Here we are at the final part of the concert. There will be some things that you may not have seen, because they do not exist in the RAI video.
After the electrifying experience of VOLARE, while I am still flying on the clouds …. the actress Laura Chiatti returns to the stage who says that as a muse, she has to make a request to them, she wants to hear the beautiful UNAMORE COSÌ GRANDE. How could we blame her, it is a beautiful song that Ignazio, Piero and Gianluca sing excellently, so we are very happy to listen to it.
I admit that the choreography behind our boys, although beautiful, is a little deviant, also because it has nothing to do with the song, but the voices of our boys are truly formidable.
The boys continue, apologizing to the Arena audience for their backs, because they speak directly to the people at home and confirm that they have always admired the American genre and then introduce the beautiful MY WAY.
I must say that I have always considered the top performance of this song, the one made by Gianluca and Piero, but I admit that tonight, in trio, they gave their all, everyone interpreted and all together were simply stellar!!!
Such an intimate moment, the three of them sitting on stools and for us audience the possibility of being able to admire them in all their beauty, as well as hearing these magnificent voices.
Ignazio continues with renewing his thanks to the Morricone family and in particular to the maestro Andrea Morricone who directed them in some pieces.
Piero announces that Maestro Andrea has written a piece for Il Volo, an unpublished one: I COLORI DELL’AMORE(The Colors of Love).
It was a wonderful surprise, an unprecedented one. Beautiful music and beautiful words, it is a song very suitable for Il VOLO, which performs it with a lot of feeling. I hope to hear it often in concert. Here are the beautiful words:
Strade buie e vuote un solco dentro me Passa il tempo con la mente senza un se Le mie foglie cadono sopra di te Sono bruciature dentro l’anima Notti insonni senza fiato a scrivere Un suono in lontananza serve a vivere Vetri appesi alla speranza di chi c’è Sguardi trasparenti e pieni di perché
Ritornerai accanto a me Ti spoglierai dentro di me E rivivrai il tempo di una realtà con me
Sono i colori dell’amore di passione e libertà in mano un fiore e poi due attimi di noi immagini di un film istanti senza età Semino parole irraggiungibili Occhi già bagnati senza brividi Due gocce di sudore cancellabili Un urlo si dirada siamo liberi
Abbraccerai la luce che si accenderà dentro di me Sono i colori dell’amore di passione e verità in mano un fiore e poi ci siamo solo noi viviamo dentro a un film E il tempo svanirà
E il tempo svanirà…
Dark and empty streets a furrow inside me Spend time with the mind without an “if” My leaves fall on you They are burns inside the soul Sleepless nights out of breath to write A distant sound serves to live Glasses hung on the hope of whoever is there Transparent gazes full of whys You will return next to me You will undress inside me And you will live again the time of a reality with me
They are the colors of love of passion and freedom in hand a flower and then two moments of us pictures of a movie ageless moments I sow unattainable words Eyes already wet without shivering Two erasable drops of sweat A scream disappears we are free You will hug the light that it will light up inside me They are the colors of love of passion and truth in hand a flower and then there is only us we live in a movie And time will fade And time will fade …
Great applause and the boys once again thank Maestro Morricone, the orchestra Filarmonia Veneta and also Maestro Rota who has alternated with Maestro Morricone.
There is a nice standing ovation for everyone. They were all flawless.
Ignazio says that we are at the last passage. Oh NO !! It was all so beautiful and so fast that I didn’t even notice the passage of time.
The notes of LIBIAM NE LIETI CALICI begin, we end up in joy with a very festive lyrical air, taken from LA TRAVIATA.
People immediately start clapping their hands to the rhythm. There is a beautiful atmosphere of joy.
In the background scenography the interior of a theater is projected, beautiful, it seems to be in the balconies of an important theater, even the choir takes a position.
Ignazio’s ringing voice begins joyfully, Gianluca and Piero immediately follow and then the choir. How wonderful, an apotheosis for what we hear and for what we see, we all clap our hands in time, with Ignatius directing us from the stage.
All standing for a beautiful and well-deserved standing ovation.
The notes of THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY begin and Ignazio shouts “Grazie mille Verona !!!”,the boys thank the people, they are visibly happy.
In the RAI video, the closing credits start.
Ignazio says it was a wonderful evening, “After a year and a half you gave us oxygen, thank you very much for being with us.”
Thanks to all participants, Torpedine, Barbara Vitali and Eliana Biondi (staff) and the families of the guys.
Ignazio warns us to stay connected, because there will be a goodnight greeting (after the midnight newscast). Luckily, so there is still something !!
Last verse is sung of THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY, and the concert is all over.
Gianluca says: “See you soon for a surprise.”
Ignazio brings his right hand to his heart, Piero greets everyone with his arms raised.
Standing ovation!
The boys go backstage, amid the applause of the people, but only the time to have a drink and perhaps wipe their foreheads, and here they are again on stage, accompanied by Marco Giallini.
As the short midnight news is being broadcast on RAI1, they are back on stage to keep us company, so that we don’t get bored waiting for them ….. what sweets !!!😘😘😘
The boys thank Giallini for his support. You must know that in Italy, it is known that Giallini is a lover of hard rock, therefore, a completely different genre from that of our boys. Giallini takes the opportunity to greet and give his esteem to the drummer Bruno Farinelli who is always on tour with our boys, remember, I did an article about him.
Then to pass the time, Ignazio says he can tell a joke and the others agree, as long as it makes people laugh.
Ignazio says: “Do you know what lipless cows do ???”
“UUUUUUUU”
….. Gianluca: “But it didn’t make anyone laugh !!!!”
These guys are really too strong and nice !!!😁😁😁😁😁😁
The RAI operators communicate that it is resuming live and so the boys resume thanking Giallini, who was an important presence for them, because Ignazio says it is their first live broadcast and he has given them great confidence. Giallini thanks and tells them to sing the last song to say goodnight to everyone. Giallini greets and goes out. If you watch the RAI video, you will see that at this point Piero makes a sign with a hand, behind Ignazio and Gianluca, to someone behind the scenes, as if to say “wait”.
Piero takes the floor to announce an absolutely moving and certainly not agreed moment. These are his exact words.
“We want to say something important for the three of us. This concert was dedicated to Vito, who we miss so much and is watching us from up there.”
Gianluca hugs Ignazio who closes his eyes. People applaud, Ignazio thanks with joined hands. Piero bit his lip, moved and Gianluca too has tears in his eyes. The three friends hug each other.
The applause and the standing ovation continue.
The fraternal affection that binds Gianluca, Ignazio and Piero is evident and in these moments it is very strong. It is a very, very moving and unique moment.❤❤❤
CONRADIANAbegins, a beautiful song set to music by Morricone and the words are by Andrea Bocelli.
I admit that I had never heard this song before, but I must tell you that it is wonderful and the words, beautiful.
Notice Ignazio, in the beginning, his face is absorbed.
The music of the violins is poignant and the choir raises the voices, wonderfully the voices of Gianluca, Ignazio and Piero, united in the last verse.
Long applause, still standing ovation, the three boys embraced, thanked and greeted and started backstage.
The RAI live broadcast ends, but it’s not all over, not yet !!
People continue to applaud and start saying BIS BIS (which means you want to hear a song again) and shortly after, the boys come back, the RAI connection is over, so they feel free from the impositions of the live broadcast.
They start singing the whole song of THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY. Ignazio has already got rid of his jacket, immediately also Gianluca and then in the end also Piero.
Without any inhibitions, all three run to embrace the maestro Rota, a truly genuine gesture. (Which artist would do it this way?)
They are visibly satisfied and as the last notes are over, Ignazio stretches out his arms to look for his friends-brothers in a final contact.
A tender hug between Gianluca and Ignazio while Piero greets everyone.
It’s over.
The boys say goodbye to everyone and quickly run backstage, now it’s all over.
The people who during this last song, had gathered near the stage all standing, greet and thank by applauding.
Slowly we reach the exit, greeting all the friends we see to the right and left.
It was a wonderful evening. The concert was perfect and Piero, Gianluca and Ignazio sublime.
The boys did not spare their strength, always remaining present, all three, from start to finish.
It was the reopening concert, the one that had to give the message that everything is back to normal, the first concert at the Arena after a year and a half of silence.
But it was also the concert of memory, of all those who are no longer there, primarily Vito.
And finally it was also the evident renewal of the affection that binds Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca, a deep affection of true friendship, of brother friends.
Now our thoughts are when will the next concert be?Fingers crossed!!! It will be soon!!!
I’m still stunned by all the beauty I saw last night.
A stratospheric concert, wonderful voices, rested and powerful, beautiful music, spectacular sets, all like a fairy tale.
It was not a “Magic Night”, it was a “Starry Night”, because Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca are three stars that shine with a wonderful light, and when they are combined the result is simply spectacular.
Three beautiful and elegant young men bewitched and delighted the whole audience.
In my ears I still have their beautiful voices and my eyes still see everything that last night was unique and unforgettable.
I tell you right away that they did not allow us to enter the Arena with the camera, so I could not take videos or beautiful photos, I could only use my mobile.
But RAI1 has re-taken everything (filmed it all) and who better than them? I hope you all can see it as it will be a truly rewarding experience.
Click the photo below to view the concert.
There were 23 beautiful songs, some already known because they are part of the repertoire of Il Volo and many new for us and one completely unpublished.
Now let’s go over with some nice fan videos (not done by me), and some of my comments.
The preview begins with a joke with Marco Giallini, where Ignazio jokes saying that his shoes are very bad and Giallini tells him that he took them out of wood !!
Click the photo below to view the Anteprima.
The start was truly overwhelming with “The Ecstasy of Gold – The Good, the Bad and the Ugly”. Wonder!! A spectacular start !!
THE ECSTASY OF GOLD. THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY
Then they sang a beautiful YOUR LOVE, from the film Once Upon a Time in the West.
and then, remembering Notte Magica of 2017, NESSUN DORMA.
At this point a beautiful Italian actress enters: Laura Chiatti, whom Piero and Gianluca call “muse” and whom Ignazio calls “picciotta” (in Sicilian: young girl)
So a good pop song, also set to music by Morricone: SE TELEFONANDO.
The show continues with the introduction of IL MONDO, halfway through the song a guest enters, a famous Italian singer-songwriter (he also wrote Notre Dame De Paris): Riccardo Cocciante.
Then he will sing one of his songs to music by Morricone: “When a Love Ends”.
It starts again with another music from the film, NUOVO CINEMA PARADISO, at the end of the song there will be a small exchange between our kids and Salvatore Cascio, the child, now adult, of Nuovo Cinema Paradiso.
Two other guests, Raphael Gualazzi on the piano and Nina Zilli, who together with Il Volo perform the beautiful song from the film METTI UNA SERA A CENA.
Something from the repertoire of our boys, but which we always listen to very willingly:
O SOLE MIO and GRANDE AMORE
Back to Morricone’s film music: SACCO E VANZETTI, preceded by a reading of the story of the two unfortunate Italian immigrants, read by Giallini.
While Giallini was reading the story, Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca went down the corridors among the audience, to sing from that position. Piero was in the central corridor, just that close to me. I want to describe what I saw and that made me extremely happy.
Piero was in the corridor, but further ahead of my seat (farther from the stage) and I had to turn around to see him, he was with his back to me. RAI was in front of Piero for the video shoot, but at that moment Piero was not filmed.
He was hot, he was sweating and an assistant came over to wipe his forehead and then walked away from him. At that moment two elderly people, who had perhaps gone to the bathroom, were returning to their seats, which were right next to where Piero was. The man was old, large, and walked laboriously with a cane, supported by his wife. It was clear that if the TV shooting started, they were right in the middle, so Piero, who was already ready, began to call the assistant in a low voice to tell him to solve the situation, but that assistant was far away and did not hear and therefore Piero, seeing that the man was having a hard time getting into his seat, he went to him, held his seat in place, and helped him to and enter his row.
Despite the live TV, Piero was kind and thoughtful to this person, I don’t know how many artists would have done the same. Very good Piero !!
After Sacco and Vanzetti, they sang E PIÙ TI PENSO from Once Upon a time in America.
We are at the moment of the three beautiful singles.
Gianluca begins who amazes us with a beautiful song by Elton John written 51 years ago: YOUR SONG.
Gianluca dedicates the song to his mother.
Piero continues with the beautiful NO PUEDE SER accompanied by the flutist Andrea Griminelli.
And so Ignazio concludes with a wonderful LISTEN performed in the company of Julian Iorio who is only 8 years old.
A little, sweet interview with Julian at the end of the song.
I = Julian, you have been very good, but how old are you?
J = Thanks. 8 and a half years.
I = And where are you from?
J = From Fregene (locality near Rome)
I = Are you passionate about music?
J = A lot.
I = Where do you go after the concert?
J = I don’t know.
I = Aren’t you going home?
J = Yes, I’m going home. Tomorrow I wake up, make the trip and go home.
I = But in how many hours?
J = When we arrived it took us 6 hours, and I don’t know to go back.
I = Sure, it depends on the traffic, (laughter) Thanks a lot !!
J = You’re welcome.
I = Julian Iorio
Let’s go back to film music and continue with the beautiful GABRIEL’S OBOE, taken from MISSION.
And now a song that is part of our boys NEL BLU DIPINTO DI BLU.
In the middle of the song, when the boys descended into the audience, Ignazio approached his mother and gave her a kiss on the forehead. ❤
At this moment Piero was close to me doing the high pitch, you can see me sitting next to Piero, wearing an electric blue jacket. I made the photo, Piero, Ignazio were really close.
Below, Il Volo performs UN AMORE COSÌ GRANDE and MY WAY.
A beautiful unpublished song follows, an absolute first, I like it very much and I really hope to hear it many times, written by Andrea Morricone, I COLORI DELL’AMORE:
We have reached the end of the concert. The song with which it all ends is taken from the opera La Traviata: LIBIAM DE LIETI CALICI.
And so the concert ends, but before leaving us the boys tell us that after the finale there will be a surprise.
In fact after the applause Il Volo returns and makes a beautiful and moving dedication.
It is a very touching moment, because Ignazio begins by dedicating the song to all those who in this long period have lost so many loved ones.
Piero goes on to say that this concert was dedicated to Vito Boschetto who they all miss a lot. After the announcement was made, you could see Gianluca and Piero biting at their lips trying to hold back their emotions for their dear friend, Ignazio. There are some very touching moments of support and hug to Ignazio by Piero and Gianluca. Really very moving.
Ignazio, Piero and Gianluca perform CONRADIANA a beautiful song written by Bocelli and Morricone.
Thunderous applause and standing ovations. The concert is over and the TV shoot is over. Piero, Gianluca and Ignazio greet us and leave the stage.
People don’t go away, everyone stands all ahead, everyone murmurs BIS (BIS means we still want a song) and so the boys come back and, just for us, audience, they perform THE GOOD THE BAD AND THE UGLY, taking off their jackets and saying goodbye for the last time. A short piece.
A memorable evening.
Perfect performances, formidable guys and full of affectionate gestures towards each other. Incredible.
Both live and home audiences poured out all the love for these young men.
It goes without saying that the concert in RAI had the highest ratings.
For now, the comments of the press are few (today is Sunday) but good.
I want to conclude with a beautiful comment by a well-known Italian singer Rita Pavone.
Yesterday I saw the concert of the Tribute to Ennio Morricone aside of IL VOLO. Well, folks, there’s none for anyone! (This expression means that they are the best and there is none better than them!) Those three guys are sensational, they’re great. They face lyrical and pop arias, two worlds light years away, with a totally different setting and register voice but managing to be just as credible as to leave the listener amazed.
The “Listen” by Ignazio Boschetto, with the contribution of the very talented Julian – it is really true that talents are born! An 8 year old boy who plays the sax like a new John Coltrane but with the look and grit of a Lisa Simpson -, he was a real punch in the stomach for all those, myself included, who would never have imagined how much soul there is in that voice. I knew instead of this vocal duplicity in Gianluca Ginoble, because I had already had the opportunity to listen to him some time ago in some pop songs, but his version of “Your Song” last night was so beautiful that if there had been Elton John in the room, he would be the first to stand up and applaud. The opera singer par excellence, on the other hand, remains Piero Barone, whose ease in taking the highest notes and the most difficult treble notes is for him like drinking a glass of water.
What to say ? That we just have to be proud of having similar talents who bear the name of Italy in the world. And whoever says the opposite either does not understand anything about music, or is in bad faith, or is envious.
I know that in this project, the choices were completely made by our three treasures. This shows their artistic maturity, as well as physical – they are young but with a lot of common sense and good taste !! But we already knew it!
I was there, it was unforgettable: Daniela❤❤❤
Here are some of my photos.
With Deborah Georgini Beaupre
Before the concert, during the connection with the TG
Some stories just write themselves and the author stands by with pen in hand, looks down at the paper and says yes, yes that’s exactly what I wanted to say! And you can’t even remember writing it but it’s there and it’s so spot on! Life writes its own stories! Certainly, life wrote this one about three teenage boys. Teenagers! Think of your kid outside playing basketball or soccer. Could you imagine that he would walk off the court and into the limelight? I’m thinking your fondest hope would be that he would clean up his room.
How do you explain three amazing voices coming together on the same stage, at the same time? I have only one explanation. La Forza del Destino! It was fate! It was a plan! It was God’s plan!
Watching the guys recording these last few weeks brought back fond memories of the beginning. Before Sanremo, before Barbara Streisand, before Notte Magica! In the real beginning….
In the beginning there were three guys named Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca. They were ordinary guys!
Piero loved his motorbike! “When I arrived at the roundabout in the center of the city, voom, I did a wheelie with the motorbike.”
Ignazio loved to play soccer. “My main project when I went to school was to get home and spend the afternoon playing football.”
Gianluca, also, loved to play soccer! “How did I play soccer? I was good, come on, I did not like losing, I wanted to score goals by force, I never passed the ball, and when I had the ball, I scored.”
So, yes, they were ordinary kids but, they all had something special. They had a special gift from God. Their voice!
What was it that made them different? What was it about this baritone and two tenors that was different from other tenors or baritones? First and foremost, the delivery of these three voices was equal. The crispness and clarity in each voice was defined. They were alike but they were different. They were balanced! Roberto Cenci recognized these exceptional qualities and understood that they could blend into one beautiful voice so, he decided to put the three voices together. The result was they were an immediate sensation and they caused important people in the industry to stop and listen!
Each one separately was captivating, together, they were a gift that God gave to humanity!
The first meeting!
We have to keep in mind that in the beginning the guys were underage so any negotiations and plans for their future was handled by their parents. It was only after the parents first meeting with among others, Michele Torpedine, that the guys were informed that plans were being made for them. After this meeting the parents met again a month later and signed a contract for the guys to record with Universal.
I think Piero put it best when he said, “The day before, I went to my uncle’s workshop and the next day I signed a millionaire contract with an American label.”
The behind-the-scenes video of the guys recording “Tous les visages de l’amour” and, the recent recording of the Ennio Morricone album inspired me to write this article.
Let’s start by listening to Piero talk about their first meeting with Michele Torpedine.
“The day began well, calm, and quiet. I was having lunch at the hotel restaurant and a gentleman with a sand-colored raincoat and graying hair arrived. I heard footsteps behind me and a ‘Hello, Piero’ with this deep voice. You recognize Michele’s voice anywhere. You know, when I speak of that meeting, it reminds me of things I’ve seen in an American movie. It was from this that we started, three fifteen-sixteen-year-old idiots, and Torpedine, who had already become an icon for me. So, he sits with us and we start talking. After lunch, we got ready for rehearsal.
And, so, it begins!
Being teenagers there was always going to be some antics going on.
Gianluca recalls, “We were three children at the park playing. Ignazio, to name one, poured Coca-Cola on the floor in the dressing room and it ended up on Michele’s jacket. Michele turns and says, “Barbara look,” I still remember it, with a face looking like “Oh my God!”
Piero recalls, “And after the Coca-Cola there were plums. Our first meeting with Michele ends with plums flying from one dressing room to the other and Michele comes out with white hair, indeed no, because he already had white hair. No, he comes out with straight hair saying, ‘Are you three, crazy?’
In practice we threw plums from the door of our dressing room, to the one next to us. We had a mess that night.
What has changed from that day to today? Nothing. On tour, in the television broadcast rooms and sometimes even in the recording room, one of our favorite activities is the fruit launch. The best are the grapes (but we also use cherries). Ignazio throws them from a distance and, I have to take it on the fly and catch it in my mouth. It doesn’t matter if the Pope or Bono is in the dressing room next to us, it doesn’t impress us.”
Listen to what the guys had to say about the beginning of their career.
Piero: “At the beginning it was really a dream, even if I do not like repeating it, because you find yourself traveling the world and doing it, from one day to the next. However, I repeat, always without realizing the importance of the thing, without fully understanding what was happening.”
Ignazio: “So, a dream that Piero, in the clouds, has forgotten to say is the most important thing: it was the first time that Italian singers signed a contract directly with an American record company. But it was not that we signed the contract, the big thing was done, but it had yet to start!”
Gianluca: “Piero forgot to mention that ours was the first contract signed directly by Italian singers with an American label, but Ignazio forgot to mention that the first recording studio in which we entered all three together for our great adventure was called the Forum and it was in Rome.”
The first time in the studio!
Ignazio continues: “For us today there are seven takes to sing. At that time there were thirty or forty. You will say, what language does he speak? English, Spanish and, also a little Italian. So, a take is the recording of the single phrase that each of us sings when we record a song. We continue to redo it until we get the best version. In 2009, our first recording, took almost two days to record a song, until it was good. I remember that I made the absolute record of takes in “Smile,” I repeated my part for fifty-seven times.”
Piero: “…It was nice because it was the first experience. We did not sing well because we had no technique, so it was as Ignazio said. We did a take sixty or seventy times.
At that time, we arrived in the studio and we found everything ready. The songs to sing, the subdivisions, the arrangement, this and the other things. After the third album, we did everything together, we created everything with Celso Valli, our producer.
Those first times we did not have this freedom, everything was prepared for us because we did not have the skills to do it.
Now we have them (the skills) and we share the parts, we know each other better and, in the studio, we help each other. It is also nice to see that each of us now has his way to enter the recording room. Gianluca and I sing with the light on in the recording room. Ignazio, on the other hand, enters and the first thing he does is turn off the light. They are small details, but they mean that we have grown and, we have our own way of working.
Between the three of us, we have split up the roles. If there is a problem with the mixer, Ignazio works on it with the producer to fix it. Gianluca is the one who listens to the songs from morning to night and offers: ‘Guys, I discovered this songwriter,’ ‘Guys, I discovered this artist, what do you think?’ I like the managerial part. I like managing, I like to contact people, I like to propose new things to Michele, ‘Why do we not do that?’ ‘Why do we not try to do that?’ ‘How can we get to this person?’ I like us to put our heads together and think of how we can improve. We have a complete professional balance. We have grown physically, but also professionally. Even if we have a new producer, we do not know, we do not have any problems. We know how to talk to him and tell him what we want. This is the most important aspect: being at the same level.”
After this it was off to America for the guys.
Speaking of America! One year ago, we were enjoying the concerts in America! I saw the guys at Radio City Music Hall! Then the world turned upside down!
Pandemic!
What in the world was going on?Literally in the World!
We started hearing about a pandemic. And it seemed the worst of it was in Italy. The guys began to worry. And then, no it was time to leave. Leave now or get stuck in America! It was time! They turned off the lights and went home!
(First message from Il Volo on the Covid situation, sent when they were still on tour in America)
They canceled their last three performances and the next thing we knew they were on their way home. But being true to form, like good children, they checked in with us as soon as they got home and told us they were safe and, they needed to be with their families now.
As you know the guys went into quarantine and stayed there for three and a half months.
Then the quarantine was over and, they left their houses. And something amazing started to happen!
The one thing they wanted more than anything was to get back to work. Well, they did have the commitment with Dolce & Gabbana which gave us a spectacular Sunday event. And there was the concert in Monte Carlo but, something was missing.
At Verona, they showed us what was missing!
But let’s step back a minute!
On the Friday afternoon before the performance, we watched the guys at sound check give a performance to the people who were scattered around the Verona Arena that would rival most concerts. And then later in the evening they returned to the Arena for light check.
Ignazio and Gianluca were making videos with their phones, while Piero was wandering around.
Ignazio get’s Piero’s attention.
Ignazio: “What are you doing?”
Piero shakes his head and asks. “What are you looking at?”
Ignazio (points): “The light that is there.”
Gianluca: “It’s Beautiful.”
Ignazio: “The gorgeous light. Gorgeous! Gorgeous!”
Of course, Piero pulled out his phone and started to video.
But what was it about the lights that got Ignazio’s attention? Well, they were as Ignazio said, “La Luce Stupenda!” “The lights were gorgeous,” but I think he was thinking about the last lights that he saw on stage.
That Saturday night when the guys were entering the Arena before the show they were stopped and asked this question by a woman reporter:
Reporter: “You are International entertainers therefore you know how much the live dimension is missing. But above all you have defined the stage as your natural element. So, how is it for you to return to a live performance tonight?”
Ignazio: “It’s like giving candy to a baby. We are happy because we missed it. We missed it to die for but not only for our personal thing but because this is to me the music slowly restarting with safety measures. But we are restarting it all with Italian music. It’s like I am starting again to grow up on stage and hope that it can be a message of hope for the groups, in the cities, in the emerging local areas who want to start making music. We have to continue making music and we hope for full concerts and full live by 2021.”
It was an absolutely beautiful statement that said it all! What I liked best about this statement was Ignazio saying “It’s like I am restarting it all with Italian music. I’m starting again to grow up on stage…” What did he mean? This time he is starting in Italy not America. He finally feels like he is at home! Bravo Ignazio! You are home.
When the guys arrived on stage, they had a message for the world and all the people in the industry:
Ignazio: “2020 will be remembered as the year where the world would be constrained to be turned off.”
Gianluca: “For the music employees the verb “turn off” means the end of the show, when the curtains close and it is the waiting moment for the next show, but this time the waiting lasted more than expected, the silence was unavoidable.”
Piero: “Now, the world is getting ready to start again! Now the moment has arrived to raise the curtain! Now, we will turn on the music!”
This beautiful statement was followed by the performance of the evening. Their choice of “Nessun Dorma” sent an even stronger message. It’s says we may have to perform under these new world conditions, but we don’t have to change who we are or why we’re here. In this ancient Arena we look to the past while following the path to the future.
Click on the photo below to view IL VOLO’s performance of “Nessun Dorma”.
From their first note the whole arena lit up. Their voices were clean and crisp. Their presence was illuminating. Their notes rose above the Arena into the night sky to let the world know music is back! The final note of their song sent the final message. All three voices rose in unison and their voices sent forth a note that took our breaths away! It said We Have Returned! “Turn on the Lights!”
What is so amazing about this is, over the months since they had left quarantine, they had almost single handedly brought back the music industry in Italy. All the work they’ve done since they left quarantine has been to move things forward in Italy. This includes their most important project the concert in Tribute to Ennio Morricone and the recording of their new album by the same name.
Seeing them back in the recording studio, these last few weeks, has been a joy. Listening to them sing “Your Love,” at Sanremo, even under trying circumstances, gave us hope for the future. This preview gave us a look into the new album which we are all anxiously awaiting. But above all, the guys have Hit the Restart Button! They have played a major part in the restart of the music industry In Italy!
Join me next week as I go back Through the Fields of My Mind and open the door to a new adventure!
After performing at the Senate, the guys woke up one day and decided perhaps we should go to Sanremo!
This to me is one of the most challenging decisions they had to make in their lives. We all take chances in life but, this was a little different. If you go to Sanremo and you win then it was worth it. But, if you lose, it’s not just losing the competition, it’s losing your country, your people! No recognition! This is what was at stake. How do you decide with so much at stake? It’s tough!
The one thing that was difficult for the guys from the very beginning was the fact that they were not recognized in their own country.
Ignazio would say, A “prophet is not recognized in his own land.” Perhaps, but that doesn’t change things. It doesn’t change the feeling that you get when you are asked the big question. “You are loved even in Italy, right?” and as Piero said, “You have to answer no.”
I’m going to take a moment here and vent because there is much more to that answer than “no.”
I have followed the career of these young men from day one and I am so proud of their accomplishments as I know many of you are. I see how they have grown and how much they are loved by their fans, all 5 million of them (and those are just the ones we know about).
Nothing bothers me more than how these men are treated by some of the Italian press, not just now but, from the beginning. It’s not about the Italian people. I know the Italian people love them but, many in the Italian press do everything in their power to mock them and mistreat them. It is disgraceful!
What was it that fifteen-sixteen year old boys could have done to cause the press to be so unkind, so mean and so vicious? If you don’t like a performance, you don’t have to give them a good review but, you have to respect what they do.
In March at Sanremo 2021, one reporter wrote “When they came on, I turned off my TV.” This is what I have to say to that reporter. Shame on you! These three men came to Sanremo with broken hearts, especially Ignazio and, this is how you treat them. They showed such professionalism just by being there and this is all you can say! They showed such love and respect for their country and the Italian people just by showing up. Where is your respect for your country, for your people, for your profession?
Everyone was so sad for these men and all you can think of reporting is that you “turned off your TV.” Perhaps, it’s time you turned off your career because you need to learn something about respect. The ink from your pen can tell a truth or a lie but it can’t talk about the integrity of the person who’s using the pen! But, of course, integrity is something you know nothing about!
Having said that, let me say, over the last few years, so many Italian journalists have changed their opinion of Il Volo. I think this is because they finally stopped and listened to them and they recognize the value of what they do. Not to mention all the good work the guys do in and for Italy! And we know they bring Italy around the world! They are good Ambassadors for Italy and the press is finally recognizing it! So happy you got on board!
That’s all I have to say on the matter!
Let’s move on to the great things that happened!
When I read Un’avventura Straordinaria, the story that I loved the most was the story of Sanremo. The decision by the guys to take on the Sanremo Festival. This story brought out their personalities, their differences and how they are so bound to one another that they could make the decision of a lifetime together even if it meant they could lose what was so important to them, their country and their people!
The Decision
So where do you begin to make the decision. Well, you have to start with the decision itself.
Who’s in and who’s out!
Who’s in? From day one, Gianluca wanted to go. He was so convinced that they would win that he never backed down from it. He had no doubt in his mind that they would win.
Who’s out? Always the pessimist, Ignazio. He said “No, we can’t win. It’s too hard.”
So that leaves Piero! Piero at first was not on board but Gianluca persuaded him. Gianluca said, “No one trusted, no one believed it. It was I who persuaded Piero to persuade Ignazio to go to Sanremo. Because I told them: ‘Guys, if we go, we’ll win it, I’m sure, I’m sure’”.
Piero said, “We said to ourselves: ‘Guys, make it or break it, in the end, we were not anyone here in Italy, at most we would not be anyone even afterwards.’”
Decision made! It’s official the guys go to Sanremo!
Then there’s the second problem, the song!
At Sanremo you must perform an unpublished song. How do you begin to find such a song?
Now this is the part of the story that’s really interesting and sometimes funny! Oddly enough, the one who wanted this the most was the one who did not agree to the song. I so enjoyed listening to this dialogue between the guys. This is where we begin to hear the guys make important decisions together. They’re really good. When they begin, they’re not agreeing but as time goes by…. Well, why don’t I let them tell you how they finally got to Sanremo?
The Song
Gianluca: I did not agree to go with that piece. If I think about it now, I’ll say that the next time I have to reflect better before judging, try to sing a song and then judge because our voices change the songs. We arrange them by cutting them on our voice, and I did not take this fact into consideration. The song when we first listened to it was not very ugly!
Ignazio: It’s not that we’ve heard only that, no. Do you think it is easy to choose a piece for Sanremo? We started to do a search and a selection of unpublished tracks. Our policy was: either we go with something strong, or we do not go, right?
One day this song comes to us through Michele: Grande Amore by Francesco Boccia and Ciro Esposito, two Neapolitan authors. As usual, I am pessimistic. I listen to it and it does not make me crazy. Not even Gianluca was convinced. The only enthusiast was Pie …
Piero interrupts: I loved “Grande Amore”! I did not believe that we would have won, but I was the one who pushed, I and Michele pushed for “Grande Amore” because the audition that we heard was not beautiful, but we imagined it if it was made by Celso Valli and I must say that we had guessed right.
Ignazio interrupts: And I said it too if you let me talk. I was saying, in fact, that “Grande Amore” was not as we hear it today. It was always called “Grande Amore”, but it was totally different. So, we start to think: who can produce the piece? And Michele calls the great Celso Valli. After several weeks of work in the studio, we manage to churn out a song that could leave its mark at the Sanremo Festival.
Gianluca interrupts: That’s why when we left for Sanremo I was very convinced: we had the piece, the right project.
Piero: He wanted to influence us, but we are superstitious ….
Gianluca: Every day at lunch and dinner with Michele and the president of Sony, I said: ‘Guys, we will win Sanremo.’
Piero interrupts: Do you know what a week like this means?
Ignazio: Piero and I were all day touching iron and the low parts. Gianluca was convinced that the little lion (the Sanremo award is represented by a lion) would be ours? And the two of us tried to keep the situation under control.
Gianluca interrupts: What should I tell you? I am an optimist. They took it something like ‘he makes fun of us,’ but I felt it inside. I do not know why.
So many interruptions! Ignazio, before he was interrupted, was about to tell us about the first night they sang.
Ignazio: The 65th edition of the Festival begins on Tuesday, February 10th. We sing the second night, Wednesday the 11th. The strange thing is that normally my legs tremble before the performance, but mine trembled even after the performance! Perhaps too much adrenaline, it never happened before.
Piero interrupts: Or maybe it was because we came back to the Ariston stage after going around the world. It was like coming home, because we experienced the beginning of our career here with Ti Lascio una Canzone.One thing that cannot be described: in Sanremo, in Italy, to sing and receive the applause of the Italian public. It cannot be explained.
The Wardrobe!
Gianluca: Can you imagine for me this was also my birthday: I turned twenty on Ariston’s stage? Of course, I was moved in the end, and it was too much emotion to my sensibility to play bad jokes at times.
And then, we felt the pressure in the air. Even though I was optimistic, the tension was there.
Although we had taken care of the smallest details of the song, we had tried and tried again, and we had taken care of even the smallest details of the clothing. First evening look more rock: total black with leather jacket.
Because when we do our work the image matters, too.
Piero interrupts: Count, of course that counts. But do you remember how we were dressed before? I remember that time at Una Notte per Caruso, in July 2009, it was the second time we saw Torpedine. Michele arrives with another white Range Rover, not that of Jesolo, and as soon as he arrives, we do not even say hello and we go to see the car. Let’s run, let’s open the car. Ignazio immediately goes up to the car. We went crazy for cars, one like that, we did not see every day. The day after we go for a ride in downtown Sorrento, a shopping trip, and we enter into Gucci. Michele spent almost two thousand euros and we with that written number at the counter, we exclaimed: “Mizziga! (Damn!) Two thousand euro!” with wide eyes. And we still have those clothes, at least I personally still have them.
He had bought us a jacket, but above all the need for us to dress all in white and blue. I had the blue jacket and the white shirt, Gianluca had blue trousers and white shirt, Ignazio the blue shoes and everything else white, Michele the blue jacket. And we took a picture in front of the hotel.
Gianluca interrupts: We were just dressed badly to be singers by trade, we were children, we came from families of workers. What could I buy? There was not even the need.
Piero interrupts: And then you remember the restaurant? Afterwards we went to a restaurant near the sea. When we finished eating, the three of us took off our shoes and ran to the beach. Michele ran behind us telling us: ‘Guys, calm down. Guys, slow down.’
At this point Ignazio loses his patience. “YES, but, what does that have to do with it, Pie? We were talking about Sanremo. What has Sorrento got to do with it?
The Performance
Ignazio gets the conversation back on track!
Sanremo 2015, from the 10th to 14th of February, we sang on the second evening, legs shaking, Gianluca’s birthday.
Among the many interviews, the diary that we kept every day for TV Sorrisi e Canzoni … We had fun with the diary!
It was a sort of ‘pill.’ A very few minutes, in which we recorded from the 9th to 14th of February. We talked about some of the emotions we felt. For example, the time that Gianluca almost stumbles on stage or the happiness of seeing the audience get up and applaud the first night we sang “Grande Amore”. The recording, then, went online on the site of the magazine.
What was I saying? Ah, yes, among the many interviews, the diary that we kept every day for TV Sorrisi e Canzoni, meetings and press conferences …
Piero interrupts: And the criticisms we felt in those days? People at home voted for us, appreciated us, and journalists gave us votes that we thought were postponed until September, I also said this at the press conference after the victory. Five that flew (Bad votes given by critics). But we see that the criticisms have done us good.
Ignazio: Can I do a criticism of you?
Piero: Ah, tell me…
Ignazio: You interrupted me. I was about to tell the final. I can continue?
The Win
Ignazio: In short, the final evening arrives, February 14th. I realize from my shirt that in a week we have eaten more than we sang. Unfortunately, or fortunately, I’m a boy who does not say cat if I do not have it in the bag, then until Carlo Conti said….
Piero interrupts: And indeed, whoever wins does not know it until the end! Sorry, Igna’. Speak you!!!
Ignazio: Until Carlo Conti said: ‘The winner of the Sanremo Festival 2015 is … Il Volo!’ I said to the boys: ‘No, guys, we do not win, it’s difficult.’ And on the one hand I had Piero with shining eyes and on the other Gianluca with a smug smile as if to say: ‘Do not worry.’
Gianluca: The truth is that I was right from the beginning and no one had ever listened to me, ever. I believed it so much that, if you notice, maybe I’m the one with the least surprised look on my face when Carlo Conti announces the winner. Then, of those moments, one remembers little, there is great confusion, emotion. It was a dream to be able to shout, ‘Thank you, Italy!’ from that stage. I look at Sanremo as a child, when there was Pippo Baudo, and I was there and have won because people were on our side and it was a dream, I repeat even if I have already said.
The emotion was only when my grandfather told me almost in tears: “Who would have told me that in life I saw Modugno win at the Festival and then I saw you win?”
Taking the conversation back, I have to say, to me this was the best conversation we could listen to. They disagree, they find middle ground, and they agree but, most importantly they listen to one another and that’s what makes the bond so great!
In the end Gianluca said: “In short, Sanremo was just a dream that brought us many different emotions. Too bad it was not repeated also in Vienna!”
Many of you know the winner of Sanremo goes toEurovisionto represent Italy. After winning Sanremo and the popularity of “Grande Amore”, the guys were pretty confident they could win Eurovision. And to some degree, Ignazio believed it too!
As Italy is a member of the Big Five, the guys went straight into the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest, which was held in Vienna on May 23rd, 2015. “Grande Amore” came in 3rd with 292 points but, they won the televote with 366 points and the Marcel Bezencon Press Award, as best song according to the collective voting of the accredited press. The extended play “Sanremo Grande Amore” was released in Italy on February 20th, 2015 and it was certified triple platinum by FIMI. At the Latin Billboard Awards, they dominated the social networking sites and now, they win the televote and the best song according to collective voting by the accredited press. The people have spoken!
So, they gambled and, they won. They were happy and they finally felt accepted in their own country. It seems that everything worked out well but there’s a little piece of the puzzle missing.
To really finish this story, we need to pass back Through the Fields of My Mind down the corridor that led us here and enter the day-by-day reality of Sanremo!
How do you begin to tell a story, more like a fairy tale, about three teenage boys who conquered the music industry?
They came from Italy from very different regions, very different families, very different backgrounds but, they had one thing in common, the ability to capture audiences with their amazingly, beautiful, voices.
Thinking back over the years, I realize they have put so much energy into such a short period of time. Twelve years of a lifetime but, in reality, they did it in five years! How is it possible that these three men could do, in such a short period of time, what most men cannot do in a lifetime? The secret is in the voices!
Going back to the beginning, I remember what Gianluca said, “I thought there were three hundred thousand boys singing like me, and instead that night I discovered that there are only two: Ignazio and Piero.” Of course, Gianluca was referring to the night they sang together for the first time onTi Lascio Una Canzone. So, let’s begin there!
When they came together as contestants on Ti Lasacio una Canzone, they never dreamt that they would walk off the stage as stars! Individually, they sang with some very famous Italian singers, Al Bano, Massimo Ranieri, Fausto Leali, Adamo, Piero Mazzoccheti and, they were singing their songs and these men were in absolute awe of these teenagers.
From the first note that came out of their mouths, everyone recognized how unique their voices were. Roberto Cenci the artistic director and director of Ti Lascio una Canzone recognized the importance of these three voices. He recognized that the voices were different but alike in their uniqueness. Cenci understood if you put the voices together, they will blend beautifully and, they will be very appealing. How right he was! An experiment that turned into stardom.
And how did Michele Torpedine put it?“The three casually put together to sing a song of the program possess an incredible vocality for their age.” Watching them on TV Michele is thinking these guys are good and again repeats it to himself, they’re good! He thinks, “What if I try to put them together seriously?” Michele and everyone else felt they were incredible!
But it needed much more than just a feeling and it went beyond incredible. It needed something to come to life. It needed a new idea. It needed to be different because they were different. So how do you make it different? Bel Canto!
Bel canto is Italian for “beautiful singing.” From the mid-18th century through the early 19th century, Italian opera developed what is now known as a bel canto style. Composers began to write long, sustained vocal lines intended to show off the beauty of the voice.
Well, that works! They certainly have beautiful voices!
If you start with the premise that bel canto can make the difference, then you need to find the best way to present it! First, have them sing all the Italian classics. If you look at the music industry at the time you have to say “it won’t work” but, it did. Why? It worked because their voices were unique, the presenters were teenagers, and the world was waiting for something different. The difference was they needed to go back to what was and present in a different light. A unique idea. A little risky for sure but, a lot of very talented people in the industry felt it could work. And it did!
Bel canto for sure! But those voices that embody bel canto needed to go beyond and so where do you go? In their concerts they sing beautiful arias because they have beautiful operatic voices but, they will tell you, they do not sing opera. So, they reinvented the idea of opera. Just as bel canto reinvented opera, so did they reinvent it with their Operatic Pop. Always light, free flowing, ethereal! They took away the rigidness and left the beauty of the words which they present in their special ways with their special voices!
A few days after I finished this article, Michele Torpedine appeared on the Marzia Roncacci show. During the interview Marzia surprised everyone with an appearance by Piero. She asked one very important question, that is the question I just presented. So, I would like you to hear it in Piero’s own words.
Marzia: Listen, Piero, and also Michele, how do you explain this great success of yours, of three young people, because you are now very well established, even abroad, it is not so easy, there are only a few who are known and, they can be counted on your fingertips.
Piero: Our success is the echo! It is the resonance of the music we sing. As Pavarotti did in the past, bel canto is the winning weapon. Bel canto is the most popular Italian music in the world, and it is nice to hear in any theater or arena in the world, even in Japan, when the public hear these melodies, written right here in Italy, they go into ecstasy. Our voices also contribute, it is clear, and to hear young people with these voices …. but it is clear that if we didn’t sing this kind of music, it would be much more difficult.
Piero is very modest! Their voices are very important. They brought bel canto back to life in a unique way! Bravo!
So, let’s move on! Where do you begin?
America!
Their first stop was Miami. It was like stepping into a dream for them. Everything in America was different from Italy. The streets, the houses, the cars, everything was different. But above all, they really could not comprehend all that was happening to them. After Miami they went to Los Angeles.
In Los Angeles, they were invited to participant in the charity event “We Are the World 25 for Haiti”.
They took Los Angeles by storm. This is truly the beginning of IL VOLO!
By now, they were in a whirlwind!
Piero recalls, “We were fifteen and sixteen when we found ourselves in this American dream. We had signed a contract with a record company that includes famous artists like Beyonce and many others. We were invited by the record company to a party. We turned and saw, Quincy Jones; we turn around and we saw Rihanna; we turned and shook hands with Lady Gaga. We talked with them, some singers who were idols for us and for our peers.”
In fact, the guys only began to understand that something was changing when their first record came out. The boys had met all the big names and performed with them in We Are the World, but reality had not yet set in. Let’s hear what Ignazio had to say about this….
“It was already in May 2010 and the Il Volo album was about to come out all over the world. Maybe I was too small and naive, but I did not feel the anxiety of the job like today. The first major television show we appeared in, in America, was American Idol, the world’s most famous music talent show.”
And what a performance that was. They sang “ ‘O Sole Mio” and in that moment, they captured the hearts of thirty million people. Not to mention Ignazio giving five to Steven Tyler. But that’s another story!
During the last three episodes of American Idol’s tenth season, they performed and promoted their first album, Il Volo.The international edition of the album was released on April 12, 2011.
In its first week, the album reached the tenth spot of Billboard 200 and topped the Classical Albums chart. The album also entered the top ten in other countries, including Belgium, France, Germany, New Zealand and the Netherlands, and it peaked at number one on the Austria Albums Chart. It would later be certified platinum by the Federation of the Italian Music Industry.
Back in Italy, in their hometowns, the people were ecstatic. These three teenagers had achieved what only a few Italian artists had achieved, success in America!
By now, every program in America wanted them. The phone was ringing off the hook! They appeared on The Tonight Show, Good Morning America, The Ellen DeGeneres Show and The Early Show. There was no stopping them. The people of America had spoken and what they were calling for was, Il Volo. And slowly, the rest of the world also recognized their achievements.
The chatter began about these three teenagers with voices like “angels!” But what’s most important is what happened to the boys! These boys who came to America thinking, “who will know us there,” were now becoming a household name. And how did that happen, a little thing called PBS…
Next week we follow the guys to Detroit where they stepped on the stage at the Detroit Opera House and sealed their fate!
We continue to follow their footsteps Through the Fields of My Mind….
NOTE:I would like to thank Daniela for the wonderful translation of the interview with Michele and Piero. If you haven’t read it yet, go towww.ilvoloflightcrw.com to read it!
Credit to owners of all photos and videos.
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