I don’t know about you, but it seems to me that the guys have spent the whole year running. They’ve been everywhere and done so much that it’s hard to remember it all! It all comes down to Christmas, New Years and New Beginnings!

The years are just flying by and I’m watching the guys create a whole new career! Their concerts are beyond phenomenal. They’ve produced music that is so creative and innovative! Their TV concerts are knocking it out of the box!!! There’s no holding them back!

And how about all that beautiful new music?

My stories, Through the Fields of My Mind, look to the past. Sometimes they’re new but mostly they’re old. Stories you’ve heard time and again because our guys for all their popularity and immense fame are really quite young, and their story is still being written. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could say we will be around to see the end of their story but no, most of us will be long gone before their story ends. We’ll have to watch the end unfold from above! But how fortunate we are that we have seen the beginning of their beautiful story.

This year, there were many twists and turns in their story. We started the year with a beautiful vision of Ignazio proposing to the beautiful, Michelle Bertolini.

And then there was Sanremo 2024!

I don’t know who was more excited! Us or the guys? I guess the guys!

How many different ways can you say Masterpiece! Capolavoro by far was the highlight of Sanremo! I know the guys didn’t win but what they brought to Sanremo was a winning team, a winning performance and the best video clip of Sanremo 2024!

Capolavoro truly deserved the Casa Sanremo ~ Soundies Award 2024! And of course, compliments to Leandro Manuel Emede Director, Nicolo Cerioni Creative Director and Cardigan srl Producer of the video!

Leandro Manuel Emede said, “Thanks to the jury of music and film experts of Casa Sanremo and to the President of the National Syndicate of Italian Cinematic Journalists (Sngci) of the Silver Ribbons for choosing our video clip as Best Video Clip Sanremo2024.”

The award for the best video clip was presented by Vincenzo Russolillo to Il Volo. The idea of this award was born from Russolillo himself and the award represents the first award in Italian history dedicated to the video clips of a song competing at the Sanremo Festival and intended for record companies.

When presenting the award to Il Volo, Russolillo said, “Your work has been selected by a high-quality jury, chaired by Laura Delli Colli, President of the National Union of Italian Film Journalists (SNGCI) of the Nastri d’Argento.”

Russolillo continued, “from the stage of the Lounge of Casa Sanremo, I deliver the Soundies Awards 2024 Award, on behalf of the Municipality of Sanremo from the hands of Councillor Sara Tonegutti, together with a voucher for the production of the next video clip to be made in the territory of the Municipality of Sanremo.

The trio took music to new heights through this video, exploring the stars and the mysteries of infinity. A visual odyssey that combines the musical talent of Il Volo with the grandeur of space, offering a sensory experience that defies the boundaries of imagination.”

Since Sanremo 2024, the guys have taken a beautiful turn in Italy. They have to be so happy to have their countrymen show such love and affection for them. They so deserve it. And certainly their concerts around Italy have been phenomenal! Verona, Caracalla, Pompeii to name a few.

The guys performance at Caracalla was a complete sellout. Fans flocked to the concert to help the guys kick off their summer tour around Italy and to celebrate their Fifteen Years together.

 “Tutti per uno – Capolavoro,” which began at Caracalla continued throughout Italy until September.  Highlights of the tour included performances at Piazza San Marco in Venice, the Amphitheater of the Pompeii Excavations, and the Royal Palace of Caserta. And so many more in between.

For nearly 15 years, Barbara Vitali traveled with the guys as their road manager. Barbara’s role as road manager went far beyond making sure all was going well along the way.  She was there in good times and bad. She was there to share their joys and to console them in their sorrows. She was a second mother. Someone they could go to when their moms weren’t there.

Barbara was a beautiful soul, a person the guys came to depend on. But then on July 9^th, Barbara passed away.  Two days earlier on Sunday evening Barbara was in a tragic accident. There was a head-on collision and the man in the other car died immediately.

The guys were devastated! Let’s listen to their words….

Piero: We started this profession when we were 15 years old and we traveled the world and with us there has always been a person who traveled all over the world with us, every day.

She was a mother when we were younger, she was the person, the most important figure for us in our travels and we would like to publicly say that we, but above all our families, will be eternally grateful to her, because our parents when they knew that she was with us and we were with Barbara, they slept soundly.

It’s very difficult and this evening, this concert will be the first of all those we will dedicate to it throughout our lives.

Gianluca:  We are all united, everyone, everyone, everyone for our Barbara, everyone, from the crew, from the technicians, from the musicians, from Michele Torpedine, all for her, because she was a special person who will continue to live inside us and will give us strength to continue doing this work, because we will sing for her, Barbara we will sing for you, for a lifetime, for a lifetime, we love you.

Ignazio: And as I said before, we would like to make this moment even more special if you help us with the flashes of your cell phones to illuminate the whole square, so for those who believe in it, someone from up there is watching us.

Dear Barbara, you will be dearly missed by the guys. They are heartbroken by your loss. You are gone from their sight but not their hearts. You will always be one of the reasons why Il Volo became who they are. Their greatness was your reward in life.

Between the tears they gave a phenomenal performance!

 

Such a sad event. But Barbara would not want the guys to be sad. Instead, she wanted them to have joyful lives.

As we move on through the year, we find ourselves at a very joyful event. The marriage of Ignazio and Michelle.

Following the guys from day one, I have to say Ignazio stood out. Even though he was young, he was mature, and he had a unique personality. He had direction!  It seemed to me that he knew where he was going even at such a young age. He always had a plan. And from day one he started planning for his future.

Part of what Ignazio saw was a future that included a wife and at least three children.

As he got older, he became more determined to secure that future. He knew what was needed to achieve his goal.  Once the goal was achieved, it was time to find the right woman.

Do you believe in coincidences?  No, there are no coincidences in life. Everything happens for a reason. In fact, one of Ignazio’s favorite sayings is something his grandfather told him “everything happens for a reason.”

Just prior to dating Michelle, the guys recorded Capolavoro. A true masterpiece. Let’s consider some of the words to this song. They describe just about where Ignazio’s life was.

I felt lost

A sail in an open sea

And suddenly you, you

You fell from the sky like a masterpiece

(Suddenly there was Michelle)

Before you nothing was good

As if…. You were the only light giving things a meaning.

There are no coincidences in life!

It think that sums it up!

Now we have arrived at Christmas!

The Concert at the Temple of Concordia in the Valley of the Temples was the first concert ever performed in this historic place. This is what the guys had to say about it!

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 was the idea of Michele Torpedine and Barbara Vitali.

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!!

This is the complete video of the Concert at Valley of Temples

Now to the Christmas celebration….

Among their beautiful stories are their traditional Christmases. In some cases, I have their actual Christmas traditions but in most it’s more about the tradition in their region of Italy.

Before I begin, I would like to talk a minute about La Vigilia. La Vigilia is the Italian traditional Christmas Eve dinner. This dinner consists of fish. Why? Because Italy is a primarily Catholic country and Christmas Eve, up until Vatican II, was always a day of fast to prepare for the coming of Christ. So, we only eat fish.

What is this, Vigilia? This is a tradition that started in southern Italy in the regions of Sicily, Calabria and parts of Campania. In these regions, people who live beside the sea are primarily fishermen, and they live off the sea. So, on the eve they not only celebrate the coming of Christ, but they also thank the Lord for the abundance of fish they received from the sea which sustains their families year-round.

In the early 1900’s when Italian immigrants came to America, they brought this tradition with them, and the next generation added to this tradition by celebrating the Feast of the Seven Fish. The number seven is symbolic in the Roman Catholic Church. It represents the seven days of creation, the seven sacraments, the seven deadly sins, etc.

Now, let’s step back into the past to see how our guys celebrate Christmas.

No need to update this story, it doesn’t change. Tradition is tradition! Three years ago, two people helped me write this story so I decided that I would not change anything in it. It turned out because of them the Christmas message was amazing! The two wonderful friends who helped me were our special little Nonna, Maura Pucci and Giovanni Granaro local historian and my go to man in Naro. Over ten thousand fans responded to the story!  It gave us a look at the different Italian traditions and an insight into our guy’s Christmas. So, I am republishing the article with a few new and interesting facts added.

So, without further ado, let’s join Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca for Christmas with Our Italian Family

Yes, Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca are our family! Why do I call them family? We’re their fans, yes but we are more than fans. We certainly do all the things that fans do but it goes deeper than that because our guys are different than any other entertainer. The difference is the guys think of us as their extended family because they grew up with us. They spend more time with us than they do with their families. And they show us their love in everything they do. Think of how they treat us! When you meet them, they embrace you. Most entertainers just want your praise and accolades. Not our guys! They want to know about us! They ask about our lives and our families. They listen to us and do things to please us.

So, what is family? Family are the people who are there when you need them. When you’re sad you can always feel their love and their encouragement! Family is not just blood it’s the people who are there for us!

So, let’s take a look at how our Italian family spends their Christmas.

The Christmas season starts in Italy on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary (December 8^th) which is also a holiday in Italy. This is the day that many Italians put up their Christmas trees and the cities light up their streets with colored lights. Why? Because Mary is the mother of the Light, Jesus! But there are other traditions that are celebrated on this day!

Let’s go to Naro, Piero’s city, to see how they open the Christmas season.

Every year, on the 7^th, 8^th and 9^th of December, every inhabitant in Naro stocks up on muffuletti. Muffuletti is a bread which is stuffed with meat and vegetables. Some people go to their local bakery to buy them, and some people prepare them at home. The tradition is linked to religion. Naro’s sandwiches are blessed and distributed in Churches at the end of the Mass on the feast day of the Immaculate Conception. The bakers donate the muffuletti to the Churches as a gesture of generosity towards their fellow countrymen but, above all, of love towards “a bedda matri ‘Mmaculata”, the Most Holy Immaculate, Mary.

During the month of December, the Christmas markets are held in Naro. The Fair is set up inside the cloister of the Town Hall. Many people go to the Franciscan cloister where, every evening, to the delight of the children, there is a special snowfall that whitens the baroque courtyard. On the final evening there is a concert of Sicilian folk music, and an award is given for the best photo taken at the large Christmas tree in Piazza Garibaldi.

During this magical period the streets are colored by many Christmas lights, and everyone visits the living nativity scene of Borgo Castello. There is Mass on Christmas Eve and between hugs, kisses and best wishes there are a thousand good intentions. And then, on Christmas day, the family gathers together for a dinner laden with many local delicacies.

And what would Piero do on Christmas day? Most likely, he will walk around Naro and visit some older people and his friends. He certainly would have decorated his home. He will most likely sing at the Christmas Eve or Christmas Day Mass. In the past, Piero has sung with his grandfather, Pietro. It is 2 years since Pietro has passed away and I’m sure Piero’s memories of singing with his grandfather has to be a bittersweet memory.

Christmas in Bologna! How does Ignazio celebrate Christmas?

Unlike Piero and Gianluca, Ignazio and his family live in a big city and like cities in America there are many events.

This year, Ignazio’s story has changed. As you know, Ignazio married the beautiful Michelle Bertolini and now his future begins. So how has his traditional Christmas changed? As far as I can see, not very much.

The Christmas tradition in Bologna has deep roots. The Bolognese Nativity Scene (Presepe) goes back to the Middle Ages. The tradition of the Presepe dates back to the 13^th century and one of the oldest Presepe in the world is preserved in Bologna.

What makes the Bolognese Nativity different? It is life size and includes clothes that are different from the traditional Neapolitan style. They are dressed in a medieval style. In Porretta Terme in the Emilian Apennines another Presepe which is one of the oldest Presepe in the world is kept in the church of Capugnano.

I’m sure Ignazio & Michelle visited the Christmas Tree in Piazza Nettuno. It is a Bolognese tradition. The beautiful tree is a welcoming and bright place to meet friends and feel the warmth of Christmas.

Oddly Ignazio, the quiet, private one, is the one who posted his Christmas this year.

As you can see from the pictures Michelle posted, they had a typical Bologna Christmas.

We can see the typical appetizer. I’m sure on Christmas Eve there was some fish on the table. This is the tradition in every Italian house on “La Vigilia,” Christmas Eve. On Christmas Day, there is another tradition. Lunch is the main meal and Pasta in brodo (pasta in broth) most certainly was served. In Bologna, it’s all about meat-filled tortellini in capon broth. These, small, Tortellini, are filled with a mixture of meat, mortadella and Parmigiano Reggiano cheese but you will find in Bologna every family has its secret ingredient for them. You’ll recall in an interview Ignazio mentioned his family buying Tortellini every Sunday.

The soup will most likely be followed by a roast and the meal will end with a traditional dessert like Certosino (or Pan speziale) which is made with almonds, pine nuts, dark chocolate and candied fruits. The recipe has its origin in the Middle Ages where Certosino was produced by pharmacists and later by Certosini Friars. Certosino is very popular in Bologna.

I know the part of the meal that Ignazio will like the best is the dessert! A dessert he will share with his family to celebrate Christmas Day!

But what about Michelle’s traditions?

I’m not sure what they are but from the pictures her family posted we can get an idea about a Venezuelan Christmas.

Happy First Christmas together! We will continue to follow up each year to see how the tradition changes or stays the same as the family grows.

There is one Sicilian tradition that I would like to talk about since we have two Sicilian men in the group, I think it is important to include it in the article.

For many in Sicily, the Christmas season starts on the Feast of Santa Lucia. In some regions of Sicily, the feast day is celebrated with Cuccia. The word itself is Sicilian. Cuccìa is typically made with wheat berries, ricotta and sugar. How did this tradition come to be?

In the winter of 1646, Sicily was undergoing a terrible famine. People were dying of hunger after a massive crop failure. The people of Palermo did the only thing they could in the circumstances: they prayed. And then on the morning of December 13^th a ship full of grain arrived in Palermo harbor with enough grain to feed the whole city. Rather than wait to have the grain milled into flour to make bread, the hungry people boiled and ate the grain to satisfy their hunger and save their lives. The people were convinced that Santa Lucia (St. Lucy), Sicily’s most important saint had saved the city, since the grain arrived on her feast day.

I’m not sure if Piero and Ignazio’s family make Cuccia or eat it but I’m sure they know the tradition.

So, now let’s talk about Gianluca’s Christmas!

A Montepagano tradition is the Nativity scene. At the end of the last century a famous living Nativity play was started in Montepagano which is a real theatrical performance, with a director and a narrator.

In the Abruzzi region, there is a tradition that bagpipers, so called zampognari come into the towns and play their flutes and bagpipes for the people. They symbolize the shepherds who come in search of the newborn baby, Jesus. The bagpipers were once shepherds, today they are musicians who walk the streets of the cities, playing Christmas music. Often, they are in pairs, and one plays the zampognari (bagpipe) and the other the ciaramella (which is similar to a small piccolo).

For certain Gianluca will celebrate December 24^th, Christmas Eve with a meal of fish including shellfish because he lives by the sea. As far as food traditions are concerned, on Christmas Day, the typical dish of the whole region of Abruzzo is spaghetti alla chitarra (which is prepared on a particular instrument called a guitar, because it is made of wood with metal strings) but most likely Gianluca will eat Lasagna. The second course will be arrosticini, which are pieces of meat, traditionally lamb, strung on long sticks, similar to a kebab. And for dessert, they will most likely have the traditional Christmas cake, Panettone.

Gianluca will surely spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with his family including his Grandpa Ernesto!

As many of you know my mother is Abruzzese and I must say, Gianluca’s Christmas is very similar to my Christmas. 

If you’re wondering where Santa Claus is, in Italy he is known as “Babbo Natale,” Father Christmas, who brings presents to children on Christmas Eve but, in true Italian tradition, gifts were exchanged on January 6^th the day of Epiphany when La Befana comes to Italian homes in search of the Christ Child and leaves gifts for the children. This is a tradition that is celebrated in the central regions of Italy. 

La Befana is an old woman, with a hooked nose, badly dressed, with a handkerchief on her head, grumpy but good, she is not a witch. On January 6^th, riding through the sky, flying on a broom, La Befana lands on the roofs, enters the houses from the chimneys and descends from the fireplace, leaving gifts and sweets in the big socks that the children place in front of the fireplace. If they were good, they get sweets. If they were bad, she leaves coal in the form of a sweet black candy. I’m sure there will be many sweets for Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca! No coal for our guys!

I would like to mention an important member of Il Volo’s family. Michele Torpedine!  His family is originally from the region of Puglia. He moved to Bologna when he was twelve years old. So, he will celebrate Christmas with his family and the celebration would be similar to Ignazio’s!

Again, I would like to thank the two people who contributed to this Christmas story. Maura Pucci and Giovanni Granaro. Their knowledge of the regions of Montepagano and Naro and the different Christmas traditions made this story come to life!

     

                          Susan                              Daniela                  Pat

In closing, I would like to thank my team at Flight Crew! The two ladies who make all my stories come to life! Daniela Perani (a/k/a Sherlock Holmes) who provides many of the photos, videos and English translations for my stories and Patricia Ward who edits all of my stories.

I want to wish all of my Christian friends a Merry Christmas and all my Jewish friends a Happy Chanukah! And all my other friends, All the Happiness and Joy of the Season!

And finally, I’m sure you would love to join me in wishing Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca and their families a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year with many Concerts and special surprises for us!

And may you all have a Happy, Healthy and Holy New Year!  I send blessing from my house to yours!

I leave you with one of my favorite Christmas concerts.

Join me next time 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

Credits to owners of photos and videos