young, their answers are mature and don’t deviate from what they say even now. It’s nice to hear their hesitation about the future and the hope that everything will go well for them. ❤️❤️❤️
What little treasures, they still struggled to understand well and respond in English, but what love!! ❤️❤️❤️
The next interview is in Italian, but you can activate the subtitles. 😉
At the beginning of the next video, Ignazio, Piero and Gianluca talk about what their ideal women should be like! 🥰🥰🥰
In those years, Gianluca had a girlfriend, Jessica, who he also mentions in the video. Jessica Brando is an Italian singer, photo model, at that time they were very much in love. 😍😍
Gianluca and Jessica Brando.
Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca have always said that they went to a school in the US. to learn the language, while they learned Spanish thanks to Humberto Gatica, who spoke Spanish with them.
In the next video, they talk about Il Volo: Tony Renis, Humberto Gatica and also Michele Torpedine.
Gianluca, Piero and Ignazio talk about their tours and missing their family.
The first shows on television: The Talk
Young Hollywood
A nice interview, showing them starting to master the English language.
In this Instagram post above: Il Volo in Rome with Tony Renis, Humberto Gatica and Ennio Morricone.
These videos don’t need many comments, because they speak for themselves, they tell us about the beginnings of three boys who didn’t know each other. Three guys full of talent, but also of enormous values, well anchored to their roots and the education they received, guys with a head on their shoulders despite their young age.
Also full of dreams and paths that came true, but continually evolving, kids who didn’t give up at the first difficulties but made the most of them. They are Il Volo, they are Piero, Ignazio, Gianluca. ❤️❤️❤️
We have been watching the guys for the past fifteen years and we went through many different phases with them.
Back in 2021, we waited with great anticipation for the Morricone album. From the first introduction to Your Love on the stage of the Ariston Theater, which was beautifully presented in a bittersweet moment, to the stage of the ancient Arena of Verona where we witnessed the dawn of Il Volo’s new adventure! We witnessed our guys shaping a new beginning and sharing this amazing moment in time with us. We can always count on the guys to Bring on the Magic.
In my story “Phenomenal,” about the Concert in Verona I said: “If I wrote what I felt, saw, experienced in this concert, I would have to write a book!” That is just the tip of the iceberg to where we are today!
Speaking about the opening of the concert and our introduction to The Ecstasy of Gold, I said, “Listen to the intensity of their voices! What force! Watch their motions. Look at Gianluca! Watch his body react to the music! His fist that comes at you saying this is the punch, just the beginning. Listen to Ignazio ride 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 in this new adventure!”
During this period, the guys had some major events which were so exciting!
We were hungry for all we could get. It was a long separation and we all missed them. They actually came out of Covid long before we did, and they gave us all that we were thriving for during the long shut in!
We witnessed the events of the Venice Film Festival and cheered for our guys when they won a Film Italy Movie Award.
And we arrived at the Seat Music Awards where they won a DIVA Award for the tribute project to Ennio Morricone.
The major video for the album needed to be produced so we followed the guys to Sardinia for the videoing of The Ecstasy of Gold which brought back memories of American cinema in 60’s, 1966 to be exact, the year The Good, The Bad and The Ugly was released! Some of the early American Western Films were made in San Salvatore.
The Morricone project in conjunction with the Storaro film opened up so many new avenues for the guys!
Since the Morricone project everything the guys have done have been new projects which have advanced them along their path in the music industry! After they found their place in the Golden Age of Cinema they moved on to bigger and better events.
The album Il Volo Sings Morricone was the genius of Il Volo combined with the genius of Morricone. It was a leap forward and a throwback to the 50’s and 60’s. A time when musical theme songs and scores from movies were produced. When life was simple and, you put the kids to bed on a Saturday night and had a romantic dinner with your honey while listening to beautiful music on the record player. It was date night for parents! Such a romantic time in our American history! Today so much has changed but not romance. These very romantic songs are still shared between lovers but in a very different way, in a very different world.
These are melodies that are very familiar to everyone but with a new energy. When I listen to these songs, I remember that night in Verona when they stepped out on that stage to present the first song of the evening, “The Ecstasy of Gold.” This song went before them on their world tour leading the way to an exciting new experience for all of us. It resonated around the world! Their presentation was the best presentation by far of any song of cinema, EVER! It vibrated and resonated throughout the world! And it will be talked about for many years to come!
This reawakening of Morricone’s music was truly amazing. What was missing from Morricone’s music was the beautiful voices! Each song brought to life the genius of the composer, writer and singer. Unlike any other album this album stood out because it presented a new and different idea! The songs are phenomenal. They’re romantic! And exciting! This was truly a leap in a new direction for our guys. Not a movement away from their music but a movement forward, combining all that makes Il Volo superstars!
Going forward, the name Il Volo will always be attached to Ennio Morricone. They will take their place next to one of the greatest composers of our times! They have taken their place in the Musical History of Cinema and will share their music with a music legend!
All that said, the music and the words are nothing without the voices! This milestone in the life of our guys was realized at an important time in our history! Being forced indoors for so many months provided the opportunity to look to the future and see where their careers were going. There have been so many stages in their lives. We’ve watched teenagers become young men and now we see men who have taken a hold of their careers and catapulted it in a new and interesting direction.
While we were waiting for events to unfold during that terrible period of lockdown, men thought about their lives and where they would be when they emerged in a whole new world. Men thought about how to reinvent themselves! In the case of our guys, they searched for a way to continue their music in a world that wanted the industry shut down!
When they returned to the stage at the Seat Music Awards, they “Turned on the Lights! And Hit the Restart Button.” Making way for the industry to reopen and entertainers to go back on stage.
When the guys arrived on stage, they had a message for the world and all the 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 “turn off” 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!
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.
Our guys did anything and everything to try to keep the industry alive. Their concern for their crew was foremost in their minds. Their people needed to work and through their persistence, the crew was back on stage in June at the Tribute to Ennio Morricone.
This led them on the path to their 15th Anniversary together.
I remember writing back then, that perhaps their 15th Anniversary will be marked with a magnificent grand tour to mark the milestone. Perhaps another Notte Magica Tour? I said, “Whatever it is I’m sure it will be magnificent!”
Who could have imagined how magnificent the event would be!
The guys had already presented their new individuality and now they were presenting an album that talked about their past while catapulting them into the future!
An all new album with magnificent songs never heard before. Each song is magnificent! Can you choose which you like best? Impossible! They are all magnificent!
It helps that every song they sing they sing with love! They have a passion for music which drives them to create and recreate themselves time and again. We never know what project is waiting around the corner and what surprises they have in store! Every song they sing they sing for our pleasure. Not a note will advance unless they feel it will please us!
And let’s not forget Sanremo and Capolavoro. I’m sorry but I will continue to say they should have won! They should have been recognized for the great performers they are and for the amazing song they presented! For me they are the greatest singers in the world. Their performances shine!
As I mentioned in my story Sitting on the Edge of the Universe, the songs on this album are the story of their lives. Young boys who left their families to join an adult world where they would have to grow up very quickly. No teenage years! No silly flirtations and a new girlfriend every other week! No! Just recording studios and world stages that would introduce them to a new kind of family! A family that would always be there waiting for them when they arrived in their city. Fans who would become family!
There were many lonely nights and many disappointments when they wanted so much more out of their lives out of their relationships but the concert always came first and they would learn how to adjust their lives to fit the scenario!
Now they are finally finding a way to incorporate all things. They are looking for love and finding it and they are learning how to enjoy their family and home lives more! The new individuality is not just about music. It’s also about their lives. They are learning how to please everyone including themselves. And because of this they will continue to work for us to Bring on the Magic for years to come!
Join me next week as I go back Through the Fields of My Mind and open the door to a new adventure!
For your listening pleasure The Verona Concert 2021
