Wind Summer Festival~ AND~ Pula, Italy, Notte Magica concert!

August 11, 2017 by Jane

WIND SUMMER FESTIVAL

Daniela sent us these excerpts from the festival:

In June, at Piazza del Popolo in Rome, we held the WIND SUMMER FESTIVAL, where our boys also participated.

The broadcast was recorded and made available on television a few days ago.

IL VOLO in great shape has proposed a small medley of L’AMORE SI MUOVE e GRANDE AMORE.

As always, they have involved the whole audience.

The presenter said announcing it was, “Proud to have them as guests because they are famous all over the world.”

Here is the medley video.

Image may contain: 5 people, people smiling, people standing, crowd and text

In the backstage of the festival, the boys were interviewed.

The interviewer had already interviewed the boys at their debut so he dived in the past.

He tells the guys that it’s been so long since their last interview.

The director of the WIND SUMMER FESTIVAL is Cenci, which we remember, he had the idea of joining the voices Piero, Ignazio, and Gianluca when they were at TI LASCIO UNA CANZONE.

Cenci says that he had the idea of joining them but the magic of these guys made by Tony Renis because he made them have incredible contacts and that maybe the guys without these contacts, perhaps would not be here.

The presenter goes on to say that the guys have conquered the world.

The boys confirm that they have worked so hard and now they have more security and that they have so much success thank you to the fans.

Thank you, Daniela, for always keeping us in the loop!

And now, moving on …

Pula, Italy, July 28, 2017…the final concert for the European leg of the Una Notte Magica World Tour. Whew! It seems like they have been on tour forever. I wonder what it must feel like to them? Listening to the following video you will hear the same magnificent voices you heard way back at the beginning of this tour. Such superb professionals who have mastered their art above and beyond all others. Following this concert they are on a well deserved holiday for the month of August with friends and family. Then it’s back to work as the rest of the world awaits them on this phenomenal tour!

Image may contain: one or more people and crowd

Image may contain: 3 people, people smiling, people standing

Image may contain: 2 people, people smiling, people standing and beard

Image may contain: 3 people, people smiling

Credit to all owners of videos and photos.

~Daniela and Jane~

Astrid’s Notte Magica in Düsseldorf, June 15, 2017

August 10, 2017 by Jana

Astrid also wrote us back in June and I’m just now getting to it!

It’s a lovely story! 🙂

So, I’m back! My very first Il Volo concert in Düsseldorf, Germany! We had tropical temperatures on concert day and thunder showers on the way to the concert! Hi, you all, here’s Astrid from Bavaria and here’s my Il Volo experience for you to read…

My tour was a three-day trip to Düsseldorf. Wednesday arrival, 2 hours shopping, then a sprint to the hotel, to skype with my Mom, who didn’t believe we could do it at all in my Il Volo week. She lives in North Carolina in a nursing home and we meet every week and chat a few hours, thanks to skype! She was tickled pink to see me sitting in my hotel room and is excited to hear my story come Thursday, when we skype again as usual, me in the kitchen, she in the library! After seeing Mom was all right, I called my family and showed them I was well taken care of, where I was. One duty left, call to an old friend of the family, I saw last time about 16 years ago, that lives in Wuppertal, near Düsseldorf; she was on the Agenda for Friday! Thursday, a beautiful hot day. I decided to go sight-seeing and go to the Rhein-water, perfect by those Italian temperatures outside. Boy was it hot! Also, it was a holiday and the whole of Düsseldorf seemed to be on the way to the water. I went for a cooling boatride and walked around a bit looking at the beautiful sites offered. Before I went back to the hotel to get ready for the concert and meet my new friends, of course Ilvolovers, I decided to find the location, so it would be easier when in a rush in the evening.

After a long ride to and from the Mitsubishi Hall, it was time to get ready. This evening, I not only met Il Volo, I also was going to finally see my new friends. Twins, about my age, that I got into contact over my search of fellow German Ilvolovers, going to this concert. They had made reservations at an Italian Restaurant for us all and we’d meet on the train – so the plan. Ready to go, I was braked down by a thunder shower. So back to the hotel room, snatch my umbrella and down and out it goes in my sandals, hopping from one puddle to the other. I was overdue to catch that train, we would meet in! Got there just in time and…the train was late due to whatever… Finally on it, I had no clue where my red-headed friends were, so I messaged, we’d meet when we get off the train-it was still pouring cats and dogs, by the way! Well, the end of it, they were on the next train and I was running around like a headless chicken, trying to find them in the rain. We fell in each others arms, when we finally got a hold of each other and couldn’t stop talking and laughing, and decided it was time to go search for that Italian Restaurant.

(My new family members, thanks to Il Volo-Sylvia and Iris, to lovely soulmates of mine that I met through our love to il volo and their wonderful Music!!!)

Sylvia was the guide and Iris and I followed giving helping (or not helping) hints to which could be the right way. Sylvia, officially now, the perfect Navigator, kept us on track and we got there in perfect time to have a lovely first dinner together. Did I mention, I brought us work while waiting for the best pizza I had ever eaten, but first a drink and a picture of our wonderful Notte Magica! You know, I was shopping on Wednesday evening. I got presents for the boys and Barbara, who had her birthday a few days before. I had bought shoes for all four of them-chocolate shoes. They were gorgeous! Sorry, I forgot to take a picture of them… Barbara’s shoe was a Pump, I think red, the guys had three different colored football (soccer) shoes, one red, one blue, one golden; each in a pretty gift box, with cards, high heel all made of chocolate and the boys the same, except theirs were football shoes. Sylvia wrote the cards and Iris and I dictated. We wrote in Italian and English as my new friends are learning Italian, guess why…?! Just in time for pizza, we got the gift bags finished and packed away! That’s Teamwork!!!

About 7:30 we and our bags got back to the location, talking, singing and giggling like teenagers. They were so sweet, happy to be with me at my very first concert with the boys. Thanks to the resolute Sylvia, we got the gift bags through security and I still admire how this red head always manages to make problems vanish like dust. They brought me to my seat and we wished each other a wonderful Notte Magica! I felt like I had ants in my pants, I was so excited-did I mention 1st ROW!!! What shall I say, they came and the first notes, I was all over with goose bumps!!! What power, energy, charisma and feeling in every word they sing. You just want to melt away… People, I tried my best to record most of the songs, for me, for you, but it was hard not just to sit, enjoy and go with the crowds roaring! It was amazing, strangers became friends, fellows, I just can’t describe it! As always, as they say, it was over much too soon.

I did catch Barbara on the sidelines and was allowed to give her her present at one part of the concert, personally, as I was sitting at the left end of the front row and saw her during the concert, as she watched the boys from there. I checked with the guard in front and he gave his OK; to give her her gift right then. I even got a hug from her, she was very sweet. Well, as I said, Barbara got hers first and after the concert, I put the other three on stage and Gianluca took them off.

Got an unexpected hug from her and changed a few words, quietly congratulating her. Gianluca’s father was on the sides, too, making fotos for his posts of the concert. Then we were on our way out, my friends and I went back to my hotel and had a last drink and talk about it all. All three of us had noticed, how tired and worn out the boys seemed to be, when not directly singing. We are worried about their health-guys, they are touring 8 years, now. The fun and play of the teenie years is gone. Wait there’s more, now it gets personally even more exciting! Friday, day of the Hamburg concert, my day for a reunion with a very good friend, almost a sister for me. Drove to the train station and noticed, I’m again going to miss this train, because I have health problems. My feet were on the go the past days almost non-stop and they were reminding me painfully, I’m no spring chicken anymore, no, I’m 62!!! They were swollen every day more and I had every day changed shoes to relieve the painful rubbed open spots.

Today, I was really wearing comfy sandals, but it didn’t help, I needed to get some socks to get me through this last long day without getting knocked out. As I missed the train, I searched for an info station, to get me on the right track again. Guys, guess who I met there by chance–Piero and his Dad!!! They couldn’t find the right track to Hamburg for the last concert in Germany that evening, as you know. I was baffled, but took a quick pic, before they went off to track 17A. After my legs and my brain functioned again, I started following them to that track, in the hope of-what?! Yes, there they were, Piero, his Dad, Gianluca-on the phone, Ignazio, Barbara, the Maestro and somebody I didn’t know. And here I stood, swollen feet and all mixed up, upset, brainless, I just looked at them and saw our 3 wonderful young men, tired, worn out and all I could say is, when will you all finally get some rest and recreation-you need it so badly?

Lovely Barbara, sweet as ever, was gently stroking Igna over the cheek, wiping away his concerns… just have to love her for these small gestures!

Barbara recognized me from the evening before and told Igna I was the lady with the shoes for them all and half-heartedly asked if I’d like a selfie with them…of course I would have, who wouldn’t, but they didn’t react, maybe not heard her. So, at least I stole me a few pics of the boys, said farewell, wished them all the best for the concert and the future and left to go to my train…and I started to cry,,,it was just too much at one time, I guess!

After all of us were back home, I got a mail from Sylvia and Iris, they intended to send the Maestro flowers, because we had enjoyed the concert so much and realized that the boys always get a lot of gifts in some ways, but the Maestro and the orchestra deserved an honoration, too. Especially, since Maestro Diego also has his birthday in July.

So Sylvia contacted a flower shop in Vienna and ordered a box of roses-red, with three white ones in the middle. The florist wanted to be certain that these flowers would be taken over at 6 P.M. when they would be delivered. Sylvia called up at the location and found out, that they would not do it, because of security matters… The florist couldn’t believe this, because he also delivers UNO City and the Atomic Institut and he was known as secure enough to do this, just not for the Maestro’s flowers, evidently!

Sylvia and I tried every single day to find someone that was responsible and would make this flower delivery happen. No answers back… This afternoon, Sylvia called someone in Italy and after a bit of a back and forth again, she got hold of someone called Alessandra from the Management with hotel name and a yes, for delivery of the flowers for the Maestro, tomorrow morning! Now, we three are relieved and curious if that really will happen, that these ‘dangerous’ flowers get to their recipient!!!

This is my story. It took me the whole of my ‘Notte Magica’ CD to write it and now I feel sad again after writing the last experience down.

Oh Astrid, we all know how you feel! But it will now be here forever and you can come back and read it any time! Thank you so much for sharing your story and what a lovely thought to send the roses to the Maestro with the 3 white ones!! Simply perfetto! 🙂

And I was there, Taormina, June 1, 2017 ~ by Mealani Evensen, Hawaii, USA

August 7, 2017 by Jana

Mealani wrote to the Flight Crew to share her marvelous story way back in June! I apologize that I am just getting to it now.

Aloha to the Flight Crew! What a wonderful time we had in Italy. I wanted to share some of the highlights with you without merely repeating what others have already described so eloquently. The boys were everywhere. I bumped into them repeatedly. Yet I felt so oddly protective and didn’t want to invade their space. (I know, I can hear that collective sigh. Silly me) For the most part, I was content to bask in their aura and breathe the same air. . . although I was blessed to have a moment with Piero that will live with me forever. What a kind and gracious soul.

We’ve been home for over a week now and I’m still feeling the lingering jet lag. It’s a very long trip from Hawaii to Italy. There’s a 12 hour time difference. Day becomes night. And I’d do it again tomorrow if I could.

“For the last couple of years I’ve gained so much pleasure reading the articles and comments from the Crew, it feels rude to not share.”

My cousin, Melinda, planned this trip for months. It was my Christmas present. That sounds so casual, but it was a very big deal for both of us. While Melinda is fairly well traveled, I am not.

We both have obligations at home and . . . we’re not rich. But she explained to me that life is all about creating memories. It wasn’t easy, but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see Il Volo perform in their home country. Now, that’s a memory I have forever.

The flight from Honolulu to JFK is about 10 hours. We had a long layover and then another 9 hour flight to Rome where we spent the next 4 days. What an amazing city. mealani hawaii Four days are not nearly enough but we had a concert to get to. From Rome it was a short flight to Catania and then another hours drive to Taormina. What a sweet little town. Kind of reminds me of home. There are some of the same plants, an active volcano, beautiful beaches, lots of tourists and locals that speak a language most Americans can’t understand.

We arrived a couple of days before the June 1st concert. Our B&B was a 5-minute walk from Bam Bar. From day one we had Il Volo sightings, mostly Piero. He was there every day. However, I felt oddly guilty of being yet another crazed fan with a camera, so we generally kept our distance. But on one occasion, I saw him walking up a flight of stairs with a couple of young ladies and I couldn’t resist. I called out to him and explained that I’d traveled a very long way to hear him sing. He was so kind and gracious, pausing to give me a hug and kiss and chat for a minute. Such a gentleman. Unfortunately, his female companions were less than thrilled. One of them was giving me the stare down of my life. It looked like she was planning to put my head on a stick and parade it around town. Sorry dear. Too bad, so sad.

On another evening, we were having dinner in a cafe across from Bam Bar and I heard Piero’s voice. Not his singing voice, which is easy to identify, but his speaking voice. He and his sister were there enjoying the early evening. In fact, the video of the Sicilian band was taken then. If I’d panned my camera just a few feet to the right you would have seen them. I know. Pretty foolish. But the mother hen in me wanted to protect their privacy.

The video of the boys singing with that same band was a scene I witnessed on two different evenings. There was always a small crowd but the guys looked so comfortable. Genuinely happy to be there. They would sing a couple of numbers, mingle with the fans, carry their children, pose for pictures. . . It was truly heartwarming.

Of course, the highlight of our adventure was the concert. Extraordinary music in a breathtaking venue. The boys sang with such passion and tenderness. It was phenomenal! My favorite moment was when Piero went to sit in the audience with his nonno while one of the other guys performed. They closed the show with Grande Amore.

I hope the video gives you a taste of the warmth and love we shared as an audience. Sadly, we did not attend the Meet and Greet. It was crazy expensive and our experience in San Diego the year before was a bit disappointing. So no, we didn’t do that.

It was an unbelievable adventure. While I hope to return someday to see more of Italy, my heart remains in Taormina.

Until then, ciao and aloha – Mealani, Hawaii USA

Taormina June 1, 2017 ~ Personal Review by Melina Anastasi

August 4, 2017 by Jane

Daniela ponders the question, “Do I have friends who write in a superb way, or is the IL VOLO that charms them?” I think it’s definitely both, Daniela!

After so many months of waiting, finally arrived on June 1, 2017, the day of the concert I would attend, but not any one, in Taormina, in the pearl of my Sicily: “To a man who would spend a single day in Sicily and ask, ‘What do you need to see?’, I would answer without hesitation ‘Taormina’ …. The village is suspended on a large mountain, as it was rolled from the top. Even though we have beautiful remains of the past, we only cross it, to see the Greek theater and watch the sunset. The Taormina’ theater is so superbly placed that there can not be another place in the world like this. Guy de Maupassant. “

I arrive in the “Queen of the Jonio” in the afternoon together with another crazy like me, before the concert we have to meet a friend of Facebook and know her son who plays in the orchestra that accompanies the guys of Il Volo in Sicilian concerts. Taormina is like the usual crowded, loud and colorful. Together we make some chatter and some gossip, take pictures, walk around and calmly walk to the theater. Near the entrance we welcome the son of my friend, who came out of the backstage. Then she goes back, the ticket has it for another day, and we go to the theater, the scenery even though I know well, it always strikes me, it is not something that can be indifferent! Awesome place to take place, it’s not my first Il Volo concert, but I’m always anxious just because I know what’s waiting for me, all the theater is in a hurry, people find themselves, recognize, discuss and ride with strangers encountered at the moment, we exchange impressions, and we hear so many different languages, before us for example there is a pair of Japanese, and so many Americans. This too is a prodigy of IL VOLO: it joins people of different ages, continents and cultures! After waiting for a palpable tension, cheerfulness and expectation, the orchestra enters, and here the applause starts, the first instrumental piece, “The Force of Destiny”, is performed, no song was ever more appropriate. And then…. If by chance we were distracted, the ocean boat did not leave any doubt, the three guys got in the scene! For me it’s like reviewing family members, so I perceive them, and I do not think I’m the only one.

Already in the first notes, a spell goes down and wraps up the theater, heaven has opened! Their magnificent, sublime voices, both in solitude and in harmony, annihilate! They are powerful, but also sweet and caring! Gianluca is always perfect, his deep and velvety tonality becomes more painful every day, he is soft and insinuating but on occasion he has an unexpected force, he says the Opera is not in his strings, but that does not prevent him from being very great even in lyrical pieces. What about Piero? He has always been the “lyrical” of the group and he feels, his mighty voice is loaded with emotion as well as with technique, shaken from the depths, you are astonished to listen to him, unable to believe his young age! And then there is Ignazio who can pass in a moment with the funny expression when he jokes, the suffering and passionate when he sings, reaches incredibly high notes with a loud, loud voice, or whispers subtly and succinctly, moves you or exalts you his pleasure! You can not fully understand the talent and value of these beautiful artists if they have not been heard live.

The concert takes place between solos, duets and heavenly harmonies, with the three musketeers who appear to be born on stage, so they are the bosses of the situation. They laugh, they are relaxed and happy, they go around, talk to the public, poor Gianluca put in the middle by the two Sicilian mates, as if they were not on a unique stage in the world, showing not to make any effort to sing a repertoire that would scare everyone else! The millennial stones remain obscured, The sea, the stars, the Etna that rivalry by magic with what is happening on stage seem to be asking: but these three unpunished as they dare to steal the scene? Then they too enchanted, listened to the kidnapped and the most beautiful ones that never cooperate in the sorcery! What is the secret arcane that characterizes IL VOLO? They have a malia on them (a spell that carries you to them); the voices are wonderful, of course, constant study, too, professionalism and dedication, but there is more, something else difficult to pinpoint and define, which is felt but can not be explained, every word is reductive. In addition to the vocal cords, the soul vibrates, expose it together with the voices and invests you like a wind with the sound waves! The audience is visibly at every performance, standing ovations and enthusiasm not to end, the guys are almost embarrassed, mitigate the emotion with jokes that tease laughter between emotion! I look like a teenage girl and I’m giggling in applause and screaming impetuously, with my girlfriend who looks at me with open mouth, but she is no less.

When the cheerful air begins “Libiamo Ne Lieti Calici”, we all realize that the concert turns to the end, the two hours seemed two minutes. The guys come out and the audience shouts to go back, what they do right away, and blow up the classic clothes along with the papillon (a bow tie), who so much suffered Ignazio all evening, pitch in with the audience Grande Amore, having finally run to stage and mingle with greetings and shaking hands! Then I do something I’ve never done for anyone even in youth, I go under the stage and grab the hand of the first of them shouting, loudly saying all three are good; I think I’m crazy !! The music stops and the lights go out, the show is over, for a while restless to look at the empty scene, with a subtle sense of loss, my friend pulls me for the sleeve, we have to go. And I went slowly and malevolently, but my heart remained in that theater, where for two hours, three normal, funny, fun boys became transformed immense, overwhelming the physical limits and transported me to an alternative world, of joy and harmony … what mysterious goal is this ever?

Daniela, I hope your friends will come and join the Flight Crew and continue to write these amazing reviews for us!

Translation by Daniela Perani.

Credit to owner of photo.

Jane

Myron’s compares/contrasts of Il Volo performances just for the fun of it, with a little help from Pat! – by Myron & Pat

August 2, 2017 by Myron Heaton

A little background on this posting…several months back, I had had a few ideas on what I thought would be great posts. I was in the process of rounding up a few more writers and realized Pat would be the perfect person to do these. I put on my “boss” cap and asked her if she’d be willing to take on these assignments. She agreed heartily, maybe a bit too heartily, later thinking “what did I just get myself into?” None of the 3 assignments I gave her were easy. Some were very grueling, like making her search and scour the Internet for some of these videos! But she eagerly took on the task! 🙂

In the meantime, Myron sent me a note saying he was in the process of writing this article comparing Il Volo’s songs with past and present performances. Ding, ding, ding!! How perfect – I could easily combine both my assignment for Pat and Myron’s article. I’m sure it would be a smash!

I will say, this all started with a very innocent email from Gale Wall to Marie with a few videos she had found from past and present, and it just went from there! 🙂 So, please enjoy the following article from Myron and the hard work from Pat.

Ground rules for this article includes the fact that I will find something good and something not as good. To be honest we all know that some Il Volo performances are better than others – nobody is perfect all the time. But I have always felt that even their worst quality performance is far superior to the best of most other singers. Where is the proof? Just compare Il Volo on an average day to any other famous singer or group on their best day and see what you come up with. Take as much time as you wish. See! I told you so! Not even close.

Now I am going to compare Il Volo to the only group that gives them a serious run for the money – Themselves ! ! !

Source of this comparison: a list of videos put together by Pat Ward plus a few that I have added. Thanks so much to Pat.

Maria

Sample # 1 is the song “Maria” from West Side Story by Leonard Bernstein.

One performance is from Westbury outside New York. I will not include this because this venue is never a very good one for the boys (in the round) – bad acoustics, terrible site lines, terrible sound and it is near impossible to stage anything like this. So that leaves us the most recent (2017) Radio City Music Hall performance in New York where Maria is done as a duet and a performance from Louisville, Kentucky where Gianluca does a solo performance.

The vocal quality of the most recent one is better and, of course, more mature. The vowels are more perfectly shaped which then allows tone to be more rich and well shaped. Gianluca and Ignazio show a more “natural” staging and use of hands and facial expression than the older one. Years of experience will do that.

The older performance with only Gianluca shows a “kid” that is just trying out facial and hand gestures at an early time in his life. He is just learning how to relate to the audience in front of him which is quite a job for a boy that is so shy as he was then (and still is to a degree). However, young though he may be, his heart-felt passion is unleashed in a way that takes your breath away. I remember that summer offered another performance in the mid-west someplace where he was wearing a white shirt and a black vest. He had been ill on the trip and lost weight. He looked so skinny that we wondered if he could even make it through the whole song. The passion carried the day and he made it – but we, the audience were exhausted ! ! ! For passion and naked feelings I give it to the older performance. For quality of technique I give the nod to the Radio City show.

Gianluca solo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzQF1Oo1kwQ Louisville Kentucky on August 15, 2012

Gianluca and Ignazio

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPRzodp3jLw March 4, 2017 Radio City Music Hall New York

Gian, Igna and Piero

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mscsjgkskC8 Jun 25, 2014 NYCB Theatre at Westbury, NY

O Sole Mio

For contrast here I will use the Il Volo performance from Florence last summer called: Una Notte Magica vs. the very first music video that they ever did filmed at Taormina. They were about ages 15, 16 & 17 when that was filmed and when the first album was recorded.

I remember that it was such a pleasant surprise as a music director/voice teacher to see young guys that sounded so mature. If you want to get technical then you notice that vowels are not always consistent. One example is the vowel “Ah” which is a very wide (or should be) position mouth opening. Here it is correct sometimes and other times it is more shallow. Does it make a huge difference in the long run? No. What carries the day is that they are using large vowel concepts most of the time – 80% to 90% of the time. Again, compare with other singers of their age who don’t even know what pure vowel shapes are – duh! It boils down to the vocal training they have had (or others have not had).

The Florence concert of summer of 2016 gives us the boys in their early 20s after years of voice lessons and working with a great vocal coach. I suggest you get the “Notte Magica” DVD and skip to the special features where they go behind the scenes. During that video you will see them working with a vocal coach. That woman is right on the money – Great work. I wish they would have shown more of that session in the video. A great Olympic athlete must always work with a coach and so also, a great singer must always work with a great vocal coach. That is how you prevent bad habits from disrupting.

This version of Sole Mio is pure – the original song complete. They have done versions that mix the original with the Elvis arrangement. That one is fun but this one requires the best singing habits. This performance is truly great ! ! !

O Sole Mio

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lw3c5d3aBSE Uploaded on Feb 9, 2011 looks like an official music vid

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHuLWW5r0Fg Uploaded on May 21, 2011 CBS The Early Show New York

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2q3_h-l-Mo Uploaded on Jan 18, 2012 don’t know the location on this one

Unchained Melody

The performances listed by Pat here are all fine but I am going to use only one performance which is not listed. I am using this for a special reason.

On Friday (Good Friday), March 25, 2016 the boys of Il Volo attended the first ever – Il Volo Fan Faire convention at the Palms Hotel Casino in Las Vegas. Those of us there had a great chance to “love “ these guys to death and shower them with gifts. It was fun and we found out again just last month that the boys want to do it again soon. Then later that night they gave a concert in the Pearl Theater in the same hotel. Turned out to be one of the best concerts of their whole tour with one of the best orchestras of the tour. My son and soon-to-be daughter-in-law were attending both the Fan Faire and the concert. He is a great photographer and took a video during the concert when Gianluca and Ignazio sang a duet on “Unchained Melody.” Turns out that song is a favorite for both my son and his girlfriend and it brought them both to tears. In short, he proposed, she said yes and now they are married and I have a grandson ! ! By the way I am going to post that video soon and you will see it is one of the best versions of that song. Hooray for Il Volo. Hooray for David, Erin and little Jacob! (Myron, hope you find it, because I looked and could not!)

By the way, the family was in attendance again this year for the return of Il Volo to Vegas for “Notte Magica” – this time the Park Theater at the Monte Carlo Hotel Casino.

Great Performance.

Unchained Melody

Ignazio solo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osdM3G2ZAIA Locarno, 12 giugno 2015

Gianluca and Ignazio

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGDTbkXJFdo CERVIA-18 Jul15

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8p-PO4yyabA London Palladium 3rd June 2016

Caruso

This song deals with the sad, unhappy life of one of the great tenors of all time: Enrico Caruso. This man had many trials in his life, had rough times in Italy but found success in the USA. Even though he bedded many women and had two sons he eventually ended up alone when he died near Sorrento in Italy. It is a great song, a demanding song, very filled with passion and can easily die without that passion.

The two performances from Pat’s list I am using are Christmas concert in the senate in Italy and the concert (their first time) in Radio City Music Hall in New York – both in 2013.

One problem here is the video which has a “skip” in the middle of the song. That is too bad because they are presenting a very passionate performance of this song at that point. This concert was on December 14, 2013 and came very closely after a very long and poorly planned tour of the USA and Latin America. Too many concerts in too short a time including two cities where they did 4 concerts back to back to back ! ! ! One city where they were outdoors in the rain. Too many concerts in too short a time. They each got sick when then were coming into Panama City. Gianluca and Piero had raspy voices and Ignazio could not even talk let alone sing. So the Senate concert happened at the end of a stressful fall and winter. They still did a great job.

My choice, however, is Radio City. This place inspired our guys to give a great concert and this song especially was a solid hit on that show. I would say that it is very difficult to listen to this song sung by the guys in full rendition without having some tears. Powerful song – sung by wonderful singers. That Radio City Concert is still one of their all-time best.

Caruso

Piero (age 15) e Simona Collura (age 12) Ti lascio una canzone Italian TV talent contest 09 maggio 2009

Ignazio solo

September 27, 2013 Radio City Music Hall, New York

Published on Jun 12, 2014 IVMO les presenta: Porta a Porta – Solo – 4 de Julio

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EgzbIhp80A I LOVE Gianluca’s introduction for Ignazio’s solo

Gianluca e Ignazio e Piero

Concerto di Natale 2014 al Senato

Summary

Even when they were only 16 years old these boys were exciting to listen to. Maybe they still needed more staging work and to loosen up the face a bit. Maybe they still needed to work on tone placement a bit more but that is splitting hairs. The wonderful thing is that they kept working on their craft in order to produce the great art that they do. Today, as we see in current performances, they still work with a coach and they produce even greater vocal excitement as they sing the best in music repertoire.

I will save more songs for another time. Bravo! to Gianluca, Ignazio and Piero!

Myron…

Ok, you be the critic – here are a few more songs Pat found. Jana (comments on video from Pat!)

Quando l’amore diventa poesia

Ignazio solo – Ti lascio una canzone 2009

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2DXKVhXk2U Ignazio doesn’t hold out the end note of the song as they do now

Ignazio solo – Moscow 04.10.2014

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsQ9WNLSuT0 birthday rose – Ignazio does a little flip at the end

Gianluca, Ignazio e Piero – New York 17 Feb 20-16

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZxCLpBpoN8 Ignazio does a little flip at the end

Delilah

Ignazio solo – sung in Italian

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQMSVc4n-CY Ti lascio una canzone Italian TV talent contest 2009

Gianluca, Ignazio e Piero New York – February 17, 2016

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k940RpjkHZI Ignazio turns loose on this one during the instrumental part and does that flip at the end

Ave Maria

Gianluca solo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXRilrHfM9M Ti lascio una canzone Italian TV talent contest 2009 – He seems so nervous! I love the way he wrinkles his nose when he hits that high note towards the end of the song!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jwo_tg1KFxc Concerto di Natale 2014 al Senato What a difference five years makes!

È La Mia Vita

Ignazio

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkfLxxK82GE (Ti lascio una canzone 2009)

Gianluca, Ignazio e Piero

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUl_uJNL11A Teatro D’Annunzio 5 Sep 2014

Hope everyone enjoyed the trip down memory lane…. 🙂

Jana

Notte Magica ~ 6-30-2017 ~ Bulgaria

July 3, 2017 by Jane

The last of the European concerts of the Notte Magica tour are done. A week off and then more concerts in Italy are on the way. I’ll bet they are thinking about how wonderful it will be to have time with their families in a few short weeks when most Italians go to the beach in the month of August! I love the way they do that. Close up shops and off you go. We should do that here!

Just a few great photos of the guys, their fans and the magical night in Sofia, Bulgaria.

18839223_1943119922573396_2756520555259308318_n

19554096_10209265712306384_3929281171403868441_n

19553875_10213069547830940_353116821378165060_n

19511592_1731157846909427_8614850240959162161_n

19511581_1731226200235925_1707000717493588618_n

19598922_1731054236919788_4512808219155519743_n

19601258_1731157753576103_492693462972282879_n

19511386_1750364088337247_1065971899142288929_n

19601128_1750363875003935_6240084319351798357_n

19657028_1750364021670587_8751145433031331519_n

19511606_1731223716902840_7736359068137983876_n

19511171_1731222950236250_5866579196685831486_n

19510643_10209259496911003_2484566833254949781_n

Oh yeah, I slipped in that last one there just to see if you were paying attention! Be still my heart! 🙂

Credit to all owners of videos and photos.

Jane

Notte Magica – The Movie Event! June 21, 2017

July 1, 2017 by Jana

This is a spoiler alert for those of you who haven’t seen the movie yet! Close your eyes and look away…..

nottemagica header

On Wednesday, June 21, 2017, a group of the Detroit Il Volo gals ventured to Bloomfield Twp. Michigan to the Maple Theatre to see the Notte Magica movie. I had heard a few reviews/comments from Victoria and Jane, so I kind of knew what to expect. They both told me there were a few clips that we hadn’t seen before of them playing around, a short bit from the Home and Family show and a quick excerpt from the LA concert at the Dolby. They also showed a quick pic of them with Priscilla Presley. Yep, that was all true – I think I had seen a few of the clips before, as well on some form of social media.

Then, as they both said, it went into the Florence concert with a few subtitles here and there, but basically it was similar to both DVDs of the Italian and PBS versions and in English.

However, as I recall, there was a constant camera going back and forth in front of us when we were there. I have to tell you, with all the camera work going on, it was clear that this movie was part of their master plan of the future. The footage that was shown in the movie was far superior to either of the DVDs. Many shots and scenes were the same, but there were others that were not shown before here and there.

It was almost like being there, right in the front row. Third row for me again. Unfortunately, Lorna was not able to make it. Every so often Gin would say, “there you are, I see you!” Well, I must have blinked at that moment, because I didn’t see me! lol! However, nearer to the end, after the last orchestra solo, I saw Lorna and I sitting in the audience. They flashed the same shot twice, just for us, to be sure we saw it. 🙂

Of course the guys were amazing. I thought it was going to be too loud, but once it got started, it was just fine. There were about 35 tickets sold, not too bad. Not sure how many persons actually showed up, but I’d say there were at least over 25 in the theatre. We had the 6th row all to ourselves…. no one was in front of us. We clapped during the Libiamo song and clapped and cheered at the end of most of them – just like we were at the real concert. Every once in a while, we heard those behind us clapping. I sang along to Tonight and Maria. It was so loud, I’m sure no one heard me…

I have to say, seeing them on the big screen, so much larger than life, was incredible. The close-up shots were fantastic and so close and clear, that you could count the hairs on their chins! It was almost the entire concert, but no songs other than what was shown on the other DVDs. They did not show Adeste Fidelis, which I can’t figure out why they sang it and then just cut it out of the final cuttings. O Come Let us Adore Him – yes, O Come Let us Adore Them!! Any time, any place, we will be there!

I even brought along a new fan with me that evening. I had converted her over at work. She is a busy person and had not really heard them sing much, although she did say she looked them up on You Tube. She is a “younger” fan and she thoroughly enjoyed herself, the movie and meeting us more “mature” fans. When it was all over, I asked her if she had a favorite and she said it was too soon to tell and that each one is so unique, unto himself, that it was hard to choose. She sent me an email a few days later and said she was still deciding!! 🙂

Before the show, we enjoyed a meal at the little café, right inside the theatre lobby area. A little pricey, but nice and convenient.

We also met another Il Volo fan group from the area – Lynn Delaney and friends. This was her second time of seeing the movie. She said she enjoyed it the 2nd time, just as much!

The only comments I have about this is that I did wish they had included the Adeste Fidelis and I thought a really nice touch would have been to add the Grande Amore from the LA concert, to really tie in the 2 concerts. Not sure why they seemed to emphasize both concerts and only about 5 minutes or less was spent on LA. But, of course, they didn’t consult with me on this – if only they had, it would have been better! 🙂

So, for those of you who have not seen it yet and it comes anywhere near you, I would highly recommend it. It is just about 2 hours long – they tag it as 110 minutes.

If they decide to release it on DVD, it is definitely going to be part of my collection!

This is the write-up from the IL VOLO website…

A concert-event that brings to life magical moments from Il Volo’s World Tour 2017 – from the backstage of their March performance in Los Angeles to the birth of their tour with Plácido Domingo in the magnificent setting of Florence’s Piazza Santa Croce. The event features the concert along with never before seen, cinema-exclusive footage.

This trio of young Italian tenors, today’s operatic pop phenomenon, have delighted audiences in prestigious venues worldwide.

Il Volo started their US tour with a sold-out show at New York’s Radio City Music Hall and then performing in 15 concerts. The cinema program highlights a recent concert at Los Angeles’ Microsoft Theater, where Maestro Placido Domingo joined the trio on stage.

Ignazio, Piero and Gianluca are now touring Europe and Italy.

This film-concert is distributed worldwide by Rising Alternative beginning from June 2017.

Images including stage and media appearances, rehearsals with Plácido Domingo, backstage moments and audience reactions during the US tour will precede this first concert exhibition, mastered for 2k Digital Cinema presentation in surround sound.

This title has already been booked into cinemas in about 20 countries: in Finland where it opens on June 7, in Spain June 13, in the USA beginning from June 13, in Italy June 15, in Switzerland June 15, in Ecuador June 19, in Slovakia June 20, in Mexico July 9 and 13, in Austria September 14 and in Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, The Netherlands and Ireland on dates to be determined very shortly.

Updated cinema show times by country are posted on http://www.ilvoloincinema.com

This project is a tribute to the Three Tenors. In 1990, José Carreras, Plácido Domingo, and Luciano Pavarotti performed their legendary concert at the Baths of Caracalla in Rome, and now, 27 years later, Il Volo’s Piero Barone, Ignazio Boschetto and Gianluca Ginoble honor the legend of The Three Tenors by bringing this iconic classical music to new and familiar audiences. Il Volo grew up listening to them, being fascinated and inspired by their voices and legendary achievements.

NOTTE MAGICA Tour 2017 kicked off with the concert in Florence – Piazza Santa Croce with the great orchestra of the famous Teatro Massimo di Palermo conducted by Maestro Ramón Tebar. As a special guest, Maestro Plácido Domingo also participated in the concert, conducting some of the operatic arias and popular songs.

Il Volo “Notte Magica” in Cinemas will show the group on tour and then singing some of the most famous Neapolitan songs and arias from the Italian and international opera repertoire – all of which were sung by the original Three Tenors.

NOTTE MAGICA – a magical night tribute to The Three Tenors’ is a project conceived by Michele Torpedine, Il Volo’s creator, manager and producer and is distributed in cinemas worldwide by Rising Alternative, in collaboration with Sony Music Masterworks, Sony Music Italy, C Major Entertainment and SpectiCast.

“A tribute to such artists and to such an event could be considered presumptuous, but in fact it is not, as we have not the slightest thought of comparing ourselves to our idols, our artistic inspirations,” say Il Volo.

“I am very happy to be with Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca conducting them in this magic night under the stars in such a beautiful city: Florence! I really love these guys. They are performing such a great repertoire around the world – some of the music my colleagues and I performed in our own concerts”, says Plácido Domingo

For those of you in Canada, it looks like the closest for you would be Vashon, Washington, which is between Seattle and Tacoma on the map. It doesn’t look like they have added any additional locations since a month ago, but you never know – keep looking!