Hey Crew!

Sorry I didn’t post anything about the Albany concert. Other people said just about everything that could be said and I didn’t take many pics because I wanted to enjoy the concert without “phoneitis!”

I didn’t do the M&G, but people I talked to after said it was very short and hustled. Their buses were parked next to the theater and they got on and headed to NY.  Not one stitch of advertising on the buses or equipment trucks. Definitely a missed advertising opportunity. If I’d hung around a little while I’m sure I’d have seen them but I didn’t want to be groupyish (?)

The third nite they were in Albany they stayed at the Hilton which is where I stayed the next nite. So I missed seeing them there by one nite! By the time I checked in they had left for their sound check! Or I chickened out! Take your pick! One of the parking valets said that when they all checked in it was a loud, yakking bunch of Italians!

I also talked to some of the members of the orchestra and told them how great they sounded.  One of the violinists accompanied Piero and Igna for their duet on O Paese d’ O sole and he was terrific. He put as much emotion in his playing as they did in their singing. For me that was the best song of the concert! Nobody seems to be posting about it. They really acknowledged him, patted him on the back and said grazie, grazie to him! I told him what a great job he did! He smiled, said thanks and seemed a little shy and embarrassed! I said thanks to other members. They are with the Albany Symphony Orchestra. There were thirteen of them.

I took some photos of their buses and the equip trucks on my phone.  I walked around the corner of the the theater and they were all lined up there. 

Also a black stretch limo was just closing it’s doors. Alot of serious looking security! I think it was Governor Cuomo. He’s Italian and I’m sure he met them at the Columbus Day parade in NY.  He comes up to the Saranac Lake/ Lake Placid area frequently for short rests. He and his daughters ski and hang out. I stopped to get gas and looked over at the next pump and there he was filling up his own vehicle. Just him, no one else around him! No security, nothing! Gave him a thumbs up!

I had watched so many concert videos on the various Il Volo sites that when they appeared at the top of the stairs with the lights and smoke and music it seemed like another video. Such a sense of unreality! I said to myself ” You better wake up! This is the real thing this time!” I was in the seventh row which was great. Close but not too close so I could see them, the band and orchestra. The Maestro was there which surprised me. I thought Albany might be too small for him but sure enough he was there! It was funny to see Igna do his orchestra conducting thing! Holy Cow! his voice just soars! Hearing him in person you can really hear what a powerful, musical capacity he has. Somewhere I read that he is working with Piero’s opera coach. You can here it in his voice, breathing and opened chest that wasn’t there before. I can’t wait to see how well he and the other two develop over the years! And I can’t wait to read what Myron says after the Vegas concert!

The orchestra seats were mostly an older crowd and it seemed a little subdued. I was worried the guys would think we were a bunch of duds! I couldn’t see the balcony from where I was so I don’t know how they were reacting. They got quite a few standing O’s but I think a lot of the older ones just couldn’t get up from their seats. There was a lady in a wheel bed type thing at the side and all three of them went off the stage to talk to her. Piero asked her a few questions. Couldn’t really hear. Can you imagine the effort to get her and the bed thing into the theater. There were several sets of stairs to get into the main part of the theater and they must have had to pick it and her up those stairs. A real fan!

Over all it was just fantastic! Can’t wait to go to another of their concerts!
See Ya!
Lynn