 Here is my impression of my first Meet & Greet with IL Volo, last night at the Borgata Hotel & Casino. The boys were absolutely in top form and their singing was the most powerful I have heard outside of CDs on my stereo. The theatre was sold out and we were packed like sardines but it was a very happy group to be there seeing these wonderful boys. They boys looked absolutely adorable …as ever.While being first in line before the doors opened I chatted with several Security Personnel and they said they have never seen a concert fill up like IL Volo’s or the people getting in line so early.I stayed at the hotel and met many wonderful fans while walking around due to me wearing my IL Volo necklace. After the concert we waited in line for about half hour and were ushered into this very large room where the boys were standing and waiting for each person or group to go up and chat and have a photo taken. Never rushing us. What a thrill to be standing next to them. Gianluca recognized me and remembered me. He requested the photo with me showing the banner I am wearing and the flag (which I held up many times during the concert) I had made with the ‘Granny Groupies’ (Deborah Georgini Beaupre, Madeline Vitella and Joan Brenin) news articles of our trip in May. They loved it and looked at it very carefully. I wanted it signed but unfortunately we were told nothing to be brought to be signed, just photos.After my turn I was able to hang around in this room and spoke with Gaetno Barone (Piero’s Dad) for about a half hour. I also spoke with Barbara Vitali (she is so pretty!) and Maestro Diego Basso. Maestro Basso seemed surprised that I knew who he was. Of course I congratulated him and thanked him for doing these concerts. Gaetano and I chatted in Italian (he does not speak English). He told me how proud he is of Piero and Mariagrazia and Francesco. I asked about Eleonora and he said she told him all about the Granny Groupie’s trip to Naro in May. I felt honored. He knew that I had gotten the courage to return to my homeland after 50 years of being afraid to fly because of IL Volo and especially Piero whose picture I carried of him sleeping like a baby on the plane. He said he loved hearing this.I can’t wait for my second and third Meet & Greet next week in D.C. and Easton.Ciao.
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Tag Archives: Ignazio
Myron… Making Sense Of It
Comments on program order for this tour 2016:
Since the tour began a lot of people have been writing on Facebook or Twitter or other sites that they are upset with the changes in the program order for Il Volo. So I thought I would put in my 2 cents worth.
The first program sent out for the 2016 North American tour was a nice one but (as with all programs) some things were left out and some other things that did not work were put in. This is always a difficult judgement for the any single singer or group of singers. It is not easy. Also they need to ask if the song order is progressive: do you put a sad song before a happy or happy before sad. Do you put all slow songs together and all fast together ( the answer is “no” you mix it as best you can). Fast paced songs need to be spaced out. There needs to be a strong opener and strong closer. Where is the novelty number?  Text is another concern. You want to avoid grouping certain types of texts.   My point is that when they change things out it is for a good reason.
The old program had 25 songs (don’t count the overture) and that is about 2 hours and 20 minutes of music – of pure singing. Non-stop.  That is a lot. But one of their great hits (Surrender) was missed on the road so they put it back in. In this new program order they have dropped three songs from the earlier program and added: “Surrender” which has been a big winner for them.  I was surprised that they dropped “L’Amore si Muove” since that has been a strong number for them. Then they changed the order of Delilah and Caruso. This is better. Â
In Fact, I think the changes are good. They could not do all of their songs – that would take hours and their voices would be shot.  It is a little shorter – but not much shorter. The song order makes better sense and is easier on the voices for the long haul. I am glad to see the duets kept. Good Variety.  From my stand point this is a very good program order.
Il Volo concert program order – 2016 – North American Tour
(changes as of Boston – Feb. 10 )
Overture
Volare
Il Mondo
L’Immensita
Io Che non Vivo (senza te) /You don’t have to say you love me
Tonight (west side story) – Ignazio
E Aranjuez con tu amor – Gianluca
E lucevan le stelle (Tosca) – Piero
Piove (Ciao, Ciao Bambina)
Life is Beautiful that way
Caruso
My Way (duet – Piero & Gianluca)
Quando l’amore diventa poesia
Unchained Melody (duet – Ignazio & Ginaluca)
O paese d’ ‘o sole (duet – Piero & Ignazio
Delilah
Eternally
Memory (cats) – Ignazio
Anema e Core (Heart and Soul) – Gianluca
No Puede Ser – Piero
O Sole Mio
Surrender ( Torna a Surriento )Â
Grande Amore and Finale
-Myron Heaton
Mean Guys ~ by Marie (or anyone else who will take the blame for this one)
As one of the founders and administrators of this website I feel it’s my duty to be honest with you.  All of the posts here can’t be only about the good that happens. That would be unfair to you and way too one-sided of us.  So, here is the other side.
You all think those Il Volo Boys are Angels, but they have you fooled. Open your eyes, people!  You’ve been blinded by some handsome faces and nice music.   You refuse to see that they are mainly just a couple of pretty rotten guys barely out of their teens.  You won’t want to see these but you must…  Sit down.  Take a breath.  Get ready to delete their pictures from your computer and hang in there with me.
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Here’s Ignazio spitting in the face a defenseless puppy.  Why Ignazio?  Why?
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Speaking of spitting…this is just offensive!
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Poking fun at the new Justin Bieber CD… not at all nice.
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Attempting to insight a riot against little white notebooks!
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 Piero has a serious biting habit I’ll bet you didn’t know about.
OUCH! Â Again Piero?
OH NO, PIERO! Â NOT NONNO TOO!
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OK, OK, I’ll buy that concert ticket. Â
And one for the Meet & Greet.
And I’ll buy the DVD.  Just PLEASE don’t hurt my family!
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I know you think they love children. Â But….
(this one broke my heart)
Also caught him trying to stuff a child under a table!
And how about Ignazio trying to pull this poor little girl closer so he can poke her in the eye!
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The three of them never really got along from the beginning. Â You didn’t know that either?
“Let go of the mic Gian!  No you let go, Ignazio!  No you, Piero!
“It’s mine let go! No, I won it, you let go! I’ll drop it on your head if you don’t let go!”
“Let go! No, you let go! Â No you!”
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Rumor has it that Gianluca tried to get rid of Ignazio from the beginning. Â He wanted Il Volo to be a Duo.Â
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Yes, you should be ashamed! Â You should ALLÂ be ashamed!
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“You let go first! Â No you let go first! Â No You!”
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I’m sorry you had to see all of this, my poor gullible Flight Crew friends. Â
With much sadness,
~Marie
p.s. Â No hate mail, please!
Personally Speaking~Be Still My Heart!
If these three photos don’t melt you into a puddle then you are not breathing the same air as the rest of us!
They were made to warm the heart on a cold winter day.
To calm the soul during a once in a century snow storm.
To stir the imagination of a lonely heart.
To strengthen the desire to see them in person.
As we anxiously await to see these awesome young men  on a stage in front of us, let us feast our eyes on these beautiful photos!
Need I say more? I don’t think so!
~Jane
On Cloud 9 in Orilla with Annie and Better Than Imagined in Boston with Julie
Annie in Orilla
I went to the Orillia concert on Sunday Feb.7th with my Daughter and Granddaughter and what a time we had, we had front row seats and as soon as Gianluca came to our end of the stage he spotted my Granddaughter and remembered her from the 2014 concert in Toronto, well later in the show when they were singing, he came over to our end and beckoned for her to come over to the stage and he sang to her, what a thrill that was, my heart was doing flip flops and I’m sure her Mother’s was too.
The meet and greet event after was so much better than last time, it was much more informal and they had one photographer who took all the pictures and after that we had quite a lot of time to take our own individual pictures and could talk to the guys, I even got to meet Piero’s Father and Ignazio and Gianluca’s Mothers, also talked with Barbara Vitali. What a great night that was, I just wish I could see them more. I’m still on cloud 9 !!!
Hope you enjoy your time with them.
Annie Hatfield
JULIE IN BOSTON
Here are some highlights of my first concert – yes, the lighting is very intrusive and quite annoying; but beyond that, the concert was just great. Loved every rendition. Nice mix of Italian and English songs. Each of them performed two solos, also 3 duets. Sang Happy Birthday to Gianluca, no trouble understanding Ignazio’s “English with a Sicilian accent”.  The Theater was very strict about not taking  pictures and videos during the performance. I had to use a walker to get around –Â
During the M & G :
Piero called the walker my “zoomer” during the time when they allowed us to take pictures on our own phones. Gave the Guys Valentine Fan Mail. I told Gianluca that there is extra mail for him because it is his Birthday, he leaned over and said “Grazie Senora” and gave me a kiss on the cheek!!!. Wow!!Â
Didn’t get to talk with Ignazio as he was in the midst of a conversation with a couple girls about maintaining leg strength. Sounded quite serious. While we waited for all the group pictures to be taken, Piero’s Father walked by and shook my hand. That was a surprise. I am so happy I was able to get there. It was better than I ever imagined. Â
Julie (Kathryn Bernache)
Also…
Il Volo will perform at the “TRIBUTE TO PLACIDO DOMINGO” in Santiago on June 29th. Â (Thanks Mary Strickler)
