If I must tell the truth, this is my least favorite holiday! To me it’s a sad day because we remember all those who we lost over the years and we think of them in a different way than we do on other days. We think that they left us too soon and this year too quickly! I, like many of you out there, suffered many losses this year and I saw many people I love suffer!
Halfway through the year, I was speaking with my aunt, who turned 100 this year! I said, “Aunt Christina, you’ve been around a long time. What do you think about what’s going on?” She replied, “Susan, I remember grandpa saying every 20 years we have to have a war to clear out the old and start fresh again. This is our war!” I guess she is right. This war we are fighting is different, it is a war with an invisible enemy that haunts each of us every day!
What made this year different? The one thing that was really different was we were all in this together. You woke up every morning and turned on the news and no matter where you lived New York, Italy, Germany, Russia, Australia, the news was the same – Wash Your Hands! Wear a Mask! Social Distance!
As to the guys, they certainly did a great job of reminding us to do these things! And when they weren’t talking about this, they were working to help people in Italy and around the world. They took us along on all their journeys in support of these people. We joined them for Altismo Live! In support of Latin American farmworkers. We enjoyed circling Italy through project Italians 4 Life with the wonderful song Ma Il Cielo è Sempre Più Blu (But the Sky is Getting Bluer and Bluer). And, of course, O Sole Mio for UNICEF!
So, we’ve come to the end of the year that was, and now we have to take time to reflect on what we are leaving behind! Yes, there were lots of bad things that happened but there were also some good things. Having a hard time figuring out what they were? Let’s take a look at some of the good things that the guys did! They came to us live every day! So, let’s start there.
LIVE FROM IGNAZIO’S HOME STUDIO
The announcement that came from Ignazio on May 16th kept us sitting on the edge of our seats waiting to see what this project would be. We knew it would include the Il Volo musicians but what was this big surprise. Ignazio gave us a hint!
Ignazio said: With this video, I would like to thank many people. First of all, the doctors who during this time made their lives available to others. Here it is, altruism. I think it’s one of the most important things in the world.
For me, this is one of the most important songs,this song makes us understand that we are all part of this world and everyone has a piece of the universe. And so, I decided to propose “Almeno tu nell’ Universo” . (At Least You in the Universe)
What we got was a production straight from Ignazio’s soul! The drama of the black and white video along with the most intimate, passionate rendition of “Almeno tu nell’ Universo” we ever heard left us speechless. His amazing voice brought us to a universe where there is no limit, and we could float along on his magnificent notes, reaching unbelievable heights! It brought us all to tears.
Ignazio along with Giampiero Grani on piano, Alessandro Quarta on violin, Bruno Farinelli drums, Pierluigi Mingotti on bass and Gino De Vita and Andrea Morelli on guitar, set in split screen, gave the performance of a lifetime. The arrangement and video mix were so perfect it seemed hard to believe Ignazio did it all from his home. Genius at work!
LIVE FROM PIERO’S TERRACE
We could hear the silence of this small beautiful town and the only sound in the background was the chirping of the birds. Then suddenly, Piero began to sing “Nessun Dorma” and his voice rang out over Naro inviting his neighbors to come out on their terraces to listen to him and applaud his magnificent voice. And how did Piero react, the same way he does in concert, with that beautiful smile he greeted his neighbors and thanked them for their applause. And then, he gave us a birds’ eye view of Naro from his terrace explaining about all the baroque buildings and structures in the town including the history of it all. Jovanotti was just as thrilled and impressed as we were. Piero showed us around his terrace pointing out his cactus and taking time to tell us about his antique coffee mill. What a treat to share this special time with him!
And what about his beautiful “AVE MARIA” that warmed our hearts.
And then there were the:
LIVE PERFORMANCES FROM GIANLUCA’S HOUSE
Gianluca really perfected his piano playing in quarantine! We listened to him sing while looking out over his beautiful garden which looks down to the Adriatic Sea and the beautiful beach of Roseto degli Abruzzi. Picture postcard perfect, it was amazing and we were all wishing we could be there with him! And he spent lots of time walking on the beach with Luna and playing out in the yard with her.
But the most exciting of all was listening to Gianluca’s very romantic voice which touches every one of our senses. He sang so many beautiful songs for us while playing his piano with Luna at his feet. It gave us a warm and happy feeling which left us feeling very secure!
And then the summer began and, the quarantine was over and, the guys came together after being separated for months. And what did they do? They took us on another journey. First, we watched them take on a new appearance with their Dolce & Gabbana wardrobe. Their mini-Concert for Dolce & Gabbana’s women’s line of clothing and the presentation of the men’s line of clothing at the Campus Parade in Milan. It was wonderful to see them back together and listen to them live.
Then they went to Monte Carlo for their first concert in five months followed by their appearance at the Taormina Film Festival where these three gorgeous guys appeared, dressed like three Princes, in their Dolce & Gabbana Tuxedo’s. They were so handsome they took our breaths away. And their performance at the festival representing the film “Devotion,” the story of Dolce and Gabbana, was amazing. Just seeing them back at the Greek Theater in Taormina made us feel everything will be okay from now on. After all, this is their theater, the heart of who they are.
And if that wasn’t enough, we got to spend a Special Day with the guys in Polizzi Generosa celebrating the opening of “Devotion” and Domenico Dolce’s 62nd Birthday! What an extravaganza! The parade, the costumes, the musicians and dancers. What can I say it was just a fantastic day and it was All Live for us to see on Instagram and Facebook.
As they stepped back on the stage at the Verona Arena, for the reopening of the music industry with their presentation at the Seat Music Awards, we remembered their last performance there in 2019. Spectacular then, spectacular now!
Then came the announcement that they would pay tribute to Ennio Morricone with a Concert in Piazza Pio XII next June 5th!
Il Volo with Roma’s mayor.
Which brings another thought to mind! Do we ever take the time to consider what goes into their performance? We see them on stage and we are in awe of them but, what it takes to get them there is amazing and a lot of hard work. In January they will start preparing for their June 5th Concert. It doesn’t start and end with the concerts. There’s lots of preparation and rehearsals. Everything has to be just perfect because, after all, these three young men are perfectionists!
And then there was their final performance for 2020, their mini-Concert at Piazza Pio XII on Christmas Day. And here the guys sent us their final greeting for the year!
Gianluca: On this special day when we all feel close from afar, we wanted to find a way to wish you all happy holidays.
Ignazio: And we did so in the way that best suits us, through music from this gorgeous square where we feel like we are enveloped in a welcoming embrace.
Piero:We hope this holiday season may bring a smile to your homes and warm your hearts. On this “Oh holy night” we wish to dedicate every single note and every single word to you all.”
Yes, there was so much that was bad about this year but, I just wanted to show you that there were some good things that happened too.
As we approached 2020, I thought with a number like 2020, this will be a year of vision. What was my vision for the year? I thought it would be my best year in ten years. I had so much business and the future looked so bright but, we all know how that turned out. But I never could have imagined, when it all began, that I would spend my whole year doing what I love best, writing! Thirty years ago, I walked away from a career critiquing films. Who could imagine that I would turn back the clock and start writing again! And above all writing 40 stories about our three amazing guys, Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca!
The guys spent the year inspiring us, kept us company and certainly took the time to tell us what they were doing and what we needed to do to stay safe. In a recent interview they were asked what they missed most this year. They replied traveling. It is their life after all. And we are very much a part of that life. Hopefully we can all get back to it soon.
Finally, how do I sum up this year? Every morning when I get up, I sing. What do I sing? “Smile!” Is it because of the guys? Well, I certainly love when the guys sing “Smile,” but no, I’ve been singing this song since I was a child because I believe no matter what happened yesterday, today has the possibility to be better, so, “Smile, just Smile.”
Il Volo fans are not like any other fans in the world. To them Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca are family! To the older fans, they are our children. They are very much a part of our lives. Family!
I started writing my articles back in March because I realized that these fans were truly concerned about these three young men. They worried about them going home to Italy where we were hearing horror stories about Covid and how it was killing Italians. So, everyone went into panic mode. It seemed their departure was so sudden. They turned off the lights and went home! They canceled their last three performances and the next thing we knew they were on their way home. But being true to form, what did they do? Like good children, they checked in with us as soon as they got home and told us they were safe and, they needed to be with their families now.
Over the next three months they went into quarantine but, they stayed with us and shared their lives with us. A day didn’t go by that one or more of them appeared on Instagram and Facebook to cheer us up. They shared conversations with their friends and, they shared their everyday lives with us. We joined Piero at 4:00 PM every afternoon for his singing lessons. Ignazio brought in singers and comedians to entertain us and let’s not forget he took the time to introduce us to Nico! As to Gianluca, we watched him play piano and sing beautiful songs to us! And then there were the special songs of prayer by each of the guys and who can forget Ignazio’s “Almeno tu nell’universo.” No, they never left us.
And what did we do? Over three and a half months we learned about them, their childhoods and their private lives by sharing, every Sunday, an episode (total 17 episodes) in one of their lives.
Then the quarantine was over and, they left their houses. But the messages continued, go out but wear a mask.
The one thing they wanted more than anything was to get back to work. Well they did have the commitment with Dolce & Gabbana which gave us a spectacular Sunday event. And there was the concert in Monte Carlo but, something was missing.
Saturday night they showed us what was missing!
But let’s step back a minute! When the guys were entering the Arena on Friday, they were stopped and asked about the situation of Covid. Ignazio answered. “It’s time for us to leave our houses, start having fun again but with responsibility.”
Friday afternoon we watched them at sound check give a performance to those present at the Verona Arena that would rival most concerts. And then later in the evening they returned to the Arena for light check. Ignazio and Gianluca were making videos with their phones, while Piero was wandering around. Ignazio got his attention.
Ignazio to Piero:What are you doing?
Piero:What are You looking at?
Ignazio:The light that is there.
Gianluca: It’s Beautiful.
Ignazio:The gorgeous light. Gorgeous! Gorgeous!
Of course, Piero pulled out his phone and started to video.
But what was it about the lights that got Ignazio’s attention? Well they were as Ignazio said, “La Luce Stupenda! “The lights were gorgeous,” but I think he was thinking about the last lights that he saw on stage.
Saturday night when the guys were entering the Arena before the show they were stopped and asked this question by a woman reporter:
Reporter: You are International entertainers therefore you know how much the live dimension is missing. But above all you have defined the stage as your natural element. So, how is it for you to return to a live performance tonight?
Ignazio: It’s like giving candy to a baby. We are happy because we missed it. We missed it to die for but not only for our personal thing but because this is to me the music slowly restarting with the safety measures. But we are restarting it all with Italian music. It’s like I am starting again to grow up on stage and hope that it can be a message of hope for the groups, in the cities, in the emerging local areas who want to start making music. We have to continue making music and we hope that by 2021 full concerts and full live.
It was an absolutely beautiful statement that said it all! What I liked best about this statement was Ignazio saying“It’s like I am restarting it all with Italian music. I’m starting again to grow up on stage…”What did he mean? This time he is starting in Italy not America. He finally feels like he is at home!Bravo Ignazio! You are home.
When the guys arrived on stage, they had a message for the world and all people in the industry:
Ignazio:2020 will be remembered as the year where the world would be constrained to be turned off.
Gianluca:For the music employees the verb turn off means the end of the show, when the curtains close and it is the waiting moment for the next show, but this time the waiting lasted more than expected, the silence was unavoidable.
Piero:Now, the world is getting ready to start again! Now the moment has arrived to raise the curtain! Now, we will turn on the music!”
This beautiful statement was followed bythe performance of the evening.Their choice of“Nessun Dorma”sent an even stronger message. It’s says we may have to perform under these new world conditions, but we don’t have to change who we are or why we’re here. In this ancient Arena we look to the past while following the path to the future. From their first note the whole arena lit up. Their voices were clean and crisp. Their presence was illuminating. Their notes rose above the Arena into the night sky to let the world know music is back! The final note of their song sent the final statement. All three voices rose in unison and their voices sent forth a note that took our breaths away!It said We Have Returned! ”Turn on the Lights.”
Many of us had the opportunity to witness a spectacular event on Instagram and Facebook yesterday! It was an event that will live long in my mind. This was the culmination of a five-city tour of the movie“Devotion” the story of Dolce & Gabbana. It was a love story for Sicily.
People waited in long lines in Piazza Trinità to grab tickets for the event of the year by Polizzi Generosa, namely the film “Devotion” by Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana. Since the early hours of dawn, many people stormed the square for the opening of the Info Point. The 700 applicants arrived around noon. In addition to the issue of the single ticket, the delivery of the related Covid-19 self-declaration form to be completed and presented for entry.
Given the number of seats in the square and the number of people booked, the film was screened in three sessions with the first show starting at 9.15 pm.
Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca were special guests of Domenico and Stefano. They were there to celebrate Domenico’s birthday and to join the family and to participate in many events.
After the squares of Syracuse, Caltagirone, Castellammare del Golfo and Palermo, the Dolce & Gabbana tour ended in Polizzi Generosa, the birthplace of Domenico Dolce, in the fifth stage of the most beautiful places in Sicily. Devotion was a great success with the public. “Devotion” reflects the history, originality and love of Dolce for his country, together with his inseparable colleague Stefano Gabbana, “Sicilian by adoption”.
The event brought an influx of people, from the early hours of the day. They guys spent part of the day walking around the town and meeting the people. Stopping to take photos with anyone who asked them. Piero had a great time traveling around town in a truck decorated with the colors of Sicily. He was accompanied by some of the Dolce family. Gianluca walked around town and stopped to take some interesting pictures including one of him on a balcony posing as the Holy Father at a Sunday Angelus! And Ignazio walked around the town stopping to talk to people along the way. There was a big treat for Piero when the local Pastry shop brought him some yummy treats.
From the balcony of Domenico’s house, the guys sang, “Grande Amore” and was accompanied by the whole town. And the highlight of the afternoon was Ignazio singing with the Gabbana children. I don’t know who had more fun! Ignazio or the kids. I haven’t seen the boys have this much fun in a long time.
During the week Domenico Dolce shuttled between his town and the first four Sicilian stops and, inaugurated the Dolce Foundation, and in the context he celebrated his 62nd birthday among his fellow citizens, with party, joy, and the music of Riccardo Termini another Polizzano artist now known to all who, with his friscaletto (wind instrument, typical Sicilian) played in a week of joy for everyone.
The parade commenced with Domenico walking through the town with Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca. Then the festivities began. Spectacular performances by Sicilian folklore groups. Men and women in traditional Sicilian costumes danced to traditional folklore music. Their costumes were all the splendid colors of Sicily. The horses were in grand regalia. Domenico’s family and the guys watched all the events below from the balcony.
After dinner everyone sang Happy Birthday to Domenico and the guys presented Domenico with a painting by Fabio Ingrassia. The painting depicts Domenico at 6 years old making his first trousers helped by tailors from his fathers’ tailor shop. On Instagram, Gianluca points out one of the men in the painting which looks very much like Fabio Ingrassia. A statement in the painting! Why not, all great artists, represent themselves in their work. After the presentation, Piero sang a beautiful, Sicilian, folk song for Domenico.
In the evening everyone went to the square to watch the movie which was followed by a grand fireworks display. As Ignazio was watching and, recording he was singing along with the music some of the old Sicilian songs.
The event was a Testimonial of Sicily in Italy and in the world. A truly once in a lifetime event and we got to witness it along with our dear guys!! Thank you for bringing us along!
All seats are now sold out for the concert at the Opéra Garnier in Monte-Carlo in honor of the ten-year career of the trio that has become the pride of Italian music
After postponing the Italian stages, Il Volo returns to perform in the Principality for an evening of Monegasque elegance. Tickets sold at 283 euros each are now all sold out. The Monte Carlo Opera House, which is located in the casino complex, was designed by Charles Garnier, the famous architect of the Opéra Garnier in Paris, and seats 524 people.
The Best of 10 Years!
The tour is entitled “Il Volo – The best of 10 years”. Indeed, in 2019 the group celebrated ten years of career. Piero Barone, Ignazio Boschetto and Gianluca Ginoble met in 2009 during the TV talent show “Ti lascio una canzone”. They will become a trio, nicknamed “the tenorini”, even if, while Boschetto and Barone are tenors, Ginoble is baritone.
It was in 2015 that they confirmed themselves as ambassadors of the Italian musical tradition when, after winning the Sanremo festival with the song “Grande Amore”, the same singing event that revealed, among others, Eros Ramazzotti and Laura Pausini.
To celebrate their ten-year career, the group released the album “The best of 10 years” in 2019, with which it is preparing to kick off the new world tour, which started in Japan, touched Europe, North and Latin America and will not fail to stop in Monte Carlo for a memorable evening!
There are rehearsals for the concert and our guys, like good professionals, are always there to optimize their performance.
As you can see from the next short video, the theater is really very small, a small chest, a treasure.
But here we are at the time of the concert.
Unfortunately,there are very few and incomplete videos, but even if we can see and hear very little, what we can get makes us understand that the boys are in excellent vocal and physical form!!
NESSUN DORMA – IL MONDO
MY WAY
IL MONDO – UN AMORE COSÌ GRANDE
Between one song and another, Piero Ignazio and Gianluca entertain the audience with some chat, but very nice things have also been said that I am now translating to you. Sorry I didn’t attach the video, but they can’t be viewed in the US.
Ignazio = We have always said that for us, singing for 10 thousand people or for 300 people is the same thing.
And today, now that we are OBLIGED to have smaller capacities (due to Covid19), we can really live what we said.
Piero = Because there is no such gap between audience and stage …
Ignazio = … it’s like we were in the family, (addresses the audience) and sometimes, you know, singing in front of a few people is more difficult than singing in front of a lot of people, the emotion is different.
Gianluca = Let’s say that, wearing masks, we don’t see your expressions, but we see your eyes, and we hope to fill you with joy. (applause)
GRANDE AMORE
Here they are arrived at Palermo airport, the voice on the loudspeaker recommends maintaining the interpersonal distance of at least 1 meter and wearing a mask ………. good guys, observe the rules!!
But why did all three boys return to Sicily?
What other news is there?
We see from the photos published Gian and Piero in Selinunte, places full of history, will it be only for vacation???
But then, we find Piero Ignazio and Gianluca in Polizzi Generosa, a Sicilian town, where the designer Domenico Dolce (D&G) was born.
Why are they in Polizzi Generosa?
On 13 August was Domenico Dolce’s birthday and today, 16 August in Polizzi Generosa, is a Sunday of celebration, there are stalls and tonight, the film by D&G Devotion will be screened in the square and at the end there will be the fireworks.
Our boys will easily be present at the film screening. It will be a good party, too bad not to be there!!
Here are some moments of the typical party in the streets of the small town. How many people, there is no social distancing, beware guys!!
Well done, you guys stay on Domenico Dolce’s balcony, away from the crowd.
What a great celebration, and the boys are so happy.
Il Volo and Domenico Dolce, Music and Fashion at a high level. 💜
(Click on each photo below for a close up view.)
Here is the promo of the film at Polizzi Generosa.
The fireworks at the end of the documentary film.
Your voices in Monte Carlo were perfect, and seeing you so happy in Sicily fills our hearts.
But we, who feel like yours, mothers, grandmothers, sisters, recommend you: “Stay safe.”
Daniela
It is true that in Sicily the infections have been very limited, but why risk it? The Italian government, seeing the trend of the last days of the people in Italy, has again imposed, from August 17, the closure of discos and the obligation of the mask, even on the street from 06:00 pm until 06:00 am.
This beautiful painting given to Domenico Dolce during his birthday party is made by Fabio Ingrassia.
Here’s what Fabio wrote on his fanpage:
“I made my first trousers when I was 6 with the help of tailors in my father’s tailor shop.”
This sentence was my starting point when they commissioned me a painting for Domenico Dolce.
I had to somehow represent a concept, stop for a moment, right where the magic was born, a child prodigy who for the first time discovered his world … those little hands sewed a dream that would soon become a fantastic reality!
Baroque and revolutionary like Caravaggio, traditionalist and elegant like Black and White. ❤️
THE CREATION oil on canvas 70×100
Thanks IL VOLO!
(Click on each photo below for a close up view.)
Wonderful work: Congratulations to Fabio Ingrassia! ❤️
During the beautiful presentation event of the D&G feature in Taormina, Il Volo sang a beautiful Sicilian song – “E VUI DURMITI ANCORA”.
It is a beautiful Sicilian poem written by Giovanni Formisano in 1910.The beauty of the text greatly affected Gaetano Emanuel Calì, to the point that in the duration of the trip from Malta, (one night), he composed the score to go with it.
Thanks to my friend Katerina Tsaousi, who published the text and the video, I thought of repeating these beautiful words, in the original text and below with the translation made by the Sicilian friend Rita Spera.
Thanks to both !!😘😘
E VUI DURMITI ANCORA
Gian= Lu suli è già spuntatu di lu mari E vui, bidduzza mia, durmiti ancora, L’aceddi sunnu stanchi di cantari E affriddateddi aspettanu ccà fora; Ignazio= Supra ‘ssu barcuneddu su pusati E aspettanu quann’è ca v’affacciati.
Piero= Lassati stari, non durmiti cchiui, Ca ‘nzemi a iddi, dintra sta vanedda, Ci sugnu puru iù, c’aspettu a vui, Ppi viriri ‘ssa facci accussì bedda; G+I+P= Passu cca fora tutti li nuttati E aspettu suru quannu v’affacciati. (The part sung by Il Volo ends here, but the song continues.)
Li ciuri senza vui non vonnu stari, Su tutti ccu li testi a pinnuluni, Ognun d’iddi non voli sbucciari, Si prima non si rapì ssu barcuni. Intra li buttuneddi su ammucchiati E aspettanu quann’è ca v’affacciati. Lassati stari, non durmiti cchiui, Ca ‘nzemi a iddi, dintra sta vanedda, Ci sugnu puru iù, c’aspettu a vui, Ppi viriri ‘ssa facci accussì bedda; Passu cca fora tutti li nuttati E aspettu suru quannu v’affacciati.
Translation:
AND YOU SLEEP, AGAIN
The sun has already risen above the sea And you my beautiful, You sleep, again Birds are tired of singing And full of cold, they wait out here Above the small balcony, they are supported And they wait when it is That you, you lean out of the balcony.
You stop, Don’t sleep anymore because in their midst Inside this little street I’m here too, I’m waiting for you To see your face so beautiful. I spend all the nights out here To see when you look out on the balcony. (The part sung by Il Volo ends here, but the song continues.)
Flowers without you don’t want to be They are all with dangling heads Each of them does not want to blossom If this balcony doesn’t open first Inside the buds are wrapped And they wait when you look out onto the balcony.
You stop, Don’t sleep anymore because in their midst Inside this little street I’m here too, I’m waiting for you To see your face so beautiful. I spend all the nights out here To see when you look out on the balcony.
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
And now, as our eyes are never tired of beauty, let’s still enjoy our beautiful boys, elegant in D&G tuxedos. ❤️❤️❤️
Il Volo with Domenico Dolce, Stefano Gabbana and Musumeci (governor of Sicily).
The words of this Sicilian song are really beautiful.
This song was often used by young Sicilian males to serenade their girlfriends, who listened to them from the window or from the balcony … how romantic.
Poor Gianluca who had to sing in a really difficult dialect.
But Il Volo has made a really good interpretation ….. of course they can, they are Il Volo !!
Thanks again to Rita for the translation from Sicilian to Italian! 😘
Daniela
Credit to owners of all photos and video.
Come in and share the love of life, friends and Il Volo!
Il Volo with Roma’s mayor.
