Category Archives: Il Volo

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

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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.

 

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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 …

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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!

 

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Credit to all owners of videos and photos.

 

~~~Daniela and Jane~~~

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

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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 sis-3.jpgcare 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 wassis 2 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 guiyslike 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 guys.jpgand 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!

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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 barb 1didn’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!!!

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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!  🙂

 

 

 

39 thoughts on “Tanti Auguri! to the Il Volo Flight Crew ~ Share the Love…Aug 8, 2013

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Ciao a tutti!!  Ok, well, we didn’t reach our goal today of 50 comments, even with me answering everyone… technically we only had 17 initial posts.  But that’s ok.  We heard from some that haven’t commented in a long time, or was even their first time, so welcome!  And several of our “young” faithful and loyal commenters returned.  There are some lovely comments below – I hope you have a chance to read them.  If you didn’t comment on this original posting from yesterday, I welcome you to comment now.  Even if you don’t comment, that’s ok – we know you are reading!  🙂 

I loved how many of you said that we are the first thing you read in the morning and that you either found us through other friends on FaceBook, or just through frantic searches on the Internet!

Sorry, no pictures today… but OMG, have you seen the ones Gianluca and Piero are posting!!!???   Holy Bologna!  (ok, how are you pronouncing it?  lol!)  They stay in the water much longer and they will turn into prunes.

Below are your comments!  Thank you all!  🙂

  1. Camille says: August 8, 2017 at 7:30 am Edit

Love this site – always has the best stories and information

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Camille, how lovely to hear from you!

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  1. Maria Marques says: August 8, 2017 at 7:50 am Edit

Love this site. Found out about it from an Il Volo follower who I made friends with on fb. I have made so many friends on fb bc of these three amazing young guys. I just love them all but have to admit Ignazio pulls at my heartstrings. I look forward everyday to look at my e-mails to see if there are any new posts . So happy I found this site. Thank you.

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Awesome, maria!

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  1. Loretta Foley says: August 8, 2017 at 8:47 am Edit

Thank you Jana for including me in your post. I’ll never leave this site because you girls work so hard to give us all the up to date information of where & what our precious young men are doing. Still saying Ignazio is MINE.

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I love Ignazio too.

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He’s MINE! All mine! Will always be mine! Can’t bring myself to share him, but I understand how you feel.

Igna is just special, there is just something about him. Many start liking Gian or Piero, but then all of a sudden, they start to stray toward Igna. There is something about those eyes and dimples!

  1. LindaP says: August 8, 2017 at 8:48 am Edit

My day starts on this site. And ends on this site. I don’t remember the date I started to read the posts on the “official” site, but happily came over here to be among the loving fans of Il Volo from it’s beginning. Our combined love for Il Volo has made us a family that is just as caring and nurturing as the blood related family God gave us. I am grateful for our boys, their talent, their hard work and most of all, their love for us, their fans! Thanks to everyone on this site. Love you all.

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Thank you so much, Linda! I sure like a lot of these people on this site better than my family!

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  1. dorothy henderson says: August 8, 2017 at 9:16 am Edit

I truly don’t remember how I found the CREW, but it was one of the best things that I ever did! As I approach my 8th birthday I still enjoy seeing posts from all you gals and guys! Some are just fun, some newsy, and some informative! Keep up the good work! Here’s to many more years and many more concerts….but hurry! Lol, love youall…Dot in Texas!

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Hey there Dot!! Thanks so much – we are all young at heart…

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  1. Laura Parish says: August 8, 2017 at 9:37 am Edit

I was introduced to the Flight Crew by a fan I had met on fb. What a delightful place it is. I don’t comment a lot, that is just me. But I do love it here. Here’s to many more years together!

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Laura – yes, I recognize your name! That’s ok if you don’t comment much – thanks so much for commenting today! Many, it seems found us from FB friends – that is awesome!

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  1. Barbara Dixon says: August 8, 2017 at 10:14 am Edit

I discovered the boys in 2012, and literally hung on YouTube looking for music, and reading all the other comments from old ladies like me, shocked that I wasn’t the only one. I went to Meadow Brook for their concert in Aug 2012, then started searching the Internet for more than just YouTube. Somehow I found this. I keep coming back because it is just chock full of info, pictures, reviews, fun reading. I don’t have a specific me ryan of anything special, but I do remember you, Jana, contacting me when you read I was also from Detroit. I think that is pretty cool, and then I got to meet others thru you. ,

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Oh, Barb, that is so sweet!! You know, you are always welcome at our parties and your hubby, too! We just may need to do some more convincing to him of your affections to the guys! Next time a concert or trip is planned, we will just drag you along!

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  1. pitterpat0 says: August 8, 2017 at 10:20 am Edit

I found the Flight Crew from an internet search for IL VOLO. What kept me coming back was all of the comments about the guys and stories of the concerts and meet & greets. I had yet to attend a concert and was craving information about what everyone else had experienced. You all did not disappoint! I don’t really have a favorite post because I love them all!

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That’s great, Pat! So glad you found us, and we met in Chicago. Too bad we never made it for dinner, but breakfast was fun!

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  1. marion says: August 8, 2017 at 10:22 am Edit

Four years already, I cannot believe it !!! Four years of going to the Flight Crew site first thing in the morning and a couple of times during the day to read all the comments. Flight Crew members may unknowingly pass each other in the street , but when we come to the site we are the best of friends., as we are all united in our admiration, (and love) for our 3 handsome young men. How they have grown since the first PBS concert in Detroit in 2011, and we have followed them along that path.Thank you to everybody who originally started the site, and to all who followed and continue to keep the site up and running. Thank you for keeping us all up to date on their various activities and future concert dates, where and when.Long may the site flourish, and continue to grow.

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I love your last line there… So wonderful that our site ranks right up there with your morning cup of coffee. Such devoted fans and followers we have. Let’s hope the people we pass on the street are not people we “think” we don’t like for some reason? lol!

Thanks for staying with us this whole time – cheers to many more years!

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  1. mariecrider says: August 8, 2017 at 11:17 am Edit

Even though you don’t hear from this little birdie much, this site is still my heart.

One of my fondest memories has to be that when we started this site we were hoping to be read a thousand times. Remember, Kelly? We said if we ever reached ten thousand we would have a party. Well…this site has been read more than a million and a half times. Unbelieveable!

The very best thing though has been meeting people like Linda, Jane, Jana, Kelly and many more of you who have had the good taste to love those boys as much as I.

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Grazie mille, little birdie!!

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Doesn’t matter what you say or how you say it Marie. Keep dreaming, it’s good for the soul & I can also understand how you feel. No matter he is still & always will be MINE & eventually he will permanently belong to someone else.

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Marie – yes, even though I have sort of taken over managing the day to day postings, this site will always be “your site.” I and everyone know it! You are a legend in your own time! And Linda, may she rest in peace and keep a look out over the boys. You, and Kelly and a few others have kept it going. Let’s all keep it going as long as we can! Let’s get to 2 million! Then we’ll really have a party!

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  1. Mary Bohling says: August 8, 2017 at 11:53 am Edit

I started watching the old Il Volo Music site and through that got to know Marie if I remember correctly. She cued me into the Flight Crew site when it was just getting started. I immediately loved the intimacy of its format and getting to know the people who commented regularly like family. I would be hard to identify a favorite post, but it would have to be one of Marie’s. When she asked me to be a regular contributor I was pleased, but very unsure of myself. I actually wrote over 60 articles, some under the title Personally Speaking, a task which has been a great joy to me, and spurred on by the encouraging comments of our readers. Our boys are truly an inspiration, and the Flight Crew blog has been the perfect place to share our admiration and love for them.

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Mary, wow, 60 articles! That’s incredible! Thanks for sticking it out from the very beginning. I was also honored that Marie let me write for the site too – what a monster was unleashed, she had no idea! lol! It’s definitely like coming home again – your safe place. You are indeed an inspiration to all of us, as well as a beautiful writer.

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  1. joaniefl2 says: August 8, 2017 at 12:14 pm Edit

I discovered Il Volo in 2012 and went to my first concert that year at the Kravis Center in FL. My next concert was in Orlando FL September 2013 and afterwards I immediately went into unimaginable Il Volo PCSD (Post Concert Stress Disorder) !!! There was not a soul who I could vent my pent up love and emotions to !!! I wanted to scream !! I was tired of being looked at like I was a mental case !! Then in October while scanning the Internet I thankfully found the Flight Crew !!! Finally a place to go where everyone felt the same way and shouted out their love for our three talented and endearing young men from their hearts without reserve !!! I was welcomed with open arms !!! I was home !!! All the posts are my favorite and although I don’t post everyday I read all of them !!! It’s been a fantastic 4 years and I hope we will all still be here for many years to come !! Congratulations to all of you who keep the Flight Crew going day after day !! You are doing a fantastic job !!

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Thanks so much Joanie! Yes, we all had those same crazy thoughts – we thought we were crazy. Until we found this site. Then we realized, we were perfectly normal. It was everyone else that was crazy that they didn’t understand us! Thanks for coming back!

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  1. Joan Guyon says: August 8, 2017 at 2:01 pm Edit

Hey I have been on board since that first PBS concert from Detroit. Never mind about Igna. He is wonderful, but Piero is all MINE. JoanieG

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Sorry Joan, but you must share. Piero has held my heart since his first PBS concert at Detroit Opera House. He only gets better – voice, looks, smile, eyes!

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Chris might have something to say about Piero, he keeps calling her, but she is having troubles with her phone, so he has to call me. I keep telling her to get a new phone, that Piero is calling! No one wants Gian?

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Ok Laura, but you may have to fight Kelly for him!  🙂

  1. DANIELA says: August 8, 2017 at 3:33 pm Edit

In the fall of 2015 I was browsing many pages of facebook searching for IL VOLO News. Suddenly I come across a review of their beautiful concert, I liked it as it highlighted the feelings and then talking about the meet and greet and how he was noticed by the guys and what a surprise when I read that whoever wrote was A man, John. At the bottom of the review was written: posted on Flight Crew, here’s how I found it. When I came to this site I read for many months without ever commenting but finally I was where I wanted to be, surrounded by people who really love Piero Ignazio and Gianluca. I was at the concert in Florence on July 1, 2016 and a few days later I decided to comment. Ever since then, I follow all your comments with anxiety and affection. I am enrolled in several fanpages but this one remains the page I admire most, the one I’m most fond of and where I have met wonderful people. Becoming also an active part has been a further pride for me. I feel in a big family.

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Daniela – I never realized you were also at the July 1 concert! So glad you finally commented. We are so grateful for your almost daily contributions. You are key right now in keeping us informed over there. We are so glad you answered the “distress call” from Marie and started helping us out! Grand Grazie Mille! I think we have a very unique site.

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  1. Jill Manning says: August 8, 2017 at 3:51 pm Edit

I found the Flight Crew about two and a half year’s ago, and if I remember rightly it was through the Il Volo Music site. Everybody was so welcoming, and it felt like I had come home. Since then, I go onto the site as soon as I get out of bed every morning, and several times during the day. I don’t want to miss any news about the guy’s. My favorite post’s were when Marie and Jane were in Italy. They were so funny, and I told them they could be the opening act for Il Volo! Their sense of humor is similar to mine( I don’t know if that is a good thing or bad) Thank you to everyone that keep’s this site going

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Jill – how lovely to hear from you! I’m sure Jane and Marie are very flattered you enjoyed their Italy posting!! I’m amazed that we are the first thing many go to in the morning! Hope you keep coming back for more! Grazie mille!!

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  1. Gina says: August 8, 2017 at 5:50 pm Edit

I cannot remember the date I joined but It has been my morning ritual to check to see who posted a personal story or news about the boys. MY MOST FAVORITE time was before and during San Remo. We were excited and voting day and night on various contests and ‘yelling’ when the critics were so unfair to the boys during San Remo an Eurovision.

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Gina – yes, Sanremo was an exciting and exhilarating time for us and the boys! Sometimes I think – where would they be now, if they hadn’t have won 2 years ago? Would they have tried again? Would they be drowning their sorrows on our shoulders at the meet/greets? I know our tickets to the concerts would probably be a lot cheaper! lol! Grazie mille for all that you do! We love all your ideas for posts, too! Just give us some time to put them together!

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  1. Annette Simonini says: August 8, 2017 at 8:13 pm Edit

Like so many others my interest in the guys began with their first PBS special. After that, I began searching the Internet looking for information on who they were, where they came from etc. My first Il Volo concert was their first at Radio City. From then on I was in overdrive for more info. I don’t know how I stumbled across the Flight Crew but I was very hesitant at first to post. It wasn’t until June of last year that I posted my first comment. Like others I enjoy reading the many articles be it on the guys or the foods and customs of the different regions of Italy or the adventures of some of the Flight Crew members on their trips to Italy. And of course, the great stories and reviews by other Flight Crew followers after attending an Il Volo concert. Thanks to all who keep this site up and rolling!

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Wow, Annette!! You waited a long time, just to be sure, we really weren’t crazy after all and joined in on the fun!! We are so glad you did! But, I know how you feel…. when you first post, you are like “are they going to like me? what if I say something someone doesn’t like, or what if Marie says I can’t have Igna, because he is hers?” But, I’m so glad you were brave and took the plunge! So wonderful to have you here and your personal account of the Miami concert was terrific! Grazie mille!!

I hope everyone enjoyed their flight today… 🙂  Your next flight leaves promptly at 7:00am EST tomorrow from Detroit!  Thank you for flying Il Volo Flight Crew – Share the Love, and fly with us again, soon!  Arrivederci!

Jana

Remember, write us at FlightCrew.NotteMagica2017@gmail.com

 

Tanti Auguri! to the Il Volo Flight Crew ~ Share the Love…Aug 8, 2013

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What?  Has it been 4 years already?  Seems like only yesterday, well maybe last week to many of you.  (ok, just pretend the picture says “4th” anniversary – I’m too tired to try and change it!) I did not find anniversary post 3this site til about a year later, about June 2014.  I have to say though, sometimes it feels like it’s been a lifetime already.  How much the boys have done, grown, and accomplished in these last 4 years!

A little birdie swooped down about 6:30p last night to “remind” us it was the site’s 4-year anniversary.  But before I could catch her, she swiftly few away as quickly as she made her fluttery appearance.  So…. I thought I’d repost the “first” post, but somewhere the original Aug 8, 2013 post had disappeared?  So, I went with the first one that is dated August 10, 2013 – 100 Comments in 2 days!  Wow, those were the days!?  It was written by Kelly and had 14 comments.

100 Comments!!!!!!!!

August 10, 2013 by

Wow we work fast! 100 comments in only 2 days!

I think The Boys approve! 😉

It’s looks like everyone here is having fun. I hope anyone that hasn’t made it over yet,  will find their way. We miss you guys! *hugs*

Happy commenting!

Kelly

I know Kelly and a few others are still around, that is pretty awesome!  So, in honor of all of you who started with this crew and all of the new people that have joined us in the last few weeks even – a GRANDE GRAZIE MILLE!  We couldn’t have done it without you!

Today, this is going to be YOUR post – made up of all of your comments.  I will post it on Wednesday.  I’d like you to answer 3 short questions:

  1. Do you remember how you found this site?  How did you feel?
  2. What kept you coming back?
  3. What are some of your favorite posts or memories from this site?

I will give you my answers:

  1. After I had seen my first concert at Freedom Hill in June 2014, I just started scouring the Internet and somehow this site popped up.  I felt I was finally at home, surrounded by hundreds of crazy people, just like me!
  2. I loved all the stories and each and every tidbit I could get from the site about the boys, personal details, pictures, concerts, meet/greets, and when they were coming back.  I also loved reading all of the comments and the fun sparring back and forth of the fighting over the guys from all the “grandmothers!”  🙂 
  3. Of course I have to say I love the things I wrote – lol!  And of course all of the meet/greet reviews, concert reviews, heartfelt stories from Mary and Jane, and can’t forget Marie’s poetry – I love “Night before Christmas….”

 

Ok, here’s the challenge, we want to hear from you!!  Let’s go for a goal of at least 50 comments.  Pretend it’s one of those Il Volo polls and you can vote as many times as you want!  Please feel free to comment, even if you never did before!  And even if you have commented a 100 times before, like Loretta, Penina, Pirate, Rose Marie, Rosemary, Cynthia, Victoria, Gina, Jane, Kelly, Marie, Ann, Pat, Daniela, Dani, Lydka, Joanie, Madeline, Lynn, Mary, and these are just right off the top of my head, I know there are many more out there!!  It says we have over 270 followers….

On your mark, get set, Il Volo!!!

 

Ciao – Jana

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

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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 1myronworst 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

Personally Speaking~Do You Remember When…

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Gina sent in this amazing video from Piero from yesteryear!   Not only does the song caress the heart, but it shows such creativity on his part.  I remember when this came out.  We were all just blown away.

Gina, this got me thinking that many of our readers may not have been following the guys back then, so I am including some other priceless videos from the archives.  I remember spending hours on Youtube looking for any and all videos of theirs back in the day.  As much as I love seeing all of their new songs, I also love taking a step back to relive some very special moments in time.

This next video is before Il Volo sang, Maria, as a group.  Gianluca sang Maria as a solo and  he owned that song!   Before the song, Ignazio and Piero are bantering back and forth with how to pronounce the word, “world.”

 

 

And here we have their precious little friend, Mia.  Ignazio’s mother became friends with this family through a social media site, and you will see why.  The video her mother made of her singing and reacting to watching Il Volo on TV is priceless.  The genuine love and affection they show for this little girl is captivating.  The song is divine.

The next song, This Time, is an all time favorite as well.

 

More fun on the stage in Westbury, PA, before Ignazio sings Memory.  He has always been known for instigating the impromptu  comedy sketches with Gianluca being the straight guy, back then.  Gianluca has come full circle with his comfort level on stage.  But, there were times where he would look at them acting up, walk away shaking his head in humorous disbelief.   

 

I love  remembering how Ignazio had trouble standing still when songs were being sung.  The music pulses through him like blood through your veins.  He has good moves all the way!

 

 

 

 

I wonder if any of the people sitting in that room listening to them that day have continued to follow their stunning careers?  I sure hope so.  

 

And the rest…is history…

 

 

Thank you, Gina, for the great idea to look back at yesterday.

Credit to all owners of videos.

 

~Jane~