Penina’s story is next, but first I have to add these photo’s of Loretta and Ignazio at the concert the other night.
Loretta sent them to me 5 times, two were duplicates. Then she sent them to Lynn and asked Lynn to send them to me in case her’s didn’t go through. I’m afraid if I don’t post them she’ll send them again! Guess what she wrote on my email subject line? “Save these to your computer.”
OK Loretta, I got ’em. Here they are and they’re absolutely wonderful! Darn!
~M
Now, Penina at the concert:
The audience in Orillia was about 90% Italians. And not just Italians, but Italian speaking Italians! Someone in the crowd early on shouted to the guys to speak Italian. Which they eventually did, to my regret, as I missed the best joke of the night–because Ignazio said it in Italian.
I have to concur with Jill about the lights and the music accompaniment. The lights were a real problem, they glared, they washed out, and even worse, they moved. Just as you framed a picture, a light would wash the whole thing out. I really think where you sit will have a big determining factor on the quality of pictures you get–and there is no knowing ahead of time whether you are in a good seat for pictures or not. All of my pictures save one was washed out by lights. A fellow two seats over got great pictures. The quality of the photographers certainly had some part in this! (lol) But I refuse to believe that is the sole reason my pictures were a flop.
Very little new was sung that wasn’t an English song. The new songs in Italian listed on the Buffalo playlist (Si Me Falta Tu Mirada, L’amore Si Muove, and La Vida) were not sung. Neither was Core N’Grato to my great disappointment. On the other hand they did do Beautiful that Way and Eternally. And instead of La Vida they did Surrender. So there was a lot of old stuff here, mixed in with some new, although the only new songs outside of the duets in Italian was L’immensita, Piove and Grande Amore.
There was a good deal of funny stuff, with Ignazio doing his Godfather routine, and demanding Piero kiss his hand with the ring coming at the introduction to My Way. Another funny interlude came with Piero trying to introduce Ignazio when he was about to sing Memory. However most of this dialogue was in Italian. I forgot to say, Ignazio’s mom, Caterina Boschetto was sitting directly across the aisle from me! She sneaked in after the show started and I didn’t see her come in. I noticed she was there somewhere during the program, and when Ignazio said whatever it was he said that convulsed everyone, she put her hands over her face, and shook with laughter. I wanted to say hello to her after the show, but she left the way she came–before the show was 100% over, and I didn’t see her leave.
The meet and greet was very different! We were all herded into a space they set up in the end of the hallway outside the concert hall by blocking off a section with a big divider backdrop thing. The photographer got us to make a big circle and he told us he would take pictures quickly, one after another, and once the pictures were done, the boys would be available to talk to us informally. The line went around, people gave quick hugs, kisses, handshakes, etc. lined up and took the pictures. What was nice about it was you saw everyone’s interactions with the guys.
There was one little old Italian grandmother with her granddaughter who had everyone in stiches. After the group picture the granddaughter wanted a picture with them by herself and she tried to shoo her grandmother away. But grandma was having too good of a time and wouldn’t leave. Finally the photographer told her she should leave and she said she would leave if she could take Ignazio with her! After all the picture taking the boys just waded into the crowd, answering questions, getting hugged, taking selfies, etc. I managed to get selfies with all three of them! Piero was holding forth in a little circle of people when I came along he was telling someone about the rigors of the schedule and how happy he was his father was able to come along with him. “He brings me breakfast in bed! He makes me pasta! I would never be able to stand such a long schedule if he weren’t here with me.” Such a sweetie! And then he broke some very interesting news. He said they are doing a concert on July 1 (which I have already seen advertisements for) that will be a very special concert. Apparently July 1 is the anniversary (20th? don’t remember) of the 3 tenors first concert and Il Volo is doing a tribute concert to them, and Placido Domingo is going to be the conductor.
And he said, you are the first to know this–no one else knows! And he said it would be an international concert. Whatever that means! It sounds amazing.
And with that, time was up and all three left the area and we all went home.
~Penina
Lighting and sound was a bit of an issue. The lights blinded us from seeing them at time and the orchestra’s sound, though incredible, was overpowering at some parts.
Some people who weren’t at the concert said the videos showed a rather subdued crowd. I will agree, there weren’t girls rushing the stage and singing along. Personally, I like that. I went to hear and see them perform, not to hear other people sing. I think we had an older-than-me (47) crowd overall. I’m not sure if the concert was sold out. I’m thinking it wasn’t as my niece decided to go at noon and got tickets. I’m hoping that even if it wasn’t, they won’t cross Buffalo off their list for their next tour.
Ignazio forgot his belt! I think he forgot to come in during one of the earlier songs because there was silence and GG and PB just looked at him. He also didn’t go for those high notes in Grande Amore. I can’t blame him, those are some hard-work notes. I was so impressed with his duet with Piero, I have never heard him sing with such power.
Piero is definitely the Power House. I’m not picking on him at all because I truly adore him, just were some things I noticed. Piero seemed to be the receiver of the audience – from a woman who approached the stage who wanted (and got) a hug to a little girl showing her poster, to me who gave the candy, it was Piero who received. Oh my goodness, he blew me a kiss and shook my hand! I hope they actually tried the candy and shared it with Barbara, her name was on the box, too! I also shook Gianluca’s hand. He looks much smaller and cuter in person and so close up. The last time I saw him was a hotel and he was beat. Anyway, Iganzio was playful as always and I just love their interactions with each other.
At times I closed my eyes just to listen and fully absorb their sound without the distraction of their good looks!
A few notes (not sure if you read them on Facebook), if you want a mug ($15) get it early. We were there about 1.5 hours before the concert started and they only had 6 left. The women’s t-shirts run small. I bought an XXL v-neck thinking it would be big but it is big on the top but so tight in the boobs (can I write that?) and belly that I can only wear this at home. The t-shirt has their picture but no dates on the back and came in grey or white for $25. They had the unisex/men’s regular cut shirts with the concert listing on the back. They also sold pins for $5, their cd and the Pompeii dvd for $20.
Nobody prevented us from taking photos or videos (at least nobody that I was near). The M&G in Buffalo was nice, not too rushed. They had time for a Q&A though it’s only what I heard. Evidently the M&G was sold out in the first hour so I don’t feel too bad about not getting them. I had an aisle seat in the 2nd row which was great. I’ll save up for the M&G for the next time they are in town, though there are two available in Albany and I’m tempted….anyone going? I’d be sitting by myself which is okay. I think that’s all the news from the concert.
I loved it and am so happy that I could see them in my home city. The last time I had my chorus concert and ended up seeing them in New Jersey but that was okay, I saw them in our hotel while in my pajamas and that’s a cool story. The most important thing to remember when going to the concert is to enjoy every moment. The videos are nice as are the pictures and I took plenty but I also put my phone away for a bit so I could really focus on them and being in the moment.
~Jill