Well, the date of the PBS special arrived, 14 June 2019.
We are all very excited to have photos, videos, discover the songs that will be sung. There are two Flight Crew members that have been selected by the official fanclub for this great initiative, and they are Crystaldawn and Antonia Guzzo.
We are very happy for them, we hope they can send us some nice news.
Yesterday there were general rehearsals and little was leaked, just some afternoon photos and a video of TRM Tele Radio Matera.
Here they are.
And here is the TRM video, remember to activate the subtitles.
And here is the opinion of Crystaldawn, who published in the comments of the post of Matera and that perhaps, not all of you have read.
The concert was very intimate with only approximately 20-25 round tables seating 6-8 guests. Upon arrival we were offered a glass of sparkling wine. The evening warm and the backdrop of Matera skyline lit up was spectacular. Our fan table was in the front row near the center. Due to PBS filming, we were not allowed to use our cell phones to video the guys.
Their voices were amazing and being so close it was a powerful sound. The guys were great of course, but somewhat reserved due to the filming. Ignazio the most active—but that is to be expected.
Now for the songs, it was a mix of everything. Beginning with “IL Mondo” and ending with “Grande Amore”. Alessandro Quarta was their special surprise guest. He played “Musica Che Resta” with them, along with accompanying each on their solos, and having a solo of his own. Only a couple of songs from their new album were sung . . . “Arriverderci Roma” and “A chi mi dice”.
To be honest, I anticipated more songs from their new album (I will hear them Sunday night), but this is for PBS promotions in the USA and I felt a lot of the material they presented had already appeared on PBS specials and therefore to promote their new album for Americans mostly new material (along with some old favorites) was expected.
The guys were dressed in casual black suits, black shirt and socks. Ignazio wore blue loafer shoes. They never changed their clothing and kept their jackets on. I like it where part way through they take their jackets off and roll up their sleeves. But again, PBS filming. I look forward to Sunday night when they can cut loose.
Ignazio brought a jogging friend and his mom. Ignazio looks great with his weight loss which all three made a point of showing it off. Gianluca had his whole family and girl friend Francesca. I didn’t notice any special guests of Piero. I was able to obtain a quick photo with Piero and Gianluca as they were entering the sound check prior to the concert and give both a small pilgrimage gift that I prepared for them. In the case of Ignazio, I handed it to his mom after the concert.
I had hoped that the guys would be able to say a quick hello and photo with the 10 fans who were selected. But that did not occur before or after the concert. We did receive a little wave from the stage when they were near our table and off camera.
I look forward to Sunday night and a concert that will be more in line with my expectations.
Thank you very much Crystal Dawn, for your very welcome report, it must have been exciting to have the boys so close.
Well, the voices of the boys have not betrayed, strong and powerful as always.
We understand that you prefer a less formal program, where guys don’t feel harnessed by how they should look, but more free to express their personalities. I think their concert on Sunday will have a more formal initial part and then another less formal one. Sure that the songs will be different, less popular classics and maybe some new additions.
And what about Matera, the ancient Sassi lent their precious image for an even more beautiful show.
Thanks Matera.
From what Crystal Dawn said, and from what has transpired from the short videos, we can say that there were these songs: (in random order)
IL MONDO
MUSICA CHE RESTA
GRANDE AMORE
CARUSO
UN AMORE COSì GRANDE
NESSUN DORMA
LIBIAM DE LIETI CALICI
TORNA A SURRIENTO
NOTTE STELLATA
VOLARE
ARRIVERDERCI ROMA
A CHI MI DICE
LOVE STORY (Piero)
MI MANCHERAI (Gianluca)
ALMENO TU NELL’UNIVERSO (Ignazio)
SHE’S ALWAYS A WOMAN (Gianluca)
(For now, they are the ones we have been able to know, but I believe there are others.)
And here are some short videos of the evening.
In the exchange of words, here is the speech:
G = We have a prince here.
I = Thank you, in fact, they wanted to do me PRINCIPE DI MARSALA (Prince of Marsala), but I said no, no, no, there is already a BARON, just a Baron of Agrigento here. (laughter)
P = Di Naro, not from Agrigento.
And here’s today’s Basilicata news.
Director Duccio Forzano in Matera for the live show of Il Volo.
Thanks again to Crystal Dawn for her report, now we wait for the other news.
Ok, the special PBS has been made. And now it’s running, tomorrow is the big day, MUSICA TOUR is waiting for us.
We have been waiting for it for some time and in a few days the tour will start from Matera. Matera is a beautiful city in Basilicata (Italian region).
It is called the “City of the Stones”, due to the particular houses that were built inside the rock.
Matera is considered the third oldest city in the world.
It is part of the UNESCO world heritage and this year has been awarded as “capital of culture”.
Il Volo, will officially open the season of events in Matera with the concert on June 16, which will be held at the Cava del Sole.
But Matera, this year, will also be affected by the PBS special.
I will translate a piece from an article in the newspaper “La gazzetta del mezzogiorno”.
“The one scheduled in Matera at the Cava del Sole, is such a long-awaited moment to have interested PBS, an important American national television network, that two days before the debut – on the occasion of a private event, scheduled for June 14 in Piazza San Pietro Caveoso in Matera – will shoot the show of the three great Italian artists to make it an important overseas live show to program it in the coming months. In the television story in question, the Orchestra della Magna Grecia will serve as a precious frame to the extraordinary performances by Barone, Boschetto and Ginoble.”
So the two concerts will be in Matera but in two different places.
The tour start concert will be on June 16 in Cava del Sole, while the PBS special will be shot in Piazza S. Pietro Caevoso and will be a private invitation-only event.
But here is the photo of the beautiful square where the PBS event will be held.
Really a place full of charm.
It will be a beautiful special, with fantastic singers, magnificent songs and a wonderful panorama.
What more could you want ……. to be present at the event …… but unfortunately Matera is not very easy to reach, and in any case there is no doubt, we will all enjoy the video, and surely our hearts will all be there on June 14th.
Meanwhile, Alessandro Quarta also announced that he will share the stage with IL VOLO during the tour.
Fantastic!!!
I look forward to hearing “MUSICA CHE RESTA” with the violin accompaniment.
What will the program of songs have for us?
A lot of good past and present music, classical and pop and why not, something about the Latin CD, but it will be excellent music sung by our fantastic GIANLUCA, IGNAZIO and PIERO.
And the time has come, for the Italian MUSIC AWARDS.
They will be held, as is well known, in Verona, in the beautiful Arena.
During this show, the singers who have had more CD sales or more people at the live concerts, the previous year, are rewarded.
There will be no prizes for IL VOLO, because as you all know, the year 2018 didn’t have new CDs and there were few live concerts.
But our guys were invited as guests, and to promote their work.
Here they are during the rehearsals.
And here in a funny video, where they say “THANK YOU” in many different languages. 😂
Even Torpedine has fun during the rehearsals .
Piero says:“Tonight we have an exceptional drummer, Torpedine. Torp”.
Here on their arrival, with some fans.
They also gave interviews, here is one for which you can use the translator function. Activate it.
This is another interview with Radio Italia(one of the few radios that always broadcast IL VOLO songs).
Man= From the Arena of Verona, ladies and gentlemen: IL VOLO.
Gian = Good pronunciation.
Woman= with a slightly American accent.
Man= They are international artists, guys, come on.
Ignazio= In my country say “U VOLO, more international than that.”
Man= How nice to meet you guys, how are you?
Ignazio= Well, happy to be back at the Arena, we will be back again in September on the 24th.
Man= Will be the final of a tour that?
Piero= Yes, from July we will sing, from north to south, in all the cities of Italy.
Man= Also, you just did a tour in Japan, where you were.
Piero= Yes, a month of concerts in Japan.
Woman = Furthermore, you are young, but you already have 10 years of career behind you.
Ignazio= In fact, look, to Piero, white hair has already grown. It has been 10 intense years, Piero always says that they have gone on the fly. They have passed quickly, intense, we have traveled a lot, but above all, it is a concentration of emotions, because getting to different cultures has always been our goal, and succeeding, after 10 years also in Japan, is something that makes us very proud, and repays us for all the sacrifices.
Piero= In Japan, we were lucky, because they praise a discipline that is ice skating. Their champion, won the gold medal at the Olympic Games on the ice last year, with our song. So, we’re second in the standings.
Man= Boys, it must be beautiful.
Woman = That is, he introduced you to Japan.
Piero= Do you know who is first in the standings?
Man= Who is first in the standings?
Ignazio= Bohemian Rapsody
Woman = But, what an honor, second only behind Bohemian Rapsody.
We thank Radio Italia, and for the interview and always spread the beautiful music of the boys.
The day was long and hot for the boys, but now we have arrived at the time of the show ………. here they are !!!!!
What can I say?
This is the video of the only song the boys sang, but before and after them, there were many singers and …… trust my judgment, the guys of IL VOLO are spectacular, their voices are unique. “I’ve heard so many singers who have sung so many false notes.”
Always in excellent shape, an amalgamation of perfect voices, and the high notes of Ignazio ………. excellent !!
Their live performances, however, never disappoint.
There are things that happen, so, by chance. Remember this beautiful fan-art from IL VOLO that I used for a post?
I found this beautiful image on the officialIL VOLO fanclub. I liked it immediately and so I asked who had made it, permission to be able to use it.
In this way I met Xinjie, a sweet Chinese girl who has lived in Rome for seven years. She is a graphic designer.
We have established friendship, started chatting and getting to know each other a little.
Looking through some photos of her Facebook profile, I found this beautiful photo.
Really a beautiful girl, but did you recognize the landscape in the background? It is just what you think: Capri.
I see Capri and I immediately think “A CHI MI DICE”and the beatifulIL VOLO’Svideo, and I write, a little amused: “But are you perhaps one of the three chosen girls to watch the video shoot?”
And she immediately replies “Yes, I am”.
You can imagine my amazement, of course I asked Xinjie many things about Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca and what she felt during that day.
She had no photos of that day, she had not been allowed to take pictures of it, but the photographer had taken pictures that would later be published.
These days the photos have come out and so I thought I’d do an interview with Xinjie and publish it for you.
Here she is among our boys. That is a nice picture. I’m happy for her, but the envy !!
D = How did you manage to be chosen to watch the video?
X = I replied to the email of the official IL VOLO fan club that asking those who wanted to assist, to send the request to watch the new video resume. It would have been shot in central-southern Italy and asked to make the whole day available. I sent the membership and after a few days, the staff contacted me on the phone telling me where I should go and that I had to keep the secret.
D = How long have you been following IL VOLO?
X= Since I came to Italy seven years ago. I came for study and work and I came alone. At the beginning it was very hard. One day I was looking for videos on you tube and by chance I heard “O SOLE MIO”, sung by Il Volo, it was immediately love, but I had no one with whom to share this interest and on radio and TV I heard little about them.
D = Who were the other two chosen girls?
X= The other girls came from Campania (Italian region with Naples as capital). They were 14 and 27 years old. But I have been more with Sara, the girl from the official Fanclub, she is very kind and pleasant.
D = Had you met Ignazio Piero and Gianluca before that day?
X= Only once, this year in Rome, at the Instore at the Discoteca Laziale.
D = How did they seem to you?
X= They are very beautiful. They are normal boys, but more kind and nice
D= So many people, say they are nasty and haughty boys, to you, how did they look?
X= They are the most sincere and nice guys I’ve met, real angels.
D = How long were you with them ?
X= It was supposed to be from about noon until 6:00 pm, unfortunately they arrived three hours late, because the video footage around the stacks was longer, but the wait was also nice.
D = What did you do when they arrived?
X= They were so hungry !!!! They had not had lunch, so we looked for a restaurant together for lunch. They asked us if they wanted to have lunch with them, but we had already had lunch so we said no. So we watched IL VOLO eat!
Then, when they finished lunch, Ignazio asked me: “Coffee? Ice cream?”, And I said “Yes”, so they got ice cream for us.
D = Were they embarrassed about your presence (as they were eating) or were they very natural?
X= Absolutely very natural.
D = Who was the most witty or who spoke the most?
X = Ignazio, but also Ignazio and Piero together.
D = Did it seem to you that between the three of them there really is an understanding as brothers?
X= They are really good friends.
D= After lunch, did you all go somewhere else or did you just stay at the restaurant?
X = We left but stayed close, they took some scene.
D = Don’t you mind that they didn’t record you in the video?
X= Absolutely not, I thought we were invited only to assist from afar and instead we were together with the boys.
D = You girls could take pictures?
X = No, it was not allowed.
D = But the photographer took some very nice pictures of all you and you Xinjie are really a beautiful girl.
X= Thank you.
D = Were you excited for that meeting?
X= Very much.
D = Have you been to a concert already?
X= No, never, this year I will go to Rome and then to Verona.
D= Do you want to hear them in concert?
X = Yes, at 10,000%, I can’t wait any longer. My Japanese friend who met IL VOLO only this year (thanks to me) went to the Tokyo concert before me, I was jealous !! Also for her it was the first concert and she said she was moved. She said that their voices were divine. She wanted to come to Verona this year, but it’s hard to take this vacation now, maybe she’ll come to Italy for their concert next year if they do it in Sicily.
D= What’s your favorite song?
X = In this CD is “VICINISSIMO”.
D= If you were to win a dinner with one of them, who would you like to go out with?
X= It’s a difficult question for me, because I can’t really choose. Fortunately I have already had a lunch with them in Capri !!
D= Yes, but they ate, and you three girls ate them, with your eyes !!!
X= But they also talked to me a lot. At one point, Ignazio and Piero (especially Ignazio) started talking to me with Sicilian words and then they explained to me. Then they tried to pronounce my name and they were good. Gianluca didn’t talk much, but when they said my name Gianluca said “Who is better? Me or him? (Ignazio)”, but they were good both, they did the right pronunciation. After lunch, Ignazio looks at me and says: “But you’re shy, don’t talk at all,” and Gianluca replied: “She is shy like me.”
D = Were you sorry when you said goodbye? Did they hug you?
X= They had to leave with the boat, yes, they hugged us. Then Piero, from the boat, greeted us calling all our names, even mine !!! Mine is hard to remember, I know, and I’m so moved.
D = After meeting them, do you think they deserve all the success they have or, in your opinion, are too valued or undervalued?
X= They deserve all possible success. They are really the best, most confident, good and positive guys ….. I can say that they are perfect guys.
D= Was it sad to leave them? If you were to go back, would you do this adventure again or is it not worth it?
X= I wanted to stay in that moment, I thought: “Ah, how I would like this moment to become eternity”. And then I realize that it has already become eternity, with the video that has been made. For me it was a divine day. It was my real “THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE”.
Thank you, Xinjie, for giving us all these nice details of your special day, we really appreciate it.
We are all very happy with this beautiful experience of yours and we wish you, with all our heart, to be able to have so many other meetings with Gianluca, Piero and Ignazio.
Surely they will remember you very well, you will have left your mark of beauty and kindness.
What I want to tell you today, can be considered a beautiful story, a modern history of our times.
It all started a few months ago, when IL VOLO announced that the expected US concert tour had moved from 2019 to 2020. 😢
Among the many sad comments, the one in particular that caught my attention was the comment from SUSAN, a member of the FLIGHT CREW, she was very sorry because with so much love and dedication, she had prepared a surprise to deliver to Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca, during a meet and greet after their concert.
The surprise had been ready for a few months and Susan was worried because it would be at least another year that the puppets would be in her home and not given to the boys.
I exchanged a couple of comments with Susan and then we privately communicated with emails. Susan immediately made me aware of what this surprise was that she had prepared for IL VOLO…three beautiful puppets, with the features of Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca.
When I saw their picture, sent to me by Susan, I immediately thought, “They are really beautiful.”
Susan told me that she herself had made the design of these puppets, establishing measures, deciding their appearance and their clothing and arranging an internal function to be operated by a small button. Yes, because these puppets can also sing! Of course everyone has a different song – Gianluca sings “Can’t Help Falling In Love”, Piero sings “My Way” and Ignazio sings “Torna a Surriento”.
Susan personally followed the details and worked with a professional puppet maker to actually construct them, but always deciding on the smallest details such as Piero’s hat, Ignazio’s earring, an Italian soccer ball dog tag for each, ear buds for Gianluca, brooches (like Lardini’s) on the jackets’ lapels and all of the American accessories to welcome them to the United States for their concerts.Formidable a job well done and well prepared!
But Susan wanted the puppets to go to their masters, without having to wait another year. And so, together, we looked for ways to get them to come to Italy.
It wasn’t easy. The puppets were a nice size, three feet each. Every package had to be prepared very well in order to avoid damage, moreover the journey to Italy was long, so all the necessary precautions had to be taken.
And, someone here in Italy had to receive them.
Susan is a perfectionist, she did not want the puppets to arrive in Italy with untidy hair, and so she called her hairdresser to her house. The hairdresser was able to comb and apply mousse and hairspray, because the hair was made of synthetic fur.
Now they were ready!
Having overcome all these problems, the puppets started from the US, 🇺🇸 destination Italy. 🇮🇹
It had to be a fast and trouble-free journey ……… I said I had to, because of problems and delays there were so many, just say they had to arrive in a few days …….. and instead!!!!
How many problems, mainly due to customs, the puppets had to pass endless passages through the scanner and delivery delays, but then on the third attempt, and after Susan had spoken to UPS International Resolutions three times already, they were delivered after having been scanned 18 times during their journey!
Incidentally and by pure luck, Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca, at the time of delivery, were together and so all three were able to see their own personal puppet at the same time!
The boys were impressed by the beautiful gift, in particular the details used and the beautiful idea of Susan.
Everyone could have kept their own puppet, but it was a pity, because it meant dividing them and so they thought to keep them together by putting them in a common place: Naro’s HouseTeca.
The idea also appealed to Susan, what better place than that, which is visited every year by many fans? So they would be visible to everyone.
And then they left for another trip, but this time shorter and at the end …………. here they are, they arrived at their destination !!!!
This video demonstrates the happy ending of the story, here are the three puppets which arrived at their destination and were placed exactly under the banner of the victory of Sanremo. They seem right there to witness the beautiful victory.
Well the long journey is over and the three puppets have had a beautiful place of honor.
Susan, you had a fantastic idea. You had a lot of patience and dedication.
The boys will have been impressed by this gift of yours and we also want to congratulate you, for the good idea and for having followed the whole project with such dedication.
Daniela
Credit to owners of all photos and video.
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