And we can’t forget a belated tanti auguri to the Ginoble Brothers’ Mamma!!  Tanti Auguri, Eleonora!!  🙂

 

We posted earlier this month as soon as Flight Crew heard that Gianluca and his younger brother Ernesto Ginoble both tested positive for COVID-19. We didn’t and still don’t know if Gianluca was infected and contagious at the time of the Christmas concert, when he was in close contact with Ignazio and Piero. Piero’s asthma puts him at a higher risk of complications if he were to contract coronavirus. As of now, neither of our tenors has reported being infected. So, we want to start with a big “Grazie a Dio” (“Thank God”) for that.

Gianluca has been radio silent for a while, as he and Erny are recovering, but they’re getting better with the help of their faithful Luna.

For all of you who were worried and praying, Gianluca has recently checked in on Instagram sending a “Tutto OK” message. No translation needed. While he and Ernesto are recovering, celebrating Mamma Eleanora’s birthday this week as best they can (Buon Compleanno, Eleanora), and getting ready for Gianluca’s upcoming birthday, we thought we could encourage them by doing something fun and entertaining for them. Here goes…

Gianluca and Erny posted their shared infection status on January 7, along with an emphatic plea that everyone should follow their own regional protocols to protect each other. Even before that, I was already noticing that questi due fratelli (these two brothers) have shared a lot of other things besides this troublesome sickness. In the pictures below, I’ve catalogued a few of the many things I’ve spotted.

I first noticed this T-shirt a while back because I liked the Gucci logo and wanted one.

Then guess who popped up later that season wearing the same thing?

I’ve seen this summer print a few times in Gianluca’s own posts.
Check out Erny boating this past summer. Notice anything? Do you think he borrowed it?

You have probably seen at least one of these two pictures over the past two years. Gian has posed in this shirt from time to time since 2019, when the first picture was taken.

Gianluca was wearing that comfy shirt as recently as this past summer 2020 when he and the twins, Eraldo and Giuseppe di Stefano, took a vacation at a beach resort up the Adriatic coast from his home, where he posed for the second picture. I don’t know if these two ladies belong to him or the twins, or are relatives or fans. Gianluca is very cautious about showing or naming his girlfriends, so it’s not likely either of them is attached to him.
Not long after that summer stripes picture, here was Erny, sporting the same shirt, with a buddy and minus the girls. He has one of his own – girls, I mean.

 

 

Gianluca posted this picture with Eraldo and Giuseppe, the day after they lost their Grandfather. In very tender words, he explained how rare and unexpected it is in this life to find such a strong and permanent friendship. Then he adds, “It’s them, Eraldo and Giuseppe, my strength, my point of reference. This friendship has withstood some hard tests. Soon we will smile together again. I love you.” The hard test was of course the loss of their “Nonno.”

Back to the shirts. That’s not the only striped shirt that the Ginobles had in common, even way back when they were both in their teens. Remember this picture from a summer day before the concert at Wolf Trap more than half a decade ago? These red stripes in profile are the same, too.

So, what do you think? Is Erny wearing Gian’s clothes? Do they shop together? Does Gian buy two of everything? I don’t know the answer, but I think it’s nice, and a testament to their closeness and the admiration of a little brother for a very loving big brother. Nothing wrong with that.

The dark sunglasses are to be expected. Papa Ercole mastered up this one. That’s him in the middle.

 

 

 

 

 

The boys’ duplication is not limited to clothes, either. Have a look at these.

Birthdays

Of course, the Ginoble guys both got tower birthday cakes on their 18th birthday.

Did you notice? Ernesto is the one still actively playing competitive soccer. Gianluca is the active professional musician. So how come Gian got the soccer cake, and Erny got the music cake? I suppose that since they are both soccer fans (team Roma among others) and both music fans, it all comes out the same. For the rest of you, soccer fans, “Noi siamo la Roma!” We are Rome! I’m a Francesco Totti #10 fan, just like the brothers. Here’s blue-eyed Totti #10 after he retired from the Roma team in 2017, of course with each one of the Ginoble guys.

Did you notice Erny’s shirt? Does it look familiar? Here’s why, maybe.

I think this is the same one that appeared in one scene of “Un Amore Cosi Grande.”

Luna the Moon Dog

Given that Luna is the family pet, of course we expect to see her being cuddled and spoiled by everybody. Somehow, she even manages to alternate her nap times between the two brothers.

How about vacations?
Gianluca, himself, has posted that at least one member of his family often accompanies him on tour. Erny has definitely been with him at least once. These two shots are from Il Volo’s singing trip to the Emirates some years back. This is definitely not the only time that Erny joined GIanluca. In the past, I’ve spotted Erny in Taormina, myself, and seen him in photos at other concert venues.

Remarkable how much these two resembled each other at different times as teens, or at least before Gianluca started styling the curls out of his hair. Erny was even wearing Gian’s thick-top, side-trimmed haircut. Or maybe it was the other way around.

 

Nonno Ernesto

Here’s something else very special the Ginobles share. Sometimes, even 86-year-old Nonno Ernesto attends performances, especially if Gian or Il Volo perform locally near Abruzzo. I have never seen or met their Nonno at any of their shows yet. At Italian concerts I have noticed Papa Ercole taking crowd pictures, but so far have not spotted Nonno Ernesto.

God willing, it will soon be healthy and safe enough for Il Volo to be back on open stages and Nonno to come out and about in public to enjoy them.

The Baby Connection
We have all seen tons of pictures of the Il Volo guys playing with babies and toddlers. It’s the normal state of affairs for this gang.

It’s definitely an Italian thing.
And an Erny thing, too.
Instead of the guys with babies, how about the guys as babies?

Guess who these little fellows are? Can you tell from the shapes of their faces? I can understand why Mamma Eleanora or Papa Ercole couldn’t resist taking this picture. Years ago, I also did one just like this of my son Barry at the same age, playing a toy guitar and pretending to be Jack Cassady, the very gifted bass player of the Jefferson Airplane/Starship/Hot Tuna. Gian, Erny, and Barry were all musical since they were very young, and of course they all figured out the look, right down to those hip sunglasses. It’s an Italian thing.
Even Barry, see? Barry’s blonde hair has since turned into dark Italian-Jewish curls. And it looks like they all had some of those same Fisher-Price musical noisemakers, too.

Of course, we know there were two other special musical miniatures who were youngsters at exactly the same time and age as the Ginobles and my son. Here they are as ragazzini (little guys).

And they’ve all grown up so well!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Giovanna (Jo Ann)

 

Credit to the owners of all photos.