On August 16th, Piero received an award from his beloved NARO.
Let’s go in order:
This message was published by Piero, I translate the words:
On August 16th evening I will have the pleasure of dedicating time to my splendid NARO: being recognized and honored, from one’s native country, is an honor that is not at all obvious.
Here are the roots, here my story is born: the houses, the alleys, the faces, with which I grew up and of which I could tell a thousand stories.
At the moment, I will tell you only one, the affection I have for my country.
All Naro waits on the beautiful staircase.
Here is the moment of Piero’s arrival.
And here is the awarding of the prize, by the mayor, very proud of our Piero.
Mayor = Meanwhile I wanted to put the institutional band, even if it is wrong (Piero rushes to fix the band), to give the official status of the institution, the solemnity of this moment, to pay our affection, our gratitude, to a great, to an international star, which is Piero. (applause)
Considering that at this moment, I do not feel I am just the mayor of Naro and its 7500 inhabitants, but I feel like the mayor of all the Naresi (inhabitants of Naro) scattered all over the world.
So I make myself an interpreter, of all the Naresi, scattered around the world, to say THANK YOU to Piero, for the emotions he always gives us. I also greet all the friends of Canicattì who are here for Piero.
I will not dwell much, but I must tell you that I am particularly excited. You saw the first part of the video (before calling Piero, they projected a video dedicated to Piero ), well, that little boy was Piero …. (to Piero) I don’t know where your grandfather is … . (Piero indicates with his hand, on the stairway). Pietro, a big hug to Pietro, to whom a family friendship, of many years, binds me.
That mayor of 10 years ago, when Piero started it all, was me.
To give you the prize, I would like to call Magda. (Magda is a small child, new promising star of Naro, Piero goes to meet Magda and kisses her.)
With the hope that in 10 years we will be here again to celebrate even Magda.
Best wishes Piero. (kisses and hugs to Piero and delivery of the prize)
I was at Piero’s house, I saw, how many plaques, how many photos with “the powerful of the world” ….. Piero, but this is the gift of NARO !!!(applause)
One last thing and I finish, a memory, when they, in the theater of Taormina, dedicated the song to their mother, and he bowed and Eleonora, beat the song’s rhythm on his leg ….. Eleonora and Gaetano, thank you for what you you have done, for believing us, for the sacrifices you have made to make him a great man.(applause, a second awarding ceremony continues, during which Vincenzo Porrello gives Piero a special gift.)
And here is the video broadcast by local television. At the beginning Piero sings a beautiful song “NARO FULGENTISSIMA” (I think his grandfather composed it, during the video, while Piero sings, you can see his father Gaetano and his mother Eleonora, sitting on the staircase, near a white lantern.)
Mayor= For us it is a source of great pride, to celebrate 10 years of IL VOLO activity, but in particular, allow me, of our fellow citizen Piero Barone. A boy who is an international star, but who has remained a humble boy, has remained a boy devoted to his city.
I am the mayor of all the Naresi scattered in the world and for us, having Piero Barone this evening, who is the ambassador of the beauties of this city, but above all of the heart and love, of this city, can only make me absolutely happy.
Piero= My first thought, but I also think of all of you here, goes to the Bracco family, for the pain that struck them. (a young citizen of Naro, on vacation on the lake near Rome, drowned … applause).
The love I have for this country, and for our city, will never end.
Host= What do you feel for this city?
Piero= Naro, it’s me, it’s my blood. I grew up here, my whole story is here.
If it’s about my past, it’s all my grandfather’s fault, he gave me my passion for music.
When I was 8, it was he, my grandfather Pietro, who had me engraved, “UN AMORE COSÌ GRANDE”.
In one of those beautiful summer evenings over 10 years ago, my grandfather made my father hear that song, and from that moment, my father, stubborn as he is, every time someone came into the garage (he repaired cars), put me up on the bonnet of cars and made me sing either “GRANADA” or “UN AMORE COSÌ GRANDE”. I couldn’t take any more, every customer heard “GRANADA” or “UN AMORE COSÌ GRANDE”(Piero’s parents laugh).
In the same evening, there was the election of Miss Naro, and here is Piero photographed with all the participants.
Some shots of the evening, thanks to Il Volo Sicilia fanpage.
What a beautiful emotion Piero, to hear you sing that beautiful song dedicated to Naro.
And your words, for your city, fill every citizen with pride.
Bravo Piero !!
Daniela
Piero Barone with Nonno Piero Ognibene Singing “Naro Fulgentissima”
This is a tribute to Il Volo in the first decade their career.
Some time ago Valeria Bosch wrote this beautiful article, which talks about true Friendship, the one with a capital F.
Perhaps not all of you have had the opportunity to read these beautiful words, which only Valeria knows how to compose so well, and then I propose to you this beautiful reading.
1 – Traveling to Rome.
Who knows what was going on in the minds of those three kids while, in the spring of 2009, who on the plane and in the car, headed for Rome. The expected convocation had arrived and now they could hope to be selected for the television show of Antonella Clerici – to perform on the most important national network, to be seen by everyone and return to their towns with an upturned nose, at school with the comrades boasting of having been seen in the magical world contained in the television box, and of having sung just like the most famous stars, in short as they too had become, “VIPs”!
Not even the unbridled imagination of three thrilled and enthusiastic teenagers could ever remotely imagine what the destiny behind that convocation was concealing for them: it would have taken a magic mirror more powerful than Snow White’s to see inside the journeys, the planes, the thousands of discs sold, prizes, awards, the Radio City Music Hall and the Barclay Center in New York, the Olympia in Paris, the Royal Albert Hall in London and the most prestigious theaters in the world, the thousands of people across the planet standing to applaud their every song, the adoring little girls that crowded under the hotels waiting for them, dealing, on equal terms, with the most famous celebrities of the music world.
The story that starts from that journey to Rome could be told in a thousand ways, the songs, the theaters, the people, the prizes, the interviews, the relations with the press. But I would like here instead, and just to honor the ten years of activity of Il Volo, which is equivalent to ten years of life in common, choosing a really personal and delicate button, something that, especially considering the current times, is extraordinary and amazing, and that is friendship, the true friendship that exists between these boys, strengthened more and more over the years, a friendship as used in ancient times, that is made of mutual support, understanding, capacity for forgiveness, of confidence of the most intimate secrets, in short, a feeling that, in certain situations, can prove even more solid and satisfying than love.
2 – A true friendship
At first it was certainly not a bed of roses: who was that kind of a nuisance that was already talking and singing on the pullmanthat tookthemto Rome? and that timid little bit of snobbish, who singing, brought out apowerfulvoice? and that other one with glasses and command modes, who was nevertheless always ready for a joke and a laugh? Bringing together three males still in full adolescence, tearing them away from their habitual context, home, school, friends, to get them to travel the world, subjecting them to considerable physical and psychological stress, was adaring feat. There is no doubt: at first the thing seemed titanic, but then, over time, something was changed. There was something more in them than the normal vivacity of adolescents, the whims, the desire to have fun: there was a basic solidity, a great loyalty and goodness of character that in the formative years had been shaped in them by three exemplary families, parents and grandparents united, full of intelligence and love, who had managed to convey to them the need to be serious, the beauty of doing their duty, the acceptance of fatigue and sacrifice.
And so, slowly, they began to look at each other not with mistrust, but with sympathy, not with rivalry, but with a spirit of collaboration. The friendship has been strengthened and has managed to create an understanding between them that, to those who have to observe it during performances, both in concerts and in interviews, can only appear obvious and even incredible: just a nod of one to start (or block) the other, sometimes they touch their shoulders to look for security, they hug each other to welcome the ovations of the audience, they shake hands in a superstitious gesture before each concert. Really three voices and one soul, as is often said.
The litmus paper of the by now profound mutual affection was, as told in their testimony book An Extraordinary Adventure (Un’avventura straordinaria: La nostra storia), an accident that occurred in Miami in 2013, when during an evening at the disco among friends, Ignazio was unknowingly drugged, beaten and left unconscious on a lawn. The fear felt in not seeing him return, the anxiety of waiting that drove Gian to watch all night in the hotel in the hope that he would appear, and Piero, on a motorbike on the streets of Miami to look for him, cemented them indissolubly, made them understand, how important they were to each other, and urged Ignazio to give a public thanks during a subsequent concert at Radio City Music Hall in New York, without mentioning the incident, but expressing to his friends his affection, his joy of being together and sharing all the experiences with them.
There is no rivalry, there is no envy, there is no jealousy between these three boys: they collaborate in the work of recording in the studio, in the technical preparation of the pieces, in all the activities required of them, and they are sometimes seentogether even outside the stage, this is a true sign of sincere understanding. In fact, if they felt annoyed with each other, after work they would immediately split up, to live each their own life.
This is their secret, their spring, their added value: in the DVD that was released after the victory in Sanremo in 2015, one is surprised to hear Ignazio declare that, “Gian is the best boy in the world.”, and Gian reiterating, “We love each other so much.” and Piero,“There are no problems between us because when one is born, we resolve it immediately, where it is born it must die.” No more friends, therefore, but brothers, as they themselves have been declared several times.
3 – The bench of Montepagano
Even the magic mirror of Snow White, no matter how powerful could tell us if, after this first decade, the guys of Il Volo will still celebrate others together. It is also possible, with the golden voices that can be found in all three, that to someone, and it would be completely legitimate, the desire to probe new ways and to pursue, at least at times, a solo career. But we do not need the mirror of Snow White to be certain that their friendship will be celebrating the 2nd, 3rd, 4th decades, and so on: Ignazio will forever remain an indelible piece of the life of Gian and Gian of Piero and Piero of Ignazio, and vice versa.
Perhaps, when they are three sprightly old men, without the need for tricks and wigs, they will meet again on the bench of Montepagano, made famous by “L’ amore si muove”. And there, they will still be friends and brothers, it will be enough – a joke, a laugh, a memory, a hug – to find each other as they have been for the whole life, “three men and one soul”.
What a beautiful story, of an incredible friendship, born by chance, but lasting over time. Certain feelings are connected with time and events.
Valeria you have the gift of finding the most beautiful words to describe this beautiful friendship between Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca.
It was very hot the weather. And because I need to go to the soundcheck and my home is not a little near the Auditorium Parco della Musica, so I had to depart early. I was worried but everything went well I got the train->metro->tram smoothly and arrived at the place without trouble.
As I arrived early, I had time to greet a lot of Volovers that I met on the internet, on official FC, Twitter and Facebook. Moments full of love.
Then finally we could enter for the soundcheck! When we were still waiting outside, the soundcheck was already began! Heard the voice of Ignazio, then Piero, then Gianluca, from the stage not so far away, I was already so excited, almost to cry.
Then we got in. I got me a seat at the right side of the 1st row. Then sun saw almost gone but at my seat there was still sunshine! So, thanks to the sun I think maybe I was the shiniest one in among the fans XD. The position was like: me->stage->the sun, almost the same angle of the pictures Piero and Gianluca put on the Instagram. you can imagine how splendid the scene was when I was looking at the boys on the stage! Alessandro Quarta arrived later, so we were able to watch him play violin too!! For me, my seat at concerto was a little far away so thanks to the Fan Club I could watch them at a place close like this…
It was my first real concert, literally, not only for Il Volo, but the first time in my life. I had no idea what would happen but I made a fan with messages, precisely, it’s a 团扇（in Chinese “Tuán Shàn”, in Japanese “Uchiwa”, that means rounded fan）Because I think it is much more beautiful and easy to take in hand than a paper. (a designer’s insist) One side is “Io Sono Il Volover”, a message for all people, and another side “Piero❤26”, yes, it’s for Piero’s birthday.💕
It worked well I think! Everyone saw it, and many told me it was beautiful! And during the soundcheck, Ignazio asked the foreigner fans where are they from, I said I’m Chinese, and he began to talk to me in Chinese “你好！你好吗？” （Hello! How are you?）I was so happy (and amazed by his Chinese pronunciation, again) so I was smiling and nodding to him. Ignazio: “Why you don’t talk? You don’t speak Chinese?” At this moment, arrived the voice of Piero from another side of the stage: “She wrote Piero! She does not talk to you!” You two are fantastic!!!! I thought maybe Piero did not see it, but in fact he saw it clearly!
The soundcheck was short, they sang some songs, had fun, and then when they were done, the greeted each one of us and then left.
I was able to give Piero my little drawing as his birthday gift!! He took it, smiled (you all know how beautiful his smile is!), and carefully read the little message I wrote in. Liked it (?? maybe, I was too nervous to catch his reactions, but I want to believe…) Softly he said “Thank you”, then kindly asked the staff to take a picture of him, my work, and me! Ohh maybe he liked it!!
(me, my work. I hope Piero looked into the details, so that he can know how much love is inside…)
Then we got out, waited to re-enter. And I found the official shop! And when we got in I went there immediately! So I got the lovely designed T-shirt! Which Piero wears at every concert! I loved it when the first moment Piero posted it in a story on Instagram.
(I got two T-shirts, one for me, one for my dear Japanese friend. She got me a cap from the Japanese concert too!)
The sunlight turned gold, and we went in the Cavea Arena.
I thought my seat would be far away but in fact it was not! Cavea Arena is a lovely place that every seat is never too far! I can see the stage very clearly. Then the lights were on, and they started to test them, wonderful!
(Do you see the three rounded lights? I was so excited when they began to appear there!)
Lights on, then came the familiar sound of airport, it was so emotive, it was “Il Mondo”!! The first song of the first album, a flashback, it is absolutely the best song for the beginning of this 10th anniversary concert.
The setlist of the concert is perfect! As I imagined before, it was aMusica+ 10 years best setlist. I felt many times during the concert that this list was designed for me. Many old songs, I dreamed many times, but never expected that I can really hear them live. For me, they are “Io Che Non Vivo Senza Te”, “Ancora”, “No Puede Ser” etc. Now when I think of it, I’m really not sure if it was my illusion. And the collaboration with Alessandro Quarta was obviously epic! It was the best performance at Sanremo, so great that they do it again at the concert! They really know their fans well.
Solo songs!Solo songs are more than wonderful! Their choices really fit them best. Their characters, their voices, their worldviews…And it was deluxe to have 2 solo songs for each one. I waited to hear the solo songs, and then I heard them, so beautiful, I cried.
It was absolutely a very special concert, with a special date and special location. So we heard Happy Birthday to Pieroin their beautiful harmony and “Arrivederci Roma”, in Rome.
I really want to mention the scenography. We all agree that Il Volo’s performance is always perfect. Just like the boys say, it’s not only they three that do this job. And the part of scenography, sometimes mentioned less, is a very important. I always love their stages, not exaggerated, not noisy, simple and elegant but with carefully chosen colors emotional lights, everything is just right for them.
(When they sing, every color of the world turns beautiful…)
And the most important part…the Voices!! I knew…I knew they would sound much greater than the videos and CDs, but they still gave me this huge impression and emotion… All their voices in that night were in gold condition! For the first time I really realized how beautiful human voices (maybe I should say angels’ voices) can be… There’re something very special, powerful and magical that touches your heart softly. And I found out again how I am addicted to these beautiful voices. I held my breath, I heard, I shed tears.
(I didn’t take videos, but some photos, maybe this is my favorite shot.)
A very short night. For every fan like me, it would be always too short. It was a date that finally came after loving them for more than six years. With every song, my memories of the days with the songs and with Il Volo flashed back. But everything passed too fast. When it ended, I didn’t feel so sad but only amazed at that moment. But now, the date that I works hard and waited for months became the past, I feel some empty in my heart. It’s cruel that when a concert ends it ends. But I believe we’ll never stay too far, because we are always “Vicinissimo”. Also I have another date to wait, beyond the summer, in Verona…then all these sweet memories will revive.
A beautiful flight of IL VOLOand we arrive in Palermo, there is the great concert of RADIO ITALIA LIVE.
Here, instead, there is the advertising of the concert, really very nice and the boys are very strong.
P = You must come to the Radio Italia live concert, because … I= Why Radio Italia, it’s just Italian music … and then it’s not an advice … G = And what is a fennel? However, to get all the information, swipe up.
Here is the video of the show’s rehearsals.
They try “MUSICA CHE RESTA”, but is someone missing? Ignazio did not arrive, but he will certainly be there for the evening.
Immediately after the rehearsals for the show, Piero and Gianluca are interviewed by Radio Italia.
IL VOLO TO RADIO ITALIA LIVE. 10 YEARS OF CAREER: “AT THE END OF THE YEAR THE BEST WILL COME.”
Gianluca and Piero anticipate a new project.
Among the protagonists of RADIO ITALIA LIVE – IL CONCERTO in Palermo is IL VOLO: Gianluca Ginoble and Piero Barone did the rehearsals and went to visit us at our Foro Italico for a live interview with Mauro and Manola. Ignazio Boschetto is absent, but tomorrow (29 June) he will be on stage. “Sometimes it happens that due to unforeseen events we are not immediately present all three. Once, in 2012, we were guests at The Voice Portugal, but there was a snowfall and I couldn’t move from home,” explained Gianluca.
Celebrate 10 years of success around the world … “For us this is a special year, we were waiting with much anticipation 2019. The first song we sang together in 2009 was ‘O Sole Mio’. This year we celebrate 10 years of music, friendship and loyalty. A project will arrive at the end of the year, the best.”
Did you ever think or hope as a child that this would happen? “The important thing is never to lose being children, which sometimes helps you to keep your feet on the ground. We still have that desire to make music and have fun, especially on stage, where we are still those children who want to break everything.”
Did you ever think about the Japan tour and the Arena? “No, we just sang, just. We didn’t know each other, it was the producer of the program TI LASCIO UNA CANZONE that has united us. Thanks to our manager Torpedine we are fulfilling our dreams.”
You were small but you already showed great self-confidence … “This is a little fun … Have you ever seen videos in Locarno where we forgot the lyrics?”
We are finally in the evening, everything takes place in the beautiful Sicily, in Palermo, we are at the Foro Italico, at the marina. There’s a lot of people. And here’s the short videos of their performances …
A CHI MI DICE
MUSICA CHE RESTA
GRANDE AMORE
Great people participation!
Immediately after the performance, a small, nice interview.
PR = At Radio Italia Live the concert, IL VOLO, welcome. G = Thank you, welcome back.
PR = Welcome back, very good, but it is also a welcome home, especially for Piero and Ignazio, because they return to Sicily. What is it like singing at home in Sicily? I = It is always beautiful, it is always nice to come back to Sicily, our land, our origins, especially to Radio Italia, the people are crazy, in today’s slang “fighissimo”. Then we will be back on July 21st here in Palermo. P = And also in Taormina on July 23rd.
PR = What did you give Piero for his 26 years? I = Do you really want to know? P = You know, they went to the greengrocer, they bought a broccoli and they gave it to me, in Sicily they say “broccoli roses”. (I think it’s a way of saying that they gave him nothing, Daniela) G = Sometimes we give ourselves little thoughts and gifts, even if there is no particular occasion.
PR = It is the best thing. (addressed to Piero) but is this really the gift? P = No, no, they are thinking about it ….. I hope !! G = First we must have the money. P = Yes, those of Mahmood.
PR = This year you celebrate 10 years of career, the best moments of these 10 years, maybe one each. P = When they met me. I = You know it’s hard to get one, maybe when we won Sanremo. G = Perhaps our first concert at Radio City Music Hall. P = I must say, the performance before Pope Francis in Panama for WYD.
PR = Three beautiful moments. You are international artists, we know you well, you are on tour all over the world, who better than you, knows the world. Three countries, those of your tour are also fine- which would you recommend for the summer 2019. G = To go on vacation? For summer? I, summer or not, would go to Japan immediately, it’s one of my favorite countries. I = We Italians, usually, for the holiday, we always try to go abroad, in Greece or the Maldives, but I think that in Italy, there are really beautiful places, starting from Puglia, the coast of Salento, even the Calabria, Sardinia, Sicily. G = Sicily is implied. I = Sicily, rightly, is implied. P = I advise you to go to Google and look for Scala dei Turchi, Agrigento, my house!
PR = Gianluca said Japan. You have great success there too, you have just done the concerts, but do you know how to sing something in Japanese? (Piero and Ignazio begin to sing a nursery rhyme in Japanese) G = For two weeks they did so all the time, it’s a nursery rhyme, it would be like ours “If you are happy you know it, clap your hands”. The beauty is that we sang it even in concert, suddenly … P = After the Nessun Dorma G = …. and the people … (he claps his hands, very composed, like the Japanese do), beautiful.
PR = Since I see you a lot, the very last thing … I saw that for the advertising of the concert of Radio Italia, Ignazio made the dab (???) P = What is this dab? (Ignazio and Gianluca do, a pose) PR = I wanted Il Volo to greet Radio Italia with your dab. P = Do you know which would be our dab? (He moves his arms as if he were flying.) PR = You are right there is the personalized one for Il VOLO. IL VOLO, thanks !!!
And finally the whole video of the evening.
More photos – remember to click on each photo to view it at a larger size.
It was a good concert, the people of Palermo responded with great affection, they all sang “GRANDE AMORE” with every possible voice.
This song has entered everyone’s heart.
The first articles and videos about the first concert in Matera have come out, some really nice.
Beautiful is this TRMh24 video that summarizes the evening, enjoy the images and activate the subtitles.
This is from Murgia Live 24, Radio Altamura 1. In this video, people entering to watch the concert are interviewed, they are very nice short interviews, in their answers we find all our thoughts.
I translate for you.
Where are you coming from? From Matera. From Matera, why IL VOLO, what is written on the sign? It says: Unique emotion, one thought. Ten years of career, Il VOLO. How wonderful, why do you love them? Because they are very good and sincere guys, they are not presumptuous, and of course they sing very well, they have a real natural talent. They are great, I love them.
Where are you from? From Perugia Why Il Volo? Because we always follow them, since they started, this is the sixteenth concert, and we have another five scheduled for this summer. Even? Yes, in Taormina and everywhere. We also went to Naro in Sicily. How wonderful, thanks.
Where are you from? From Matera. What’s your name? Antonella and Rita Why Il Volo? They are great, they are a show. The favorite song? Grande Amore What will you do when they sing this song? We will go directly under the stage, or we will even go over the stage.
Where do you come from? From Matera. Why Il Volo, ma’am? Because they have a music genre that makes me shudder. Your favorite song? Grande Amore, by far.
Where are you from? I from Policoro (near Matera), but my friend is from Poland. Even from Poland? From Warsaw Why Il Volo? Because they are extraordinary and deserve the success they have had. Thank you
It’s a video, we’re on Radio Altamura 1, where do you come from? From Matera What’s your name? Gabriella. Nunzia. Why Il Volo? Because I like them. The favorite song? Grande Amore
I’ll come to you, where do you come from? From Matera, always from Matera. Is she a lady from Matera too? Yes, I am from Matera. Look, lady, why Il Volo? Because they are very good. What do you like? I like all of them, all their songs and how they are. And Grande Amore? Grande Amore is beautiful. Great
Where do you come from? From Gallipoli. Why Il Volo? Because they are fantastic, what other explanation. Thank you
Where do you come from? My city is Matera 2019, capital of Europe culture. Why Il Volo lady? Because their music transmits emotions to the heart. Thank you
So where do you come from? Naples. But really Naples center? Yes. Why Il Volo? and why Matera? Because they are special and I love them.
Where are you coming from? From Lecce so far away. Why Il Volo? Because they are three simple and genuine and very good guys. Thank you
Where are you coming from? Matera Why Il Volo? Because they are special, they are three good guys and I like their songs.
Where does she come from? From Matera Why IL Volo? Why tonight here? Because it’s nice, see Il Volo. They’re good? Well done.
Where do you come from? From Matera. From Matera too, why Il Volo? Because we like them. From one to ten? 10 10 and praise with the academic kiss? Exactly, it’s normal.
Where are you coming from? I’m from Vietri sul mare, from Salerno, from Campania. They’re telling me you’re a soprano. Yes, I’m a soprano. Why Il Volo? Because we love the same musical genre, I’m soprano, and then I know them. What do you expect this evening? To get excited, they are very good and therefore, to share this evening with them.
Where is he from? From Palagiano. Why Il Volo? My sister is crazy about Il Volo, so I had to go with her, of course. But I like them too.
We are in Cava del Sole Matera, why Il Volo? Because it was a wish of both my mother and my in-laws and mine too. Where is he from? From Gioia del Colle, Taranto.
Madam, where did you come from? From Potenza. From Potenza, why Il Volo? Because I have been following them since they started their career, I have followed their entire path, I love them, I love them, as if they were my grandchildren.
Why Il Volo, why are you here? No, no. Why are they good? They are unique? Yes, I think they are very humble people, and they give me a lot of emotions. Where are you from? From Calabria. From Calabria, and how old are you? Fourteen Wow Why Il Volo? Because they are unique and inimitable.
Hi everyone, I’m from Matera. Where are you from? From Matera. After I chased them in all the cities, finally they are here in my Matera.
Matera, 17 June 2019 – These are feelings carved in stone in a city of sorrowful beauty, to be observed “through a veil of poetry and melancholy” as Pascoli said, those left in Matera by Il Volo to kick off the celebrations of their tenth anniversary.
A celebration in which Piero Barone, Ignazio Boschetto and Gianluca Ginoble paid homage with two concerts in extraordinary spaces of the European Capital of Culture such as San Pietro Caveoso and, just yesterday, the Cava del Sole, ranging from the hits of its repertoire such as “Grande amore”, “Musica che resta” or “A chi mi dice”, Italian version by Tiziano Ferro of “Breathe Easy” by Blue, and classics poised between lyric and pop like “Nessun dorma”, “Arrivederci Roma” and “Caruso”.
“It was two quite different performances,” explains Piero Barone. “The first, in fact, was filmed by the cameras of Duccio Forzano for a television special that PBS will air in America in November, which will also feature a CD / DVD celebrating this anniversary of ours, while the second is the concert that we are going to bring on tour more oriented on the last album Musica.
The live record repertoire will also take them on tour, debuting on February 5th at Radio City Music Hall in New York and then returning to Europe and Italy between spring and summer.
With PBS you have often worked. Barone: “This is our sixth special with them. The first one was realized in Detroit, the second and third in Miami, the fourth in Pompeii, the fifth in Piazza Santa Croce in Florence and the sixth in Matera because we try to bring Americans not only singing and Italian tradition , but also the beauties of our country.”
The celebrations for the tenth anniversary began, therefore, in Matera. Barone: “Yes, even the mayor told us in front of the play of light for the special TV that Matera has never been made so beautiful.”
Boschetto: “The Americans said we were amazed and convinced in Piazza Santa Croce that we could not have done better, this time we were able to surprise them even more”.
You arrived among the “Sassi” before Daniel Craig with the filming of Bond 25. Barone: “But we already have our James Bond. And it is Ignazio.”On September 24th, return to the Verona Arena.
Ginoble: “News from yesterday, the date is sold-out. Last time we entered the Arena for a special TV, this time for the end of the tour party.”
What are the surprises of these 2019 concerts? Barone: “The largest is probably the violin presence of Alessandro Quarta. Because the public deserves to listen to music that remains performed on the tour as we did in Sanremo in the evening reserved for collaborations.”
Last month you were in Japan. A concert was shown in cinemas. What welcome did you find? Boschetto: “We brought the show of Magic Night because it rests on our most classic repertoire. And the record came in second place in the standings behind Bohemian Rhapsody of the great Queen.”
Ginoble: “It all started in the nineties, when lyric pop was exported all over the world by Pavarotti and Bocelli. Singing this music in Japan in 2019, doing it in a cradle of beauty like Matera or like the Arena makes us proud to export it all over the world.”
If a “tenor” voice like that of Alberto Urso triumphs today at “Amici”, is it not a little your merit too? Barone: “We may have cleared this genre of music, helping to free it from the prejudices it brought with it. Perhaps there are people attracted to this genre, but fearful of having to overcome the reserves that are there especially in Italy, because if it is very popular abroad, there must be a reason.”
Well, we are very happy with these nice articles.
I think that in front of the obviousness of such a beautiful concert, it was the least they could write.
We hope that things continue like this.
They deserve the best.
Daniela
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