For the third time, Il Volo is once again interviewed on VERISSIMO on Canale 5, by the talented Silvia Toffanin.
A long and beautiful interview that I really enjoyed translating for you.☺
Click on photo below to watch the interview.
SILVIA = Welcome.
IGNAZIO = How are you?
SILVIA = Well and I see you really well, I see some wonderful images that are the images of your new video that we are previewing THE ECSTASY OF GOLD, right?
PIERO = Yes, soundtrack by the great maestro Ennio Morricone. We have dedicated the new IL VOLO SINGS MORRICONE project to Ennio Morricone.
SILVIA = It was released all over the world on Friday.
GIAN = It is a collection of the soundtracks of the maestro Ennio Morricone, from Nuovo Cinema Paradiso to Once Upon a Time in the West, to The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly with The Ecstasy of Gold that opens this album, with the first sung version, with a text in English written by the son, the maestro Andrea Morricone.
SILVIA = Well, congratulations, how beautiful, a bit of a western video.
IGNAZIO = It was great to shoot it, because it was shot on film, as it used to be.
SILVIA = Like in the old movies.
IGNAZIO = And it was interesting, while we were recording it, the director said “Missing a meter at the end” and we thought: “What does that mean?” Because in film, when you shoot in film, it does not qualify in seconds, but in meters.
SILVIA = Ah, you see, when there was a meter missing, it meant that the film was running out.
IGNAZIO = Of course meters or centimeters mean time, seconds.
SILVIA = So, how are you guys doing? I see you very well.
PIERO = We are very well, we are very happy with this project, we have been stuck at home for almost two years, but our creativity has helped us a lot.
SILVIA = It didn’t stop.
PIERO = I must say that time has been our best friend, because we gave our best, we had more time to try to take care of every aspect of this project.
SILVIA = And also to spend a little time with your families, to live a little that second adolescence that you did not live, because you left home when you were little, right Gianluca.
GIAN = Yes, then we tried not to live this period passively and to stimulate our creativity. We have been with our families more, is that sometimes you also need to have a spirit of adaptation and accept reality when there is no alternative, so it was a very difficult time for everyone. I remember that you of VERISSIMO, you had the brilliant idea of enclosing IMAGINE by John Lennon in a video, with many singers playing and singing from home, and certainly this allowed us to be in close contact with the public and we wanted you thank you for it.
SILVIA = Thanks to you that kindness, you played and sang.
And for this, and for all that you have given to the public, we have prepared this gift for you, look.
(starts a video with images of the various moments of the Il Volo tours)
GIAN’s voice in the video = It all happened so fast, we lived an anomalous life, we grew up fast, we discovered the world, traveling opens the mind.
IGNAZIO’s voice in the video = We try to give messages with our music. There have been difficult moments in our career, it hasn’t been all plain sailing.
PIERO’s voice in the video = Our success is due to the music we sing, the music that is part of the Italian tradition. Our genre is not ancient, but classic, and we try to take it around the world and make it known to everyone.
GIAN’s voice in the video = We have three different voices, three different personalities.Maybe going upstream can sometimes win. We do everything we can to try to reach people’s hearts.
IGNAZIO’s voice in the video = For us artists it is always nice to experience new emotions because they give you stimuli, concert after concert, day after day.
PIERO ‘s voice in the video = Every concert, every time is as if it were the first time. We promise we will never lose our simplicity and never change.
IGNAZIO = It’s nice you know. Missing, missing touring, singing, doing the tour routine, missing …
PIERO = It is as if the pandemic and Covid have stopped time.
SILVIA = Oh yes.
PIERO = Second half of 2019 and first two months of 2020, audiences, hugs, it seems like a lifetime ago.
SILVIA = Why you … let’s go back, because you left for the United States before Covid, to celebrate your 10 years of career and you did a tour in the United States, a beautiful tour, where Placido Domingo also came , Gloria Esteffan, in short, great artists. How did Ignatius experience that embrace of the American crowd?
IGNAZIO = Many ask us: “But you have no fear, fear of the public, you know, the emotion”, it’s all adrenaline, it’s really inexplicable and really, as I said before, we miss it, we love it so much and we can’t wait that it is next year because it finally starts again.
SILVIA = But you were there then at a certain point, it happens that in Italy, Gianluca, arrives Covid and you were in contact with your families, but in the United States everything was pretty quiet.
GIAN = Yes, we interrupted the festivities somehow, because in the United States we were there until the first week of March and we returned on the 13th, we canceled the concerts in Las Vegas and San Francisco and we escaped on the last plane, we were more than 30 people traveling, with our crew, the musicians, and therefore we risked staying there for another 2-3 weeks, because then, when we returned we were in full lockdown for a week now (in Italy).
SILVIA = But what was it like to return home and experience that family dimension, after you have spent your life and adolescence around in concerts. How it was to go home with your mother, with the loved ones, to do nothing.
IGNAZIO = Above all, do nothing.
SILVIA = Even that, do nothing, boredom.
PIERO = It was a kind of “in search of lost time”, this immersion in memories, clearly the birthplace, the family, everyone. It’s nice to relive and remember where we come from, because maybe everyday life sometimes makes us forget this.
And that was the strength perhaps, to feel that inner balance that only your loved ones give you, the people close to you, and from there, we gave life to a new project, and the distance …, because we felt only by telephone with video calls, they could not stay in contact …
IGNAZIO = It was nice …
SILVIA = Was it nice? What did you like?
IGNAZIO = To hear them by phone I say, we are always together ….😁
SILVIA = … the fact that you didn’t see them for a while
PIERO = I can say that the distance has strengthened our friendship.😘
GIAN = We have had a really abnormal lifestyle for 12 years. You know it all started when we were children, so (in Covid time) we tried to be optimistic about it, without feeling sorry for ourselves, because this certainly doesn’t help, and we took all the positive things that unfortunately brought us this tragedy that it touched us all.
It was a period that also helped us to discover ourselves a little.
SILVIA = And your grandfather? How are you?
GIAN = Well I must say that I have a wonderful relationship with him, and he is the only grandfather I have, which is my grandfather Ernesto, whom I greet, naturally. He is very proud of me, one of the indelible memories that I will always carry with me, in 2012, when we were on tour with Barbra Streisand, grandfather came to New York and saw me sing with Barbra Streisand, so he was there.
IGNAZIO = A Broccolin (Italian dialect for Brooklyn)
GIAN = Exactly, and this is therefore important, a message to be sent also to young people who often neglect their loved ones, because when you are young, you think you have all the time available, but time runs inexorably, so if at a youthful age you have this awareness, it allows us to live the moments more intensely, especially with the family, where everything started from there, and it is the people who will never betray you. (applause)😘
SILVIA = And you know this well, Ignazio, that you have a lot of personal satisfaction, but despite your very young age, you have had to face the loss of your beloved father.
IGNAZIO = Absolutely. Look, I also talked to other people who have lost a parent early, or even late, because in the end, you can be any age, it can pass as long as you want, but it is always early, you are never ready to accept a loss. But I must say that the fact that we have traveled a lot, the fact that we were on the other side of the world, and I knew that my father was always somewhere, even today that he is not there, it seems to me that he is always somewhere, therefore, it is as if I have not lost him. Because I think that I have not lost my father, my father is always with me here, I like to think like this and that’s okay.❤😘
SILVIA = He was very proud of you, I guess.
IGNAZIO = Absolutely, very proud. But he was the kind of person who couldn’t express emotions, so he was very proud but he was always …..
GIAN = But with a look he made us understand everything.😘
IGNAZIO = Yes, yes, he yes. Look it was my father, but it was as if he was the father of all three, as their parents are as if they were my parents, because in any case we have been sharing everything for many years.❤
PIERO = When we first met we were 14, so to shoot outside Italy, we had to be accompanied by our parents, we were minors, so for 5-6 years and then even at the age of 18, they continued to travel with us, so we know his father very well, we know what he is talking about because we have lived a lot of time with them.
SILVIA = And how was he next to him (Ignazio) on such a sad occasion, you who are a family, Piero on that occasion, as brothers, how did you feel too?
PIERO = Ignazio proved to be a MAN, extremely strong, because three days after the loss of Vito, we were guests at the Sanremo festival and we all expected him not to come. He arrived with a smile and we were blown away by his way of dealing with this moment, unprecedented to us. You taught us so much Ignatius, and in this I have to thank him, he is a strong man and we love him so much.❤
IGNAZIO = I love you too.❤
PIERO = It’s the truth……I always tell you!
GIAN = Me too, I’m here too. ❤
IGNAZIO = Sure! (he and Gian take hands) ❤(appaluse)
IGNAZIO = There was not a single moment that I thought not to do it (refers to Sanremo), because in any case all parents do anything for their children, sometimes it is not so, but we were lucky that our parents gave us everything and they give us everything, and so I thought that, for all the sacrifices that he (Vito) and my mother have made to get me to where I am today, I thought he would never let me (not to do Sanremo), and so I did it for him too. ❤😘
SILVIA = The fact is that you three are an Italian pride, you have truly brought bel canto, the classic song that you define as eternal, and I like this definition, in the world. And you have conquered the world, look at this gift for yourself here. (starts a collage of videos taken from all over the world)
SILVIA = Wow !!
PIERO = You are committed. (Applause)
GIAN = They (Channel 5) are also special in this, in the RVMs, in the montages.
SILVIA = We did a whole research.
IGNAZIO = But it’s nice to remember.
SILVIA = Japan, Brazil, Spain, Mexico ……..
GIAN = But this is the strength of bel canto, because in any case we are proud to be the only young people who bring this style of music, because it all started with the great Luciano Pavarotti, the three tenors, Andrea Bocelli, so we try to follow the their steps.
IGNAZIO = Do you want water? 😁
GIAN = Let’s say it’s not easy, humbly. Of course we need time and to maintain, the most difficult thing is to consolidate success, but we do our best. Then we have fun, we also do it because it makes us feel good.
SILVIA = Are you enjoying yourself, Ignazio?
IGNAZIO = A lot, and it shows too.
SILVIA = You speak very well English, practically all languages are spoken by you.
PIERO = Yes, at the age of 14 we moved to the United States, because we signed this contract with the American record company and we didn’t speak English, I had 5 ( as a rating-insufficient), in English at school.
IGNAZIO = We went to school.
GIAN = Do you know where? In the University of Los Angeles. We lived the first years for 4-5 months ….
IGNAZIO = Beautiful, they (Piero and Gian) did their homework and I never … I was really distracted …
PIERO = Because in America, you can’t go as a guest if you don’t speak English.
SILVIA = Ah, see!
PIERO = So for 5 months we learned English quickly, then Spanish, Portuguese ….
GIAN = Ignazio speaks Portuguese very well …😉
IGNAZIO = Very well no, I chew it a little.😁
PIERO = He chews it very well 😁… (He refers to Ignazio’s girlfriend)
SILVIA = You chew it very well, right? Lately then !!😁😁
IGNAZIO = Yes Morricone is an album to which we are very attached.😁 (He tries to change the subject)
PIERO = And there is also a piece in Portuguese.
SILVIA = In Portuguese. But you also got to meet Maestro Morricone, what do you remember?
GIAN = Look, there is an anecdote that I always like to tell, because it all started when we were little, but since we were children we had the honor of having the support …. as you can see (behind them is the photo of Il Volo with Morricone) of the greatest master of the twentieth century.
IGNAZIO = A few pizzas ago, that photo there.😁
GIAN = You for sure. 😉 During the recordings of the disc, we were 15-16 years old, Maestro Morricone was in studio A of the Forum Village and we in studio B. Every now and then he would pass by to say hello and then this idea of performing together in Piazza del Popolo in Rome was born, in a song called E PIÙ TI PENSO, which is a medley of: Once upon a time in America and Malena.
During the rehearsals, there were 100 orchestra members, in a room in the studios in Rome, the three of us arrive, smurfs, clumsy, a little small, we arrive and there was the master who was conducting. During the rehearsals, he had to give me the attack, I don’t start, total panic, the violinist (Gian widen his eyes) at a certain point he stops, everyone stops and I tell the teacher: “Ah, but you give me the attack?”, So, I speak to the master, giving him the You. (In Italian, out of respect, you must speak in the third person and not in the second). Everyone bleaches (Silvia has her hands in her hair) and do you know how Maestro Morricone answers me ?: “Don’t worry guys, I’ll take care of it, you think about singing” (the phrase is said in the dialect of Rome) (applause)
SILVIA = Ah see, he was the most human of all.
PIERO = Morricone is immense, like his work ….
SILVIA = But you were a little in awe, because he perhaps put a little in awe.
PIERO = He was a man of few words, but he did a lot. He taught us what dedication, sacrifice is, nothing comes by chance. This repertoire requires a lot of discipline, we were lucky enough to contact Morricone’s family who gave us great support, immense confidence in this project ….
IGNAZIO = We thank them so much.
PIERO = …. and to whom we thank very much, especially his son Andrea Morricone who gave us the text of The Ecstasy of Gold and an unpublished piece ….
SILVIA = Wow
PIERO = ….. and then Morricone acted as a glue with others in the cinema, such as the maestro Vittorio Storaro, three Nobel prizes, that is, three Oscars, and we shot a video with Vittorio Storaro in the wonderful Frasassi Caves. So we started this Morricone project and a world opened up for us…..
SILVIA = The caves are beautiful scenery.
PIERO = The Frasassi Caves are incredible.
SILVIA = Congratulations indeed.
Ignazio, what do foreigners like about Il Volo? The song they like best.
PIERO = Varies from country to country in South America ….
IGNAZIO = In South America, IL MONDO, we made a Spanish version …
GIAN = Il Mondo of Jimmy Fontana (the singer who sang it first)
IGNAZIO = …. Il Mondo of Jimmi Fontana, for them (South America) is a novelty.
PIERO = “Gira el mundo gira” (He pronounced it in Spanish).
GIAN = The first version in Spanish was sung by us, they did not know it, especially the young people, while in Italy it is very well known.
SILVIA = So “Il Mondo”, not “O sole mio” …..
GIAN = But also Grande Amore ..
PIERO = Il Mondo and Grande Amore
GIAN = ….. in the Spanish version it was also very popular in Latin countries (Grande Amore)
PIERO = Let’s say that every tour we try to change the lineup …
SILVIA = According to the tastes of the country …
PIERO = In Japan, we only go with voice and orchestra, we don’t go with rhythm.
IGNAZIO = How much I like Japan, also because you are singing, you do the exhibition and you see a Japanese in the third row with his eyes closed, then you see another in the fifth row with his eyes closed, and you think they are bored, they are falling asleep. The performance ends, and they stand up and applaud.
SILVIA = See, they were listening.
GIAN = They are very calm.
PIERO = It’s nice to tell it now, but you imagine, on the first day of the concert, his (Ignazio’s) gaze meant “what’s going on?”
SILVIA = Were you scared? (appaluse)
IGNAZIO = Do you know how we entered the Japanese market? Because an Olympic skater, he won the gold medal with one of our songs, A STARRY NIGHT, and it was a great success and from there we entered Japan.
SILVIA = Think, but it’s incredible.
PIERO = And now let’s go back to Japan for a 15 concert tour.
SILVIA = And can you speak a little Japanese too? (Ignazio and Piero start singing a song for children in Japanese, very funny)☺
GIAN = It’s a little song. But all, do you remember it?
SILVIA = What do you mean, translate?
PIERO = If you are happy you know it clap your hands …. (it’s a famous little song also in Italian)
SILVIA = What a fool I am (because she didn’t recognize the little song)
GIAN = You have a wonderful dress.
SILVIA = Thank you!! And love ????
GIAN = It moves (remembering the title L’amore si muove)
IGNAZIO = Morricone …. (He tries to change the subject)
SILVIA = Love, love, then wait, obviously I did some investigations Ignazio.
IGNAZIO = Good
SILVIA = You were engaged Gianluca, the last time, two years ago.
GIAN = At that time yes, two years ago when we met, and then it ended, as happens sometimes.
SILVIA = It’s over. You didn’t have anyone, did you Piero? Or am I wrong? Oh well look there and then let’s talk, do not anticipate.
(Begins a very nice video of detective Silvia Bond 007 where she repeats the answers of the boys during the two previous interviews with Verissimo, on the question: Love. Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca regard laughing their words, over time, on the subject )
IGNAZIO = (He laughs) Ouch Ouch Ouch
SILVIA = Isn’t there to laugh Gianluca looking at your face, or is there to laugh?
IGNAZIO = There is a lot of crying. 😁
GIAN = No, there is to be happy.
SILVIA = Why are you single?
GIAN = Me? I’m not single, no, no, no.
IGNAZIO = He is engaged intermittently, you have to understand. 😁😁
GIAN = But what does it mean, over the years many things happen, over time things change.
SILVIA = Indeed.
GIAN = Yes, I am engaged today, yes yes.
IGNAZIO = He gets engaged on leasing, every two years …😁😁
GIAN = He makes fun of me, but I’m engaged and really in love, I can say it publicly, I’m happy, yes yes.
SILVIA = Since when?
GIAN = From some time.
PIERO = Since yesterday. 😁
GIAN = Also, she is called after my mother, you know?
SILVIA = Eleonora!
GIAN = Then you know.
SILVIA = No, I knew your mom’s name! No, I did not know about this news.
IGNAZIO = (Behind them there is a photo of Gian on horseback)
Look at that stallion, Gianluca (He says it in a double sense: stallion for the horse, but also for Gianluca).😊
SILVIA = Gianluca on the white horse ….. Ignazio, then !!!
IGNAZIO = Yes, Piero ??? (He passes the subject to Piero). ☺
SILVIA = So, first Piero, word of mouth to Piero.
PIERO = I want to say that love is a particular theme, regardless of everything.
SILVIA = It is a universal theme.
GIAN = Sorry, look (behind them is the photo of Piero), how can you resist a smile like that !! ☺
IGNAZIO = This is the photo she took 10 minutes before the wedding in Las Vegas !!! (what a joker) 😁
PIERO = It’s a particular theme, many are lucky enough to find a soul mate, I still don’t, but I know it’s out there somewhere.
GIAN = Well definitely, she is not inside the house.😁
IGNAZIO = There’s Silvia Bond, just in case!
PIERO = She is out there, but love is such a strong feeling that it must be protected.
SILVIA = But have you had a girlfriend recently, have you fallen in love in the last few years or has it never happened to you?
PIERO = It is a strong feeling, it must be protected.
SILVIA = We have to protect him,……….so he doesn’t want to tell, so I talk to you Ignazio.
IGNAZIO = Yes?
SILVIA = You are happy and radiant.
IGNAZIO = I am in a moment of my life where I feel great.
SILVIA = Piero is serious on this topic, he doses the words.
IGNAZIO = Yes, Piero is serious, but sometimes he asks himself too many questions, I always tell him. I think that love is very complicated, but sometimes love has to be lived, it has to be left to live, also because sometimes you don’t know what it can be.
PIERO = Okay, but you have met her, you have found your soul mate ….
IGNAZIO = I found her far away ….
GIAN = Piero on the one hand is right, it’s not that you have to be satisfied, because many confuse company, habit, affection, so …..
PIERO = There is one fundamental thing to say: feeling good and happiness are not the same thing. So, for now I’m fine and I’m happy with this.
GIAN = Look, paradoxically, if you are okay with yourself ……
IGNAZIO = …. however we were talking about my girlfriend …. (applause)I’m kidding!
SILVIA = Exactly sorry, 9000 km. they separate you from her.
IGNAZIO = During the pandemic I met a girl, a little far away, on the other side of the world. It was strange because we spent 8 months exchanging messages, hearing, video calling, then at the first opportunity I went to Brazil to meet her and from there it was nice, because we met slowly, we don’t know each other 100% but I can tell you that we are very much in love, and it’s nice to live things like this.
SILVIA = Wow, she’s beautiful !!
IGNAZIO = Yes, she is beautiful, but she is very beautiful inside, the boys (Piero and Gian) have known her and she is really a beautiful person.
SILVIA = How did the meeting go Piero, were you so serious when you met her?
PIERO = But I’m not serious. She is a beautiful girl, very good, I didn’t understand anything of what she told me, because I don’t speak Portuguese though …..
GIAN = But we trust Ignazio.😉
PIERO = We trust Ignazio.😉
GIAN = Tell me who you go with and I’ll tell you who you are (proverb).To be with Ignazio, you have to be a really good girl.
PIERO = The incredible thing about Ignazio is that maybe, the day before you call him and tell him: ”What are you doing?” “I’m at home I’m playing with the playstation.” The day after: ”Where are you?” “In Brazil!!” “Okay, are you coming back to go to Silvia’s?”
SILVIA = But would you like to become a dad one day? Since I’m on the subject now, would you like it someday? You are not yet 30 years old or have you already done so?
IGNAZIO = No, 27 last month.
PIERO = 28
SILVIA = Exactly.
IGNAZIO = Wait, 27 just a month ago.
SILVIA = 27 a month ago, then 28 (Piero) and 26 (Gian), so it’s still too early.
GIAN = We are approaching, more than 30 years, we are no longer 20 years old.
PIERO = It is clear that I see a future with a family, all three of us have very similar values, extremely similar realities, so I see a future, beautiful with children, it is clear. In my opinion that is the reason for living.
IGNAZIO = I’ve always liked the idea of being a young father, here, I met the person now, who knows in the next few years, you never know.
GIAN = Well I have to tell you …..
PIERO = If I were you I would wait for the next episode of Verissimo. (Because Gian at each episode had a different girlfriend).
Three times three different names … (laughter and applause)
GIAN = I can assure you that this time I will not change, in two years it will always be the same name, the same person.
SILVIA = It’s a promise !!
IGNAZIO = We renew the lease. 😁
GIAN = I can’t get close otherwise I would give you my hand (to confirm the promise)
SILVIA = Now we have to say goodbye. You Promise .
GIAN = I promise that in two years it will be the same person.
PIERO = I can’t wait to see this video again in two years, look (laughter and applause)
IGNAZIO = Can I say something? Not that those from before (Gian’s girls) weren’t good girls, because they were, but Eleonora is really a good girl and we are very happy that she is part of this family, because in the end we are part of a big family.
SILVIA = We all love her already.
GIAN = There is also a photo (with her) and you didn’t show it, you showed Ignazio’s photo and you didn’t show mine.
SILVIA = Would you like to show your girlfriend?
IGNAZIO = No,
GIAN = Next time.
IGNAZIO = I had the exclusive !! 😊
SILVIA = He gave me the exclusive (laughs, applause)
You are myths, we remember your latest film which is called IL VOLO SINGS MORRICONE.
PIERO = Album, we are not actors yet !! Yes, IL VOLO SINGS MORRICONE, we hope we have done a good job, that you like it.
SILVIA = Definitely.
PIERO = We are satisfied and honored to bring this tribute to Maestro Morricone, now we will start on tour, therefore a year full of commitments.
GIAN = And we hope to be the soundtrack of many people with this album. (applause)
SILVIA = Beautiful! Congratulations guys.
Really because you know how to move, you know how to laugh and you know how to make very deep reflections, you three are just beautiful for this, as well as singing divinely.
A hug to Il Volo, we say goodbye, thank you. Il Volo, congratulations.
When Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca are interviewed by Silvia, I always have the impression that they are extremely comfortable.
We understand that Silvia asks the questions very delicately and gets genuine answers from them. It is clear that Silvia admires them a lot, as artists but also as children of full values to be taken as an example, and her closing words show this very well.
I was moved by the memory of Vito, the admission of cross-affection for all their parents is wonderful. Yes, Ignazio, Vito will always be with you.
They also revealed their side about love, they got “naked” and we got confirmations too.
I laughed a lot translating the part in which Piero and Ignazio teased Gianluca about his emotional relationships.
We have heard news about the new tour and gladly reviewed clips from old tours.
We understood how important this project is in which they believe a lot.
It lasted half an hour, but it could easily last hours and we certainly wouldn’t be bored.
Let me say writing about the concert the last two weeks has really been exciting! But “Where do I go from here?” So many amazing things happened! I keep going over it in my mind. I guess it’s time to move on but first I want you to listen to what the press had to say about the concert!
The Reviews!
Andrea Spinelli from Quotidiano.net.
The idea of opening the concert with “The Ecstasy of Gold” directed by Andrea Morricone, while evoking Clint’s ice eyes …. turned out to be the most powerful opening of the gates of the Arena and brought it back to the center of the music.
Faces a little tense! Tense nerves, “our legs tremble, it is the highest and most important moment of our career” but in the voice of Piero Barone, Ignazio Boschetto and Gianluca Ginoble resounded all the determination of the event. A bit like in the “thrill” of “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly,” but without steaming Colts. Many emotions, which the American PBS network will bring back at some time to the audience overseas, to pave the way for the World Tour kicking off on March 18th from Radio City Music Hall. By then, the album, “Il Volo – a Tribute to Ennio Morricone,” scheduled for autumn, will also be in stores.
Another review from Quotidiano.net
In the Concert event “Il Volo- Tributo a Ennio Morricone” at the Arena the three young tenors made the heart of Italy vibrate with their first live on Rai 1…. Immediately the first standing ovation with “Nessun Dorma” from Turandot, but many others followed in a crescendo of emotions.
In the lineup there were many famous songs by maestro Morricone, or arranged by him, but also many classic songs of Italian and international popular music, from “Volare” to “My Way” to “Se Telefondo” to arrive at the successes that made Il Volo known all over the world.
The three also performed alone, each with their own vocal skills and peculiarities, from Gianluca’s pop with “Your Song,” to Piero’s lyrical skills with “No Puede Ser,” to the vocal power of Ignazio with “Listen.” Il Volo wanted to dedicate the concert to all those who did not make it in this year of pandemic, in particular Vito the father of Ignazio who recently passed away. For the audience, a surprise a single unreleased by the trio “I colori dell’amore,” written by Maestro Andrea Morricone.
“These have been difficult months. For a long time, we wanted to do a live broadcast but, we did not feel ready,” said the three. “Tonight, we realized a dream! I say never give up to kids and always chase your dreams.”
So that is the final word on the concert! It’s hard to move on but we must! But you never know, I may come back to it later.
The Comments!
I must say I received thousands of comments from the fan clubs around the world! The consensus was unanimous, “the most amazing event. The guys’ best concert ever!” I agree 100%!
Today, I want to respond to some comments, two, in particular, that come to me time and again.
Many of you have made comments or written to me and said I should write a book about the guys. I will but, not right now, I’m already writing a book and I can only work on one book at a time. But the idea of this brings me back to the guys’ book Un’avventura Straordinaria, La nostra storia, (An Extraordinary Adventure, our story).A great book! I know you’re going to say it’s in Italian and you don’t understand it. Many people have asked me why I don’t translate the book. Simple, it’s not my book to translate. If it were, I would certainly translate it because it is a book everyone should read. It’s not just about their extraordinary voices it’s also about their extraordinary lives. Their beginnings! Their great values! Their amazing families who made great sacrifices for them. This is not just their story it is the story of their families who had to change their lifestyles in order that their children could go around the world and bring joy to millions of people! Extraordinary yes but, not just their adventure, it’s also their family’s adventure!
And what an adventure it was! From their performance at Ti Lascio una Canzone, where they shared the stage with some of the greatest names in the Italian music industry to that moment when they sang together for the first time “O Sole Mio” and changed their lives forever!
From the Italian shores to the American stage these young men have revolutionized the music industry! They reached into the past and brought forward music that was long gone. Italian Classics! True Neapolitan classics! Amazing Arias! They presented to the American people an old but new way of listening to great music! They captured the hearts of all generation. Teenagers, parents, grandparents!
They came to America and found themselves performing with some of the greatest entertainers in the world! Entertainers who were in awe of these three teenage boys. Just amazing!
As many of you know, I wrote excerpts from the book. I took the original book which consisted mostly of dialogues and short stories between the guys and changed it to a narrative so you could truly appreciate their stories. (If you go to my Facebook page, you can read many of these stories.)
In the story, I acted as the narrator leading you from one story to another, always allowing the guys to tell the story in their own words. After a while, the guys took over (as characters usually do in a story) and carried me along on their journey. A very exciting journey!
What did I find out about the guys in this book?
I found out that Piero is an excellent storyteller. When he tells you a story, he includes every little detail so when the story is over you know everything there is to know about that story.
I found out that Ignazio is an excellent writer. (As is evident in his song writing!) He is the only one who wrote his story. Ignazio is very articulate. His words just flew off the pages. Because of this, his story was the easiest to edit.
As for Gianluca I was surprised to find out he was such a romantic. Everything that is important to him is a passion. He invests himself in what he loves and believes in: Family, Music, Country and Soccer!
I have read the book about 10 times. Going back and forth from Italian to English to be sure that the facts I had were correct. I have edited other books but this one was truly an exciting adventure for me because the characters meant something to me.
Let me give you some final thoughts I had about this book. This story truly was as the title suggested “an extraordinary adventure” about three young boys, child prodigies, who travelled the same path but started in different places: Naro, Bologna and Montepagano. I often think how it is possible that three amazing boys, with three extraordinary voices, that complement one another, wound up in the same place, at the same time, in history. My only answer is divine intervention. God had a plan and what a plan it was! He gave us three voices that would stay with us for a long time and certainly for me till the end of my days.
Another comment that caused a lot of back and forth, between the fans, within the column this week was something that I have dealt with in my stories but, it seems some of you have not read, are new to the group and don’t known about or just need some explanation for.
The question was “Why does Gianluca start every song?” He doesn’t, but in essence he does start most songs. One woman thought Gianluca sings first because he won Ti Lascio una Canzone. They all won Ti Lascio una Canzone! In order to say one won over another, they would have to have the same voices. Well, we know there are three different voices ~ a baritone, a tenor and a spinto tenor. Yes, they did come in first, second and third but, they all won because the end result was the biggest prize of all ~ becoming Il Volo.
Now for why Gianluca sings first, I need to go back to my story from April 6, 2020 “To Talk About Our Guys – IL Volo” which was the first article Flight Crew published by me. I have written about this on numerous occasions but, it needs to be said again especially for those new to the group. (You can read this full story “To Talk About Our Guys – IL Volo” on www.ilvoloflightcrw.com)
Like most of you, I spend a good deal of my day listening to these three amazing guys sing and, at one point, I said maybe I should do a review of what’s been going on in their lives for the last 10 years.
Let me start by saying these three young men are extraordinary! They are remarkable, exceptional, persons. And, they have revolutionized the music industry. Let’s take a look at each one.
The Voices
Gianluca is known as the Velvet Voice! I don’t who coined the phrase but, that is right on. Let’s use our senses to understand what that means. Take a piece of velvet and hold it in your hand. Now take your other hand and gently pass your hand across the velvet. What do you feel? You feel a smooth even surface that is crisp with no breaks in it. The sensation is so good that you automatically go back and do it again. And every time it’s the same. It’s pleasing!
Now take Gianluca’s voice, let the notes pass into your ears, what do you hear? A crisp, smooth, even voice with no breaks in it. The note barely passes into your ear and, you are going back for the next note. It’s always pleasing!
Gianluca is a lyrical baritone. He is exceptional because he can sing from the lowest to the highest note in the baritone range. Most baritones are limited in range. Gianluca’s voice is huge. He has a very rich chest resonance which creates a feeling of depth and drama in his voice.
A baritone voice is very romantic, very pleasing to listen to and is always inviting. Most songs are written for baritones. Gianluca starts, almost, every song. Why? In order for a song to be received well you must draw your audience into it. Gianluca’s voice draws you in in a romantic way and you hang on to every note. He can mesmerize you with a song but, when he sings, ”She’s Always a Woman”, he takes your breath away. The highs, the lows, the emotion, the expression. His voice expands like nothing I ever heard before. He has total command of the song. You walk away with your senses lifted to another level.
Let’s talk about Ignazio, who I call the bridge. He is a lyrical tenor. He, like Gianluca, is exceptional because he can sing from the lowest to the highest note in the tenor range. And God knows he can, easily, hit that high C. Waiting for it and knowing it’s going to happen is so exciting!
A lyrical tenor has a warm graceful voice which is bright and strong but not heavy and it can be heard over an orchestra. Ignazio’s voice is smooth, clean and clear, with an acute extension. His voice has the ability to increase the baritone voice of Gianluca while softening the spinto tenor voice of Piero.
In the aria “Una Furtiva Lagrima” from L’elisir D’amore, Ignazio grabs you and draws you into the song. He makes you feel the innocence of Nemorino’s love for Adina. In his dedication to Pino Daniele, you hear an interpretation that is emotional and a delivery that is so amazing that you get the sense that Daniele wrote his songs for Ignazio.
And finally, Piero.Piero is a spinto (meaning pushed) tenor. A spinto tenor has the brightness and height of a lyric tenor, but with a heavier vocal weight enabling the voice to be “pushed” to dramatic climaxes with less strain than his lighter-voice counterparts. His voice is warm, graceful, bright, and can be heard over an orchestra. Piero has a powerful voice that easily reaches the higher notes. Every note that comes out of his mouth reaches us with such intensity and remains with us for a long time. It’s the voice that reaches out to you and demands your attention. Think of him singing the beautiful aria, “E lucevan le stelle” from Puccini’s, Tosca. From the first note Piero pierces your soul! His passion comes through in his music. Arias are very dramatic and Piero brings all the drama of the aria into his performance. Always a showstopper!
Now let’s put the voices together.
Gianluca starts most songs because he is a baritone and most songs are written for baritones. As I mentioned he draws you into the song. Gianluca will sing (in most cases) to Ignazio and Ignazio to Piero. This is how the three voices become one. Select one of their songs. Now close your eyes and listen to them sing. What can you say about this song? You can say, that is Gianluca or Ignazio or Piero singing. In the progression of the song, you hear the voices blend to form a symphony for your ears. Their voices are very distinct.
I use the word symphony for their voices because they are like a symphony orchestra. They blend. So, think about an orchestra. You have violins, flutes, cellos, piano, any number of instruments. But what makes it an orchestra in particular a symphony orchestra? It’s how it all comes together. If you just had violins or flutes or any one instrument regardless of how many there are, they wouldn’t work alone. They need to come together for the orchestra to perform the symphony.
They are a symphony because their voices blend together just as the instruments in an orchestra blend together to form a symphony!
Most groups sing and you hear just a song but with Il Volo you are surrounded by voices. And the individuality of their voices entices you and it stays with you.
Think of what Piero says when he introduces one of the solos, “After we were together a while, we realized we had three different voices.” He wasn’t saying that they suddenly found out they had different voices, he was saying we are three voices and one soul but we need to show you those voices individually.
Add to this what Ignazio had to say about recording a song, “….a take is the recording of the single phrase that each of us sings when we record a song. We continue to redo it until we get the best version.”
So, in fact, those takes are specifically for each voice ~ Baritone, Tenor, Spinto Tenor.
And so, we come full circle with the voices, how they are put together and how they are recorded.
We leave you with thoughts of the Reviews, the Comments, theAMAZING Voices!
In closing, I would like to wish Piero a very Happy Birthday!
Join me next week as I go back Through the Fields of My Mind and open the door to a new adventure!
Here we are at the final part of the concert. There will be some things that you may not have seen, because they do not exist in the RAI video.
After the electrifying experience of VOLARE, while I am still flying on the clouds …. the actress Laura Chiatti returns to the stage who says that as a muse, she has to make a request to them, she wants to hear the beautiful UNAMORE COSÌ GRANDE. How could we blame her, it is a beautiful song that Ignazio, Piero and Gianluca sing excellently, so we are very happy to listen to it.
I admit that the choreography behind our boys, although beautiful, is a little deviant, also because it has nothing to do with the song, but the voices of our boys are truly formidable.
The boys continue, apologizing to the Arena audience for their backs, because they speak directly to the people at home and confirm that they have always admired the American genre and then introduce the beautiful MY WAY.
I must say that I have always considered the top performance of this song, the one made by Gianluca and Piero, but I admit that tonight, in trio, they gave their all, everyone interpreted and all together were simply stellar!!!
Such an intimate moment, the three of them sitting on stools and for us audience the possibility of being able to admire them in all their beauty, as well as hearing these magnificent voices.
Ignazio continues with renewing his thanks to the Morricone family and in particular to the maestro Andrea Morricone who directed them in some pieces.
Piero announces that Maestro Andrea has written a piece for Il Volo, an unpublished one: I COLORI DELL’AMORE(The Colors of Love).
It was a wonderful surprise, an unprecedented one. Beautiful music and beautiful words, it is a song very suitable for Il VOLO, which performs it with a lot of feeling. I hope to hear it often in concert. Here are the beautiful words:
Strade buie e vuote un solco dentro me Passa il tempo con la mente senza un se Le mie foglie cadono sopra di te Sono bruciature dentro l’anima Notti insonni senza fiato a scrivere Un suono in lontananza serve a vivere Vetri appesi alla speranza di chi c’è Sguardi trasparenti e pieni di perché
Ritornerai accanto a me Ti spoglierai dentro di me E rivivrai il tempo di una realtà con me
Sono i colori dell’amore di passione e libertà in mano un fiore e poi due attimi di noi immagini di un film istanti senza età Semino parole irraggiungibili Occhi già bagnati senza brividi Due gocce di sudore cancellabili Un urlo si dirada siamo liberi
Abbraccerai la luce che si accenderà dentro di me Sono i colori dell’amore di passione e verità in mano un fiore e poi ci siamo solo noi viviamo dentro a un film E il tempo svanirà
E il tempo svanirà…
Dark and empty streets a furrow inside me Spend time with the mind without an “if” My leaves fall on you They are burns inside the soul Sleepless nights out of breath to write A distant sound serves to live Glasses hung on the hope of whoever is there Transparent gazes full of whys You will return next to me You will undress inside me And you will live again the time of a reality with me
They are the colors of love of passion and freedom in hand a flower and then two moments of us pictures of a movie ageless moments I sow unattainable words Eyes already wet without shivering Two erasable drops of sweat A scream disappears we are free You will hug the light that it will light up inside me They are the colors of love of passion and truth in hand a flower and then there is only us we live in a movie And time will fade And time will fade …
Great applause and the boys once again thank Maestro Morricone, the orchestra Filarmonia Veneta and also Maestro Rota who has alternated with Maestro Morricone.
There is a nice standing ovation for everyone. They were all flawless.
Ignazio says that we are at the last passage. Oh NO !! It was all so beautiful and so fast that I didn’t even notice the passage of time.
The notes of LIBIAM NE LIETI CALICI begin, we end up in joy with a very festive lyrical air, taken from LA TRAVIATA.
People immediately start clapping their hands to the rhythm. There is a beautiful atmosphere of joy.
In the background scenography the interior of a theater is projected, beautiful, it seems to be in the balconies of an important theater, even the choir takes a position.
Ignazio’s ringing voice begins joyfully, Gianluca and Piero immediately follow and then the choir. How wonderful, an apotheosis for what we hear and for what we see, we all clap our hands in time, with Ignatius directing us from the stage.
All standing for a beautiful and well-deserved standing ovation.
The notes of THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY begin and Ignazio shouts “Grazie mille Verona !!!”,the boys thank the people, they are visibly happy.
In the RAI video, the closing credits start.
Ignazio says it was a wonderful evening, “After a year and a half you gave us oxygen, thank you very much for being with us.”
Thanks to all participants, Torpedine, Barbara Vitali and Eliana Biondi (staff) and the families of the guys.
Ignazio warns us to stay connected, because there will be a goodnight greeting (after the midnight newscast). Luckily, so there is still something !!
Last verse is sung of THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY, and the concert is all over.
Gianluca says: “See you soon for a surprise.”
Ignazio brings his right hand to his heart, Piero greets everyone with his arms raised.
Standing ovation!
The boys go backstage, amid the applause of the people, but only the time to have a drink and perhaps wipe their foreheads, and here they are again on stage, accompanied by Marco Giallini.
As the short midnight news is being broadcast on RAI1, they are back on stage to keep us company, so that we don’t get bored waiting for them ….. what sweets !!!😘😘😘
The boys thank Giallini for his support. You must know that in Italy, it is known that Giallini is a lover of hard rock, therefore, a completely different genre from that of our boys. Giallini takes the opportunity to greet and give his esteem to the drummer Bruno Farinelli who is always on tour with our boys, remember, I did an article about him.
Then to pass the time, Ignazio says he can tell a joke and the others agree, as long as it makes people laugh.
Ignazio says: “Do you know what lipless cows do ???”
“UUUUUUUU”
….. Gianluca: “But it didn’t make anyone laugh !!!!”
These guys are really too strong and nice !!!😁😁😁😁😁😁
The RAI operators communicate that it is resuming live and so the boys resume thanking Giallini, who was an important presence for them, because Ignazio says it is their first live broadcast and he has given them great confidence. Giallini thanks and tells them to sing the last song to say goodnight to everyone. Giallini greets and goes out. If you watch the RAI video, you will see that at this point Piero makes a sign with a hand, behind Ignazio and Gianluca, to someone behind the scenes, as if to say “wait”.
Piero takes the floor to announce an absolutely moving and certainly not agreed moment. These are his exact words.
“We want to say something important for the three of us. This concert was dedicated to Vito, who we miss so much and is watching us from up there.”
Gianluca hugs Ignazio who closes his eyes. People applaud, Ignazio thanks with joined hands. Piero bit his lip, moved and Gianluca too has tears in his eyes. The three friends hug each other.
The applause and the standing ovation continue.
The fraternal affection that binds Gianluca, Ignazio and Piero is evident and in these moments it is very strong. It is a very, very moving and unique moment.❤❤❤
CONRADIANAbegins, a beautiful song set to music by Morricone and the words are by Andrea Bocelli.
I admit that I had never heard this song before, but I must tell you that it is wonderful and the words, beautiful.
Notice Ignazio, in the beginning, his face is absorbed.
The music of the violins is poignant and the choir raises the voices, wonderfully the voices of Gianluca, Ignazio and Piero, united in the last verse.
Long applause, still standing ovation, the three boys embraced, thanked and greeted and started backstage.
The RAI live broadcast ends, but it’s not all over, not yet !!
People continue to applaud and start saying BIS BIS (which means you want to hear a song again) and shortly after, the boys come back, the RAI connection is over, so they feel free from the impositions of the live broadcast.
They start singing the whole song of THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY. Ignazio has already got rid of his jacket, immediately also Gianluca and then in the end also Piero.
Without any inhibitions, all three run to embrace the maestro Rota, a truly genuine gesture. (Which artist would do it this way?)
They are visibly satisfied and as the last notes are over, Ignazio stretches out his arms to look for his friends-brothers in a final contact.
A tender hug between Gianluca and Ignazio while Piero greets everyone.
It’s over.
The boys say goodbye to everyone and quickly run backstage, now it’s all over.
The people who during this last song, had gathered near the stage all standing, greet and thank by applauding.
Slowly we reach the exit, greeting all the friends we see to the right and left.
It was a wonderful evening. The concert was perfect and Piero, Gianluca and Ignazio sublime.
The boys did not spare their strength, always remaining present, all three, from start to finish.
It was the reopening concert, the one that had to give the message that everything is back to normal, the first concert at the Arena after a year and a half of silence.
But it was also the concert of memory, of all those who are no longer there, primarily Vito.
And finally it was also the evident renewal of the affection that binds Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca, a deep affection of true friendship, of brother friends.
Now our thoughts are when will the next concert be?Fingers crossed!!! It will be soon!!!
Get used to it, I’m going to use the word phenomenala lot in this article.
Let me say, I can write at least five pages just on the opening of the concert. If I wrote what I felt, saw, experienced in this concert, I would have to write a book!
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! Thetheme 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! Andrea Morricone 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 have 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!
In each set the scenery and the music all come together to form a symphony of color!
Now let’s listen to some very romantic songs! Even songs not geared towards romance are romantic when they are sung by our guys. Notes flowing through the air. Very ethereal, very light, very eerie, very romantic! Just so beautiful! Phenomenal!
“Your Love” is a very beautiful love song. This is a song we are emotionally attached to. It will always be a part of our lives. If you saw the guys’ performance at Sanremo 2021, you know what I mean! In Sanremo the guys, especially Ignazio, were in shock. They were experiencing something they never experienced before. The loss of one of their own! Yet, they delivered this song with such dignity and emotion that it will always be a special moment in our lives. We will long remember it. In this tribute they reminded us of Sanremo but in a bittersweet way. It is an emotional feeling that is a mixture of happiness for where we are and sadness for where we came from. This will become a signature song. The guys will come back to it and we will expect them to.
The song we will always love!
“Se Telefonando!” Both Laura Chiatti and Ignazio said: ”From three notes one of the most beautiful songs of our century was born.” And I couldn’t agree with them more. What a magnificent song! Just Phenomenal!
The three notes are from the sound of a police car siren and when they are played, they are immediately recognized. This seems to be a signature with Ennio Morricone. Think of “The Ecstasy of Gold” and “Cinema Paradiso!” These are songs that are recognized with one or two notes of the song. The guys put such love and emotion into “Se Telefonando.” I think they fell in love with it! I know I did. This will be the song that I take away from this concert that will always lead me back to the concert and the history that was made that night. The song is about love being born fast and being lost before it has a chance to begin.
And how do the fans feel about this song? Everyone, everywhere on Instagram and Facebook posted this song and commented about the beauty of it.
Now let’s talk about “Cinema Paradiso.”
Again, from the first note, we recognize this song! It takes us back to a time, just after World War II, when cinema was beginning to make its impact in Italy! How the guys present this song, accompanied by the strings of a romantic guitar is why this song pierces our hearts and impacts us in this amazing way.
They present love in a different light. This song tells of a first love for Totò. His love for a local Sicilian girl. But it also speaks of his love for film. Totò takes over Alfredo’s job as projectionist. Alfredo knows how much Totò loves film and he convinces him to leave his small town and follow his dream to become a filmmaker.
This song sings of two loves. A romantic first love and a love of film. It is a very romantic love song! Listen to some of the words, they could just as easily apply to love of a woman as to love of film.
“If you were in my soul one day you would know what I feel in me that I’m enamored over those instants together with you and what I feel is solely love!”
Beautiful song, delivered, in aPhenomenalway!
And then there was “I Colori dell’amore” a beautiful unreleased piece. A special gift from the Morricone family.
Piero said: “To the whole orchestra and to the organization, really fantastic! Thank you very much, thank you very much teacher! The teacher wrote the song for us. We present it to you this evening and we hope you like it ~ “I Colori dell’amore.”
These are just a few words from the song.
You will come back next to me You will undress inside me And you will relive the time of a reality with me They are the colors of love of passion and freedom in hand a flower and then two moments of us pictures from a movie ageless moments
The guys bring light and beauty to this song. Very romantic voices singing a very romantic song! Very sensitive! Very Phenomenal!
Let’s move on!
As you know the guys make decisions about where and how a song is presented. Their decision to do “Here’s to You,” in the audience had a lot of significance. We are used to having the guys in and out of the audience, interacting with the fans but, this was not possible at this concert. But the guys made sure the audience would feel their presence, so they chose a very sincere, very personal song to share their time with the fans.
To explain this, let me start by presenting the meaning of the song. From Marco Gallini’s explanation and from my story last week you know Sacco and Vanzietti were executed for a crime that many believed they did not commit. But what you don’t know is why they were accused of this crime. To understand this, we have to go back to America at the turn of the 20th century. Each group of immigrants that came to America experienced prejudice by the former immigrants. Therefore, the Irish were prejudiced against the Italians and the Germans against Irish before them and so on back to the beginning of immigration.
After a few hours deliberation, the jury convicted Sacco and Vanzetti of first-degree murder. Anti-Italianism, anti-immigrant, and anti-Anarchist bias were suspected as having heavily influenced the verdict.
Back to the guys and where all this fits into their story.
By performing this song in the audience, the guys were first and foremost toasting Nicola and Bart but more so, they were three links which represented the people who stood in defense of Nicola and Bart. They told them they would not be forgotten and the crowd, the audience, stood with them.
Now the irony of it all!
This song was composed by an Italian composer for an American movie and, it was written in the English language.
The song was sung, in English, by three phenomenalItalian men who came to America and immediately became a success. The American people embraced them and called them their own. We feel they are a part of us and a part of our culture. You have to see the irony in this!
Now let’s turn to the showstoppers! The solos!
First up, Gianluca!
Gianluca remarks: “It’s hard to be alone after twelve years together on stage. I guess like all of us in times of difficulty, in moments of happiness, I take refuge in music. This is something I’ve done since I was little. I had headphones, I walked, I also went to the park to listen to music. Even at school I was distracted. In short it was my biggest distraction. Let’s say the music I feel this evening is a celebration of a great genius of music Maestro Ennio Morricone. But I want to talk about other geniuses who changed my life. Artist like Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra but also the great Elton John. Tonight, I will sing for you one of the most beautiful songs written in fifty-one years and I want to dedicate it to my mother.”
Elton Johns’ lyrics to “Your Song” express the romantic thoughts of an innocent person. Gianluca brings the song to another dimension. He is very romantic and everything he sings turns into a love song. His warm beautiful voice expresses the thoughts behind Elton Johns’ words. Here are just a few words to the song.
And you can tell everybody this is your song It may be quite simple, but now that it’s done I hope you don’t mind, I hope you don’t mind That I put down in words How wonderful life is while you’re in the world
These beautiful words certainly express his feelings for his mother, Eleonora, who has been at his side throughout his career.
His beautiful rendition of this song would make Elton John praise his performance. Gianluca got a well-deserved standing ovation! Just phenomenal!
Next up Piero!
Piero said: “I always had a great desire to be accompanied by a great musician, a great flautist. I’ve always watched his videos while playing alongside Maestro Pavarotti, Sting and many other artists. This evening, he did me the great honor of accepting my invitation. The Master Andrea Grimmenelli.”
What can I say about Piero singing “No Puede Ser?” It’s my favorite aria that he sings. He takes my breath away. No one, and I have heard many tenors sing “No Puede Ser,” no one sings it like Piero.
These are just a few words of the aria, in English. They really express the meaning of the song. Piero makes you feel his love for this woman.
It cannot be so! This woman is good. She cannot be a wicked woman! In her look, like a strange light, I’ve seen that this woman is unhappy. She cannot be a cheap siren who poisoned every moment of my life. It cannot be so! Because I’ve seen her pray, because I’ve seen her love, because I’ve seen her cry!
Always a showstopper, always a highlight, a splendid moment in the concert. Please never stop singing it. APhenomenalperformance!
And last but, not least Ignazio!
Ignazio said: “I want to say that tonight is extremely exciting and, we all know in this year that we have experienced shortcomings. Especially shortcomings!
Many had great losses but many who had great satisfaction economically modify this concert. To all the people who have not made it through the whole year, our thoughts go up there to them.
I feel a little alone, but I will not be alone. I have a big but small surprise that is great because it is a crazy talent. It is really a great talent. Gentlemen and ladies, ladies and gentlemen my comparative accompaniment in this my performance – Julian.”
Ignazio sings Beyonce’s beautiful song “Listen.” It’s a song that expresses how many people are feeling. These are just a few words to the song.
Listen. I am alone at a crossroads I’m not at home in my own home And I’ve tried and tried To say what’s on my mind You should have known, oh Now I’m done believin’ you You don’t know what I’m feelin’ I’m more than what You’ve made of me I followed the voice you gave to me But now I’ve gotta find my own!
Yes, it’s time to find our own voices. Ignazio knocks it out of the box with this song. His voice goes to unreal heights. Not only does he express how we are all feeling but he gives us a beautiful version of the song that fills our souls with emotion. And, little Julian adds to the moment with his Phenomenal saxophone accompaniment. As I said before, guys, Julian is all of you at 8 years old. Now you know how people felt when they experienced your voices at such a young age!
Ignazio we always Listen to you and, we wish we could feel what you feel in your heart! You and Julian made a Phenomenal team!
What an ending!
And so, we come to the end of the concert and Piero’s closing words!
“I need to say an important thing. This concert was dedicated to Vito who we really miss and is watching us from up there.”
The dedication of “Conradiana” to Vito, Ignazio’s dad is very touching, very emotional and it certainly touched the heart of Ignazio and his brothers Piero and Gianluca, and I know it also touched our hearts. Their eyes said more than words. And the beautiful exchange when Ignazio looked into the audience at his mother, Caterina and his sister, Nina. His eyes said it all!
These are some of the words to this beautiful song.
Beyond the horizon a sea of oblivion You wander among the waves you get lost in the scroll Heart of darkness life is gone away Rock the ocean with a sad joy. Spaces beyond the sea search for a way Clear open sails among clouds of mist Heart of darkness life is gone away Rock the ocean with a sad joy.
A very touching ending to a spectacular concert! Just Phenomenal!
I usually end here but, this week I can’t. As I said in the beginning, I could write a book about this concert! The feeling I got when I watched this concert, was indescribable! Thank you, guys for these magic moments!
Join me next week as I go back Through the Fields of My Mind and open the door to a new adventure!
After giving you a quick overview of the whole concert in the Arena on June 5th, here I am back to you, to tell you every moment.
Jo Ann has already translated the “chat” of the boys and Susan has already given you other explanations.
I will recall to you the smallest details of my beautiful evening and I will linger for a long time, because I do not want you to lose even a moment of this fantastic concert.
I start by telling you that Saturday started with the best wishes, a beautiful day, the sky of an intense blue, and so much emotion for the concert that I would see in the evening. A perfect start.
I have already told you other times that Verona is very close to Brescia where I live (only 50 miles), so my husband and I would have gone in the early afternoon and returned after the concert.
Here in Italy there is a curfew at 11pm (from 16 June it will be abolished), but the government had given special permission only to those who were in the Arena for the concert, to return to their homes by 02:00 am.
Right after lunch, I tried to rest, knowing that the evening was long and certainly exciting. But the sky turned gray, the sun was gone, and a little later it started drizzling. An annoying drizzle, but light and really boring. Damn, I hoped it wouldn’t rain in Verona, I was thinking about the guys, after so much work and such a long stop, this inconvenience was not welcome.
The light rain, which almost did not wet the earth, came and went. Every now and then a few drops and then nothing, just to make everyone nervous.
Ready for the evening, and with the best expectations, my husband and I left for Verona.
Arriving, without any problems, we park the car quickly and head towards the Arena.
It goes without saying that Verona always has a magnificent charm. It is a beautiful town that preserves the flavor of the ancient.
Among the old alleys of beautiful Verona, we can all still think of Romeo running to go to his Juliet. The great entrance gate with the scalloped walls, which still continue through the city, and which once closed the whole city, are magnificent.
After the city gate the huge Piazza Bra, with the beautiful buildings that surround it and in the center, the ARENA is imposing and memorable.
The first thing I have to do is contact my friends who are waiting for me to be able to greet me, some of them who have really come from far away, from the US.
The first one we meet, right in front of the Arena, is Laura with her husband Ugo, they are Italians, from Trieste, but Laura met me through Flight Crew, they are our readers and it is really special that we met like this.
Soon after I go in search of my American friends.
Here they are, beautiful and happy, together at the coffee table, looking forward to the evening, Deborah, Wendy and Joanie, whom I already knew personally and Judith, whom I had never met.
Only a few words of greeting, unfortunately, because Nonna Maura is waiting for me in front of her hotel, but what a pleasure to see my sweet friends who have faced such a long journey to be here.
Yes, because Il Volo is also this, the pleasure of meeting each other, of making friends from one end of the world to the other.
So let’s go to Nonna Maura’s hotel, I remind you that she is 90 years old and arrived in the morning by train from Rome. Fantastic Maura, she would not miss a concert of Il Volo and her beloved Gianluca for anything in the world.
Also Maura and I met thanks to Flight Crew, isn’t that great?
The weather continues to give us a few drops of rain, so my husband goes back to our car to get some rain dusters, in case they were needed and then we approach the Arena, the entrance time has already started and the adrenaline starts to rise.
The controls to enter the Arena are meticulous. There are different entrances depending on the places awarded. They check us for fever, documents and related tickets, and if we have the FFP2 mask (only that is allowed) then they see the camera that my husband is holding and tell him to take it in the car, because otherwise they won’t let him in. So my husband goes back to the parking lot to deposit his camera. When he comes back, we can finally enter the Arena.
We reach our seats, we are in the central row, right in front of the stage, row 11, excellent position. Between one occupied seat and another, due to Covid rules, an empty seat is expected.
The orchestra pit (the space between the stage and the first row, where the orchestra is usually placed) is empty, but in the center a round stage is positioned, as if it were a protruding extension, of the current stage, on it already in placed, 3 microphones with the auction, it is clear that often the guys will sing from there, and it is right in front of my position.
On the rear stage, the whole orchestra is positioned. A huge backdrop that continuously changes color and position with two large lateral pillar columns and two large lateral videos, completes the scene. The whole at the top is covered by a roof in which hundreds of lights are placed. If it rains, at least the guys will be protected.
Everything has a really great impact.
A voice on the speakers often reminds us that we must keep the masks well worn and that we cannot leave our seats to greet other friends.
While we wait, I look for the various scattered friends and raise our arms, we greet each other in the distance, and then, we wait patiently for the scheduled time to arrive.
Fortunately it does not rain and it will not rain all evening. There is a good temperature, everything seems to be going well.
At a certain point the boys enter the stage, normally dressed in jeans and a jacket. We are amazed, but they greet us smiling and tell us that they are waiting for the connection with the evening news. Meanwhile, they smile, they tell us they are excited, we take advantage of them to take pictures of them.
The boys look at the audience and recognize their American friends, greet them and say “you came up here for us”, they are happy with this and then on the other side, Alicja from Poland and they say “Ah, also from Poland”.😁
Here is what appeared during the television broadcast.
The guys say they are happy and honored to be doing this concert, so they say hello and invite people home to watch the evening.
After the connection with the TG1 news, the boys greet us and go to change their clothes and get ready. A voice tells us that we have to wait for television time, because this concert is live.
Meanwhile, I see Nonna Maura in the front row, lucky her, she is right in front, I’m really happy for her. Ercole and Eleonora arrive, Gianluca’s parents go in front of the front rows and Eleonora stops to greet Maura.
I also see Michele Torpedine in front of the stage.
Ernie also passes in front of me and also Gaetano Barone, whom I then see, joins his wife already in the front row.
Shortly before the concert begins, Caterina and Nina Boschetto also arrive. Nina is now leaner and prettier with longer hair than usual.
People continue to enter and the Arena is filling up with the 6,000 admitted people.
It begins to get dark, the lights of the stage come on, every now and then you can hear the voices of Piero and Ignazio who from behind the stage make the warble (warmup) for the voice: iiiiii eeee aaaa ……
In silence, the 70 members of the orchestra take their place on the stage and in the orchestra pit (i.e. in front of the stage) the choir takes place, making two wings on either side of the central round stage.
Here we are, everything is starting, what emotion!
The preview is projected on the screens, where Piero Ignazio and Gianluca, in the back of the Arena backstage, meet the actor Marco Giallini and talk about Ignazio’s shoes, nice skit, the boys say they are excited.
And here they are, the lights create the atmosphere, three silhouettes can be seen at the end of the scene, it’s them !!! 😍
The boys advance and the music begins, the applause that welcomes them is a little hesitant, I think we are all a little inhibited due to the Covid restrictions and also the live television. But Gianluca, in a strong and confident voice, begins to sing.
His voice is beautiful and Ignazio and Piero follow, and everything becomes magic. Chills on the skin, the beautiful music of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, fills every corner of the Arena and the voices of our boys, rested after the long period of inactivity, are stronger and safer than ever.
The scenography is beautiful, while the boys sing, on the screens and on part of the scenography, the images of the film scroll, the lights constantly change colors. The voices of the choir rise high.
Piero Ignazio and Gianluca are very elegant in their beautiful midnight blue D&G tuxedos with lapel pins, a beautiful elegance that is increasingly rare in today’s young artists.
The boys are also visibly excited.
The song is beautiful, at the end there is a big round of applause.
Ignazio is the first to speak, these are his exact words.
“Good evening!!
You really can’t understand how happy we are to return after a year and a half of silence, to wait for this very day to arrive. Surely all the guests of honor are all of you tonight. Thank you so much for coming, thank you very much.” (applause)
The emotion of the boys is evident, Gianluca admits that their legs are shaking. Piero thanks the Morricone family. And we proceed immediately with the second song “YOUR LOVE”.
This song, for all of us, is full of profound meaning, given the moment it was sung in Sanremo. It is really moving to see Ignatius who, from the beginning of the song, caresses with his fingers the ring he wears in his right hand, a wedding ring, which we think belonged to his beloved father. Even his eyes often close, as if to make eye contact with the one who is no longer there.❤
It is a very intimate and touching moment, as well as the beautiful music and the words, which seem to be written on purpose:
“….. Your strength has made me strong, though life tore us apart and now when the night seems long, your love shines in my heart …..”
(video made by Deborah Georgini Beaupre)
And then, immediately below here is a tribute from Notte Magica, Ignazio asks the audience who was there that evening, of course I raised my hand !! Piero remembers the beautiful evening in Florence in Piazza Santa Croce, remembers the master Placido Domingo who directed them and begins “NESSUN DORMA”.
At the end of the “Nessun Dorma” there was a long applause and the first beautiful standing ovation .
The standing ovation excites the boys a lot, they hug, they thank and Piero says: “So, you make us excited, they have a lot of effect, these applauses, after a year and a half.”
Enter the actress Laura Chiatti and, with the boys there is a nice “curtain” (nicedialogue) that Jo Ann has translated well.
Laura introduces a short video, an interview with Morricone, where the presenter tells that Morricone that he has a very intense relationship with “doing” (in the sense that he works very hard) and Morricone replies that “doing” (in Italian FARE), is not just a verb, but is the union of two musical notes: the FA (F) and the RE (D).
Ignazio presents the song “SE TELEFONANDO”, which, as Susan has well described, was written by Maurizio Costanzo, set to music by Morricone and sung by Mina many years ago. Beautiful and timeless song.
Ignazio explains that Morricone thought of this music, while he was in the post, queuing to pay a gas bill, and then he concludes by saying that he (Ignazio) only goes to the post office to pay the fines. 😁
Upon returning, the exchange of words on Ignazio is beautiful: he is always a disaster, but also he has an incredible voice, then Piero introduces “IL MONDO”.
While Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca sing Riccardo Cocciante enters and they sing together, but what about, Cocciante performs a verse of the song, but when he finishes the verse, Ignazio begins and for me, Ignazio’s voice is truly unique and powerful.
Cocciante met Morricone personally, but he doesn’t want to remember any anecdotes, because he says that the greatness of an artist is in his works. Then he plays a beautiful song of his.
Marco Giallini enters, he says is very impressive to be in front of the audience of the Verona Arena. Together they introduce “SE”, the song taken from the film Cinema Paradiso. A scene from the film starts with little Totò Cascio. The melody is written by Andrea Morricone, (the son who is conductor).
At the end of the short clip, Totò Cascio enters, now an adult. Totò says that during the shooting of the film, Philippe Noiret acted in French, while Totò in Sicilian and Italian and between them a good feeling had been created and he remembers it with affection. Then Totò also remembers the director Giuseppe Tornatore, whom he calls Peppuccio (Giuseppe in Sicilian) and whom he considers as an older brother.
Here are the lyrics of the song SE.
Se tu fossi nei miei occhi per un giorno, vedresti la bellezza che, piena d’allegria, io trovo dentro gli occhi tuoi, non so se è magia, o realtà. Se tu fossi nel mio cuore per un giorno, potresti avere un’idea, di ciò che sento io, quando mi abbracci forte a te, e petto a petto noi, respiriamo insieme. Protagonista del tuo amor non so se sia magia o realtà. Se tu fossi nella mia anima un giorno, sapresti cosa sento in me, che m’innamorai, da quell’istante insieme a te, e ciò che provo è solamente amore. Da quell’istante insieme a te, e ciò che provo è solamente amore.
Translation:
If you were in my eyes for a day, you would see the beauty that, full of joy, I find inside your eyes, I don’t know if it’s magic or reality. If you were in my heart for a day, you might have an idea, of what I feel, when you hug me tightly to you, and chest to chest we breathe together. Protagonist of your love I don’t know if it’s magic or reality. If you were in my soul someday, would you know what I feel in me, that I fell in love, from that moment together with you, and what I feel is only love. From that moment together with you, and what I feel is only love.
Sweet words, sweet moment and sweet Gianluca, who touches Ignazio’s shoulder with his hand, as if to encourage him.
There is also a beautiful dance moment with the circles.
What to say, the sound and visual combination is very beautiful, and how much interpretation in our boys, everything is perfect!
Laura Chiatti is now in the audience and tells us about a film that made an era, transgressive (for that time), which talks about love triangles.
Two other guests arrive: on stage Raphael Gualazzi and Nina Zilli and all together they perform the song of “METTI UNA SERA A CENA.”
And after this beautiful performance, Piero announces the advertisement and ends the first part of the concert.
I hope you enjoyed reading every moment of the concert, I believe that by combining what JoAnn and Susan have written for you, you can get a fairly complete overview of what happened, but we are only at the first piece of the concert, if you want to read the rest ………… I wait for you in a few days !!!
Daniela
Credit to owners of all photos and videos.
Come in and share the love of life, friends and Il Volo!
