Christmas has arrived and on the night before the CHRISTMAS CONCERT was broadcast on TV from the Valley and the Temples of Agrigento.
A wonderful concert, celestial voices elevated beautiful songs, the atmosphere (even though it was summer when it was recorded) was magical and enveloping. The temple in the background rose majestically and the beautiful, sparkling lights rose into the sky, with different colors depending on whether the song was strictly Christmas or not.
An excellent orchestra and an equally excellent choir formed the crown.
The interludes between one song and another were very beautiful and representative, it’s a shame not to be able to understand what was said, but in this, I’ll help you.
Here’s a wonderful Christmas concert!!
Try this Mediaset link which may not be visible in the US.
CLICK HERE for the Mediaset link
If it doesn’t work for you this one should:
IGNAZIO= There is an ancient land, cradle of civilization and crossroads of cultures where the past meets the present…
PIERO= ….and where the ancient breath of the sea embraces history, it is SICILY….
GIANLUCA= ….in the heart of this land there is a timeless place, which this night under the starry sky is immersed in a unique atmosphere, that of CHRISTMAS.
IL VOLO, CHRISTMAS IN AGRIGENTO
from an idea by Michele Torpedine and Barbara Vitali
(Gianluca, Ignazio and Piero advance from inside the Temple of Concordia to the stage, the concert begins)
O HOLY NIGHT
IGNAZIO= Good evening and Merry Christmas to everyone from the VALLEY OF THE TEMPLES of Agrigento.
PIERO= This place rich in history speaks to us of eternity, beauty and faith, and tonight it is dressed in a new, unprecedented light, that of Christmas.
I am personally proud because Agrigento will be the Italian Capital of Culture in 2025 and singing a few steps from home fills me, fills us with pride.
GIANLUCA= And in this union between past and present, between history and music, we will spend this evening together, as if we were truly family.
IGNAZIO= And after this whole introduction I would say that it’s time to get into the spirit of Christmas and therefore….maestro!!
CHRISTMAS MEDLEY
PIERO= Thank you.
GIANLUCA= Thank you.
IGNAZIO= Thank you very much everyone. Do you know, we often listen and sing Christmas songs without knowing the real story, because behind each one there is a great story and we, by choosing the songs from tonight’s Christmas repertoire, have gone to the bottom of all the stories…
PIERO= ….about how they were born…
IGNAZIO= About how they were born and so what better opportunity than to tell them this evening.
PIERO= So, can I start telling one?
IGNAZIO= Go!
PIERO= This next song that we all know was born in 1940.
IGNAZIO= I remember, good times!
PIERO= Imagine this author from New York moves to Los Angeles and there with the heat and nostalgia, he writes the next song which remains one of the most beautiful songs that have ever been written in the history of the Christmas repertoire, but there is a What….
IGNAZIO= But I know the story, you have to tell them (audience).
PIERO= Wait, maybe you didn’t know this. What happens? This piece is the only piece from the Christmas repertoire that wins an Oscar in the musical category.
GIANLUCA= But there is also a nice story at the end. On the evening of the awards ceremony, a unique episode occurred in the history of the Oscar awards, because the author of the song was also the host of the evening.
IGNAZIO= That is, he hosted the evening?
GIANLUCA= Yes, he was the host, and it was up to him to open the Oscar winner’s envelope and read his name. This was certainly an inconvenient circumstance, so much so that the following year, the Academy changed the rules of the competition to prevent the situation from happening again.
IGNAZIO= If I’m not mistaken that author was called: IRVING BERLIN (He jokes about the pronunciation of the name)
GIANLUCA= The pronunciation Ignazio, you have been traveling the world for 15 years….Irving Berlin
IGNAZIO= Okay, what Gianluca said. The song is White Christmas which in all these years has been translated into all the languages of the world and in Italy it has been translated into:
WHITE CHRISTMAS
IGNAZIO= Thank you, thank you very much everyone!
GIANLUCA= “What can be said with music is much more effective”, is what the author of the next song thought, a former Neapolitan lawyer who in the 18th century, disappointed by the corruption of justice, decided to dedicate himself to the most needy, becoming priest and then saint. His name was Alfonso de Liguori and he left us the most famous Christmas carol.
TU SCENDI DALLE STELLE (Piero)
PIERO= Thank you
GIANLUCA= We are at the foot of the Temple of Concordia and I like to imagine that almost 2500 years ago people gathered right here to pray to the goddess Concordia who symbolized harmony between people.
IGNAZIO= The next song, more than a song, is a hymn that underlines the importance of union.
PIERO= This song was written by John Lennon together with his wife Yoko Ono to send a message of peace against the war in Vietnam, a message that unfortunately is still relevant after 50 years.
HAPPY XMAS (War is Over)
PIERO= Thank you very much! This evening we are celebrating the magic of Christmas in this spectacular setting that Sicily offers us, which both you and I, Ignazio, know well.
IGNAZIO= Absolutely, even if to make me feel a little at home it would take a song in front of a fireplace, two or three chestnuts crackling on the fire, a little coarse salt put on……mmmm
PIERO= There was also an author there who wrote the song about the fireplace and the chestnuts.
IGNAZIO= Oh yes? Gianluca will make us hear it with the next song.
THE CHRISTMAS SONG
GIANLUCA= Thank you
(continues immediately without introduction)
IL MONDO
GIANLUCA= As we all know, this is the night of waiting.
IGNAZIO= The wait… for the panettone, at the end of dinner….😁
PIERO= You are very obvious…
GIANLUCA= Wait a minute, I was referring to that wait to unwrap the gifts, but did you ask for them? Have you asked for any gifts this year?
IGNAZIO= But what’s the point, the same gifts always arrive anyway. 😁
PIERO= Just curious, have you ever written the letter to Santa Claus?
GIANLUCA= Yes, some time ago, not now.
IGNAZIO= Yes, as a child and you?
PIERO= Never me.
IGNAZIO= But you must have written it, at school they make it written.
PIERO= Just once. I got home, there was an uncle dressed as Santa Claus and I couldn’t believe it, I went to my room to cry.
IGNAZIO= Maybe we wrote it (the letter) as children, but like Il Volo we never really wrote it.
PIERO= Do we want to do it for the first time? Let’s write a letter.
GIANLUCA= Let’s write a letter.
PIERO= Where are we tonight, in which city?
GIAN+IGNA= Agrigento.
PIERO= Where was I born?
GIAN+IGNA= In Agrigento.
PIERO= At the hospital here in Agrigento.
I’ve prepared something, look. Did you think that the other two members of Il Volo were also coming and I wasn’t preparing something? Look at what a beautiful desk I brought from home, I brought the desk, a paper and a pen. (meanwhile Piero, Gianluca and Ignazio have moved to the right of the stage under the Christmas tree where there is a desk)
IGNAZIO= But do you really want to write the letter to Santa Claus?
PIERO= Don’t worry, don’t worry.
GIANLUCA= Let’s do it the old-fashioned way: pen and paper!
PIERO= (He sat down to write)
Dear….
IGNAZIO= Meanwhile, get up, you have writing that looks like a doctor’s, get up.
GIANLUCA= I’ll write that it’s better.
Dear Santa Claus…
PIERO= That is Santa Claus…
IGNAZIO= What a Santa Claus: Nicola, you write Dear Nicola….
GIANLUCA= Dear Nicola, then…
PIERO= We are writing to you from Agrigento…
GIANLUCA = Leave it to me.
DEAR NICOLA,
In the meantime, thank you for this Christmas that you gave us and which cannot be taken for granted.
IGNAZIO= But what do we ask him? Because we have to ask for something.
PIERO= Let’s try to be alternative, ask for non-gifts.
IGNAZIO= What does it mean?
PIERO= For this year we are asking for non- gifts.
IGNAZIO= This year we ask you for non-gifts! (and Gianluca writes)
PIERO= For example, take away social media and mobile phones for a week, at least let’s go back to talking a little more, talking to each other looking at each other’s faces, in the eyes, and socializing more.
GIANLUCA= This actually seems like a good idea to me.
IGNAZIO= It’s true Gianluca, a nice gift.
GIANLUCA= I agree, but now I have one too.
Dear Nicola, you who are at the North Pole have seen that it is no longer as cold as it used to be, there is less and less ice and in an instant you will have to replace your red velvet costume with a swimsuit. So, this year don’t give bulldozers and chainsaws to those who think trees shouldn’t be there. ❤️🌲
IGNAZIO= Well done!
PIERO= Good, I like this.
GIANLUCA= Maybe it’s a good start to fix things.
IGNAZIO= And you did yours too. Now since there’s time, write.
GIANLUCA= Bring me the paper because it’s windy.
PIERO= I’ll keep it.
IGNAZIO= Write:
Dear Nicola, what do you say, if you have some time left over to remove all those toys to play the game of war, you know those toy soldiers, rubber guns and tanks, because we know that WAR IS NOT A GAME ❤️ (applause)
PIERO= To finish, because I liked this one (handshakes)… but bring one thing, especially to those children who didn’t have the opportunity this night, the chance to write you a letter, because you know, among the rubble it’s even difficult to find a pen and a sheet of paper, give them all the opportunity to celebrate Christmas, because if Christmas is an opportunity for adults to become children again, children need time and the future to become adults ! ❤️ (applause)
I+P+G= Signed: Il Volo!
GIANLUCA= Done.
PIERO= The letter is written.
IGNAZIO= The letter is written, we still have to wait for us to deliver the letter in person because in any case:
SANTA CLOUS IS COMING TOWN
(immediately after that it starts:)
ROCKIN AROUND CHRISTMAS TREE
I+G+P= Thank you, Thank you very much.
See you soon. (commercial break)
GRANDE AMORE
PIERO= Thank you, thank you very much.
Let’s continue with the story of the most beautiful Christmas songs. The next one, just think, has only 19 words, 13 in English and 6 in Spanish, because for the author Christmas unites everyone and speaks only one language, the universal one.
GIANLUCA= Just think that the author we all know comes from Puerto Rico, was the fourth of eleven children and in 1970 he was recording an album of Christmas covers but at the last minute, the producer asked him to include an original piece in the album Christmas, so he wrote it in ten minutes but without importance.
IGNAZIO= That song that he wrote in ten minutes, he didn’t hope so much, but in the end it not only became the most famous song on the album, but the most famous song of his career.
It’s the best known Christmas song in the world, I’m talking about Josè Feliciano and the song you understood is:
FELIZ NAVIDAD
PIERO= Now is an important and exciting moment because Ignazio is your turn.
IGNAZIO= Is it my turn? (he is sitting on the piano).
PIERO= You will sing one of the songs that made the history of Italian music.
Ladies and gentlemen, from the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento. Ignazio.
ALMENO TU NELL’UNIVERSO
IGNAZIO= Thank you, thank you all.
PIERO= Tonight there is an element that everyone has in common, from us who are on stage, to you who stay at home, it is the great protagonist of every Christmas, we all have this element at home.
As you have understood, we are talking about the Christmas tree, this evening we wanted to exaggerate.
IGNAZIO= I think the Christmas tree is also the symbol of union, because at home we make the tree together with the family.
PIERO= All together, of course.
IGNAZIO= There are those who put the ball….it’s a way for us all to be together and then, when the period ends we all take it down together…..that is, they take it down!!
PIERO= Have you never taken down the Christmas tree?
IGNAZIO= Never!
I’m there to decorate it, to dismantle it… a little less.
GIANLUCA= Think that there is an author who wrote a song about the Christmas tree, he talks about him in the next song, so:
O TANNENBAUM
IGNAZIO= Now it’s time to listen to a song taken from one of the most famous American musicals in my opinion: The Phantom of the Opera, this next song is titled: La Musica della Notte, Gianluca!
THE MUSIC OF THE NIGHT
PIERO= Imagine for a moment that these temples could talk, what would they tell us? Maybe they would tell us about nights similar to this one, in which men and women gathered under the stars seeking comfort, maybe they would tell us about hopes, dreams, or prayers raised to heaven.
HALLELUJAH
GIANLUCA= We want to remember and dedicate this moment to our Barbara because it is as if she were here with all of us, truly and we wanted to say it with all our hearts, with emotion. ❤️🙏 Thank you!
See you soon (commercial break)
AVE MARIA
GIANLUCA= Thank you, thank you.
PIERO= I would like to dedicate a big round of applause to this magnificent orchestra conducted by maestro Edmondo Savio.
GIANLUCA= The next song is a tribute to beauty and I would say that tonight we are truly surrounded by it, these ancient columns are the result of a search for beauty that has been able to overcome time and space and become a true masterpiece:
CAPOLAVORO
GIANLUCA= Thank you.
PIERO= Thank you very much.
Christmas, as you know, is the holiday that brings us back to memories, mine doesn’t go back that long ago, it dates back to 2019.
IGNAZIO= So?
PIERO= In 2019 we had a concert in Croatia. The concert was on December 22nd, on the morning of the 23rd we were all at the airport to return, I had to return to Catania and I had to return for the Christmas party.
Due to bad weather they canceled all direct flights to Catania, I was desperate, the only solution, and you should remind this (to Ignazio)….
IGNAZIO= Who am I?
PIERO=…. yes because you were close to me. The only solution to get home was to land in Paris, stay in Paris for two days and then arrive home on the evening of the 25th. I, along with other families who were there at check in, were desperate, we didn’t want to go to Paris, but to return home for Christmas…
GIANLUCA= Okay, it wasn’t bad, but for us who travel around the world, going home is better.
PIERO= Bravo! So we were desperate.
What happens? At a certain point a woman comes near us and says: “Last night I was at your concert, you were wonderful.”
I turn around and she was wearing her airline uniform.
IGNAZIO= She’s called a hostess anyway. 😁
PIERO= Before saying thank you I say: “Hold up for a moment, lady, who are you, why are you dressed in the airline uniform?”….
IGNAZIO= Because it’s carnival!! 😂(laughter)
PIERO= …. “You have to help me”…..but how can I talk to you (Ignazio) who whispers to me?
GIANLUCA= You make him finish! 😁
IGNAZIO= I understand, but how can a woman dressed as a stewardess, excuse me???
PIERO= I thought I had to make this commitment for myself and for the four families who were there, so I tell you: “Ma’am, thank you for enjoying the concert, but you have to take us back to Sicily.”
And she somehow managed to put me and the four families on a flight to Palermo and on the evening of the 24th I was at home for dinner! (applause)
And this was the best gift I’ve ever received! (applause)
IGNAZIO= What is the limit for Piero Barone? Missing the flight (il volo) at Christmas!! 😁😁
GIANLUCA= Shivering with cold!
Can I tell you one too? Mine is nice too.
I remember that for many years, on the morning of the 25th I found the window open, the biscuits crumbled on the ground that Babbo Natale (Santa Claus) had eaten and brought to the tree and once I also found his red hat which had remained near the open window…
IGNAZIO= But whose?
GIANLUCA= Babbo Natale’s!
PIERO= Nicola’s!
GIANLUCA= Just think that one day I was desperate, I came back from school because my classmates told me that Babbo Natale didn’t exist. So I went home crying and went to my mother and she told me that it couldn’t be like that, since he had left all that evidence of his presence in our house.
IGNAZIO= Yes, all those tracks.
GIANLUCA= So today two things come to mind:
or that Babbo Natale would be a terrible criminal, or that my parents were Oscar-winning set designers for years, because they were good at keeping a child’s dream alive, like all parents do. (applause)
IGNAZIO= Or that in life you were right to be a singer because if you were a detective you were denied! 😁
PIERO= And you, dear Ignazio, what is your memory of Christmas?
IGNAZIO= I don’t have many memories, yes, like everyone else, Christmas has always been one of the most beautiful moments of the year in recent years because for us who didn’t spend much time with our families, we came back in the last days of December to have Christmas and New Year’s Eve with them.
Don’t you know that I, I, you see me? I am a living Christmas present.
GIANLUCA= Oh yes?
PIERO= But something normal in your life???….😁
GIANLUCA= Wait, let him finish, don’t always interrupt!
IGNAZIO= I am the living Christmas present because my sister wrote a letter to Babbo Natale on Christmas 1993, like the one we wrote before, and she wrote: “Dear Santa Claus, take material gifts to the poorest children, but I ask you for a little brother”……and I was born….in ‘94! 🥰
The stork brought me, this stork was immense!!
If I can, I want to dedicate this next song to my sister, because it was she who encouraged the stork to pass through Bologna, so this one is for her.
PIERO= Ladies and gentlemen, let’s leave the stage to Ignazio.
I’LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS
GIANLUCA= Guys, are you enjoying this evening?
And you who are in the audience, how is it going? (applause)
IGNAZIO= Make yourself heard by the Canale 5 audience, up, up. (applause)
IGNAZIO= Tonight as per tradition, we don’t go to bed before midnight.
PIERO= And we’ll take care of keeping you awake by dedicating the next aria to you.
NESSUN DORMA
I+G+P= Thank you very much everyone.
(commercial break)
AMAZING GRACE
PIERO= Ladies and gentlemen: Pretty Yende.
YENDE= Thank you very much.
PIERO= Opera star. (applause)
GIANLUCA= Thank you for being here with us, it’s truly a great honor.
YENDE= It’s a pleasure for me, thank you very much.
PIERO= Let’s sing another song.
YENDE= Yes.
IGNAZIO= The next one is a piece taken from an opera, one of the most famous, LA TRAVIATA by Giuseppe Verdi, which tells of a moment of celebration.
GIANLUCA= It’s a hymn to happiness, to love, and on those occasions like this, which remind us how beautiful it is to be together and toast.
IGNAZIO= What better occasion than Christmas Eve to make a toast?
PIERO= So at home, let’s raise our glasses and toast together.
LIBIAMO DE LIETI CALICI
PIERO= If in this Valley of the Temples the stones and columns tell millenary stories, this evening we are telling the stories of Christmas songs and there is one in particular that deserves to be told.
GIANLUCA= 110 years have passed since the night of Christmas Eve 1914, a night like this.
The First World War began five months ago, enough time to already cause a million deaths.
The German soldiers, on one side of the front, sing this very song, on the other side the English listen and are moved and decide to exchange not bullets, but smiles for this time. From the backpacks of the English suddenly a ball comes out, a leather ball, the doors made with coats, the enemies discover they are simply human beings.
IGNAZIO= (he reads a letter written from the front after that evening).
My dearest mother, I am writing this to you from the battlefield, it is so incredible that I am writing from here, but it is so. I think there was something very magical about Christmas Day. At many points along the line, the Germans began lighting candles and singing, then shouted: “A merry Christmas to you Englishmen”, and we responded by wishing them the same.
It’s incredible, but we didn’t shoot for a while. This morning some of them began to advance towards our lines with their hands raised, and we went out to meet them.
We exchanged cigarettes and chocolate and showed them photos of our families. We also buried our dead who lay between the trenches together. We shook hands, talked to each other, shared stories and laughs. At this moment it almost seems that the war is over, but of course we know that this is not the case. I can’t help but wonder how this is all possible.
For today at least, there has been peace on earth and good will among men, let’s hope that this spirit can last.
With all my love:
Dogan ❤️🙏😭
ASTRO DEL CIEL
ADESTE FIDELES
GIANLUCA= This starry sky that envelops the Valley of the Temples of Agrigento is the perfect backdrop for the next song, so we leave the stage to Piero.
E LUCEVAN LE STELLE
PIERO= Thanks everyone.
GLORIA IN EXCELIS DEO (beautiful Gregorian chant)
GIANLUCA= Thank you
(commercial break)
SE
IGNAZIO= Thank you.
PIERO= The next song takes the three of us back in time, to when we were children and didn’t even know each other.
GIANLUCA= Before becoming IL VOLO, each of us sang where we could, especially in church, which was the best stage to test ourselves.
IGNAZIO= Yes, also because singing in church also meant earning some money and this next song was one of the most requested, I’m talking about:
PANIS ANGELICUS
CARUSO
GIANLUCA= Stay with us, it doesn’t end here, see you soon. (commercial break)
PIERO= We have reached the end of this wonderful evening, we are very happy, in this magical place, the Valley of the Temples is a theater under the stars.
GIANLUCA= Thanks also to maestro Edmondo Savio, thanks to the orchestra, thanks to the musical director Giampiero Grani, to all the musicians and the choir, but above all thanks to you. (applause)
IGNAZIO= Grazie mille. For us it is very exciting to spend Christmas with you, with you who have supported us every year since our inception, but above all we are proud because on this evening we wanted to give you emotions but in particular to send you messages.
GIANLUCA= May you carry in your heart every day a little of the magic that the Valley of the Temples gave us this night. Merry Christmas everyone and goodnight!
PIERO= Thanks everyone!
AVE MARIA MATER MISERICORDIAE
What an incredible concert!!!
It was broadcast on Christmas Eve and had maximum ratings, as you can see from the list of TV shows that evening.
Furthermore, the concert was repeated in the early afternoon of Christmas Day, still obtaining the maximum audience in the afternoon. A great ratings success.
A few days earlier, Maestro Grani had published this post with great pride:
“I had the pleasure and privilege of taking care of the musical direction of this wonderful event!
In Italy we have places of absolute beauty. This is a concert that will leave its mark.
Thanks to @ilvolomusic.”
It was truly a magical Christmas Eve, as only Il Volo can do.
Daniela 🤗🎄✨
Credit to owners of all photos and videos.
Thank you, ladies
I didn’t realize that they recorded two concerts in Agrigento.
I’ve been seeing news from Abruzzo, that they were hit with 2 meters of snow in some places. We used to get that much snow in northern Illinois but we are flat! It must be so hard for them in the hills and mountains.
There are videos on YouTube that I wouldn’t have paid attention to if I didn’t know that it was Gianluca’s home.
Ja es wurden zwei Konzerte in Agrigento aufgezeichnet: das Weihnachtskonzert und das PBS Konzert.
Es freut mich sehr, dass das Weihnachtskonzert sowohl bei der Ausstrahlung am 24.12 hohe Einschaltquoten hatte, als auch bri der Wiederholung am 25.12.
Yes I agree!
Ich bestätige Ina, das Konzert wurde von vielen Leuten verfolgt und auch am nächsten Tag wiederholt und ich bin sehr glücklich darüber, alle haben es verdient, sie sind bei vielen Menschen sehr beliebt, außerdem wurde es auch in einigen Gebieten im Ausland übertragen und diese sind nicht enthalten im italienischen Publikum.
I confirm Ina, the concert was followed by many people and also repeated the following day and I am very happy about it, all deserved, they are much loved by many people, furthermore it was also broadcast in some areas abroad and those are not included in the Italian audience.
Yes Gail, there were two concerts in Agrigento, one for PBS and one as a Christmas concert for Mediaset Italia and it was broadcast on Christmas Eve.
It’s true in Abruzzo there was a lot of snow, but more towards the interior of the region.
I get to watch it on PBS Passport.
Me too! Wonderful concert and then watched Il Volos sing at Andrea Bocelli anniversary concert.
Ruth, I don’t think this Christmas concert is on PBS, if you have different news let me know.
Thank you very much, dear Daniela. I spent Christmas Eve with my daughter and my son‘s family in his house. I told my son about the concert and asked him, if it‘s possible to stream. Although it‘s said that the streaming would be for free, he had to pay but that was not the problem. The problem was that he was not sucessful. He tried from eight to nine. The other guests were hungry and wanted to eat, so he stopped at nine. I am not sure but I think I have read later that the tv started at 21.15. The next day was my birthday and I had a lot of guests, so again it was not possible to watch.
So I am very happy that you posted this evening and it was very interesting to read and watch.
Thank you very much.
Uschi
Dear Usci, so your birthday is on Christmas Day, happy belated birthday wishes!!
Yes, the broadcast started at 9.30pm but they told me it also started late. I also had guests and I turned on late and then stopped watching to go to mass at midnight, but I knew that the next day in the early afternoon it was on again.
I think the streaming had a lot of connection problems and I’m happy to have helped you with this post, also Il Volo gave really positive messages as well as beautiful songs!!
Liebe Daniela, herzlichen Dank für die Übersetzung und den schönen Bericht. Ich konnte das Konzert am 26.12. auf Youtube sehen und es war wunderschön. Nur den Dialogen konnte ich leider überwiegend nicht folgen, Dank deiner Übersetzung ist es nun anders.
Liebe Grüße Benitta
Danke Benitta, genau aus diesem Grund setze ich mich für Übersetzungen ein, damit auch Du das Gesagte verstehen und wertschätzen kannst und die Worte dieses Konzerts unbedingt übersetzt werden mussten.
Thank you Benitta, it is precisely for this reason that I am committed to translations, so that you too can understand and appreciate what was said and the words of this concert absolutely had to be translated.
Thank you so much, Daniela. This version of the Christmas concert at a
at Agrigento has appeared on youtube with a good English translation if you use the closed captions. Just wanted to share. Buon Anno, Flight Crew members! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5nZAwafaX4
Buon Anno to everyone too! I watch Il volo every day .Love them!
Thanks Eileen for the report. I knew about the video published on you tube, in fact it is also one of the two links we published in this post. The administrator of Il Volo En Clase, who published that video, is a dear friend of mine, Carmen, and she immediately alerted me to the video. Unfortunately his video is not visible here in Italy, so I couldn’t verify the quality of the automatic translation, furthermore I know that some people from Flight Crew struggle to follow the words under the video, so I did the translation anyway. Carmen guaranteed me that the video will be visible outside Italy, for this reason, together with Pat we decided to put two links for the concert, so that everyone follows it where they can see it.
Daniela and Pat, Grazie mille for this beautiful Christmas gift to us. It was a. massive job and much appreciated. God bless our young men and their families.
Thank you for this treat. I live on Long Island in the states. I found out about this wonderful trio years ago while watching American Idol with Simon Cowell. They struck such a cord with me with their voices and I have watched them grow over the years. Thank you for allowing me to follow them and listen to their magnificent voices. They are truly blessed.
Yes totally agree!
Thanks to you Pat for liking it. Always follow us, there are still many great news and translations for you.
Dear RoseMarie, you don’t have to thank us, the words of our beloved Ignazio, Gianluca and Piero were too beautiful and absolutely had to be translated. They gave us a welcome Christmas gift consisting of: excellent singing, elegance, seriousness with a pinch of playfulness and many beautiful messages of love and brotherhood!
What a wonderful review. I can’t wait to see them in March. Thank you Daniela very much
Thanks Irene for the compliments. March will come soon and you will enjoy a nice concert, I’m happy for you.
Thank you for all of your posts ,translations, and pictures too
Buon Anno to everyone and a successful 2025 to Il volo and everyone!
Thanks Linda, always follow us and Happy New Year to you!
Dear Daniela:
Thank you for sharing this magical Christmas Concert with us. It brings such joy words cannot express. Writing to Santa was so adorable. The Music so perfect. It will always be in our hearts and our memories. Il Volo, Thank you, for making our hearts come alive with love on this night.
Tony and Gale, thanks for the compliments. The letter to Santa Claus was truly touching, impossible not to be moved, but Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca often do it, with grace and skill.
Thank you Daniela for the beautiful post , articles, pictures and translations and when Il volo is scheduled on . Buon Anno to you and everyone. Il volo forever!
Daniela and pat, thanks so much, brilliant as always! The concert was great, it was such a pleasure to see and listen the hole concert. It seems I understand more and more Italian lately :-)) Thanks for translating xxx And Happy New Year! 😉
Perfect Toni, the Italian language won’t be a problem for you, keep going. I’m happy you enjoyed the concert.
Bonsoir Daniela
Merci pour ce merveilleux article
Je n’ai pas pu regarder le soir de Noël ici je ne capte pas mais je les regarde et les écoute tous le jours sur YouTube et je suis tombée sur l’intégralité du concert quelle joies quel bonheur et depuis il tourne en boucle cet endroit est magnifique j’y suis allée il y a quelques déjà ce concert est grandiose magnifique superbe nos chouchous Piero Ignazio et Gianluca ❤️ 💙 💚 merveilleux ils sont époustouflants leur voix exceptionnelle ils nous transmettent bonheur joie et amour on est rempli de frissons je les ai vu à Paris le 31 octobre et j’ai hâte de les revoir fin novembre
Je vous souhaite une bonne fin d’année 2024 et une merveilleuse année 2025 joie bonheur et réussite et beaucoup d’amour avec Il Volo
Amitiés de France 🇨🇵
Je suis très heureuse de recevoir également des commentaires d'”amis français”, merci pour les compliments et je suis heureuse que vous ayez apprécié Il Volo fin octobre à Paris.
Sur notre site, vous trouverez de nombreuses archives de publications avec des traductions qui pourraient vous plaire. Suivez-nous et il y aura bien plus à lire. Bonne année à toi aussi, un câlin d’Italie !!
I’m so happy to receive comments also from “French friends”, thanks for the compliments and I’m happy that you enjoyed Il Volo at the end of October in Paris.
On our site, there is a long archive of publications with translations that you may like. Follow us and there will be much more to read. Happy New Year to you too, a hug from Italy!!
Thank you for translating what ilvolo said, they made many meaningful messages ❤️
Sherian, I absolutely agree, they gave many positive messages, we should have expected them from the three of them, but it is always a pleasure and a reconfirmation.
Thank you Daniela and Pat for this beautiful post. The concert is wonderful. I’m going to watch it once again and thanks to your translations it will be more interesting. Thanks a lot for the great job you do, you are incredibile.
Yolanta, so nice to hear from you, I hope you and your family had a great Christmas.
Thanks for the compliments, our beloved ones gave us a lot of love, positivity and skill in this concert…..and they are giving me a lot of work, they never sit still ah ah ah.
Happy New Year dear friend!!
This was a perfect Christmas gift, Daniela and Pat–one that we all will love and are so grateful for. The letters to Santa were beautiful, and I loved the guys’ favorite Christmas memories–all good stories, especially Ignazio as a living Christmas present!! So happy, though not surprised, that the ratings were excellent, and I’m hoping the reviews will be also.
And they surely will be–it was a superb concert, with a very touching dedication to Barbara.
Judi, it was impossible that the words spoken by Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca in this concert did not strike a chord in our hearts, there could not be more beautiful words and more touching moments and they had to be translated, in order to fully savor their beauty.
The concert was very popular and this proves that many people love Il Volo. Unfortunately the newspapers and also many haters are not fully highlighting the beauty and positivity but the fact that the concert was recorded in the summer, I believe that many are moved by strong jealousy.
Well, I counted SIX standing ovations, so it seems that the audience didn’t mind at all that it wasn’t actually Christmas yet! And hey, newspapers and other haters–with the arduous schedule these guys have, are you really going to begrudge them a little time at Christmas with their families??😡
Judi, the audience certainly had fun and appreciated it a lot, as usual the newspapers don’t give any explanation for why Il Volo is so popular, it’s always been like that from the beginning. In recent days, 2 concerts by Bocelli and one by Vasco Rossi have been broadcast and he is very popular here, enough to fill 7 football stadiums, and highly acclaimed by critics, none of their concerts exceeded 17% share, this says it long on what people think!!
You’re most welcome, Judi! The whole concert was wonderful! 😃
Thank you sooooo much Daniela and Pat……this was an absolutely beautiful concert…..can’t wait until they come to Bethlehem, Pa……I’ve got tickets! I wish I could understand Italian….. I most certainly appreciate your translations.
I hope you had a blessed Christmas. Happy New Year to all!
Ellie from Doylestown, Pa.
It was a fantastic concert Ellie and Maestro Grani also wrote that there will be many surprises for your tour, so you will enjoy a nice concert in Bethlehem. Happy New Year to you too.
You’re welcome, Ellie! 😊
So many beautiful complements and love shared over your beautiful translations and love of Il Volo and your beautiful writing Daniela and Pat lets hope we can carry this on forever in love of the most wonderful men talent and charm in our world today
Yes I agree
Thanks Cindi for the nice compliments, but they are directed to the three of them, our magnificent Ignazio, Piero and Gianluca who, with so much grace, love and skill, bring us such a beautiful and meaningful concert.
So glad you liked it, Cindi! 😊
Your kindness in sharing and translating is a gift to us all!!!
Ty you do such a great job it’s Ustinov like being there,!?
Thanks Mare, in reality we were all there in Agrigento sitting listening to a beautiful concert. Isn’t that so?
Thank you so much Daniella. I watched the wonderful concert earlier on You tube and now I understand what the boys were saying.
Junesi, I’m happy to have been able to help you with the translation, a veil has been lifted for you on what was said and I think it was worth it!!
Thank you so much, Il Volo are amazing ❤️
Hope your Christmas was magical too and best wishes Daniela for 2025 🎉🎶✅❤️
Thank you so much Gwen and Happy New Year to you, it must be a fantastic 2025!
Daniela,
thank you very much for nice translation of their talks between one song and another. I can see them using the subtitle translation of the YouTube function, but it is not good ones.
I would like to inform this site on our facebook site, becausse one of the member want to see their interesting talks.
Have a happy new year!
Yukio, what a pleasure to hear from you, you saw what a wonderful concert and what beautiful words our Ignazio, Gianluca and Piero said.
Whenever you want you can freely publish our posts or part of them on your site, for us at Flight Crew it is an honor.
A dear hug from Italy to you and Kumico.
Liebe Daniela,
hab vielen Dank, dass Sie dieses außergewöhnlich schöne Weihnachtskonzert von Il Volo uns geschenkt haben. Ich bin ein großer Fan von den 3 Künstlern und verfolge sie seit 2 Jahren. Ich habe in München Musik studiert und verstehe etwas von diesem Genre. Das Programm war sehr dem Weihnachtsfest angepasst, innige, fromme Lieder, die der Welt Frieden und Besinnung geben sollten. Sehr gut fand ich auch, dass die 3 Künstler zu den jeweiligen die Entstehungsgeschichte erzählt haben, das war sehr intelligent gemacht. Die Sänger haben hervorragend in ihrem sehr eigenen und persönlichen Stil gesungen, haben Gänsehautmomente aufkommen lassen und ihre eigene Frömmigkeit und Bescheidenheit demonstriert. Insgesamt ein großartiges Weihnachtskonzert ohne den sonst üblichen Kitsch.
Schade, dass ich niemanden von den dreien eine persönliche Nachricht schreiben kann, oder gibt es doch eine Möglichkeit, ihnen persönlich mein Kompliment zukommen zu lassen???
Liebe Margit, vielen Dank, dass du auf unsere Seite gekommen bist und uns folgst.
Ich stimme allen Komplimenten zu, die Sie zu diesem Konzert gemacht haben. Unsere jungen Männer verstehen es auf feine Weise, zu unseren Herzen zu sprechen und lassen uns auch etwas Persönliches erahnen. Es gibt noch andere Dinge, die ich übersetze, die Ihnen gefallen werden, also bleiben Sie bei uns. Ich habe auch keinen direkten Kontakt zu Piero, Gianluca und Ignazio, aber ich kann Ihnen sagen, dass sie Flight Crew schätzen und wissen, dass sie hier sehr geliebt werden.
Dear Margit, thank you for coming to our site and for following us.
I agree with all the compliments you made regarding this concert, our young men delicately know how to speak to our hearts and also let us glimpse something personal, there are other things that I am translating that you will like, so stay with us. I don’t have direct contact with Piero, Gianluca and Ignazio either, but I can tell you that they appreciate Flight Crew and know they are very loved here.
With Il Volo’s music, there is no requirement to understand, we don’t need to break the mold to deliver a solid slice of a feel-good feeling, their voices resonate with my soul! I am so incredibly grateful for your music Il Volo as we continue to grow together, Yes, I consider you guys a moment of my life, Love You Il Volo! I am Fortune from Hawaii
It’s true Fortune, their songs say it all and are a balm for our hearts, but their words also always have great value, let’s say that the “package” they offer us is definitely to our taste!
Daniela, Pat – I can’t tell you how much I appreciate all your hard work in translating and posting. I’m watching this concert today as we prepare for New Year here in Scotland.
And to all my new Il Volo friends: I wish you every happiness for 2025 when it comes.
Thank you again,
Jill
Thanks for your nice comments, Jill. Happy New Year to you and all the Flight Crew! 😊🧡🎉
Happy New Year to all friends of Il Volo, to all those special contributors and publishers of the flight crew, and especially the men of our dreams, Piero, Ignacious, and Gianluca! May 2025 be filled with all those special people in your lives ! Ciao
Happy New Year to you too Sheila!
Hi Jill and thank you for the lovely compliments.
Pat made me read your review of the song from Ad Astra and you absolutely need to post it. Unfortunately Pat has had health problems and I only know how to write and I don’t know how to publish, but now the situation has improved. Happy New Year to you in Scotland, a hug from Italy!!
Daniela and Pat thank you for the translation it must have been an amazing concert and for Piero to have it in his home town ,I wish we could have seen it hear in England ,the boys are so lovely to hear their stories of their Xmas when they were young ,and the letter writing it looked so magical there ,regards and Happy New Year to you both and Il Volo
You’re most welcome, Pamela! 😊
Yes Pamela it was a beautiful concert and Piero was certainly over the moon to have been in his beautiful Sicily, in particular Agrigento where he was born. They also told us wonderful stories about Christmas carols, wrote a beautiful letter to Santa Claus and remembered a truly successful event from the First World War. Everything was seasoned with elegance and mastery!
Oh Daniela and Pat – thank you from the bottom of my heart for this beautiful article – not only bringing a useful link to the fantastic concert at “The Valley of the Temples” but also a fine translation of the words the guys exchanged from the stage adding just soooo much more to the experience next to being either funny, profound or explanatory. So much appreciated.
Due to unsteady/lacking TV/wifi during the X-mas period only yesterday it was possible for me to watch the concert video. The first link from Mediaset did, unfortunately, not work for me (not available outside Italy it stated), so what a relief to find the second YouTube-link up running – and I was even able to transfer it to our TV-screen by means of our cromecast. Thumbs up! Now does only remain a way to save this video for ever as I fear that PBS/Canale 5 won’t leave it there for long…. But at least I got to watch it and as soon as I find yet a moment, I cannot wait to re-run it .
You have all said what there really is to be said about this wonderful concert, so not much to add – I can only agree that – once again – the guys delivered. And that big time! They never let us down. The setting at the foot of the Concordia Temple was, of course, a big value-added bonus giving the entire concert a not only breathtaking beautiful frame but likewise this undefinable ambiance of solemnity and breath of history that makes it stand out and so perfectly fit the Christmas season. And fully understandable it must have been very emotionally for the guys personally – not at least Piero – being the first singers ever per-forming in this unique environment, which I do also spur throughout the concert. They must have been rightfully so very proud. And Italy should be so proud of them giving the country – and especially Sicily – a gift by bringing this beautiful spot to the attention of the entire world. With shame, I must admit, that I had never heard of neither the Concordia Temple nor The Valley of the Temples before – actually, I didn’t have the slightest idea that such wonders were to be found in Sicily in spite of having worked more than 40 years in the tourist business… So the combination of this unique site with the unique singers of IL VOLO created a synergy effect to the benefit of all involved.
The repertoire was as such not much different from the one they presented in their very first PBS Christ-mas Show in Miami back in 2013 – and the video from which I have had running over and over this X-mas – but it proves that our guys by now have evolved and turned into full grown men with an outstand-ing professionalism taking in the stage and running cameras as naturally as they shower in the morning while showing full control of their voices, performances and interaction with the audience – knowing ex-actly what they are doing. And taking full responsibility. They seemed more mature and resting in them-selves than ever before. The interpretations of the songs were clearer and more empathetic than I recall having observed before. I.e. Gianluca has always been fond of the big American crooners and done his best to do their songs justice – typically trying to copy their moves and sounds – to-day, however, he IS a top crooner himself! I just loved his low-profile yet very emotionally performances of the American X-mas songs.
And I loved the way they “tied a knot” linking the various songs with their little introductions, back ground info and jokes – entertaining yet on a more serious level at times. I enjoyed their letter to Father Christmas, their sweet childhood memories from when they believed in him – and appreciated their greet-ing to Barbara. So absolutely a lovely concert I shall cherish for long.
Finally, I’ll take this opportunity to wish the Flight Crew Team and all of you my fellow readers and fans a very Happy New Year hoping for good health, happy moments and peace on Earth. Love – Kirsten, Denmark
Liebe Kirsten, das ist eine wundervolle Antwort auf den wundervollen Bericht. Herzlichen Dank an das IL Volo Flight Team. Eure Berichte und Übersetzungen sind immer ein Erlebnis. Ich wünsche allen ein gesundes, Gutes Neues Jahr.
Vielen Dank Ina – und auch ein frohes neues Jahr und alles Gute im Jahr 2025 für dich und deine Familie. Viele herzliche Grüße – Kirsten
Touche’!! – Kirsten – Happy New Year!!
I just watched it again .Loved when they wrote the letter to Santa Claus and they talked about their Christmas growing up. Love them
Buon Natale and Buon Anno and healthy and successful 2025!
Thank you so very much – and the same to you and yours.
Love – Kirsten
Dear Kirsten, I am very happy that the translation helped you complete the vision of a beautiful concert and fully understand its meaning.
Yes, our beloved guys always express what they think very well and always give messages full of affection, positivity and lots of love.
But you really didn’t know the Valley of the Temples?? It’s beautiful, I’ve been there three times and I have a photo right in front of the Temple of Concordia, beautiful!!
What can I say, the memory of Barbara was delightful, she also appears in the names at the beginning of the concert. You should know that that concert had a great success with the public who followed it. In these Christmas days many concerts have been broadcast here in Italy, some even by singers who are very acclaimed here, but none have surpassed, nor equaled Il Volo!! What a satisfaction!!
And now a busy 2025 awaits them!!
You’re most welcome, Kirsten! 😊 It was a wonderful concert!