If any one of the three is different, it is Gianluca. What is it about Gianluca that makes him so different from Piero and Ignazio? Let’s start with his childhood. While Piero and Ignazio were busy with their singing lessons and piano lessons, Gianluca was busy living out his passions! Gianluca has never had a singing lesson in his life. Unbelievable, right!
As to his music, it was always his passion. Yes, Gianluca has more than one passion, but it is this passion that got him to Ti Lascio una Canzone.
Gianluca was shy as a child. He would turn his face to the wall and sing, but this didn’t mean he didn’t enjoy singing, on the contrary, he loved it. In fact, he said “I sang because it made me happy!” And this happiness became his passion.
So, let’s examine his passion, his amazing voice
Gianluca is a lyrical baritone. He is exceptional because he can sing from the lowest to the highest note in the baritone range. Most baritones are limited in range. Gianluca’s voice is huge. He has a very rich chest resonance which creates a feeling of depth and drama in his voice.
A baritone’s voice is very romantic, very pleasing to listen to and is always inviting. Most songs are written for baritones. Gianluca starts, almost, every song. Why? In order for a song to be received well you must draw your audience into it. Gianluca’s voice draws you in in a romantic way and you hang on to every note. He can mesmerize you with songs like “Mi Mancherai” where he reaches into the depth of your being. His interpretation of “Surrender” is electrifying. But, when Gianluca sings, “She’s Always a Woman”, he takes your breath away. The highs, the lows, the emotion, the expression. His voice expands like nothing I ever heard before. He has total command of the song. You walk away with your senses lifted to another level.
So how did his voice become the phenomenal voice that it is today? Let’s look back to see what Gianluca had to say about this….
When I was about eight or nine years old, all those who knew me gave me the same advice: go sing in a choir. In Roseto there was the Piccolo Choir of Roses directed by the master Susy Paola Rizzo. The choir was nice because we studied the songs throughout the winter season, not the technique of singing, the songs. It was different, because we did not study the notes and how to do them, rather we studied instinctively, following what the teacher said and what our ear heard. Then, in the summer, we performed in the Municipality of Roseto. We sang in the squares during the local festivals, in the lidos, in the bathing establishments, around the whole of Abruzzo, all these tiny villages.
Obviously studying to sing instinctively was enough to get Gianluca to Ti Lascio una Canzone. In fact, because of his instinctive singing in the Roseto Choir he was discovered and off to Rome he went!
On the stage at Ti Lascio una Canzone, we find Gianluca singing with some famous Italian entertainers.
When Gianluca sang “Il Mare Calmo della Sera” with world renowned tenor Gianluca Terranova, Terranova was surprised by Gianluca’s amazing voice.
And who can forget the duet with Riccardo Cocciante.
Gianluca stunned the audience with his beautiful “Ave Maria!”
Gianluca and Sara Pischedda topped it off with a duet of “Vivo per lei.” Beautiful young voices flowing together.
But where has this passion for singing led Gianluca. Ten years into his career Gianluca spoke to Luca Maggitti of the Roseto Star about the most amazing adventure of his life. He begins….
The happiness of having made my passion my job: not everyone has this great privilege in life. This fills my heart with joy and gives meaning to everything.
At home with his family for Christmas in 2020 Gianluca said…
I was thinking about it these days, sitting at the table with my family. During the Christmas holidays, I return to the memory of many beautiful moments, and I tell myfamily about them. And when I remember certain moments, it seems almost like a fairy tale. Sometimes I would like to pinch myself and ask myself: but did it all really happen?
Thinking about the first ten years, Gianluca says…
The basic awareness that everything has happened, ennobled by the slight naivety of those who find it difficult to believe in it, as long as I have this childish genuineness, I will have the strength to do better and better.
And Gianluca talked about traveling around the world ten times and what he brought back from these visits.
The greatest emotion of all is the incredulity of seeing countries and peoples in the world so different from each other in everything – culture, traditions, food, religion, behaviors – but they are united by their passion for our musical genre. From the composed and attentive Japanese audience to the most passionate and wild South American, the common trait is our songs. This is really incredible, because I think it is also the strength of bel canto, which manages to unite people who seem to be very far away.
Every concert is special to me, because it is a blessing. I love to sing and in this long period of stop I sing every day, in my house. So, when I have the pleasure of doing it for the audience it’s always a wonderful moment for me. Wanting to build a podium, obviously we start from the one in New York, which received a very important recognition that surprised and honored us. Then, linking myself to the previous reflection, I would like to recall the beauty of two concerts held at opposite sides of the world: the one at the Bunkamura in Tokyo and the one at the Luna Park in Buenos Aires. In Japan the audience was extremely calm, silent, very attentive. In Argentina, on the other hand, there was a much warmer and more visceral atmosphere. The thing that unites these two concerts is the passion of those who came to listen to us and, therefore, the magic of seeing different people united by music.
The true Gianluca comes alive in the playfulness of his beautiful delivery of “La Danza.”
Gianluca talks about music being the oxygen of his life….
In the affection of my family and in the serenity of Montepagano, I have to wait for the pandemic to pass and for there to be security conditions for everyone. Only in this way will we be able to return to the concert and be happy again, united by the music that for me is the oxygen of my life.
This oxygen is evident in Gianluca’s beautiful interpretation of “Bridge over Troubled Water”
After each concert, Gianluca reflects on how it went….
Humanly speaking, the habit of traveling and the pleasure of always adapting to new circumstances, the tears of joy of thepublic, the facets and sensations that the work I do which is the most beautiful in the world gives me, professionally speaking, my reflections on how it went and how the concert was, after each performance.
Yes, it is very important out of respect for those who come to listen to us and to always improve ourselves. One thing that strikes me is the ability I have developed, over the years, to perceive the reactions of the public to our concerts and, specifically, to my performance. I think I have the right empathy to feel people’s emotions when I sing.
Gianluca has a certain sensitivity to the audience, and he reflects on this each time….
My sensitivity tells me if the audience liked something or not, if I could do it better. I am extremely self-critical, and this allows me to understand if everything went well or when and where I could do better. And, with a bit of presumption, I dare to tell you that I am rarely wrong. So, when after a concert I tell myself that I could have done this or that thing better, I take action to do it better on the next date. And in a world tour of 50 dates, continuous improvement is possible and necessary.
At the Latin Billboard Awards in 2013, the guys sang “El Triste.” This is when you really meet Il Volo. Truly three voices become one! A Symphony of Love
Meanwhile, having acquired self-awareness, learning to manage one’s emotions and empathy, avoiding any authoritarianism. Then the strength to believe in yourself to convey trust to the people around you and who share this wonderful and challenging journey with you, because there is always a need for security and we who are the leaders of a project must be an example, certainly remaining humble but aware of our value, just to protect the beauty of what has been built and protect all those who are part of our home.
At Radio City Music Hall, the guys bring the fans to their feet with every song!
Gianluca explains how over the last ten years he has grown by more than his 25 years of age.
I believe it is the result of a path of growth, of the books I read and of the people whoenrich you with their reflections and their examples. I think there is always a reason for success. And if success – excuse the pun – keeps happening, there’s a reason. So, since for many people you are a point of reference, while remaining a human being and therefore vulnerable, you must do everything to be a positive example, a charismatic leader who transmits security and serenity. Of course, this is a path and I have learned it over the years. At the beginning I was much shyer and more reserved, but then the world tours and experiences tempered me, now, I think positively.
And of course, like Piero and Ignazio, Gianluca awaits the day when they will return to the concerts….
The desire is to be able to return to live those wonderful moments, the hope is that this will happen as soon as possible, because it would mean a world healed and divided. Quoting the great Lucio Dalla: ‘I am preparing.’
The collaboration between brothers is extraordinary and in “Por una Cabeca,” Gianluca shines, and they share a very special moment.
Gianluca’s passion has taken him around the world ten times and on the world tours, Gianluca brings along his other passion. His passion for his country! He is the perfect Ambassador for Abruzzo! When he speaks about Abruzzo and about Italy, in general, on his tours he brings his fans a passion that is very close to his heart! Like music and country, Gianluca has a passion for family and soccer. Combine the four passions and you have His Story, His Passion! His Way!
Join me next week as I go back Through the Fields of My Mind and open the door to a new adventure!
