The tour continues, the stop is on Lake Como, exactly in Cernobbio in the beautiful Villa Erba.
26 July CERNOBBIO
Start of the concert and NELLE TUE MANI, I know I have already played this song many times, but it is so beautiful that I never get tired of listening to it.
The next video is SE, and I wanted to post it because there’s all the speech before the song that’s really funny and so I had to translate it for you.
PIERO= Marriage is already difficult for two, imagine yourself as three, and there is no lover, we are three spouses next to each other and we live on meeting points, I decide one thing, you decide one thing , vice versa….
IGNAZIO= The important thing is to find the right position! (laughs)😂😂
PIERO= When it comes to choosing the set list of songs for a concert, there are those who like to sing some songs and those who don’t…
GIANLUCA= For a reason, explain why.🤔
PIERO= …..one minute, I conclude, SUCCEDE, it’s a song that I don’t hear very much, because the two of them sing it, they are lost in love, they crashed right into a pole, and they want to sing it at all the concerts to dedicate ….
IGNAZIO= It’s because we believe in the power of love, do you understand?😍😍
PIERO= This hasn’t happened to me yet!
IGNAZIO= Look, if it happened to Gianluca, it can happen to you too! (laughs)
PIERO= Have you understood? I make a choice on the songs, Morricone etc…..they on feeling, love….
IGNAZIO= Of course!!
PIERO= And so I, do you know when they take you to a meeting as a friend and you have to act as a “poster”? I am the “pole” with them in this song. 😁😁😁
IGNAZIO= But no, actually you should see it the other way around, you should think: “Shit, I’m a loser but I sing.” (laughter) 😂😂
PIERO= So there is a lot of hypocrisy while I sing it… do you understand why?? (the last words are spoken in Sicilian)
GIANLUCA= Cernobbio, province of Palermo. 😂😂
PIERO= However, in 2021 we released an entire album by maestro Ennio Morricone…..(at this point the video resumes while the boys sing SE and Ignazio tries to make it up to Piero, definitely laughable) 😂😂😂
Le Serre Music Festival, which took care of the location, published these beautiful words:
“All for IL VOLO… IL VOLO for all! 🌟
The incredible voices of Ignazio, Piero and Gianluca enveloped the Villa Erba audience in a daydream .”
This photo video published by Project-Photo is very beautiful.
It is the first time that Il Volo performs in Umbria, another beautiful Italian region. Marsciano is a town in the province of Perugia, the “Music for the villages” event takes place here.
Unfortunately the few video do not have a very good resolution.
Il Volo captures 4 thousand spectators in Marsciano with Musica per i Borghi
The trio of singers performed an emotional concert.
Marsciano, a small town in Umbria, hosted a very successful musical event on July 28th. The final Musica per i Borghi concert attracted an audience of 4 thousand people to the ‘Alberto Checcarini’ municipal stadium. The trio of singers known as Il Volo, composed of Piero Barone, Ignazio Boschetto and Gianluca Ginoble, performed an exciting concert, accompanied by a large orchestra.
Il Volo presented the repertoire that made them famous during their 15-year career, offering the public evocative and emotion-rich performances. The event was a great success among the organizers and the municipal administration of Marsciano, who expressed their satisfaction at having brought artists of national caliber to their city.
The mayor of Marsciano, Michele Moretti, praised the Musica per i Borghi festival for bringing music and artists to the area. He underlined the importance of events like this for the valorization of the city beyond its territorial borders.
Francesco Narducci, president of the Musica per i Borghi association, expressed pride in the progress of the festival, which saw the participation of top-level artists. He also announced that the organization is already working to prepare a next edition that lives up to expectations.
The director of the festival, Valter Pescatori, underlined how the final evening of Musica per i Borghi is always a very important event in the Umbrian summer. This year, with the Il Volo concert, the stadium was packed in every row of seats.
And finally, on 29 July in Sirolo, a municipality in the Marche region, there was an event which saw Tipografia Flamini receive the nomination of Ambassador of Kindness Company with this motivation:
”For the sensitivity and support of social projects that benefit the local and national territory.”
The award was presented to 𝗚𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗹𝘂𝗰𝗮 𝗚𝗶𝗻𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲, our Ambassador of Kindness.
Many compliments to Gianluca, our kind ambassador, still many nice recognitions for the Il Volo tour which is proving to be much appreciated.
There are three concerts left before the 2-week stop for our boys, concerts which I will give you a review of when I return from Sicily, where I am heading for a week.
So many of you have asked, when will the guys return to the US? We are all missing the guys this year. But hopefully next year they will return. For this year, it is Italy who has the chance to hold them close and love them as we have done since 2011.
Since Sanremo 2024, the guys have taken a beautiful turn in Italy. They have to be so happy to have their countrymen show such love and affection for them. They so deserve it. And certainly their concerts around Italy have been phenomenal! Verona, Caracalla, Pompeii to name a few.
Some of the most important archaeological sites in the world have become their stage. Some of these stages have been shared by very important performers before them. Like Pavarotti, Carreras and Domingo.
Whenever I mention Placido Domingo, I remember this beautiful video from when they were teenagers. So, please excuse me for interrupting the story to add these words and this amazing video.
Back to the story….
When Pavarotti, Carreras and Domingo performed at Caracalla, they called the Three Tenors a supergroup. This is a term usually reserved for pop and rock groups. The trio began their collaboration with a performance at the ancient Baths of Caracalla, but when our guys stepped on the stage at Caracalla, they immediately took the name away from them because they truly are a pop and rock group and their presentation at Caracalla outshone any other before them. They immediately became the Supergroup of Caracalla
The guys performance at Caracalla was a complete sellout. Fans flocked to the concert to help the guys kick off their summer tour around Italy and to celebrate their Fifteen Years together.
“Tutti per uno – Capolavoro,” which began at Caracalla continues throughout Italy until September. Highlights of their tour included performances at Piazza San Marco in Venice, the Amphitheater of the Pompeii Excavations, and forthcoming is the Royal Palace of Caserta. And so many more in between.
They opened the concert with Nelle tue mani (Now we are free), followed by Capolavoro, which of course was their presented song at the Sanremo Festival. Since Sanremo, Capolavoro has been certified Gold. Alongside these amazing new hits were some timeless hits from Italian musical tradition and their established repertoire is always “un attimo senza fine” — an “endless moment” in music.
The audience at Caracalla, as well as all the audiences, greeted them with enthusiasm. Among the fans in Caracalla were many international tourists.
Their setlist included featured new tracks from their latest album, Ad Astra, which was released in late March.
The over two-hour performance was truly a musical tribute to their fifteen years of career. They ended this amazing concert with Nessun Dorma and Ad Astra. And received a well-deserved standing ovation.
In autumn the guys will continue their tour in many European capitals. They begin in 2025 with the “indoor tour” Tutti per Uno – Ad Astra Live in the indoor stadiums. Additionally, there will be international dates in the USA, Canada and Latin America.
And what did the guys have to say about the tour….
Piero:Hello everyone, we are at the Baths of Caracalla for the start of this tour which will see us busy in all the most beautiful places in Italy throughout the summer.
Ignazio:Venice, Piazza San Marco….
Gianluca: Pompeii….
Ignazio:…… Pompeii, Florence….
Piero:Sicily, Macerata….
Gianluca:We will sing in the most beautiful places in Italy and then conclude the Italian tour in the sports halls in January, we are waiting for you.
Piero: Bye everyone.
Of course their dedication to Barbara is an important part of these concerts. Troopers, true professionals. They truly honor Barbara in their dedications.
And their tour hit Sicily and Abruzzo, so they had the opportunity to perform for their hometown people. That’s how you share with friends and family!
But let’s get back to America for a moment….
Actually, it was the United States who really introduced the guys to America and onward to the world.
Thirteen years ago, PBS introduced America to three teenage Italian boys whose journey has captivated audiences and left an indelible mark on the music world.
Their debut concert on October 27, 2011, at the Detroit Opera House was the beginning of a remarkable story. From that moment, they won the hearts of the American public and earned the support of PBS. These three young men, now grown, continue to enchant audiences with their music. Over the past thirteen years, they have performed in several PBS specials.
Throughout their journey, Il Volo has maintained a relentless drive and commitment. Their last Latin American tour was not just a series of concerts but also included late-night recording sessions, thanks to Ignazio’s ingenuity in turning hotel rooms into makeshift studios. The end result, the music for Tutti per Uno. Even after the tour, the work continued. This dedication exemplifies their unwavering commitment to their craft, a quality that sets them apart in the entertainment industry.
Reflecting on their early days, in 2013 during their PBS special “We Are Love,” they shared their vision and dedication. Unlike many young stars who falter, Il Volo has used their fame to support and uplift others, demonstrating a generosity and gratitude that endears them to their fans. Their openness and kindness have fostered a familial bond with their audience, making them beloved not just as performers but as cherished figures in their fans’ lives.
The path hasn’t always been easy, but Il Volo’s determination has been unwavering. I recall Ignazio’s excitement when they first came to New York, expressing hope to perform at Radio City Music Hall—a dream they have achieved multiple times, continually surpassing expectations.
From the start, Il Volo introduced a unique blend of operatic pop and classical music to American audiences—a departure from typical teenage music. They quickly became a sensation, winning over people of all ages with their distinctive sound.
Each member of Il Volo approached their musical education uniquely. Piero began his classical training early, studying piano and joining choirs.
Ignazio took various singing and piano lessons, guided by Lilliana Andreanò.
Gianluca, discovered by chance, never had formal training but joined a local choir, which set him on his path.
Their rise to fame began with their performance of “O Sole Mio” on “Ti Lascio Una Canzone,” leading to their signing with Universal and their first album. By 2010, their impact was undeniable, with their American Idol performance skyrocketing them to the top of the Billboard charts.
Their journey with PBS has been integral to their success. From their first US concert to their notable PBS specials, they’ve showcased their talent and growth. Their “Buon Natale Blue Christmas” special in 2013, their recording with Placido Domingo, and their Notte Magica special in Florence are highlights of their career.
One of the most memorable moments was their first performance in Pompeii, which represented the heart of Italy and brought their Bel Canto tradition to the world through PBS. Their concert in Matera, celebrating their tenth anniversary, encapsulated their achievements and journey.
Il Volo’s story is a testament to their talent, dedication, and the support of their fans. Their continued success and growth are a result of their passion for music and their deep connection with their audience.
Every song they sing whether together or in solo is like a symphony, a “un attimo senza fine” — an “endless moment” — a phrase I love for describing both their songs and their performances. Each piece touches my heart and lingers until the next begins. Their music and voices are so powerful that you can feel the adrenaline surge with each note.
Artists often spend their careers striving to reach the top, but our guys astonishingly began there. What’s even more remarkable is their ability to continue evolving and excelling from that peak.
This years concerts in Italy are concerts from the heart! Yes they love their fans all over the world but they are relishing these amazing moments with their people, their country! For the Italian people they are not just the Supergroup of Caracalla, they are the Supergroup of Italy!
I thoroughly enjoy writing about our guys and sharing my thoughts with all of you! Join me next week as I go back Through the Fields of My Mind and open the door to a new adventure!
For your listening pleasure the Matera PBS Concert 2019. Ten Years Together.
Sometimes it happens….. I was by chance scrolling through the various videos on YouTube, to look for something interesting on our favorite topic: Il Volo, who had just given a concert in Pompeii the day before, and so by chance, I came across a truly unique video, a story, a beautiful story that moved me and I immediately thought of publishing it to you to let you participate in this beautiful dream come true!!
Francesca’s story is beautiful and moving, the explanation that I translate for you is attached to her video:
IL VOLO: CAPOLAVORO ❤️ When a little girl’s dream becomes reality! It’s 2015. Francesca is 10 years old, she loves Il Volo boys, she listens to them often, she learns all their songs. So mum and dad decide to surprise her, they organize themselves with another mum and her little friend (Anna) and take them to the concert in Roccaraso for the zero date of the tour. Francesca doesn’t imagine anything, so we decide to give each of them a t-shirt, which we have printed, we give them to them and they immediately wear them. While we wait to enter the concert, we see from afar the guys from Il Volo who are about to enter the building, we get to know them and it’s an immense joy. Francesca is super happy, we are even more than her, we leave that concert with our hearts full of happiness!!! After a few months Francesca began studying the cello at school.
9 years pass, Francesca is 19 years old and is called to play the cello with a wonderful orchestra that will accompany the VOLO guys, she comes to tell us, but we don’t believe her, we think she’s playing a joke on us, but that’s not the case!!! Exactly after 9 years he sees them again and plays on stage where they sing their hearts out and a dream comes true!!!
From the end of the video, we see Francesca playing in the concert in Cattolica, then Marostica, then the splendid Venice.
But the dream continues and Francesca also plays in Pompeii, here is the video of her entering Il Volo singing “Nelle tue mani” and Francesca is there on the stage, sitting and playing cello, in the right corner of the video!!
Wonderful!!❤️
And the dream doesn’t end because Francesca will also play in Lanciano, here she with her cello, is in the photo of the entire orchestra, in the left corner.
By the way, the orchestra in which he plays is the Franciacorta Symphony Orchestra, a town very close to my home, and is directed by maestro Edmondo Savio.
How wonderful, I don’t know about you, but I was enchanted by this beautiful story and I wanted to translate it for all of you.
I tried to contact Francesca, leaving messages under her videos, but I didn’t get a response, which is a shame because I would have liked to ask her more about her beautiful story.
I will try to send this post to Francesca somehow and hopefully she will like it and reply to us.
Great Francesca, congratulations on your studies which have truly resulted in a dream come true. ❤️
Music, voice and energy: “Il Volo” conquers the Pompeii Amphitheatre
POMPEII. In the evocative setting of the Pompeii Amphitheatre, the famous Italian trio “Il Volo” offered an unforgettable evening to all the spectators present. The Pompeian stage of the “Tutti per uno – Capolavoro” tour saw the enthusiastic participation of an audience of all ages, who packed the arena in an atmosphere that perfectly combined music and antiquity.
For “Il Volo” it is a welcome return to the excavations of Pompeii, after the event that saw them perform in the Teatro Grande in 2015. What better occasion, therefore, to “celebrate” the milestone of the first 15 years of activity together even in the shadow of Vesuvius?
The trio, composed of the tenors Piero Barone and Ignazio Boschetto and the baritone Gianluca Ginoble, brought to the stage a varied repertoire, ranging 360 degrees across the musical panorama: from cinema soundtracks to famous arias from the Italian opera tradition, from homages to the great of pop music, up to the international successes of pop music.
Accompanied on stage by the orchestra directed by Edmondo Savio, their performance once again demonstrated the unique ability of “Il Volo” to combine impeccable vocal technique with overwhelming passion.
The opening of the concert was marked by the song “Nelle tue mani”, theme of “Il Gladiatore”, which immediately captured the attention of the spectators, transporting them into an epic and solemn atmosphere, perfectly suited to the place. The audience responded with warm applause, creating an immediate bond between artists and spectators.
After A love so great and “ Nessun Dorma”, the long-awaited greeting from the trio: «Good evening Pompeii!» which unleashes the first interminable applause from the audience, including, exceptionally, the Minister of Culture, Gennaro Sangiuliano.
The “Tutti per uno – Capolavoro” tour also highlights the individualities of the three artists who have been sharing a unique musical path for five decades, on the common thread of a pop-lyrical original. Ignazio thus decides to pay homage to Pino Daniele and touches us deeply with his interpretations of “Resta cu’ mme” and “Quanno chiove”.
Gianluca remembers the beginning of Elvis Presley’s career, an episode of one day from 70 years ago, and then sings “Can’t Help Falling in Love”. Finally, it is Piero’s turn to give a (further) test of his qualities as a tenor with “E lucean le stelle.”
The trio comes together to offer four highly applauded songs that unleash the desire of the fans to sing: “Se Telephone”, “Capolavoro” (the song that “Il Volo” brought to Sanremo 2024), “Frammenti di Universo” and “Miserere “. Then again solo parentheses that enhance the individuality and sensitivity of the three artists. Ignazio moves with “At least you in the universe”, Gianluca excites with “La Cura” while Piero excites everyone with “Maravilla”.
We return together for Nuovo cinema cielo, for “My way” by Frank Sinatra and for “Hallelujah” which in the intentions of “Il Volo” becomes a sort of “prayer” «for the victims of these difficult years which have seen the pandemic, natural disasters and wars , which we now thought we could only read in history books.”
For the next piece, “Here’s to you”, Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca give the audience a welcome surprise by getting off the stage and walking in the audience, while their fans are almost in disbelief. Then we return to the stage for the final rush, which sees L’estasi dell’oro follow one another, before “ Il mondo all’ incontrario” and “Ad Astra” which belong to their latest album Per aspera ad astra. And they still cannot be missed: “Caruso” (among the most emotional moments of the show), “Who wants to live forever” and “Il mondo.”
But isn’t there still a piece missing from the set list? Obvious, and it is the one loudly requested by the fans throughout the evening: it is “Grande Amore” with which the Trio triumphed in Sanremo in 2015. The powerful and harmonious voices of the trio echoed in the amphitheatre, giving the public a moment of pure ecstasy. The evening ended with thunderous applause and ovations, with Il Volo thanking the public and Pompeii for the warm welcome.
Of this second video, I’ll translate the conversations between the guys so you can laugh a little. 😂
Gianluca tells his companions that the people welcomed them with festive shouts and Ignazio replies that he would have preferred them to greet them with kebabs in their hands (an Abruzzo specialty, roasted meat strung on sticks).
Then Gianluca reads some signs held by people and it says “THE CAPOLAVORO IS YOU” and Ignazio says: “Be careful not to mix up the lines, otherwise it reads: YOU CAPOLAVORO ARE THE” 😂😂😂😂
Then Gianluca says that he is happy to be there to celebrate 15 years of career and Piero he says that in all the concerts Gianluca always asks if there are any people from Abruzzo and he can’t find any so Ignazio confirms that tonight they are all from Abruzzo and therefore Gianluca is happy and says: “Finally at my house.”
Then Piero asks if there are any Sicilians and someone answers and then Piero says: “You see, they are always there, whereas you from Abruzzo are always here, you never move.”
MISERERE
How beautiful is this video below shot by Ercole Ginoble, what emotion and what pride.
How nice to see such intense participation of the people and…..have you noticed how many young people???
SE TELEFONANDO
During CAPOLAVORO it happens that Gianluca takes little Ambra from the audience, how sweet these images are. 🥰
Gianluca’s words are beautiful in this video below, and I will translate them for you:
“While I’m here, I want to say hello to all my family who are all here, you’re all here, but above all my grandfather Ernesto who is right there, grandfather get up! Great grandfather! And grandmother Teresa too, here they are. I love you, I love you, thank you, I am very happy, moved, excited. Thank you! 😍
And how beautiful, touching, sweet is this special hug to Grandpa Ernesto? Incredible and so sweet!! ❤️
I won’t add anything else, but it’s clear that Abruzzo welcomed Il Volo with great warmth. 🤩
So far the Italian tour is going very well, even the comments made by the press and people are nice and the local radio stations are highlighting the concert.
It’s a shame that Barbara isn’t there to see these successes! 😥
A nice roundup of photos of Lanciano.
In the next photo a restaurateur delivers to Gianluca (I think during the rehearsals) the famous meat kebabs, specialties from Abruzzo. 🤩
But how beautiful are these latest photos of Lanciano? In one shot so much emotion and complicity.
These photos really make us understand that Il Volo is a large extended family. 🤩
Gianluca and Torpedine ❤️❤️
Gianluca with his father, Ercole ❤️❤️
Ignazio, Gianluca, Ercole and Ernesto ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Ercole and Piero ❤️❤️
22 July – FLORENCE
The concert is held in Pratolino, near Florence, in the Medici Park of the beautiful Villa Demidoff, within the framework of the MUSART.
FRAMMENTI DI UNIVERSO
UN MONDO ALL’INCONTRARIO
AD ASTRA
SE
This video below is shot by IL VOLO FINLAND and published with these words in Florence on 22.7.24.
Il Volo‘s performance was touching and elegant, even devout in places.
Unbelievable experience in Pratolino Medici park.
⭐⭐⭐
WHO WANTS TO LIVE FOREVER
This is the dedication of those who filmed:
“One of the best concerts I have ever seen. Il Volo, Italian pride. Prodigies!!!”
These three videos that follow were published with this beautiful dedication:
One of the most magical evenings of my life… ✨🌌
Thank you from the bottom of my heart… ❤️
An invincible group that proves that true friendship between professionalism and fame can still be possible… 💪🏼🙌🏼 You are truly the best!🔝🎶🇮🇹
“Musart Festival Florence 2024” – Il Volo concert in Pratolino
Il Volo, the most famous Italian trio in the world, performed last night in concert at the Musart Festival Florence in the evocative setting of the Medici Park of Pratolino, a handful of kilometers from the city centre.
Il Volo is the trio formed by the talented Piero Barone, Ignazio Boschetto and Gianluca Ginoble and with the summer tour “Tutti Per Uno – Capolavoro” they decided to celebrate 15 years of career and long friendship with the Italian public, bringing the new songs from the first album of unreleased songs “Ad Astra” released last March. Among the songs performed, also the single “Capolavoro”, presented at the last Sanremo Festival.
In addition to the unreleased songs, Gianluca, Ignazio and Piero thrilled the audience with a setlist full of emotions, attempting the greatest hits of the Italian and international musical tradition, showing the many facets of the artistic evolution of its individual members. In fact, there were many moments in which each of them performed singing individually, thus also giving space to the telling of anecdotes and memories linked to the personal history of each of them.
There were also some real moments of entertainment with which the members of the trio demonstrated, once again, that they know how to entertain the public not only thanks to their undeniable singing skills.
Another magical evening in front of the Giant of the Medici Park of Pratolino.
And to end on a high note, I propose this beautiful article by OK MUGELLO, I was really happy to read the beautiful and sincere words of the author Massimiliano Miniati.👏👏👏👏👏🤩🤩🤩
Il Volo in concert – All the emotion between opera and pop
On the stage of the Musart Festival “Tutti Per Uno – Capolavoro” the tour of the 15 years of activity of “Il Volo”, the most famous Italian trio in the world…
I make amends, when they came out of Clerici’s talent show, three kids singing and posing as grown-ups left me a bit annoyed, then they grew up and last night in the Pratolino park, I discovered that they have become “Great” not only of age and, what I had decided to go and see more for “news purposes” than for pleasure, turned into a truly extraordinary event.
On the stage of the Musart Festival “Tutti Per Uno – Capolavoro” the tour of the 15 years of activity of “Il Volo” the most famous Italian trio in the world which was welcomed by the applause of an oceanic crowd who had reached the park of Villa Demidoff with every means made available by the organizers.
They open as a trio, then a piece each as soloists: Ignazio Boschetto sings and makes everyone’s skin crawl with “Almeno tu nell’Universo”, Gianluca Ginoble “Can’t Help Falling in Love” and Piero Barone “E lucean le stelle “ and from that moment it is a succession of emotions and applause with a deliberately pandering set list which, sooner or later, manages to drag you into the vortex of notes, whether you are a lover of opera or pop music.
They sing “Se Telephone” “Capolavoro” (the song presented at the last Sanremo) “Miserere” “The sea, impetuous at sunset…” Then one of the songs from the new album, the beautiful “Succede” and again a tribute to Morricone with the soundtrack of “Nuovo cinema cielo” which they transformed into “Se” and from the new album “Il mondo all’incontrario”.
They ask to turn on their cell phone flashlights and sing “Hallelujah” as the park transforms into a beautiful carpet of white lights. Then again Morricone with “Here’s to you” which Gianluca Ginoble comes down to sing in the audience, the inevitable “Caruso” and a thrilling interpretation by Piero Barone of “Who Wants to Live Forever” and in trio (and all the audience who sings) with “Il mondo”.
Inevitable ending with “Grande amore” of this beautiful concert, full of emotions, great music and three great voices that made everyone understand that those three kids have become great, indeed very great and to me that sometimes being a little prejudiced is wrong and that, it is not easy to change your mind, but fortunately, sometimes “It happens”! (Succede)
This beautiful video of Hallelujah was taken by the author of the article.
I thank our friends Yukio and Kumico for recording the entire video with Ignazio’s words which I translate……what a heart these guys have!! 🤩
So, I wasn’t supposed to play the guitar this evening, but I decided to play it because there’s something beautiful about it. Basically, this guitar was given to me by Mr. Paoletti who is Tuscan and has a huge company that is growing in Italy but is famous all over the world, he makes some crazy guitars.
I’m not here to advertise because he gave me the guitar, but because together with them, who are fantastic people, a very serious company, we came up with this idea at the end of the tour, to give this guitar away by auctioning it and donating all the proceeds from the children of S. Orsola in Bologna (Applause) All this together with Paoletti, then maybe on our social networks we will put “auction starting 0.2 cents, a bit like E-Bay, remember E-Bay, is it still there?
Here, so and the proceeds will be given there, and now I will try to make a bad impression with the guitar. (The song IL MARE IMPETUOSO AL TRAMONTO begins.)
This story tells the tale of three guys who between 2020 and 2024 changed not who they are but how they present themselves and their individuality. It’s part of maturity, of course, but not entirely! After being together constantly, in 2020 they suddenly find themselves communicating by phone. A very unique thing for them. They were never more than a hotel room away.
Sometimes people write to me and say, you know these guys so well! No, I don’t. Have I met them? Yes! Do I have a personal relationship with them? On many occasions I have communicated with one or another. But no, I’m just a fan like you! But the research I’ve done over the years has given me the tools to write my Il Volo stories. And this story required a lot of research because I needed to present the turning point in their lives, the New Horizons, the new beginning for our guys!
When exactly did that happen? To find that answer we have to go back to 2020….
I think of the day when the guys walked out the door and said I’ve had enough of this and started to live their lives again. On that day, it wasn’t about isolation, it was about what they contributed during the time of isolation. It was about working their way into a new life, a new beginning.
What the guys did during this time formed the framework for a new Il Volo!
Things changed; the world changed but above all we all changed in some way. As to the guys, they stayed home but they couldn’t stay without something to do.
And so, they began a new journey….
In May 2020, the guys joined other Italian singers and artists to make a statement about the people and their situation. They sang about all people all over Italy; perhaps all over the world. Ma il cielo e’ sempre blu (But the sky is always blue). No matter what happens, the sky is always blue! That’s true! It was a catchy tune and before you knew it, we were all singing it!
So out the door they went to start a whole new beginning, this time in Italy!
In July 2020 the guys performed at the Taormina Film Festival.
At the Festival, they sang a beautiful Sicilian song. E Vui Durmiti Ancora (And you sleep again!) When they sang it, they brought tears to our eyes and a beautiful sense of pride to the Sicilian people! An absolutely amazing performance! And each performance after this would be more and more amazing!
In September 2020 the guys went to the SMA Awards….
This is the statement the guys made at the beginning of this beautiful video. A new beginning.
Ignazio:2020 will be remembered as the year where the world would be constrained to be turned off.
Gianluca:For the music employees the verb “turn off” means the end of the show, when the curtains close and it is the waiting moment for the next show, but this time the waiting lasted more than expected, the silence was unavoidable.
Piero: Now, the world is getting ready to start again! Now the moment has arrived to raise the curtain! Now, we will turn on the music!
That evening, the guys chose to sing Nessun Dorma which sent a very strong message to the world and especially the entertainment industry. It says we may have to perform under these new world conditions, but we don’t have to change who we are or why we’re here. In this ancient Arena we look to the past while following the path to the future.
That night was a turning point for the guys. They set a precedence. Verona would now be the place where there would always be new beginnings. And every year thereafter, it was a new beginning. Every new and exciting event would be presented here!
Their identities, their individuality, who they truly are, would come to light in this magnificent Arena.
When they step on the stage, their presence is electrifying! From their first note the whole arena lights up. Their voices are clean and crisp. Their presence is illuminating. Their notes rise above the Arena into the night sky to let the world know they are there!
That night when they sang Nessun Dorma, in the final notes of their song they sent a message that would resonate throughout the industry, We have returned! Turn on the lights! And the whole industry came to life again.
What is so amazing about this is, over the months since they had left quarantine, they had almost single handedly brought back the music industry in Italy. The guys hit the restart button! They played a major role in the restart of the music industry In Italy!
An amazing feat by three guys who were barely recognized by Italy. But that too would change, and they would become the favorite child (children) of Italy! But I’m getting ahead of myself!
All the work they did after their quarantine moved things forward in Italy. This included a most important project, the concert in Tribute to Ennio Morricone and the recording of their album by the same name.
To mark this event, on June 5, 2021, they held the performance of a lifetime at the ancient Arena of Verona! Who will ever forget it!
This project which brought the music of four men together, Il Volo and Ennio Morricone, was absolutely extraordinary because they were extraordinary men. Having worked together when they were teenagers the guys were the perfect people to present the legacy of Ennio Morricone!
In 2020, the guys had an opportunity to do something very unusual, stay home! This project is the result of that rare opportunity! The idea of presenting an album of Morricone’s music is genius. Combine that with the genius of Il Volo and what do you get, an album of phenomenal songs!
That it truly was but what happened on that stage in Verona surpasses anything we can possibly imagine.
On June 5, 2021, it all came together in Verona, of course!
Let’s set the scene!
The first note and we immediately know it’s “The Ecstasy of Gold.” The whistle of the wind!
The setting is gold! Then white! Then gold! Look at the gold flecks that come in and out! The orchestra vibrates! Each note intensifies our senses. We’re drawn to the back of the stage. To a tunnel where we know our guys will appear! The focus is always rear center stage! The lights change to intense red and now we are looking at the stage from the back of the arena. We are coming forward. The shadow of Il Volo turns into a force that is coming towards us! The theme of the concert is set!
Listen to the intensity of their voices! What force! Watch their motions. Look at Gianluca! Watch his body react to the music! The fist that comes at you saying this is the punch, just the beginning. Listen to how Ignazio rides the note that guides us into the story! Now we’re sailing on the wind! Piero intensifies the moment with his powerful voice that says the journey has begun! Follow us!
The scenery is in motion again. In the background, the movie comes into view and blends with the voices! Everything on the stage comes to life! We’re now inside the film. Even the guys are taken by the movement around them. They look around and they are feeling the moment! Conductor, Andrea Morricone, Ennio Morricone’s son, steps up the music and we step back and look, in amazement, at what is before us!
What exactly is before us? A work of art! A Titian painting. In Venice there is a very magnificent painting by Titian called the Assumption. It is a painting in motion! Believe me, when I tell you what you are looking at on that stage is a Titian painting. Titian was known for his movement in painting! Titian was 24 years old when he painted the Assumption. Our guys are in their mid-twenties, and they painted the scene before you. If you don’t know the renaissance artist Titian, google him! You’ll understand what is going on here!
Now let me explain what is before you. Movement. Lots of movement.
Take a look at the stage! You, the audience are the spectators! You’re being drawn to the stage. You watch the guys’ approach, and you are in awe of their presence. You feel the intensity of the music, you and the guys are pulled into the movie. The music is all around you! Their voices are a force in your head. You look up in amazement! You are a part of the scenery! You are a part of the orchestra! You are a part of the movie! You are a part of ~ Il Volo! You have arrived and you are ready to follow the guys no matter where this journey leads you! It’s only the beginning! Fasten your seat belts. Phenomenal!
And let’s not forget this was their first Live Concert on TV with Rai 1. Many more would follow!
This was a new adventure for them. It was out of their realm of reality. These songs gave them a new path. A new idea about the future of Il Volo.
Their movement into the future had begun. No going back. Before them was a road sign that said, “This is your path, follow it.” And so, they did.
My Favorite picture
So, what actually happened here? To answer that question, we have to move forward to 2023.
Individuality!!! You know that everyone loves Il Volo, but everyone loves his favorite guy, best! Though I don’t admit it too often, I love all the guys but, I too have a favorite! Think of how many times at a concert you said I wish (my guy) would sing more. You said that not because you don’t like the group but in fact you want to listen to each one individually. In 2023, their concerts presented this new idea. These concerts gave us the opportunity to look into the heart of our guys through their music. It allowed us to see them in a deeper and more personal way.
When the guys presented their songs, they were presenting in a new and different way. Each one told us what he always wanted to do in his solo and did it!
This is where they took another step forward and introduced us to themselves. They presented their individuality, and we met each one through the spirit of his soul!
With other groups this would have been a path divided but with them, it was a path united.
They had matured, they were vibrant, they had come into their own individuality. They knew what they wanted, and they went for it! Hence, the new idea of individuality was set into play.
They had matured in body and mind and their voices had gone to another level of magnificence!
Yes, we watched them grow but this is different. There’s a beautiful presence about them now. A certain elegance! After fourteen years they hadn’t wanned, they increased in strength and intensity! There was a certain power in their voices that grabbed you from the first note of the concert to the last.
Each guy had grown into his voice and had shown a maturity and style the likes of which men who are approaching the end of their careers can only have imagined! Fourteen years of a lifetime! A lifetime full of wonders and experience which most entertainers will never have the honor of knowing.
For Il Volo, 2023 was about another new beginning! At the Verona Arena, in May, Frederica Panicucci, who was the presenter of the Il Volo concert, had this to say about what would happen that evening. “During the evening Il Volo will show unpublished moments with solos and duets they never performed before. It will be their way of showing their different personalities.”
Yes, Federica was right, that night was different because we’ve heard these voices before but not in the way we heard them that night. The guys introduced us to their personal feelings about their music.
A great example of this is in Ignazio’s words before both concerts:
In the first concert Ignazio said, “I’ve always loved great female voices….”
And in the second concert he said, “I will try to take a trip to the most beautiful female songs in the world tonight.
So let’s start with one of Ignazio’s solos….
So, it seems Ignazio still enjoys singing these (female) songs. And why wouldn’t he? He is the only one of the three that can sing that kind of song because they are songs that require a strong voice that is very clear, crisp and very lyrical and a lot of passion must be put into each song! I think I just described Ignazio’s voice! Let me add and, “very soulful!”
On to Gianluca….
Here, we met the real Gianluca in his rock mode and he introduced us to his feelings for Elvis, Sinatra, Dylan and the Beatles.
And last but not least, Piero….
Piero brought us his perfect operatic voice. Whimsical and joyful. He has a great love and sincerity for this music. Opera is in his soul. He opens up that soul to us in these concerts with arias we have never heard him sing before.
So we have arrived at 2024 and the return to Sanremo….
They were so ready for it.
Yes all they had to do was step on the stage and they would come into their moment. And so they did.
They certainly had THE song. Capolavoro certainly was a Masterpiece. They had the charisma, the style, the unbelievable professionalism. Their performance surpassed any performance in the Festival. Did they win, no, because they had something else, they had the same old reporters who know nothing about music and are prejudiced against them.
What made a difference this time was they were there to honor their Fifteen Years of a Lifetime on the Ariston Stage where it all began for them fifteen years earlier! It was about their time together and no one was going to take that from them. And so, they celebrated! Interview after interview, one better than the other. It all turned into an amazing party! What a party it was!
What was amazing about it all was Italy really woke up. Yes, over the last few years they began to recognize them but this time they cherished them. They made them their own and this was their dream for fifteen years!
And here we are back at Verona. It is 2024 and they are ready to heighten your senses. This night was all about what they had succeeded in doing over the last few years. And they shared this evening with so many other wonderful entertainers.
You know what I like most about these guys, I like the way they present themselves to the people, especially the Italian people, in their concerts. For all the prejudice against them, they are so down to earth. They accept everything with a grain of salt. There is not a jealous bone in their bodies. They openly admire those who share their stage. They are fair, they are kind, and they are loving. They are by far the greatest entertainers in the world today.
Just before they released their album Ad Astra, Gianluca summed it all up in this way.
Ad Astra is the journey of all of us.
Not only the result of talent, tenacity and passion, but the courageous story of those who choose to descend into the depths of the soul.
Ad Astra wants to be the testimony of our history and that of all those who find in music a language to discover themselves and express the hidden part of themselves.
‘Can’t you see something we have in common? Show me all your cuts and weaknesses because I know that deep down they are the same, mine, yours, with the same fears, no one knows the way…’
I hope that Ad Astra today can mean for you what is a symbol and victory for us: a harmony that can guide you towards new horizons.
Thanks to you who made all this possible. I love you.
As I mentioned in my story Sitting on the Edge of the Universe,the songs on this album, Ad Astra, are the story of their lives. Young boys who left their families to join an adult world where they would have to grow up very quickly. No teenage years! No silly flirtations and a new girlfriend every other week! No! Just recording studios and world stages that would introduce them to a new kind of family! A family that would always be there waiting for them when they arrived in their city. Fans who would become family!
There were many lonely nights and many disappointments when they wanted so much more out of their lives, out of their relationships, but the concert always came first, and they would learn how to adjust their lives to fit the scenario!
Now they are finally finding a way to incorporate all things. They are looking for love and finding it and they are learning how to enjoy their family and home lives more! The new individuality is not just about music. It’s also about their lives. They are learning how to please everyone including themselves. The turning point in their lives brought them to this moment and on the path of New Horizons.
Join me next week as I go back Through the Fields of My Mind and open the door to a new adventure!
For your listening pleasure one of the concerts Verona 2024
Credit to the owners of Photos and videos!
Come in and share the love of life, friends and Il Volo!
