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Jana & Lorna’s Italian Adventure – July 4, 2016 – Verona! (Reprise…)

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Hello folks!  I hope everyone is having a great 4th of July in the USA!  We are having quite the hot summer here in Michigan, with these past few weeks in the low 90s and this week, all 90s!  Thought I would repost our little adventure from July 4, 2016, for all to enjoy again!  🙂  It was certainly the best 4th of July I will ever remember!!  🙂

Everyone please stay safe and wear a mask, the virus seems to be coming back with a vengeance again in the US! 🙁

Ciao!  Yes, it’s been a little while since my last story of adventure…but I continue!

Ah, Venice Mestre train station. This was our shortest train ride, only about an hour or so to Verona from Venice. We got to the train station very early, since we were only about 10 minutes away. We got there in plenty of time before our departure of 8:32am. We were able 20160704_073915to have a leisurely breakfast and scout out our train track. The Venice train station was not quite as sophisticated as Florence, so we knew we had to go down and up again to find our train. We looked on the schedule, but could not see our train. There were three trains to Verona, but none that left at our exact time. That seemed strange. So, we made our best guestimate and chose the one track. I was still a bit skeptical, but the time was the closest. I was able to ask a lady, in Italian, and she seemed to think we were on the wrong one, we needed to be a few tracks over and the schedule was on the posted sign. I think it was like a regular commuter train, so it didn’t have a special departure scheduled, which is why it wasn’t posted. I went back to Lorna and we discussed it. It kind of made sense, but we stayed where we were anyway. Ok, here comes our train. We get on where we think our car is, but when we boarded, there were no seat numbers on the seats. We had first class tickets with assigned seating! I said aloud, in English, “But there are no numbers on the seats?” A nice, young lady heard me speaking in English and said, “You are on the wrong train!” “What? Dove?,” I said, and showed her our tickets. She pointed to the other track, same track the other lady told us. I looked at my phone – it was 8:27a! We literally had 5 minutes to get down and back up again, and make it to the other train. We literally FLEW off that train and a nice Italian gentleman hefted our suitcases up the long flight of stairs to the other side. We were literally walking/running as fast as we could toward our train. The conductor saw us and asked if we were on this train, we said yes. We started to get on and he said, no, other car. Then he changed his mind and said to go ahead, and we could walk from there. We literally no sooner got on the train and it took off! It was the last train to Verona for that day! Yes, we almost missed the Verona concert! Ok, “dove” the prosecco that morning!

 

We made it to the Verona train station – again, similar to Venice, we had to once again go down the closet-sized elevator and up the other side. Another long wait for the taxi, but we made it. When we got there, it was still quite early and check-in wasn’t until much later in the afternoon. So, we were able to stow our bags in the reception area. The concierge gave 1-veorna-fus a map of the city and we took off, map and Google Maps in hand on our way to find out where the Arena di Verona was. Looked like it was in walking distance from the hotel, so we set off. It reminded me of “following the yellow brick road” except it was a wide 1-verona-gasphalt running/walking path to the main part of the city. We quickly got off the map we were sort of following and I gave up and got out Google again. We got turned around a few times, but I figured it out. On the way to the Arena, Lorna stopped in a shoe shop and bought these really cool flowered tennis shoes. The sun was playing peek-a-boo with the clouds and it looked like it might rain. When we neared the Arena, the sun finally decided it was going to stick around.20160704_115104 I took a few pictures as we were in the surroundings of the arena with a plethora of outdoor restaurants/cafes to choose from for lunch. We had worked up quite the appetite by then.

 

We walked to the arena to see exactly where it was and where the entrances were. After that, we perused the various restaurants and picked out a table. It ended up being a 20160704_121205beautiful afternoon and we splurged on our lunch that day. Lorna had some kind of pasta with seafood. I had a Caprese salad and a pizza and we even had a bottle of Moscato.1-verona-a It was a very leisurely lunch and we just chatted and relaxed and wondered where the guys might be? We finally decided it was time to go. On our way, we passed by this one hotel and there were a herd of girls standing outside. Ok, this must be the place! Lol! Yes, apparently the guys were staying at the hotel aptly called “The Gentleman of Verona.” No, we never saw them, although we strolled by and asked the girls if this was where Il Volo was. Of course they said yes. We kept walking and continued our tour of the city, with the sun playing more peek-a-boo with the clouds. With my faithful companion of Google Maps, we took the long way around, but thankfully made it back to the hotel. It was 1-verona-elate enough by then, so we could check in. Another small elevator, but at least we both fit. We got to our room and it was very nice. The sun decided it was going to stay out at last. We had a tiny, enclosed, little balcony with a window you could open. The view from our room was gorgeous and amazing. You could see over the entire city. Took some more pictures and then we decided to relax a little. We took a nap and decided we’d get ready and take a cab to the Arena. I was still trying to hook up with Betty, but we kept missing each other! When we got downstairs we asked the concierge to call us a cab again, to the Arena. She said had just called one for 2 other ladies and maybe we could 1-verona-bshare it? We thought that would be nice, so we went outside and communicated roughly in Italian, and asked if they were going to Il Volo also and could we share the cab. They said yes. We got in and was happily expecting to share the cab fare and they paid the whole thing! Such nice Italian hospitality! We were still a bit full from lunch, but decided we should eat something. So, we went back to the same restaurant where we had lunch. However, we just ordered dessert. Lorna had Tiramisu and espresso, and I had chocolate torte cake. We also ordered another bottle of Moscato. The cake was good, although a bit on the dry side. As previously mentioned, Lorna graciously let me have the 2nd row seat…but as we were sitting at our table, we were watching the crowd get in line – it was over an hour before the concert started.1-verona-c People were everywhere! It was kind of crazy. We knew we had assigned seats, so we thought we’d just sit and watch everyone instead. We finally gave up and decided to fight our way through the crowds. Lorna went first, as she went through a different entrance. I paid the bill and ventured on to the other side of the Arena. I showed my ticket and they let me in. I bought a few souvenir t-shirts and scarves and found my way to the 2nd row seat. My new friends Veronica, Laura, and Daniela, arrived about 15 minutes later. This was exciting. Before the concert began, we heard the orchestra warming up “Per Te Ci Saro” was playing! Oh, yes, I was finally going to hear them sing it live! Since I reviewed the concert already, a few days after it happened, I won’t go into detail again. Yes, you are welcome. Lol! But a quick recap of starting with “Per Te Ci 20160704_213618-1Saro” and ending with their usual 2 of “Surrender” and “Grande Amore” it was pretty awesome. And I swear it happened just that quickly. Again, I was quite surprised they did the Godfather routine…

Insert actual concert review….

For me, this was the most magical and perfect concert ever.  Not only was it a perfectly beautiful evening weather-wise, I FINALLY got to hear all my favorite songs.  They really picked the best of the best for this finale concert.  The stage and the lighting were magnificent.  They had the monitors and also the videos going for many of the songs.  I thought for sure we were going to be blinded by the lights again, but it was only once or twice.

I finally got my dream come true and into my Il Volo trance I went.  They started with Per te ci saro!!  OMG, I sang the whole thing!  I wanted to stand after every song, but the Italians don’t do that.  They did stand after the solos and duets.  There were few empty seats…Lorna was so awesome, she let me have the 2nd row seat for the entire concert.  I will remember it forever.

Even thought it was second row, we were still quite far from the stage.  Like the orchestra pit area was empty of chairs and unlike the first Verona concert in September last year, the stage did not come out in the middle.

Their voices were of course perfection and Igna added his own to the end of My Piove – a little jazzier riffs and Gian joined him for a few…

Yes, they sang my favorites – Per te, l’more si muove, torne l’amore, canzone per te.  They even did a slight sketch of the Godfather routine.  Igna even sang Allegria and didn’t cry.  No Ancora though….

Gian sang Bridge…and it was incredible.  I remember telling Donna it would get better after we heard it in LA and she said “how could it get better?”  It did!!

I think someone mentioned that they were filming part of that movie where the guys are going to be part of it about opera.  Apparently, the guy who is the star actor was in the front row a few seats down from us. And?!  The guys were cuter!!  Lol!  They did this filming during the concert, but it was no big deal.

The one big shocker was that they did not sing O Sole Mio!  Not disappointed as they left in Surrender!!  Igna and Piero did their thing.

Since I was in the 2nd row, I imagine I’ll be somewhere in the DVD and group shot in the end.  My split second of fame. Lol!  I was in a pink dress to the right of the stage.

I did not see any of the immediate family except for Mary Grace, Piero’s sister and I think Alessio?  Gianluca’s friend.  At the end, Igna went over and gave this older guy a bear hug and picked him up, but no clue who he was.  He looked a little like one of his uncles.

If people want to know what to give Igna at the next m/g I would suggest a belt.  He was pulling up his pants the entire night!

I took some pictures and taped a few songs, but my phone camera and the lights were not friends.

By the time you read this, pictures will be all over everywhere, as well as videos.

Did I say how incredibly awesome it was????  Igna was also playing the piano and a few other instruments.  Gian was wearing tennis shoes and racing across the stage every so often.

Don’t get me wrong, the tenor concert was awesome also, but this was more special and magical for me, as I have been waiting to hear these songs live for as long as most of you!

It was all in Italian except Igna said Thank You.  I did not quite catch what was going on, but something about studying their speech for the next song, etc.  I also had my friend Veronica to translate a few things for me!

I’m still trying to realize I’m in Italy!  I’ve seen the guys 5 times now this year.  You just keep thinking when is the next time?  They are planning another tenor tribute concert in the arena next May 17, but you know, nothing is ever as special as the first time!  My guess is that they might incorporate a few of those songs into their regular concerts next tour.

Ok, it is now a little after 2am!  I really need some sleep if I can, that is.

They really outdid themselves with this one!!

Part of my mission to the Verona concert was to take a few little presents to 2 friends of Sharon’s. They were sitting in the front row, but on the other side. Unfortunately, security would not let me leave my seat, even though it was just a row up. Fortunately, I was able to text her and Veronica communicated in Italian 1-verona-3of my plight. Luckily, we were able to connect after the concert. Lorna and I also quickly met up afterward and Veronica took our pictures. We then made our way to the taxi line and got back to our hotel. I was determined I did not want to forget a thing, so I stayed up til about 2am finishing my post! Was the shortest night on1-verona-d record.   We had to be at the train station very early, as we had a 7a train to Rome and it was a 3-hour trip. After what I believe was about a 3-4 hour “nap” I dragged myself out of bed about 5:30a to take a shower and we were out of there. Again, missing breakfast at the hotel!  Next stop – Roma and the Adriatic Sea!

Article or Video Translations, Flashback, Uncategorized

WHEN DREAMS COME TRUE by Daniela

40 Comments

 

Dreams 01

You liked the first old video that I translated and so I looked for this Italian interview.

In some cases you will hear the boys answer, but there are no questions, evidently they have not been included in the video, but equally the sense is understandable. Only towards the end, we hear the voice of the woman who interviewed them.

I would add, for my part, that I always have the feeling that Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca, even then, were speaking more serenely if they were interviewed by foreign people. They have always known, from the beginning, that they are not so well liked by the Italian press, which in any case tries to embarrass them, especially in the final questions.

But the three of them have always been well determined in the answers, evidently when in a dream, you feel it truly yours, you defend it to the end.

G = We have changed the name from Il Trio to Il Volo.

This new name is above all as a wish, for music ….

P = Because music makes us fly.

G = It is as if it is thousands of meters (up, up) what is happening to us.
We put all the passion, all the love, for this thing that is happening to us, and that we love to do, because it is our passion and therefore, of course, we put all the effort.

I = And we will always give the best of ourselves.

P = We put all the effort into it, because we understand the depth of the people who are  alongside us and who are working with us.

I = The project was created, we made this recording, this CD between Rome and Los Angeles. It was a personal and also an artistic growth, we had people and producers behind us, who always told us “commit yourselves, with the heart, filling everyone with excitement.”

G = We must learn from these great artists, follow their steps. For example, the experience of We Are The World has made us grow. We have seen people, very famous, who have remained humble, like Celine Dion herself, or Barbra Streisand. We hope with this CD, to be able to convey to people, what …..

P = What we feel inside.

G = And of course we must remain humble …

P = Staying humble yes, as Gianluca said, Celine Dion or Barbra Streisand  are humble, but they have reached the maximum of world music, therefore we have understood that, with humility, great levels can be reached.

In my opinion, however, if one is too full of themselves or arrogant, he does not go anywhere.

Dreams 02

G = All this happened to us at the age of 15, it is not something that happens often. We work hard, because as I said, this is our passion, this is our love, it is singing, music.

P = We live for this.

I = How many kids want to have this ?? And we were lucky to be able to do all this.

G = We must also thank Roberto Cenci, because it is he who united us, he had the genius, no, the flair, to unite us, and then this project was born.

The brothers argue.

P = The nice thing about the three of us is that we tell each other everything face-to-face.

I = Yes, it’s not that we speak behind our backs, if I don’t like something I say “Piero, look, I don’t like this thing.”

P = And perhaps this is our strength.

I = Our strength is the friendship that unites us, the truth, and the genuineness that we have …. the spontaneity.

G = Obviously among us …… the groups must be like this, right?

Dreams 03

PR = I would like to know what criticisms you have had from the kids of your age, you are not afraid that, being so young, maybe you miss the stages (of your life), maybe school life, daily life, going out …..

G = This is the stage we want to do!

PR = Despite everything?

I = Yes, because we do it with passion, we don’t do it because we are forced, but that’s what we want.

G = Exactly, absolutely.

I = You know, when you are a child, you open the drawer and you like what you find ….. we would like to do this, in short it is what we want to do, this is the answer.

G = It happened to us at the age of 15, but as I said, this is our love, our passion and we are very committed to this. We do not believe in missing stages, absolutely.

PR = But because now is only the beginning and everything is wonderful, but then, maybe in a few years, you may be missing going out with your friends.

I = Maybe we could miss some outings with friends, but I don’t think other 16-year-olds travel the world, and it’s a beautiful experience. We do not miss stages, indeed we have more.

Dreams 04

But how sweet and mature were these young Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca already then?

I don’t know if it is my impression, but it seems to me that Gianluca has a red face, he is probably trying to hide his first shyness, which has now passed very well.

And the photos? What can we say, they make us melt even more, what sweet guys !!

Daniela

Back then, they dreamed of being able to sing one day at Radio City Music Hall and Carnegie Hall ……. the dream came true !!!

 

Credit to owners of all photos and videos.

Article or Video Translations, Flashback

THREE SMALL JEWELS by Daniela

32 Comments
Searching here and there, I found this old video. It is an interview made with Al Rojo Vivo, for the promotion of the CD: IL VOLO.
But how young they were, just kids, but what mature answers they gave.
I understand that even then they were clear, what they wanted to do, and what they wanted to be: IL VOLO.
I translate for you and I remind you that I try to guess the presenter’s questions from their answers.
Enjoy…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJtJ1V00QS0&fbclid=IwAR2gr5LI4n-m__BsFR8XtztJubikVjiEHihKebZ_JMGgA2wnEcGimUwfNLU
PR = Welcome to Miami…… in Italian???
P+I+G = “Benvenuto a Miami”, JORGE, PIERO GIANLUCA IGNAZIO
PR = Piero, Gianluca and Ignazio, Ignacio in Spanish.
I = Nacho
PR = How did you meet, you are young, you have been friends for a long time …
P = We met in an Italian television program: We arrived there singing individually and on the fourth episode, the director decided to combine our voices.
PR = And at that moment did the three voices come together perfectly? Did the three voices mix automatically?
P = Yes, we have three not completely different voices, but Ignazio and I are tenors and Gianluca is baritone. There are three different types of voices that mix, make Il Volo.
PR = Do you prefer to sing in a group or do you prefer to sing separately?
I = This project was born as Il Volo, it was not born as Ignazio Boschetto, Gianluca Ginoble or Piero Barone, it was born as Il Volo!
G = From the beginning.
I = From the beginning, so we prefer to stay together, united.
PR = Your age.
P = 17
G = 16
I = 16
PR = Explain to me why you sing opera and not songs like Justin Bieber.
G = We do not sing opera, our genre is pop-lyrical, because on our CD there is no Nessun Dorma (surely then, they did not imagine that in the future they would also sing the Nessun Dorma), La Boheme, and there are no not even songs like Baby or One Time, for example, by Justin Bieber. Ours are pop-lyric songs, and it is also a novelty, because it is the first time that 16-year-olds have been singing this type of music.
PR = But also sing a song called O SOLE MIO.
I = It is not an opera song.
P = It’s a traditional song.
G = It is a song of the Italian tradition, because on our CD there are various songs, in Spanish, in Italian and in English.
P = Type: Smile, by Charlie Chaplin, is in English.
Which are part of the Italian tradition: O sole Mio, Un Amore così Grande, Il Mondo.
I = Also a traditional song in South America ….
P = Spanish, the Reloj (hints at a small refrain)
G = They are all performed with modern arrangements, with the addition of guitars …
P = Because we are three young boys
G = So that’s the beauty of this new project.
PR = Whose idea was it to bring you to the US from Italy and put Spanish songs on the CD?
G = I’ll explain, we are the first Italian artists who signed a contract directly with an American major, it is the first time.
Ours is an international project, it is a music that is enjoyed all over the world, not only in Italy, in fact we are having excellent results, we are really happy.
P = We decided to do the CD edition in Spanish, because we feel that Spanish is a language that belongs to us. We have fun when we sing in Spanish.
I = We must remember that it is also thanks to our producer.
P = Yes, our producer, Humberto Gatica, thanks to him we recorded the Spanish version, because he speaks Spanish and in the recording studio, he helped us with the correct pronunciation of Reloj.
G = But then you know that he is Lucho Gatica’s nephew.
PR = There is another group called IL DIVO.
G = Yes, let’s say that Josh Groban, Il Divo, Bocelli, our genre is more towards these singers.
PR = Which Italian singer would you like to inspire in the future?
I = Certainly Pavarotti was the Italian singer who had the greatest success also abroad, as regards the opera.
P = In pop-lyric I would say Bocelli.
I = Each of us would like to do the same career as Bocelli
G = Yes, Pavarotti or Bocelli
P = But we hope to make a good career like “IL VOLO”.
PR = You are young, do you see other plans for the future outside of music?
P = No, no, always in music, we always hope to sing together, our dream is to sing all life. In my opinion, we were born to sing.
G = We are three different voices, but one soul and when we sing together, when there are harmonies, we feel all the emotion we put into singing.
P = Three voices and a soul.
Thanks to music, we are able to transmit our emotions.
PR = Do you have a girlfriend?
I = Let’s change the question !!
PR = Why doesn’t this job allow you to have a girlfriend?
G = Yes, it allows, but it is very difficult.
I = Let’s say we don’t want to talk about it, we want privacy about our love life.
PR = I understand, you are reserved for your private life.
P = Perfect, we prefer to talk about music.
Music is our job, they are one thing.
Girlfriend is another thing.
PR = You want to keep the two things separate. Private.
We better talk about music.
But what do you do in life, besides Il Volo and privacy?
I = Piero loves to upgrade cars, to transform them.
P = I make cars faster.
G = I play football.
I = I love planes.
PR = Airplane pilot? But really or remotely?
I = I’d really like to, for now I’m training in a program that is a type of real simulator.
PR = Do you want to say something to your fans, maybe future girlfriends?
G = We hope that all our fans really like this CD, because, as Piero said before, you can feel all the emotion, all that we transmit with our voice, is on our CD.
P = And it is a CD suitable for all people of all ages. We sing in three languages and there are songs for young and old generations, for everyone.
G + I = It is a CD for everyone.
PR = As you say in Italian: no to piracy.
P + I + G = NO ALLA PIRATERIA!!!
Every time I find these old videos, for me it is a reconstruction of some missing moments, as I started following Il Volo after Sanremo 2015, but it is always a confirmation of how big these kids were already, at that time, mature and always well educated.
Piero, Gianluca and Ignazio, you have started the road well and over the 10 years you have not lost or changed your path.
Well done!!
Daniela
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6l6ECd0ovi0

Credit to owners of all photos and video.

Flashback, Our Stories

THOUGHTS IN FLIGHT by Daniela

19 Comments

As Dario Gerardi’s poem dedicated to Il Volo, you are very pleased with it and, as promised, here are the other two poems.

FLYING WITH OPEN EYES

Explosions of energy … Like thundering voices from the immense and beyond, they expand in the hearts and minds of those who want to dream so much.

The power, the strength, beyond the speed of light, hearing them you can not help but fly with the imagination in a different dimension so majestic. 

Diversity makes unique, the union of three artistic sources where awareness of one’s immensity is master…….

Where the power of music wonderfully intoxicates those who are never satisfied with sound. 

To believe in the power of love …

Where everything seems like a daydream … 

Words filled with sweetness as if in listening to them all bitterness is hidden from this world.

With the voice you can conquer the world, with love you could conquer the universe. 

Emotional gratitude will never disappear from those who will never forget them.

Dario Gerardi

THE THREE STARS

Beautiful sensations … 

Simple, humble, moments of wonderful and enchanting emotional baths transmitted by those who know how make to dream, to those who never want to stop loving. 

Immense happiness …

As everything flows in the universe, their, only fixed point of what is beautiful and never lost. 

Besides simple but complex vocalizations, their quality has been distinguished since the beginning.

Perhaps out of envy, perhaps out of jealousy, those who judge them badly … their sweet, intense melody never entered in their hearts.

As they travel and excite the whole world, they only expand sensational moments of happiness deeper and deeper. 

At the base of a great masterpiece …

Foundations of complete humility … their being is the most beautiful act of generosity. 

Grande Amore … L’Amore si muove … just theirs, with their voice.

For those who love them they have already made the center straight to the heart.

From a port, from an airport, from a station …

Each trip has its own destination …

To be scattered among the snows of the Pole, they will be the only bright night stars to follow … Il Volo.

Dario Gerardi    September 2016

What can I say, there are no words.

Dario captured every sensation perfectly, every emotion and described everything with magnificent words.

Thanks again, Dario, from all of us!

Daniela

Credit to owners of all photos.

Flashback, Our Stories

THREE HEARTS FOR A WORLD by Daniela

47 Comments

In 2016, Dario Gerardi wrote some beautiful poems dedicated to Il Volo, I liked them very much and so I contacted Dario and asked him if I could translate them for American friends.

He was very happy with this.

I have already published this poem, but it was a long time ago and it was one of the first posts I did. Coincidentally I found this poem in these days and I thought to propose it again, surely many of you do not know it and I am convinced that even those who already know it will like to read it again.

Dario Gerardi is a young Sicilian blind person. Read his beautiful words dedicated to Il Volo.

DREAMS, IN FLIGHT

The lights come on … From darkness to brightness in the blink of an eye, to feeling microscopic in large concert halls, the heart beats faster and stronger …

Three silhouettes appear out of nowhere, filling the eyes of those who have an extraordinary desire to see the wonder.

Applause begins … The screams of those who have always dreamed of them …

The moment seems to have come, and now everything is going as it should go.

Exceptional orchestra behind them, sensational musicians as added value, to all that fantastic with their voices, they imprint in the hearts of women and men who have always loved them.

Italian pride, made in Italy … Every stage in this world is recognizing the great value of those who are spreading great love in the air.

Immediately the first song, in listening to them, there are those who have not yet stopped reopening their eyes, reopening them, all this is not a dream but it is simple and pure reality, fantastic!

One song leads to another, just like delicious and tasty cherries, the voices thunder in the air …

The dream doesn’t seem to end.

Irony and sympathy, very important elements of those who, not only with their own voice, know how to enchant …

But above all, their knows how to make people smile who in this hard life does not do it constantly. 

Almost as if it seemed a marvelous mix of music and sympathy, between one song and another, the hearts take on a rhythmic beat just like percussion with sweet beats.

The smile imprinted on the faces of the listeners as a symbol of happiness, as if it should never disappear… Them … Healthy bearers of happiness. 

The last song marks the end of everything that so far seemed an endless dream, but … 

The encore is upon us. Who will ever stop following them …

Eternally this concert will be imprinted in their minds, in their hearts.

Everyone in their homes will always be able to dream of them just as they did it live.

Three hearts for a world!

Honor to them.

Dario Gerardi

I don’t know what effect these words had on you, but they seemed really beautiful and appropriate to me, they express the emotion and joy of the first concert, when slowly, without realizing it, you are hopelessly in love with Il Volo.

Daniela 

Credit to owners of all photos.