Our beloved Piero is making great strides and is showing off, slowly, slowly, all the years of study.
The occasion was in Bologna, in a small deconsecrated church. The event was organized by Fulvio Massa, Piero’s singing teacher.
I’m translating this nice article for you, which was not published by one of the many fan pages of Il Volo, but by the blog “Toni Semitoni”, who you’ll understand right away, understands music, especially classical.
Right in the center, surrounded by the oceanic university nightlife, on the corner between via Begatto and via Armando Quadri there is a small Baroque church, no longer intended for worship, dedicated to Saints Damiano and Cosma, which would need restoration.
In it various activities take place, mostly musical, and in it, from time to time, the master Fulvio Massa organizes essays or concerts with his singing students. With a few phone calls and a few messages, the little church is easily filled with an intimate audience, at most forty people.
The climate that is created is therefore attractive, friendly, familiar, engaging due to the direct contact with the singers.
Yesterday evening Fulvio organized a beautiful concert in which the soprano Claudia Corona, the baritone Thiago Felipe Stopa and the tenor Piero Barone performed. Ohibò! Piero Barone the singer of Il Volo? A celebrity performing for friends? Yes, that’s right, it’s really him.
Before being artists, singers are athletes – singing is based, in fact, on a delicate muscular balance – who need not only a coach, but also a trusted person who carries out checks during their career, true revisions of singing technique.
The concert in question, in addition to exhibiting three beautiful voices from Fulvio’s school, was an opportunity for Thiago and Claudia to try new opera pieces and for Piero to try his hand at an exclusively lyrical environment and in front of an audience of opera aficionados, often severe, ferocious and partisan audiences.
Therefore, hush, hush, slowly, slowly, as if it were a secret sect, Fulvio gathered a small audience who attended a truly high-quality concert; the assiduous opera house goers, not only of the Teatro Comunale, but also of other theaters not only in Italy, who were present said they felt greater pleasure in this friendly concert but organized with sincere commitment and excellent results.
(a long list of sung opera pieces follow)
And now we come to the singers.
Thiago Felipe Stopa is a Brazilian baritone who has been studying for four years in Bologna with Fulvio Massa. Not only does he have a beautiful, wide, extended voice, like a true baritone, but one that is able to excite. The legato recalls that of a cello is noteworthy, so all the cantabiles are of great impact. The Italian pronunciation is excellent.
Claudia Corona has a top-quality timbre, a very generous voice not only in the high notes, sure, ringing and voluminous, but also in the low register.
The agilities are precise and it has beautiful trills as if performed on a violin. The half-voices, even in the high notes, are very suggestive, firm, so he is able to make contrasts of great effect as we heard throughout the concert.
Piero Barone live, without the intermediation of microphones, offers a voice of magnificent quality: the timbre is very rich, like that of tenors from the Spanish area (Fleta, Lazaro, Domingo and Aragall come to mind), the high notes are ringing and easy, the half-voices are sweet and enveloping, truly bewitching. Even as an interpreter he appears convincing that, when necessary, he knows how to be sweet and passionate. A voice like this is missing on the lyrical stage.
Marco Belluzzi’s piano accompaniment is excellent. Bravo to maestro Fulvio Massa who, with his teachings and experience, has handed down the teachings of Paride Venturi and Arturo Melocchi.
In short, a beautiful and enjoyable evening.
Piero, we are all very proud of your result.
Your years of hard study are paying off and your dream of one day singing an entire opera is slowly, slowly coming true.
The compliments don’t come only from us fans, but from those who are connoisseurs and this makes us even more pleased.
Come on Piero, full speed ahead, the road is still long, but a long way has already been done and successfully.
Surely you have already had the opportunity to see this video, and I know that the video also has the possibility of having the translation, but as I know that some of you have difficulty activating this function, I preferred to translate this very special moment of which our Ignazio had us participate, also in order to explain the situation well and the words that are said. So, I hope I’ve done something that you like. ☺
But first I want to translate this message from Ignazio, which anticipates the video.
IGNAZIO = Guys, the video just came out on you tube. We went to visit some children at the Bellaria hospital, didn’t we, Pelle? Is the video out?
PELLE = Ah, yes!
IGNAZIO = We went to visit some children at the Bellaria hospital, together with an association called BIMBOTU. Watch it, click the link below, it’s a beautiful video, it was very nice to go and find these children, we brought some things, watch it, it’s very exciting, I was excited to see it again.
PELLE = Me too. I enjoyed watching it again and importantly, watch it all the way to the end, and it’s the first in a long series.
IGNAZIO = And subscribe to the channel, it’s free, on you tube. Bye, watch it!!
(The scene begins with Ignazio and his friend Stefano , called Pelle, taking some boxes).
IGNAZIO = Are you ready?
PELLE = I’m here, born ready.
(They get into the car and while Ignazio is driving, he contacts someone by telephone)
IGNAZIO = Good morning Alice.
ALICE = Good morning
IGNAZIO = Hello, first of all, Bellaria San Lazzaro right? (it is the name of the place that Ignazio is reaching). I’m not doing bullshit (Italian way of saying he’s not wrong).
ALICE = You’re Ignazio, right?
IGNAZIO = Yes,
ALICE = Because I didn’t save the number (phone number). Okay, sorry. Yes, we are in Bellaria San Lazzaro.
IGNAZIO = We’ll be right there, we’ll be there in a minute. (Ignazio and Pelle arrive in front of the entrance to the structure, Giulia is waiting for them).
How are you?
GIULIA = Good.
IGNAZIO = We are very happy.
GIULIA = Well, so are we.
IGNAZIO = We woke up energetic, he was at 10.37 am, but he woke up.
GIULIA = Blessed are you. (Together they enter the ISNB structure, Institute of Neurological Sciences of Bologna).
Welcome to our department. (being a hospital ward, everyone wears surgical masks) This is our kitchen that we have set up for the kids and families who live here. (It is a support structure for the hospital, where children who undergo therapies and also their families are hosted). Every now and then we do some workshops.
IGNAZIO = Sometimes we could come and cook, he’s the cook.
GIULIA = Really?
PELLE = In fact, I was watching because I’m curious and I’m liking it.
GIULIA = Ah, excellent.
IGNAZIO= Whenever you want, you call me and say “Ignà, when you want, come and cook”, and we’ll come here to cook for you. I have an idea (of what to do) and you cook (Pelle).
(Ignazio and Pelle brought boxes of sweets to be delivered to the children/teenagers present)
Hi Angelica, (a young girl who is hosted in the structure) I’m Ignazio and he……
PELLE = I’m Stefano.
IGNAZIO = …..his name is Stefano, but everyone calls him Pelle. (Pelle = Skin)
ANGELICA = Why?
IGNAZIO = Since his surname is a bit disgusting, Pellegatta (Catskin).... so everyone calls him Pelle.
PELLE = Boschetto spoke (ironic, he want to say that Boschetto is not a wonderful surname either, Boschetto= Smallwood)
IGNAZIO = today I brought you some things. Do you like Chupa Chups (lollipops).
ANGELICA = Yes.
IGNAZIO = But you want to keep the line. Do you train?
ANGELICA = Yes.
IGNAZIO = He trains too (Pelle). Since you’re the first, we’ll let you open it (the package), okay? Do you want to?
(Angelica and Ignazio begin to open the package.) You look sorry? (to Pellle).
PELLE = I look, I observe.
IGNAZIO = (addressing Angelica) He looks, understood? Please, when choosing friends, find them useful, who do things, not who look. Here are a few things for everyone, there are Goleadors (a type of candy) that you don’t like because you want to keep fit.
ANGELICA = My sister likes them.
IGNAZIO = Ah, does she like them? Well then they might be of interest to her.
(Another young boy arrives, a guest of the structure.)
How are you?
BOY = Good.
IGNAZIO = Fist (post-Covid greeting method). Do you eat sweets? Because she doesn’t eat them, she wants to stay fit.
(Another young boy arrives)
How are you? Good? I am Ignazio and this is Stefano. (Pelle)
PELLE = Hello.
IGNAZIO = You write messages to girls on instagram ?
ANGELICA = Where do I put this? (she is holding a box of sweets)
IGNAZIO = But, I don’t know, in the bathroom, is there a place in the bathroom? (the usual Ignazio joker) 😁
IGNAZIO = (addressing the second young boy) Of course you too can give me a hand, he (Pelle) is already enough, he looks and does nothing.
ANGELICA = My sister is crazy about these!!
IGNAZIO = But everything to your sister, excuse me? Have we taken all the things for your sister?
ANGELICA = In the end yes.
IGNAZIO = (addressing the second young boy who slightly, physically, reminds Ignazio as a younger and more robust) When I was younger I was like you, indeed, you are like me.
GIULIA = He likes to sing.
IGNAZIO = How?
GIULIA = He likes to sing and play the guitar.
IGNAZIO = Ah! Then I’ll bring you a guitar, I didn’t know.
What genre do you like?
BOY = Rock.
IGNAZIO = I love you (and hugs the boy).
He is Pelle981 on Twitch (channel, like Twitter), if you have it, look for him and he plays, that is, he does this job: he plays.
Hi Luigi (another boy enters, a guest of the facility), I’m Ignazio and he’s Stefano.
PELLE = Pleasure, Stefano!
IGNAZIO = I am very happy to be here, because due to my job, I am never at home.
When I’m at home I like to come and find these associations where they really help and I think that you too feel comfortable here, right? (turning to the boy )
You can talk, I swear I won’t eat you, and he (Pelle) seems big either, but he won’t eat you.
We wanted to say thank you for hosting us. Will you take me somewhere? (in this way Ignazio asks the boy to let him visit the structure). Hello everyone!
WOMAN = (A woman’s voice, perhaps the robust boy’s mother).
We arrived today. (She means that the boy cannot guide Ignazio in the structure because he doesn’t know it well yet)
IGNAZIO = Ah, did you arrive today? I took the worst (meaning he can’t accompany him in the facility – laughter) 😁
Are you from Bologna?
ANGELICA = Province of Carpi.
IGNAZIO = And you?
BOY = I from Correggio
LUIGI = I’m from Bologna.
GIULIA = Gabriele has also arrived.
IGNAZIO = Gabriele, pleasure. I am Ignazio and this is Stefano. How old are you?
GABRIELE = 12
IGNAZIO = What is the thing you would eat now?
GABRIELE = Kinder (chocolate egg)
PELLE = No, Ignazio, you’re on a diet.
IGNAZIO = Think for yourself! (while Ignazio offers a chocolate egg to Gabriele he sees the robust boy) Look at those little heart eyes he has?
Thanks to all of you and to all the staff. ☺
GIULIA = Can you sing us something?
IGNAZIO = What song do we know that we all sing together? I won’t tell you mine because you don’t know them.
PELLE = You are old Igna (ironic)
IGNAZIO = Ah, I’m old….come on, tell me a song.
So, we can sing “Io tu e le rose” (it’s an old Italian song).….do you know it??😁
ALL = No!!
IGNAZIO = “La Fisarmonica” , no! (another song from the 70s.)😁 “We are the champions” by Queen? Yup? You all know this, right? Here we are? Are you there? (and Ignazio starts singing the refrain of the song and tries to make the stout boy sing the two final words – applause) ☺
Thank you very much, see you soon, (Ignazio greets all the boys) …. young lady (he greets Angelica), bring something to your sister.
PELLE = On the last day (he means when she gets home) you get something and bring it to your sister.
IGNAZIO = (embraces the hefty boy) Don’t harm the little girls on instagram too much!☺
(A hug to the younger boy, meanwhile Angelica takes a chocolate egg)
ANGELICA = It’s for my sister!!
ALICE = He is Tommaso, anyway. (another boy)
IGNAZIO = Tommaso, excuse me, pleasure, Ignazio. (in addition to the desserts, the board games that Ignazio and Pelle have brought are also shown.
Gabriele asks Ignazio and Pelle for an autograph) ☺
GIULIA = (She leads Ignazio and Pelle in the various rooms of the structure.) I can challenge you to table football, but I advise against it.
IGNAZIO = Excuse me, miss, what’s her name?
GIULIA = Gabriele
IGNAZIO = Gabriele where do you want to play?
PELLE = I watch this match.
She (Giulia) is the champion! (Ignazio takes the ball and pretends to open it like an egg) . 😁 We are not in the kitchen!
IGNAZIO = Ah, isn’t it an egg?? Sorry! Go!! 😁
GIULIA = What’s in the prize, guys?? Shall we reward a Kinder egg?
IGNAZIO = A Kinder egg, go!!
Go Gabriele, go Gabriele, go Gabriele…..NO!!! I made you score this goal!
PELLE = (To Ignazio) Are you putting the point on yourself?
IGNAZIO = Ah, sorry! (The game ends, everyone shakes hands). I won’t give you the Kinder egg (because it was defeated 😁…. below is a nice group photo ❤)
IGNAZIO = (to Luigi) Do you support Juve? (Italian soccer team, favored by Ignazio)
LUIGI = If I want YES.
PELLE = Sure, he can change his mind.
IGNAZIO = I understand, but it’s not correct…
LUIGI = So I’m rooting for Juventus!!😁
IGNAZIO = Bravo, bravo!! (Ignazio lends himself to various photographs with the hospitalized children and their families). 😘 Bye bye!!
PELLE = Hello everyone!!
(This is followed by a fake scholastic interrogation made to Ignazio and Pelle by the teacher of the structure, since the boys have long hospitalizations, they also have to study during those periods)
IGNAZIO = Well, I swear I’ve studied.
TEACHER = Yes?
IGNAZIO = I know everything!!
TEACHER = The fall of the Roman Empire.
IGNAZIO = I was very sorry about this fact. 😁
PELLE = Maybe she wanted to know the year it happened! 😁
IGNAZIO = Good times those.
TEACHER = (to Pelle) And by whom was the discovery of America made?
PELLE = Surely someone discovered it (Ignazio tries to suggest, as students do at school)……it’s Italian…perhaps Christopher Columbus?? The year ….1492??
TEACHER = Now let’s do algebra?
IGNAZIO = Algebra, yes.
TEACHER = The addition of fractions ….. what should I do here?
IGNAZIO = They add up….
TEACHER = I have to do the minimum……
PELLE = Least common multiple!
TEACHER = Well done!!
IGNAZIO = The guaranteed minimum, because there is always a guaranteed minimum!!😁 Are we promoted?
TEACHER = Yes, yes, but you have to review the lessons.
IGNAZIO = We have to study, all right.
(to Pelle) Today we are with Giulia, let me introduce her to you.
GIULIA = Giulia!
IGNAZIO = She’s very strong at table football.
GIULIA = Tell us about the association.
We have opened this channel, where we will create this format, where the idea is to receive emails with requests, wishes, which we will try to fulfill.
We wanted to start with an association, there are many that help children with illnesses, special cases and really help people. Unfortunately people don’t know these associations, or know them little, so our idea is to be able to make them known more through that channel, through my work, his work (Pelle), to make known as many associations as possible, and today we are from you.
GIULIA = Good
IGNAZIO = Who are you? What do you do? (He means as an association)
GIULIA = I am Giulia, I am part of this beautiful association called BIMBOTU. Bimbotu was born in 2007 from the will of Alessandro and Federica, husband and wife, who had a personal experience of their son’s illness, who is fortunately doing well now.
This was 15 years ago and they decided that the difficulties they had to face as parents, as a family, they didn’t want other families to have to face, or at least give those families support. So since 2007 we have been dealing with assistance in the wards, therefore from the simplest things, as we have done together today, being together with the children and their families, chatting, lending a hand, offering a coffee….
IGNAZIO = So are you volunteers or…..??
GIULIA = We currently have about 200 volunteers….
IGNAZIO = 202 now (he offers himself and Pelle as volunteers)
GIULIA = We are active in this hospital, therefore the Institute of Neurological Sciences of Bologna at the Bellaria hospital, also at Sant’Orsola and Maggiore (other hospitals). We are dealing with children and families who arrive from all over Italy, as you saw today.
IGNAZIO = Are all pathologies treated here?
GIULIA = In particular, in this department, we follow the pathologies of the central nervous system and also eating disorders which is a world to which we too are only recently approaching.
IGNAZIO = I knew a person, very close to me, who suffered from bulimia and it’s very complicated, it’s very psychological and it doesn’t make you think, it’s not a matter of drinking or eating badly, because maybe people think: “Come on, you ate too much, what are you doing?”
Instead bulimia is a serious matter, if you think you need support, talk to someone, because it’s important. There are certain things that should not be trivialized or talked about and approached in a superficial way.
GIULIA = Absolutely yes, in fact, even the volunteers we have all follow a training course to be able to better face the experience within the departments and the volunteers who are in contact with the kids who have eating disorders follow a further specific course on the subject, first of all to always be updated and informed, precisely because there is always a tendency to trivialize it, it is a taboo that is rarely talked about, and getting information is essential to be able to help those suffering from this pathology.
PELLE = Also to know how to approach children and teenagers.
GIULIA = Exactly.
IGNAZIO = That’s why you have wards inside the hospital, right? Because there is also the support of doctors.
GIULIA = Yes, exactly, indeed it is the hospital that hosts us as an association and each volunteer brings what they know how to do. For example, when I come here, even if my job is in the office, I play foosball, then there are those who play the guitar, those who sing, those who draw, everyone brings their own way of approaching…..
PELLE = A piece of yourself…
GIULIA = Yes, a piece of himself. In addition to being present in the wards, we also have apartments where we welcome families arriving from outside Bologna free of charge, because they often have very long hospitalizations, and on average we welcome around fifty families a year, and we know and assist around 800/900 children and families in the various wards.
IGNAZIO = I often go to visit (hospitalized) children because…..I don’t know, we are all important,….but there is something that attracts you about a child or a young boy, something that pushes us to do our best and always give more. Every time when I enter the hospital wards and I see a child with a drip, or without hair, I see situations that are unacceptable to me, and I always have a reaction of not knowing how to behave, not knowing if I can accept that situation so, to a volunteer or even for you when you arrived, how was this impact? ❤
GIULIA = It’s not simple and in any case I don’t want to get emotional in front of the camera, I’m telling you about my personal experience, when I started being part of the BIMBOTU team I asked myself: “Giulia, do you feel up to it?”, because in any case it’s not obvious, it’s not easy, and at the beginning I too was struggling in the first approach, I wondered how I could be useful. Being yourself is the key to first being able to empathize with children and their families. ❤
IGNAZIO = Those are the things that make you feel good. If I wanted to support this association, how can I do it, where can I find information? 😉
GIULIA = Volunteering is a great way to help, because donating can be done in many ways, so you can donate your time, or you can make a cash donation that always helps because we have many activities and many services that we offer , we always offer them for free, so financial support is also very important.
IGNAZIO = So for those who live in Bologna, or in Emilia Romagna (region with capital Bologna), or near Bologna, if you want to come and spend your time helping someone, to volunteer for BIMBOTU, you can do it. 😘
GIULIA = We have the headquarters of our offices which is in San Lazzaro and then there are also other ways to donate and support this very important cause, for example, if one is a tailor, he can help us to pack objects to be exhibited in our solidarity banquets.
PELLE = So everyone can put their own, (make available what they can do)
GIULIA = Yes, exactly. For more information, the website is www.bimbotu.it, and then they can follow us on social networks with BIMBOTU OFFICIAL, also because we are super active and we always have many new projects to present, and they can subscribe to our newsletters to stay up to date and see what we are doing.
For example , we have started a fundraising campaign to be able to buy neonatal ventilators for the pediatric department of the Maggiore Hospital , and they have a very significant cost and therefore anyone who wants to lend a hand is welcome.
Often there are also those who call us and tell us: “I do this in life, what can I do for you?” And it’s the most beautiful thing in the world. ☺
IGNAZIO = Sometimes, supporting an association, or doing charity, it’s not always and only to give money. Doing charity, helping someone or these associations can also be helped with one’s work, with one’s time, as Giulia said, with very few things.
Little or big help is equally important for people in need. Every gesture is important. ❤
PELLE = Since when are you with Bimbotu?
GIULIA = For almost two years.
IGNAZIO = Ok, the people who follow us, are also contributing to this. ❤
PELLE = We say it a lot and we push it a lot because we want to make it clear that what we say, we do and we will do (it won’t be just words).❤
IGNAZIO = Anyway, it’s not an initiative that is limited to just the two of us, it’s from the whole Bosky TV community, it’s something we’re all doing together, to help everyone. ❤
GIULIA = Congratulations.
IGNAZIO = Thank you very much.
GIULIA = Thanks to you.
IGNAZIO = Thank you for having hosted us, for giving us this opportunity, we hope to see you soon, we will return.
GIULIA = Absolutely. We are waiting for you.
PELLE = I have to cook, now I have this thing in my head.
IGNAZIO = And I have to take the guitar to the rocker (strong boy).😘
(to the camera) Thank you so much for being with us, for watching this video. Support this channel, because thanks to your support, we were able to do what we did today. Hello everybody. ❤🤗
GIULIA = Don’t forget, bye!
PELLE = Thanks again!!
IGNAZIO = (Now Ignazio and Pelle are in the car). Good thing you were in Algebra, because I just…..
PELLE = Thank goodness, I only said one right word at the end.
IGNAZIO = I understand, at least we made a half figure, a good impression.
PELLE = Beautiful, even the teacher was happy.
IGNAZIO = Do you know what the beautiful thing is? We’ll have more meetings like this!!! ❤
I have no words to compliment Ignazio and Pelle for what they have done.
Truly something that honors them and all those who are supporting them.
It’s not the first time that Ignazio offers us these great gestures of the heart, remember when he donated equipment to the Bologna Pediatric Hospital?
Thank you Ignazio for being such a big-hearted person, we appreciate you so much for that and we are so proud of you!! ❤
In this whirlwind of news, events and concerts in this month of December, there have also been the last three concerts of Il Volo in Italy.
I can only say that it was a success in all three cases. These concerts have been postponed several times due to the pandemic and many tickets had already been bought since 2019.
Despite everything and despite the fear of contagion that still hangs over proximity of people in indoor places, people came and were truly satisfied.
At the last concert, Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca and all the Il Volo staff were so euphoric with the result, as if they had climbed a very high mountain.
Here is a small summary of the three concerts, where I will put different videos:
TURIN – December 15th
The snow, which had not yet reached Turin, saw fit to arrive in the afternoon of the day of the concert, creating inconvenience for those who had to reach the arena.
Because of this, the concert started over half an hour late in order for people to arrive. 😘
ECSTASY OF GOLD
This is a video shot by Ercole Ginoble, immediately after Ecstasy of Gold, where you see the whole audience and Gianluca who starts by saying :
“Hello Turin, welcome to this warm evening.”😁
SE
NELLA FANTASIA
Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca wore elegant velvet jackets with leather lapels.
But after the formal part of the concert, the boys changed jackets, Piero and Ignazio wore very bright and special jackets, Gianluca, on the other hand, wears a simple blue jacket.
ALMENO TU NELL’UNIVERSO
We are very close to Christmas and therefore Christmas songs are also sung.
ADESTE FIDELES
AMAZING GRACE
Just a couple of days and here we are in Milan.
MILAN – December 17th
Everything repeats itself.
SE TELEFONANDO and CARUSO
Between one song and another, there is a “curtain” between the three boys. Ignazio tells Piero that he had a great inspiration that allowed him to write a beautiful song. He sits down at the piano and goes on to say that those things happen once in a while. Gianluca confirms that he has already heard the song and it’s really beautiful. Piero is amazed, but doesn’t know whether to trust him, but Ignazio is serious and therefore wants to make the whole audience hear the new song . He says: “Are you ready?”
Piero asks for the title of the song and Ignazio says “My cold winter,” and he starts playing………….brrrrr. (all gone, just a cold shiver) 😁😁😁
HALLELUJAH
E LUCEVAN LE STELLE (the stars were inserted later in the video)
JINGLE BELLS and HAPPY XMAS
VOLARE
This photo was posted by stylist Nick Cerioni who recommends clothing for boys and who gives the photo the following title:
IL VOLO ROCKSTARS 😁😁😁
In this concert Gianluca also convinced himself to wear an extravagant jacket.
ROME – December 23rd
Another replay
IL MONDO
YOUR SONG
IGNAZIO’S JACKET
Ignazio jokes a lot about this, saying that with that jacket he looked like one of the glittering lamps/disco balls that went around at the discos in the 70s. 😁
When Ignazio enters the stage, a chorus begins from the audience: “you are beautiful” and Ignazio immediately says that a chorus like this must be done to Gianluca, to him they can say “you are very good”. 😁😁😁
UN AMORE COSÌ GRANDE
HAPPY XMAS, WAR IS OVER
I would say that they were three important dates and that they confirmed Il Volo’s charisma and the great affection that the public has for them.
And let’s not forget that between one concert and another Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca also had four book signing instores, and exactly:
TURIN
MILAN
BOLOGNA
ROME
You have a resistance to fatigue, really remarkable guys.
That’s not all, because our friends Alessandra Composto and Kirsten Langer were present respectively: at the concert in Milan and in Rome and the two of them have already sent me their reviews.
So soon you will read the emotions of our friends.
After a long wait, the book-signing event in Milan has arrived, in which I wanted to participate.
I had many expectations about this event, and some were met, but unfortunately not all, but first things first.
The meeting was in Milan in the Mondadori bookshop located in the beautiful Piazza Duomo.
Since I can’t go to any of the Italian winter concerts, i.e. Turin, Milan and Rome, I was hoping for a lot for this meeting, which was scheduled with a presentation of the book, some questions and answers and then the signing of the book.
Milan is close to Brescia, just over an hour by train, the meeting was at 5:30pm, so my husband and I left Brescia on the 1:30pm train.
As soon as we arrived in Milan, Piazza Duomo was revealed in all its beauty and sparklingly dressed for the upcoming Christmas.
The beautiful Galleria in Milan, sparkling with its beautiful Swarovski tree.
We immediately rushed to the Mondadori bookstore to buy the book, a necessary condition for having a pass for the event. I had already bought the book in Brescia and I brought it with me, with the intention of having it signed even that too.
The Mondadori bookshop cashier tells me that we have the pass for the second group, because the first passes for the first group were already sold out, and she tells me that the event for the second group will be after 6:00 pm, and there will be only the signing of the book, without being able to interact with questions to Il Volo. This annoyed me a little, I tried to protest, but the saleswoman told me that there were too many adhesions and they couldn’t do otherwise.
So I went up to the third floor, where there were already many fans in line and it was only 4:00 pm.
This photo was just the final and shortest part of the queue, back there it angled towards the longest part but which I couldn’t photograph from my seat.
I couldn’t queue, as my group was on the second floor, but I could at least talk to the people in line and say hello to some friends.
And so I was able to see and say hello to Judith from Canada, in great shape.
And then I also met Sophia, granddaughter of RoseMarie Paliobeis. Both Judith and Sophia will go to the concert at the Forum in Milan, how lucky!!
I also met Alessandra Composto , but we didn’t take the photo, sorry.
A friend of mine, Cinzia, tells me she has a pass for the first group and offers it to me, I gratefully accept, so I’ll be at the first event, and I queue up, it’s very hot in the library but I’m happy to get in earlier.
But a person in charge of the library arrives who informs us that there will be no book presentation event, but due to scheduling problems, only the signing of the book!! Oh no, what a pity, I was really hoping to have a chat with Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca and instead there will only be a quick signing of the book.
It’s 17:30 and the doors of the room finally open, where Gianluca, Ignazio and Piero are already waiting, I’m at the back of the queue and I don’t see the room. the people in front of me start calling out the names of the boys.
I was hoping to have a little talk with them, but it doesn’t matter, I’m already happy to see them.
And finally after a long queue, I can enter the room and they are there at the back, here they are, finally!!
As I slowly approach, I continue to take pictures.
How beautiful they are, Ignazio is very cheerful, Piero and Gianluca are wearing surgical masks.
At one point I see that Gianluca stares into my eyes, I’m still distant, but I have the clear feeling that he stares at me and recognizes me, he sees that I’m taking pictures, lowers his mask and smiles.
In the mean time I arrive right in front of them, I put my coat on a chair, to be able to take better pictures, while I wait for my turn. But a man from the library tells me: “Madam, did you know that you can’t take pictures?” and so I put away my cell phone, but now it was my turn.
They tell me that I have to stay there next to Gianluca.
I hand over the books to sign, and while they sign, I manage to say:
“Congratulations guys for all your tour and all your events. The book is very nice”.
Gianluca = “Thank you”
Ignazio = “Have you read it?”
Me = “Of course you two (Gian and Igna) did a good introspection. (the photographer takes the picture)
Greetings from Flight Crew, (they smile at me and the photographer tells me to carry on).”
That’s all I managed to say…………shame, but that’s okay. I had the feeling that they were serene, Ignazio was laughing, I felt Piero less present because he was on the opposite side.
I didn’t want to take advantage of the time, because shortly before the library security man complained to a woman who was taking advantage of the boys’ time and ordered her to go ahead.
It’s already dark outside.
I have to rush to the train station, because just today there are strikes by means of travel and I risk not returning to Brescia.
I leave the library, one last shot of the beautiful Piazza Duomo in the evening and off to the station.
I’m tired but also satisfied.
While I’m on the return train, I check the photos I took, not bad, I like them.
Then I find a nice photo of the boys on Facebook, there on the third floor of the library, right in front of the balcony from which they performed in 2019.
And finally this nice summary video.
After a long wait, everything ended quickly.
Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca in these days have already done a book signing event in Turin, then the concert in Turin then this book signing event in Milan and the following day there was the concert in Milan (I will tell you about the three concerts in another post). The day after the concert in Milan they went to Montecarlo for a private event.
Then they will quickly return to Italy, because there is the book signing in Bologna and then the book signing in Rome and the concert in Rome, and then the final event in Jerusalem.
You guys are a force, I don’t know how you can handle this.
In any case I am happy to have seen you, even if only for a few moments, but to have seen you all smiling and serene. A hug:💗💗💗
Taormina is not only a beautiful place, but also a place in full swing when there is IL Volo, a magical place, where in addition to listening to good music you can meet Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca walking through the streets or eating a granita at Bambar.
And it is here that Barbara di Palma met Gianluca and Piero and gave them a short and nice interview for the WEEKLY, a new program broadcast on RAI1.
BARBARA = I moved, I’m in a symbolic place in Taormina. The greatest artists stop here to eat the famous granita, and so I thought, for our first episode, to try to organize a little surprise.
I wanted to do it triple, but in reality I managed to do it double: Gianluca Ginoble and Piero Barone … Il Volo !!
(from the studio a voice “The friends of Il Volo, how wonderful.”) and I do the third. 😁
GIANLUCA = Look at Ignazio how beautiful he is, how Ignazio has changed.😁
PIERO = Can I ask you a question Ignazio?
BARBARA = (she imitates Ignazio’s voice) Tell me Piero, tell me.😁
PIERO = For 10 years I have seen you with a goatee, you are more beautiful without a goatee. 😁
BARBARA = This morning I took off my goatee to be younger, because I’m growing up (laughter) 😁
GIANLUCA = Good morning from Taormina, from the wonderful Taormina.
WOMAN = (voice from the studio) Hi guys, what a nice surprise!
BARBARA = Tonight and tomorrow night they have to sing, cheer the whole audience of the Greek theater of Taormina, and you don’t know what’s behind the cameras, then I’ll show you (she refers that behind the cameras there are all the fans who are waiting).
PIERO = We weren’t ready for the unexpected, it was something suddenly …… (Piero jokes to make it clear that they knew the interview was there)😁
BARBARA = In fact we came to eat a granita ….
PIERO = ….. I go out in the morning wearing this (he shows the earphone to his ear, Gianluca has it too, precisely because there was the interview).
You got it, I feel comfortable wearing this !! 😁
GIANLUCA = You from the studio and you from home, for those who are watching us, what a surprise, look how wonderful ….. (Saretto del Bambar’s daughter arrives and brings them the slushes).
BARBARA = The famous granita. So, Federica (Saretto’s daughter), at this moment I am Ignazio.
What’s your favorite flavor?
FEDERICA = Ignazio prefers peach and raspberry.
BARBARA = And they (Gian and Piero)
FEDERICA = They prefer almond and strawberry.
BARBARA = By now they are like little brothers to you.
FEDERICA = Of home, we have known them for many years.
GIANLUCA = We also greet the father, Saretto, who is watching us.
PIERO = Do you know what her father Saretto did? One day for my birthday in Naro, two hours from here, he came as a surprise with the trolley of slushes, we were celebrating 4 or 5 years ago and he arrived with the trolley of slushes. Saretto, a huge kiss (he sends a kiss).
GIANLUCA = We love you!
BARBARA = Taormina, you really have it in your heart, because it was also the first great theater that welcomed you, before the great success of Sanremo.
GIANLUCA = Yes, we were here in July 2014 (they won Sanremo in 2015), it was the first Italian concert, while our career started in 2009. Then, after the victory of the festival they started to know us also here in Italy, but it was weird for us.
BARBARA= The Greek Theater of Taormina believed in you, before the others!
GIANLUCA = Then, our musical genre is suitable for these prestigious and beautiful places like the Theater of Taormina, like the Arena of Verona. It’s always a pleasure to be able to sing and maybe represent our music, in such places ….. beautiful, let’s say.
BARBARA = In fact it is a curiosity that I had, that is, when you sing at the Arena of Verona or at the Greek Theater of Taormina, which have a truly unique setting, when you interpret the songs, does it give you an extra boost compared to a normal stage?
PIERO = It is clear, having the awareness of singing in a prestigious place, makes us feel privileged, sharing our music in these beautiful places, especially in Italy, but also in other places, in America, in Japan, we try not to lose never that emotion, that desire to be amazed and perhaps this, after 13 years of career, is the reason why, when we go on stage, we always feel the same sensation.
BARBARA = Instead you see here, your audience on the street following you … tell me Carolina (the woman from the studio)
CAROLINA = I was actually listening to the stories about the various tours and I was wondering what was the stage that they didn’t do, but that they would like to do …. where?
PIERO = In Italia?
CAROLINA = Even abroad, all over the world.
GIANLUCA = Look, there is a place where we would love to sing and it is the Baths of Caracalla (in Rome, where the concert of the 3 tenors was performed), and therefore it is not very far and it is a magical place ….
MAN = (from the studio) and then you come here to Weekly ….
GIANLUCA = Absolutely, then we come to you, but we invite you to one of our concerts, let us know where you want to come, it would be nice …
CAROLINA = Where can we come ???
PIERO = Let’s start from Italy, we will sing in Taormina, Agrigento in the Valley of the Temples, Torre del Lago, and many other concerts. Then we move to America, Japan and after 10 years, we will finally return to Australia.
We had two and a half years off, finally it seems that everything is back to normal.
After two and a half years we have planned a tour of around 100 concerts and so we are loaded.
BARBARA = I don’t know if you have heard, but the people behind us speak the languages of half the world.
GIANLUCA = Yes.
BARBARA = Two women from Brazil came to Taormina for their concert.
MAN = (from the studio) I wanted to ask Piero and Gianluca something, a hot comment, Ignazio is good though, is he getting along as a correspondent? (He means Barbara in the part of Ignazio)
GIANLUCA = Ignazio gets away with it, yes.
PIERO = Can I tell the truth?
MAN = Sure!
PIERO = I called Ignazio and he answered the third call and I said: “Igna, where are you? Maybe we need to do an interview, there is a live broadcast on RAI1” And he: “You do it, I’m sleeping” This is reality! (laughs).
GIANLUCA = It’s not true, he’s kidding!
PIERO = He went to sleep late, tonight he has to sing, he also has to rest.
BARBARA = I haven’t tasted the granita yet. Good, peach and raspberry.
CAROLINA = Next stop?
BARBARA = This evening and tomorrow evening the Greek Theater of Taormina.
PIERO = Do you know what the next step is? In a week we will have the honor of singing for Pope Francis at the world meeting of families on June 22nd. So see you on June 22nd.
BARBARA = And a few days ago, you interpreted our hymn in a way that always excites us a lot, with the celebration of June 2nd, and we have a little piece, right Carolina and Fabio?
CAROLINA = Sure, let’s watch it, let’s watch this video of June 2nd with you protagonists. Thanks to the friends of Il Volo.
(the video begins where Il Volo sings the Italian National Anthem)
And here they are Gianluca, Piero and Ignazio, shaking hands with our President Mattarella.
Very proud of them !! ❤❤❤
And now I am translating a video that aired on RAI 1 on 07 June.
But first I have to give a long explanation, so that you can see and rate this nice video without misunderstandings.
First of all, I’ll explain who Drusilla Foer is.
At the registry office, Drusilla Foer responds to the name of Gianluca Gori: photographer, painter, singer and actor originally from Florence, one day, out of nothing, he created this character that soon became a web phenomenon.
Her character is liked, because she is elegant, refined, is not coarse and does not show parts of the body (as many showgirls do), in short, it represents a little elegance that often, in many programs, is left aside to make room for voices more and more screaming and using vulgar terms and elegance has given way to transparencies and many centimeters of exposed skin and flesh.
Drusilla this year was co-presenter for one evening in Sanremo and was very successful.
Now she has been entrusted with this small 5-minute column entitled “Almanac of the day after” in which Drusilla has given space to “The enthusiast of the day after”, that is a small space where already famous people are invited , but pretending to be unknown.
In the second episode it was the turn of Il Volo and Piero, Gianluca and Ignazio were very good at keeping up with the game.
Drusilla interviews the boys giving them little space to explain and she ridicules their answers, as often people unknown to the world of entertainment have to undergo in their first approaches with interviews.
With all this premise, I am now translating to you what has been said.
DRUSILLA = Here we are with our guests: PIERO …. and then … Piero, who is from Naro, right?
PIERO = Yes.
DRUSILLA = Where is Naro located?
PIERO = In Sicily, in the province of Agrigento.
DRUSILLA = Very good. Ignatius instead?
IGNAZIO = I was born in Bologna, even if it doesn’t seem like it ….
DRUSILLA = This story is long ….
IGNAZIO = No, it’s short, that’s enough!
DRUSILLA = Enough … good. Instead, you will be Gianluca.
GIANLUCA = I’m the Abruzzese of the group.
DRUSILLA = Ah, Abruzzo.
GIANLUCA = From Roseto Degli Abruzzi.
IGNAZIO = Enough!
DRUSILLA = Very good. So guys I am truly enchanted by this common passion of yours. Let’s summarize a little. Do you travel the world always together?
GIANLUCA = Yes, we take many flights !! 😁😁
DRUSILLA = Because you travel far away? 😁 Not only from Abruzzo to Molise 😁 (these are the two neighboring regions)
GIANLUCA = We get together every now and then, we have many dreams, we hope to ….
DRUSILLA = How nice, that is, you go to the places and sing in the places where you go to work.
IGNAZIO = We have brought some photos.
DRUSILLA = Do you have any photos? (On the screen there is the photo of the video “Ecstasy of Gold” that they shot in Sardinia)
IGNAZIO = Here we are in Texas 😁 (before Texas he says in a low voice Sardinia).
DRUSILLA = In Texas, and you go to Texas dressed in the blue suit?😁
GIANLUCA = With the blue suit, we sing in the middle of the sand. 😁
DRUSILLA = Ah, so really ??
PIERO = We are afraid to get a tan.
IGNAZIO = You know why, now all these social networks are in fashion …
DRUSILLA = Are you afraid that there is someone taking pictures of you? But who knows you !!!! 😁😁😁
GIANLUCA = Look at those beautiful smiles. (There is a photo with them at the Arena and it is wet on the ground because it rains)
DRUSILLA = How cute, where are you in the pool? 😁
PIERO = No, we had just left the dentist, we wanted to show our teeth! 😁
DRUSILLA = Then what’s up (the photo changes, is made in Japan). Ah, how beautiful, but look, where are you here? In Molise, in the Marche (other region)
IGNAZIO = I think we are in America.
GIANLUCA = No, here we are in Japan.
DRUSILLA = In Japan, of course I recognize Japanese architecture! 😁
I hope that this dream of music will come true, maybe you will become international stars.😁
GIANLUCA = We would like to win Sanremo!
DRUSILLA = Ah Ah, but what are you interested in Sanremo (as if to say that it is something unattainable). 😁 But have you ever sung with a real pianist? 😁
Or do you just use Karaoke backing tracks? 😁
IGNAZIO = Sometimes.
DRUSILLA = Little though, would you like to try? I have a pianist, he’s excellent, his name is Maestro Di Leo.
IGNAZIO = Let’s say that in Japanese karaoke, there is no piano available. 😁
PIERO = He is very elegant.
DRUSILLA = He is very elegant, I have forced him to dress well.
PIERO = And how are we dressed?
DRUSILLA = Very good, very happy.
GIANLUCA = Thanks for giving us this chance.
DRUSILLA = Come on guys, let’s go to the piano.
Don’t be intimidated, I know that the first time at the piano, it upsets you a little. 😁
IGNAZIO = We can sing you something …..
DRUSILLA = What would you like to sing?
IGNAZIO = …… that puts us at ease ?? 😁
DRUSILLA = Yes.
IGNAZIO = One of our favorite artists has always been Jimmy Fontana. (Il Mondo)
DRUSILLA = Ah!
PIERO = See, we have this in common, we like the same musical genre, we sing the same songs ….
DRUSILLA = Beautiful, beautiful …
PIERO = We like the same artists …
DRUSILLA = But this beautiful thing (and then pretends to get bored and fall asleep) 😁
GIANLUCA = We are guys from other times! 😘
DRUSILLA = Well, very cheerful!
IGNAZIO = Do you start singing?
DRUSILLA = What song would you like to sing? I really like Jimmy Fontana
IGNAZIO = Since we talked about travel, places ….
PIERO = You know IL MONDO?
DRUSILLA = IL MONDO, if I don’t remember the words can you suggest them to me ???
PIERO = I suggest them to you.
DRUSILLA = And the hue ?? Come on guys don’t worry, how it comes it comes … 😁
IGNAZIO = But we follow you …😁
DRUSILLA = Yes, come on, come on …
(The song begins, Drusilla pretends not to know the words and Piero suggests them to her, then at the refrain IL VOLO brings out all their voices and amazes Drusilla who is offended for having been deceived) 😁😁
GIANLUCA = Enough, (he turns to Ignazio) We understand that you are good.
DRUSILLA = Not good ….. the technique needs to be changed a little, the emission is a little scarce ….😁😁
PIERO = Two more days of karaoke …
IGNAZIO = I miss karaoke in Japan.
DRUSILLA = No, guys, study! 😁
GIANLUCA = You seem a little annoyed … are you annoyed by any chance?
DRUSILLA = No, imagine,…. one two and three, out of the studio ……. come here with coaxing …. but please go far …. go out ….
IGNAZIO = We salute the piano teacher.
PIERO = We hope to see you again soon.
DRUSILLA = (to Piero) What goodbye, stop it …. (to Gianluca) goodbye ….. (to Ignazio) go to karaoke ….
IGNAZIO = But we go often …
DRUSILLA = …. to karaoke in Japan, especially you, you are disgusting, go ….. (Ignazio approaches her) Security !!
IGNAZIO = Shall we do a duet? 😁
DRUSILLA = What a duet, but go do it with Barbra Streisand !! 😁
IGNAZIO= We did it …..😁
DRUSILLA = But go away …… arrogant …. gne gne gne ….they travel …. rude … but who sent them here? ….. I’d like to know where is the casting one …..😁
What can I say, they were all very good at making this pungent irony.
Even the articles in the newspapers wrote that Drusilla was very good and also Il Volo who lent himself to this game with great self-irony.
The day after the broadcast, Il Volo published the photo together with DRUSILLA with this comment: “It was a real pleasure to participate in the ‘Almanacco del giorno dopo!’ Thank you so much @drusillafoer for hosting us!”
And now the last video I translate for you, a very important video, the news that Il Volo will be at the World Meeting of Families 2022 in the Vatican on June 22nd.
GIANLUCA = Hello everyone, we are very happy and excited to come to Pope Francis’ home and celebrate the World Meeting of Families together with the families of Rome and our families.
PIERO = On that day we will witness the importance of the strength of the support of our families in our life.
IGNAZIO = I will personally take my mother and my sister.
PIERO = I will bring mom and dad, my sister Mariagrazia and my brother Francesco, and we can’t wait to be able to hug Pope Francis.
GIANLUCA = I will come with my family, we are numerous, but the best thing is that I will be able to bring my grandfather Ernesto who, at the age of 88, will be able to shake hands with Pope Francis. These are the most important things, the most beautiful emotions in life, like a mother who is a refuge, a father who is a guide, and this is really the importance of the family.
IGNAZIO = In all these years we have always reiterated how important our families are and are still important to us, they have been like a pillar for our careers, like a lighthouse in the middle of the ocean, here, a meeting point.
So, we are really happy to be able to share this moment with them.
PIERO = In addition to our families, we will also bring our music.
See you on June 22nd. Hugs to all!
GIANLUCA = See you very soon!
IGNAZIO = Ciao!
As always, I am very happy with what Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca have said in these videos.
I hope you liked the translations and shed a little light on what was said by them.
Daniela
Credit to owners of all photos and videos.
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