Two weeks ago, Gianluca surprised us, because he published the entire letter from a fan named Martina.
It is a very sweet letter, to which Gianluca briefly replied.
Being a writing, I thought that everyone would translate it, in fact many Facebook pages immediately published the translation.
A couple of days ago, however, a specific request for this translation arrived via e-mail, therefore, we publish it, perhaps not all of you have read it.
(Judy, this is for you)
This is the letter published by Gianluca.
Dear Gianluca,
My name is Martina. I am 19 years old and I have not walked since birth due to damage done by doctors. You are my strength, for this I have decided to write you this letter.
I’m excited just to write about you.
It excites me because every time I do it comes back to me the most beautiful awareness I have, that of having you in my life! I have you in a special way, in a way like I have never had any person before, I have you, and you are there, if real, you are alive and breathe the life you improve with the mere fact of existing.
There are no words that can explain, there are no eyes that can keep you inside without bursting into a cry of pure joy, there is no heart that can resist bursting with love, there are no hands that are enough to hold yours even at a distance, there are no and never will be arms so long to be able to embrace everything of you, given what it is then, your immensity!
There is one thing I know, that you will always be the most beautiful fable that I will tell myself to find courage, and the most beautiful one that I will tell when I am a woman when I am a mother, to my children, to make them believe in dreams. I will tell about you. I already see myself there. Excited to tell them how much this man has profoundly changed my life, how much love I received from him, how much he made me feel, how much courage, strength and determination he gave me, how much life he unconsciously taught me … and I’ll tell him how I first met happiness !!
How someone up there gave it to me stuck in your smile and in your beautiful eyes, and in those arms that I held tightly enough to leave a mark inside my soul. Thanks to you, this wheelchair no longer exists for me even if it exists.
@ gianginoble11 I hope to hug you soon even if it is not easy having this situation … you are my strength. your Martina
And here is Gianluca’s simple and affectionate answer.
Hi Martina, you moved me, you are in my heart.
Hope to hug you soon.
Gianluca.
In these moments of Covid, Gianluca also wanted to sponsor this beautiful initiative.
THE SMILE IN THE TIME OF COVID-19.
The book, dedicated “To the victims of Covid-19 and to those who fight every day to treat the sick and defeat the virus”, also has a beneficial purpose. The authors have in fact decided to support, with part of the proceeds, the “Banco di Solidarity Santina Ruggieri” in Roseto degli Abruzzi.
But there was also another event. Gianluca went to visit a museum, the museum that talks about the people of Abruzzo.
Here is the article announcing Gianluca’s visit and which I am translating for you.
Gianluca Ginoble from Il Volo paid a visit this morning to the Museum of the People of Abruzzo. The young tenor from Abruzzo arrived in Pescara accompanied by his father Ercole, his grandfather and his uncle, to make – with interest and curiosity – a journey to rediscover his roots. Here’s what Ginoble said:
“For me, enhancing Abruzzo, my land, is important. I do it with music and with my voice, but it is a great pride and a privilege to know that I have such beautiful things close to us, true works of art. For older people, they have the value of memories. They are important, however, especially for young people, who must know and appreciate them, they must discover and pass them on. And it is also the task of parents, families, to guide them along this along this path.”
On his itinerary Ginoble was accompanied by the vice president of the Genti d’Abruzzo foundation, Luigi Di Alberti, and by the director Letizia Lizza, who guided him through display cases, finds and artifacts. Gianluca paid particular attention to musical instruments self-produced by shepherds, but also to tools related to the typical products of the area, such as wines and oils. Enchanted stop also in the ceramics room. The artist has promised that he will soon return to the city to visit the Cascella Museum as well.
Here, a nice video of the visit, with the translation for you.
VOICE= A third of Il Volo, this morning, at the museum of the people of Abruzzo, in Pescara. Exclusive opening for Gianluca Ginoble, a special visitor.
GIAN = It’s the first time, and in any case a great pleasure to enhance places like this. I’m proudly from Abruzzo, so absolutely, when you can give visibility to places like this museum, it’s always a great pleasure for me.
VOICE = Maybe it will also be an opportunity to find inspiration for some song.
GIAN = Why not, we are working on new things, it is a period unfortunately, which does not allow us to shoot, to tour right now, so we can concentrate a little more on the music, for sure.
VOICE = Young, important, eager to know the traditions of his territory, so we welcomed him, very happy with this, and now we will accompany him along the exhibition itinerary, which tells the story of our region. We also found out that he is an antiquity history buff so we are really happy with this visit.
VOICE = How did you find out about this possibility to visit the museum?
GIAN = Thanks to my uncle, whom I greet, whom I love very much.
I also had the pleasure of meeting special people, so thank you.
VOICE = Uncle would like you to visit him, he has been waiting for you for two years.
GIAN = I know, but sometimes we see each other, based on commitments, and then with the lock-down it was not possible, but sometimes we see each other. The importance of the family, the family is the most important thing, must always be valued.
Finally a last video, just to show that Gianluca does not forget to train his beautiful voice!
Congratulations Gianluca, your kind soul can only bring big smiles in our faces, smiles of pride because once again we are aware that each of our three boys is a real rare pearl!
I heard right “….. we are working on new things ….” – wow wow, what a thrill !!
A pleasant interview with Gianluca Ginoble, made by the journalist: Luca Maggitti.
The occasion was the ABBA Immobiliare event, for the presentation of their construction project LUXURY ESTATE which will be carried out in Roseto degli Abruzzi.
A nice dinner on a summer evening with a touch of rain. The event was cheered by some guests, including our Gianluca.
The video begins with the performance of a good violinist with CON TE PARTIRÒ (Time to Say Goodbye) performed among the tables of the guests.
I translate for you.
LM = On stage with me, the winner of Sanremo 2015 with Il Volo: Gianluca Ginoble.
GG = Good evening
LM = These drops (drizzle), remind me of a passage from a book that says that Mexican nobles love to sleep outdoors with the drops of water that wet their sheets in the summer.
GG = The perfect soundtrack. The sound of nature.
LM = Singing in the rain.
GG = Singing in the rain. Wet evening, lucky evening (it’s an old Italian saying).
LM = You are truly an international artist, you have been on exceptional stages. A memory … when I saw you taking a selfie with Pope Francis in Panama, remind me how many there were, how many you were.
GG = Maybe it was one of the best experiences ….. but you know that I don’t like to always talk about myself. This is a special evening and first of all I want to greet everyone, even ABBA Immobiliare and all of you, I am really happy and honored to be here, and thanks for the affection you have shown me also in these last weeks where we have had the opportunity to be together.
LM = But they want to hear about you.
GG = Yes, of course, let’s say that during my artistic career, it is now 11 years that I “fly” with my colleagues.
LM = You have been on a world tour for 11 years without stopping, COVID has stopped you, otherwise you would be doing the eleventh year of touring.
GG = Unfortunately, Covid has stopped everyone, there is no alternative and in any case health is the most important thing. Surely one of the most beautiful experiences was to sing for the Pope, one meter from Pope Francis, a Ave Maria Mater Misericordiae written especially for us. There were thousands of young people, it was WYD.
LM =Eight hundred thousand young people?
GG = You added three hundred thousand more …..
LM = But do you realize how many young people ….. and then you go there and say “Francis, let’s take a selfie?”
GG = It was nice, because the Pope is always very helpful, we had the opportunity to meet him also during the private audience, and that day we said “Can we take a selfie like young people do?” And he said “Sure.”
LM = Then I have an Argentine national volleyball guest and I keep you here, as you also speak Spanish and I don’t.
GG = Okay.
LM = You also sang for two Presidents of the Italian Republic, in the Senate there was Napolitano and in Trieste, for the unification of Italy there was Mattarella. Even in those cases, I imagine, a great satisfaction.
GG = Especially in the Senate I was very excited, I was 18/19 and it was something surreal, like the beginning of our career, from school desks, to travels around the world.
It was an honor for us, Napolitano, Grasso (President and Prime Minister), he was very prestigious, one of the things I will never forget.
LM = Another thing I remember, at least it struck me a lot and maybe it is something passed over in silence, when you went to do a sort of “Band Aid”, years later for Haiti, if I’m not mistaken, and you were invited by Quincy Jones himself. Quincy Jones isn’t recognized by many, but he produced Michael Jackson, he produced Thriller.
You were very young, and you had this man who, from the videos, hugged you …..
GG = There are great things very appreciated abroad, of our country, and they are good food and this type of music, which has its own light and illuminates the world for decades, also brought by Pavarotti and Bocelli. Thanks to this, we have attracted the attention of the great boss of international music like Quincy Jones, because we do nothing but bring, with our voices, the name of our music, of our country.
LM = It struck me a lot, even the fact that the former Roseto basketball coach, when he was in Atlanta, called me and said, “Is that boy really from Roseto?”. And then he came to greet you at meet & greet and he wrote me, “This is the music that everyone loves in the world.” and he is a Croatian.
(Atlanta 2016, Gianluca , Piero Ignazio and Neven Spahija, the Roseto coach)
The beautiful thing about Il Volo, I have always said, as a simple journalist, you are Il Volo in Japan, Il Volo in America …… that is … Vasco Rossi (a very famous pop singer in Italy) it is Vasco Rossi in Italy, but in France (France taken as an example of a neighboring country), no offense, he is nobody ….. you are Il Volo in the world, and this is an incredible thing.
When you go to South America they give the news on the national news. For you, who are always kind it seems normal, but sharing this with you, let me say to all: let’s do another round of applause !!
There is also another succulent anecdote, when you went with Bruno Vespa in New York and you met Woody Allen and you explain to him that you live in Montepagano, taking the wine route. Tell us.
GG = I sometimes think about it and it makes me laugh.
LM = Your spontaneity makes you do everything.
GG = Sicily is certainly much better known than Abruzzo, this is the reality. We were having dinner with Woody Allen and he asked us where we come from. The other two replied from Sicily and he said he had seen it several times, then I say from Abruzzo, he did not know where it was, then I add, near Rome, and then I say, “Do you know Montepulciano d’Abruzzo wine?” and he said, “Yes, great wine, I like it very much”. You understand, I had to go around through the wine to explain where Abruzzo is, because unfortunately he didn’t know it, but through the wine he understood.
LM = Yes, for many foreign people, Abruzzo is close to Rome, even if in fact it is not that close for us, indeed it is far from Rome, but to explain it is easier this way.
GG = In addition, the places of the Abruzzo mountains are more famous than those of the sea. But we have beautiful beaches here and there are people like you (Abba Immobiliare) who are investing in the territory of Roseto degli Abruzzi, which is a jewel and has nothing to envy from other beaches.
LM= Last thing I want to tell you, something that happened to me and your dad, Ercole. One day I was here at the Liberty having a coffee and I see four women who speak English. They were four of Gianluca admirers from Connecticut, Texas, Florida, and I would say Louisiana or Georgia, who had come here, had hired a driver, an interpreter, and wanted to see the places where Gianluca had grown up. If I hadn’t witnessed this, I wouldn’t have believed it. They asked me, “Do you really know Gianluca?” And I called Ercole and told him that I had seen women who were almost crying for Gianluca.
GG = Do you realize?
LM = The Texan woman, (Deborah, they are talking about you!) showed me the photo of the car with the personalized IL VOLO license plate, because there, paying for it is possible (in Italy it is not possible) and told me, “I am cured of depression, after the death of my husband, listening to the music of Il Volo” and hugged you and never left you. They came from America to see your house, then, luckily you were there, but for them, it was enough to see Gianluca’s house in Montepagano. What do you think of this?
GG = Sometimes I can hardly believe it, how life can radically change, however I was a child who dreamed of singing, but I never imagined that my life could change like this and get to the other side of the world and excite and also to heal people ….. the power of music, and it’s something that still excites me.
LM = In 2009, Massimo Ranieri (famous Italian singer) comes here to sing and the mayor tells me, I bring Gianluca to Ranieri and introduce him to him. You know him, and you tell him, “You will see that I will become a good singer.”
GG = But…… I can’t have said that.
LM = Then you also took the photo with your cell phone.
GG = It was 2007 and then in 2015 we sang together on RAI1 QUANDO L’AMORE DIVENTA POESIA and he showed that old photo on TV.
LM = What effect did it have on you?
GG = This shows that over the years anything can happen, as a child I came to see a singer in concert and a few years later, I sing on TV with him.
GG = Luca, but you know that I don’t like to talk only about me.
LM = But you are the star. In 2007, the first memory I have of you, at the age of 12, you go to sing twp songs for a poetry award at the Pia Marta oratory school and you sing IL MARE CALMO DELLA SERA, a very difficult piece.
GG = I remember, I was a little anomalous, a 12 year old boy singing Bocelli, my friends listened to something else. I also listened to other groups, but also classical music, so the children of my age saw me as a “different” child.
LM = And I remember, that this 12 year old is doing this very difficult song and in the end we all stood up.
GG = Then I still had the young voice, so it was easier to get to the high notes.
LM = It was an exceptional ride and it is still at the beginning because you are very young.
GG = I hope so, I’ve always enjoyed living with music.
LM = Last thing, you were international stars, but you missed Italy, first time in Sanremo and immediately victory, what effect did it have on you?
(Sanremo first night, how much emotion !!!)
GG = In fact we were more known and appreciated in other countries than at home, it was a sort of revenge, to show that we had a great desire to do and to be recognized in our country after years abroad, and for us to win Sanremo it was the most important thing, it gave us the real fame in Italy, that of being recognized on the street. But I must say that I am really happy and I hope to continue flying with my colleagues for many more years.
LM = The hope is also that you will always remain so available, ladies and gentlemen: GIANLUCA GINOBLE.
Gianluca Ginoble with Luca Maggitti.
This photo is published on Luca Maggitti’s Facebook page with this dedication:
If I can express a wish to friends, for 2019, it is to have the humility of Gianluca: an international star who – since I have known him … and I have known him since he was 12 years old and he was nobody – has never been haughty.
On the other hand, I know people who are haughty and don’t even have a shred of talent.
Bravo, Gianlù!
Luca Maggitti
(In the lower right corner of the photo is Gianluca’s first public performance, on May 25, 2007 at the Oratorio Piamarta.)
Did you like this interview?
Really a nice chat between friends who respect each other.
And you, Gianluca, always kind and helpful, we really like this aspect of your character. 😘
P+I+G = “Benvenuto a Miami”, JORGE, PIERO GIANLUCA IGNAZIO
PR = Piero, Gianluca and Ignazio, Ignacio in Spanish.
I = Nacho
PR = How did you meet, you are young, you have been friends for a long time …
P = We met in an Italian television program: We arrived there singing individually and on the fourth episode, the director decided to combine our voices.
PR = And at that moment did the three voices come together perfectly? Did the three voices mix automatically?
P = Yes, we have three not completely different voices, but Ignazio and I are tenors and Gianluca is baritone. There are three different types of voices that mix, make Il Volo.
PR = Do you prefer to sing in a group or do you prefer to sing separately?
I = This project was born as Il Volo, it was not born as Ignazio Boschetto, Gianluca Ginoble or Piero Barone, it was born as Il Volo!
G = From the beginning.
I = From the beginning, so we prefer to stay together, united.
PR = Your age.
P = 17
G = 16
I = 16
PR = Explain to me why you sing opera and not songs like Justin Bieber.
G = We do not sing opera, our genre is pop-lyrical, because on our CD there is no Nessun Dorma (surely then, they did not imagine that in the future they would also sing the Nessun Dorma), La Boheme, and there are no not even songs like Baby or One Time, for example, by Justin Bieber. Ours are pop-lyric songs, and it is also a novelty, because it is the first time that 16-year-olds have been singing this type of music.
PR = But also sing a song called O SOLE MIO.
I = It is not an opera song.
P = It’s a traditional song.
G = It is a song of the Italian tradition, because on our CD there are various songs, in Spanish, in Italian and in English.
P = Type: Smile, by Charlie Chaplin, is in English.
Which are part of the Italian tradition: O sole Mio, Un Amore così Grande, Il Mondo.
I = Also a traditional song in South America ….
P = Spanish, the Reloj (hints at a small refrain)
G = They are all performed with modern arrangements, with the addition of guitars …
P = Because we are three young boys
G = So that’s the beauty of this new project.
PR = Whose idea was it to bring you to the US from Italy and put Spanish songs on the CD?
G = I’ll explain, we are the first Italian artists who signed a contract directly with an American major, it is the first time. Ours is an international project, it is a music that is enjoyed all over the world, not only in Italy, in fact we are having excellent results, we are really happy.
P = We decided to do the CD edition in Spanish, because we feel that Spanish is a language that belongs to us. We have fun when we sing in Spanish.
I = We must remember that it is also thanks to our producer.
P = Yes, our producer, Humberto Gatica, thanks to him we recorded the Spanish version, because he speaks Spanish and in the recording studio, he helped us with the correct pronunciation of Reloj.
G = But then you know that he is Lucho Gatica’s nephew.
PR = There is another group called IL DIVO.
G = Yes, let’s say that Josh Groban, Il Divo, Bocelli, our genre is more towards these singers.
PR = Which Italian singer would you like to inspire in the future?
I = Certainly Pavarotti was the Italian singer who had the greatest success also abroad, as regards the opera.
P = In pop-lyric I would say Bocelli.
I = Each of us would like to do the same career as Bocelli
G = Yes, Pavarotti or Bocelli
P = But we hope to make a good career like “IL VOLO”.
PR = You are young, do you see other plans for the future outside of music?
P = No, no, always in music, we always hope to sing together, our dream is to sing all life. In my opinion, we were born to sing.
G = We are three different voices, but one soul and when we sing together, when there are harmonies, we feel all the emotion we put into singing.
P = Three voices and a soul. Thanks to music, we are able to transmit our emotions.
PR = Do you have a girlfriend?
I = Let’s change the question !!
PR = Why doesn’t this job allow you to have a girlfriend?
G = Yes, it allows, but it is very difficult.
I = Let’s say we don’t want to talk about it, we want privacy about our love life.
PR = I understand, you are reserved for your private life.
P = Perfect, we prefer to talk about music.
Music is our job, they are one thing.
Girlfriend is another thing.
PR = You want to keep the two things separate. Private. We better talk about music.
But what do you do in life, besides Il Volo and privacy?
I = Piero loves to upgrade cars, to transform them.
P = I make cars faster.
G = I play football.
I = I love planes.
PR = Airplane pilot? But really or remotely?
I = I’d really like to, for now I’m training in a program that is a type of real simulator.
PR = Do you want to say something to your fans, maybe future girlfriends?
G = We hope that all our fans really like this CD, because, as Piero said before, you can feel all the emotion, all that we transmit with our voice, is on our CD.
P = And it is a CD suitable for all people of all ages. We sing in three languages and there are songs for young and old generations, for everyone.
G + I = It is a CD for everyone.
PR = As you say in Italian: no to piracy.
P + I + G = NO ALLA PIRATERIA!!!
Every time I find these old videos, for me it is a reconstruction of some missing moments, as I started following Il Volo after Sanremo 2015, but it is always a confirmation of how big these kids were already, at that time, mature and always well educated.
Piero, Gianluca and Ignazio, you have started the road well and over the 10 years you have not lost or changed your path.
Roseto TV interviewed Gianluca on June 2 outdoors at Cabana Park, with the beautiful Adriatic Sea in the background. The segment, entitled “Gianluca Ginoble: Il Lockdown, Le Passioni, L’Abruzzo, La Musica, Il Volo,” reached YouTube and Il Volo Italian’s Instagram page a week ago. Gianluca was quite comfortable with the interviewer, Luca, an Abruzzo native he knows well, and was willing to open up about his non-professional life.
If you listen to the link, you’ll notice that late in the interview, the two are sometimes talking right over each other. As I listened, I realized that Luca wasn’t always asking questions. He was pontificating, with pauses for answers, and as soon as Gianluca started speaking in the pauses, Luca would cheer him on, finishing Gianluca’s sentences, talking at the same time. If you’re Italian or have been around Italians, you know that’s normal.
I’m not sure exactly where in this post Jana or Pat will place the photos. So, I will not refer to any photo being “above” or “below” my text. You’ll just have to find it. It’s more fun that way.
Daniela, from the Flight Crew, agreed that Gianluca seems to be the most active in the media of the three Il Volo guys.
Ignazio for a long time preferred not to post a lot of images, but rather, occasionally used Instagram as a form of musical air time. You may have noticed he has recently been posting tantalizing clips and snippets of his vocals, accompanying himself on piano or guitar, or singing with other performers, or promoting his compadre Siciliano, Nico, whose work he produces. Igna is an industrious, creative, high energy sort.
Piero protects his privacy and home life more than Gianluca does, but still frequently posts shots and videos of his workouts at home, in the gym, or outdoors in the sand. I’ve even shown some of his past pictures to the trainers in my gym, who liked his workouts and sometimes even copied them.
L’Intervista (On to the Interview)
Luca explains it’s June 3, 2020 and he’s with Gianluca Ginoble, a Rosetano from their beloved Montepagano, an internationally known artist with Il Volo. He welcomes Gian and asks him: How have you spent the quarantine period for the COVID19 Coronavirus emergency?
Gian: Despite all the negativity of the situation, I have tried to find positive things. For example, I have re-discovered passions that I haven’t exactly abandoned, but, well . . . For one thing, I have started playing the piano. I became passionate about books and literature, about being with my family, things that you well know get set aside when we are away eight months per year on tour. You could say that this quarantine hasn’t really been completely negative, because I have been close to my family and have rediscovered passions that I didn’t even know I had.
Luca: That’s an interesting reflection because I think that the issue of rediscovering one’s roots and one’s family, and having personal time, is an important message.
He then asked Gianluca how he passes his days, in the so-called Phase 2, where there’s some freedom to go out (still respecting social distance) with masks no longer constantly required. He asks what Gianluca’s up to, now that he’s is free to take get out and do some things.
Gian: Because of the COVID we’ve had to cancel our series of concerts through October. So, for this time I’ll still be at home. We of course have some filmed interviews and televised get-togethers, as we’ve done during the quarantine. But I’ve been relaxing. I’ve started playing tennis. I’m enjoying the seashore at Roseto d’Abruzzi. I don’t go to other places, even if you can go outside the region from today on. So, I’m staying here. Yesterday we were at Rocca Calascio. Every week my family has a regular date to go hiking in the mountains.
Luca: That’s also a wonderful lead in, because I remember that for several years you’ve been an official ambassador both of Abruzzo, and of Roseto d’Abruzzo, your great love. Yesterday, I saw the photos of you at Rocca Calascio, where they filmed “Ladyhawke,”so this in itself is a great way to inspire future tourism.
Back to the Intervista
Gian: Look, Luca, with you, apart from the relationship of respect and friendship we have, going beyond this interview, I’ll tell you as a friend. You have to have the ability, how can I say it, to set and achieve goals, even when you’re as young as I am. But at the same time, I’m trying to maintain my roots, and my connection to that normal guy I used to be, who wanted to live a normal life. It’s like I’m a on a train track and every now and then I can jump from one rail to the other. It’s really great to be able to live life like this. I can always return here, stay home, and enjoy my family and my hometown.
Luca: Those who know you also know that one of your trademarks, one of the things that makes you very much loved, is that you have remained humble. The world of concerts, as you already said, is on hold. How much do you miss that world, given that on an international level, for 10 years Il Volo made world tours, virtually continually for the entire 10 years since you started? How much do you miss that life, since it has been such a fundamental part of you?
Gian: I miss all the people, our fans. I miss tour life. And above all, I miss singing. When I’m on a bicycle I’m singing. When I’m in the shower, I’m singing. When I’m in bed, I’m singing. When I work out, I’m singing. When I’m on the beach I’m singing. Because that’s my life. It’s my relief valve. It’s the way . . . it’s something, that truly makes me feel good. Fortunately, this passion is one of those things that you can do anywhere, even while you’re eating!
Luca: During this break, as we noted, you’re thinking about your roots, and things you put aside. What makes you keep giving your best? Despite the fact that you’re only 25 years old for one thing, and have already won San Remo on the first attempt; you’ve won the Latin awards. You’re Il Volo everywhere. In Tokyo you’re Il Volo; in NY you’re Il Volo; In Texas you’re Il Volo. What do you do to always have that grit that for 10 years has kept you at the world-class level? I can imagine that even with this planetwide success, when you sit down, or try to sit down, what is it that keeps you from really sitting down? [That’s an Italian expression for laying back, taking it easy or giving up].
Gian: Truly, you need to have the awareness, the slight fear, that it could all end. You really don’t recognize the value of certain things unless there’s some risk you could lose them – not just in the work environment, but in relationships with people. Truly, life has granted me so many things, the emotions and the experiences, at such an early age. When I was still so immature, at 14 years old, I already started to travel, to be familiar with marvelous places and sights, to meet people, to sing in front of the president of the Republic, and in front of the Pope, for example. Because it all started at such a young age, I didn’t have to make any great sacrifices to achieve success. Really, the success and the emotional experiences came over me like a tsunami. Surely, the part [of me] I need to cultivate is to restore that little boy who dreamed of becoming someone but knew it would take perseverance, who knew that at times the effort was going to be more important than talent itself.
Luca: As they say in Russia, talent is like a basket of diamonds in the rough. Without hard work they don’t become diamonds. You spoke earlier about Pope Francis, about [Sergio] Mattarella President of the Republic, and I could add, Bill Clinton, Barbra Streisand, Quincy Jones, who helped create the phenomenon of Michael Jackson. You don’t have to mention Quincy Jones to anyone who loves music. There would be too many anecdotes to recount from what I’ve heard about, but the most relevant since we are in Abruzzo, if you want to tell us about it, is when you had the assignment to traipse Woody Allen all over Montepulciano d’Abruzzo.
Gian: [Laughing] I would have wanted to speak in different dialects. Every now and again I get to speak in other languages: Chinese, American, it’s lots of fun. But that time though, we chose not to, because we were at dinner with other people. Next time, though, I’ll do that. [Note: Can you imagine Gianluca and Woody Allen swapping languages and mimicking accents together? I’d be in pain from laughing.]
Luca: Yes, I saw you with the nice soldiers in the Galleria in Houston [apparently joking in English].
Gian: I did get to explain to him [Woody Allen] some things about Montepulciano. I asked him ‘Do you like wine? In my native region, Abruzzo, we have the best wine in the whole world, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo.” He told me “Montepulciano, I love it, I know it.” [Note: I know every Italian thinks the best wine in the world comes from his own specific region of Italy, but Gianluca was telling the truth about Abbruzzo’s fine specialty red – the Montepulciano d’Abruzzo. It competes with the Barolo from the Piedemonte and the Brunello di Montalcino as one of the top reds in all of Italy and the world.]
Luca: That was more valuable than a thousand ad campaigns. Like when Lebron James shared some of his favorite wines several months ago on Instagram and generated a hundred thousand “likes” for a local winemaker in Abruzzo. How lucky that winemaker was. [Note: Basketball star LeBron James is a wine afficionado and fills his Instagram page with pictures of bottles from his cellar.]
Luca: You’ve talked much about how important your hometown is to you, but I know you also like the ancient village of Montepagano. I’ve seen you walking around now and then taking photos. I know you live in a marvelous place where you can even enjoy the view of the sea from above. I know you’ve never wanted to lose connection with your roots, and this, I imagine, gives you strength. But if you had to describe this to someone who doesn’t know you, what would you want to say?
Gian: Every young person, every child, needs to grow up with the knowledge that their roots are the most important thing: like their family, their dialect. We need to raise children this way, and young people my age, especially those who already have children, need to teach real values, including their own dialect. I’m ashamed that I even see people who are actually embarrassed to speak their own dialect, as if it were a bad thing, instead of a fine thing. Even if you only speak it to make jokes or when you get angry. Without it [understanding your own dialect], you make no sense. So, I am really proud to be Paganese, Rosetano, and Abruzzesse. “Abruzzo Forte e Gentile” [“Abruzzo strong and kind” is the local byword]. Every time I go to Belvedere [another historic spot inland from Pescara, Abruzzo], it’s emotional for me. When I’m on tour, I show pictures of Montepagano and Roseto to everyone. Because, look, [he turns around to show the seashore behind him] this is maybe one of the most beautiful places on the entire Adriatic coast. You have to be really proud.
Luca joked a little bit about local dialect and that when you teach the hidden meaning of some expressions, to a Milanese or to an American, how wonderful it is when you see them explode into a smile. He also added that there are some things, expressed between locals with one word of dialect, that would otherwise take an Italian five minutes to hatch (explain).
Luca; What projects do you have? We know your passion for tennis, know you are practicing the piano, and like to draw. Talk to me though about your desire to act. [Gianluca responds about music right here, and about acting further on].
Gian: My musical tastes vary. I rarely listen to opera, because I like great musicians, guitarists like John Mayer, and great singers. I’m glad you asked, because I want people to know that I like the full 360-degree range of musical styles. And you know that I have a passion for all genres of music, including the type our group sings in concert, but in the future, who knows. Il Volo is the main priority, but I adore artists like Michael Bublé, Frank Sinatra. I even like Led Zeppelin, a fact that unfortunately was mis-represented by journalists who sometimes write anything to get “clicks” and “likes” in the media. I like them all: Dire Straits, Pink Floyd, I like this music. Another thing that really moves me is the music of Georgio Gaber, of Fabrizio De André. Dad passed on to me a passion for these singers.
Luca: Your father has very refined taste even in songwriters. This is a Gianluca that has never come out, so it’s right to emphasize this, and I’m happy you brought it up with us, because you’ve often been misunderstood before. So, you love music in the fullest sense.
Gian: On Facebook I published a list of the songs I like best with text, like the French song interpreted by Franco Battiato, a song about old lovers that melts you, it’s so heartbreaking in parts. So, there are so many projects. I’d would like very much to act, I’d like very much to be an actor, maybe to go to Rome to study; I don’t know. There are so many projects, and for this year that we are inactive, I’m focusing mostly on improving myself.
Luca: Days off are constructive time.
Gian: Then, with Il Volo there are so many projects. We have a very beautiful musical project we’re working on, but for now I can’t tell you too much about it. In the future, we’ll see.
Luca: Of course. But I’m happy to assure the many fans of Il Volo that, as soon as the situation allows it, you’ll return stronger than ever. So, you’re working on this project; and it’s something important. It’s also important that you miss your fans and, as you’ve said, you’ll be back with them as soon as you can.
Luca: One last thing. What is your idea of happiness? What is happiness for this 25-year old who has remained humble? Define happiness for Gianluca Ginoble.
Gian: That question was certainly profound enough.
Luca: The tough one came last.
Gian: Happiness for me is to live my passions, “mano a mano” all my life. To have a wonderful family, to have friends you can talk to about things, to let your problems out. Even when there are problems, knowing that there’s someone you can vent your problems to, who listens and understands. For me that’s happiness, knowing that I don’t feel alone. It’s also the feeling [I get] when I’m on the stage and sing for thousands of people. For me that’s also happiness.
Luca: So, with this beautiful reflection on happiness, which I really appreciate, I thank you Gianluca Ginoble of Il Volo. Thanks, Gianluca, and obviously, I wish you a great and successful life with the many things we talked about, and with your many projects.
Gian: For doing this interview, Luca, you’re number one. I said it to you and I’m saying it even looking into the camera.
Luca: Thank you. You’re too good. Thank you also for your friendship.
Grazie – Giovanna (Jo Ann)
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