A truly beautiful concert where Ignazio, Gianluca and Piero were very welcome and highly applauded guests and where they shared the stage with the tenor Joseph Calleja who respects them very much and who often includes Il Volo songs in his concerts. Here are some moments from the event.
From Malta they moved on to Monte Carlo, where on December 22nd Il Volo participated in a private event.
……and where Il Volo lent itself to a nice surprise, a marriage proposal….how sweet ❤️
Also on 22 December, in Italy, on Canale 5 Il Volo was present at the VERISSIMO broadcast, hosted by Silvia Toffanin and previously recorded.
Here is Il Volo in Verissimo backstage.
It’s always a pleasure to see Gianluca, Piero and Ignazio in Silvia Toffanin’s living room. The broadcast lasted half an hour, this time I won’t translate, because nothing new was said, it seemed more like a pleasant chat to anticipate and present the Christmas Concert in Agrigento which would be held a couple of days later on the same television network. However, I attach the video of the evening.
I know that people like Silvia Toffanin a lot, she is truly a beautiful and non-invasive presence, who knows how to put people at ease. As she has said several times, she loves Il Volo.
Silvia appeared for the first time on Canale 5 in 2000, she was 21 years old and had the role of a beautiful, friendly and discreet presence in the program PASSAPAROLA, where she and other girls impersonated the LETTERINE.
She was immediately courted by Pier Silvio Berlusconi, and a year later they became a permanent couple. They are currently a couple in life since 2021 and have two children.
Pier Silvio Berlusconi is the son of Silvio Berlusconi, founder of Mediaset and who died in 2023. Pier Silvio is CEO of Mediaset.
Pier Silvio and Silvia have always been a very discreet couple, far from the spotlight and scandals and are a very close-knit couple in life. Before Christmas, during the final episode of a program presented by Silvia, Pier Silvio surprised her by arriving on live television.
Canale 5 is part of the large MEDIASET family which boasts television channels (Canale 5, Italia 1, Rete 4) and more in the communications sector.
Silvio Berlusconi really appreciated Il Volo and had told his son Pier Silvio to put them under contract, in fact, this summer Il Volo renewed an agreement with Canale 5 for another two years and this agreement includes TUTTI PER UNO (ALL FOR ONE) concerts.
On December 18th, Pier Silvio held a lovely party for Mediaset employees, to wish them a Merry Christmas, he made a beautiful speech of respect and admiration towards all his employees. The party was enlivened by the songs of Il Volo.
In the days preceding Christmas, Pier Silvio’s greeting message was broadcast on the Mediaset television networks, recorded with the song Il Volo!! in the background.
“This Christmas celebrate your family, it is the greatest gift that life has given us. Merry Christmas from the great Mediaset family.”
Finally on December 23rd, returning from Monte Carlo, Ignazio, Gianluca and Piero can return to their family to spend the Christmas holidays and see the beautiful Christmas concert from Agrigento, which I have already made a post about in detail. 🥰
The first photos of Ignazio and Michelle in the privacy of their home at Christmas also arrive, they are adorable!! ❤️❤️
Many newspapers also wrote articles about Il Volo during this period.
But the article that I found most interesting, because it tells us something new, is the one from VANITY FAIR ITALIA which I translate for you. 😉
Gianluca Ginoble, Piero Barone and Ignazio Boschetto of Il Volo respond to Proust’s questionnaire.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Ignazio Boschetto: Having the time to be able to do everything I would like to do.
Piero Barone: Having full awareness of what is a safe haven for you, in the sense of knowing where to return and knowing what family is.
Gianluca Ginoble: Feeling fully in tune with yourself, in the balance between authenticity, freedom and love.
When do you lie?
Ignazio: I almost never lie. There is a Sicilian saying that says “better to blush once than to pale a hundred times”. I therefore prefer to tell the truth even when I’m wrong.”
Gianluca: I usually lie either to avoid unnecessary conflicts or to protect someone, a person I love.
Piero: I lie when there is a need to maintain balance between us. Of course, telling the truth is fundamental, but every now and then a lie is necessary.” What do you like least about your appearance?
Ignazio: The cheeks, the signs of acne
Piero: The ears
Gianluca: My nails because I eat them
What is the phrase or word you use most often?
Piero: Problems are born to be solved
Gianluca: Awareness
What is the greatest love of your life?
Ignazio: Doing everything to remain myself.
Gianluca: That healthy self-love, which is not presumption or arrogance, but the ability not to betray oneself.
Piero: Instinctively I say my family. And then the sea.
Who is the living person you despise the most?
Ignazio: The answer would be too intimate, contempt is something bad that you just have to keep inside.
Gianluca: Each of us can express a judgement, but we should get to the point where we don’t really despise anyone.
Who is the living person you admire most?
Piero: Here I appeal to the possibility of lying, lying to maintain the right balance.
Gianluca: My mother.
What is your least favorite thing?
Ignazio: I hate being blackmailed, doing something because I’m forced.
Gianluca: The pineapple in the pizza.
Piero: The anxiety, the tension.
What is your biggest fear?
Ignazio: No longer being able to give more value to someone or something.
Gianluca: Living with remorse and with the regret of having betrayed myself due to external circumstances or in order not to disregard the expectations of others.
Piero: The darkness.
What is your biggest extravagance?
Ignazio: Sympathy.
Piero: The irony.
Gianluca: The freedom to express myself in every form, to dress as I want, to live without labels and prejudices, letting my identity manifest itself without compromise.
What talent would you most like to have?
Piero: Knowing how to cook.
Ignazio: Knowing how to draw well.
How would you like to die?
Ignazio: Without realizing it.
Piero: Without guilt.
Gianluca: Dying without being afraid of dying.
Your favorite writers?
Ignazio: I like detective books. Michael Connelly. And Agassi’s book.
Piero: I like many writers, but as a Sicilian I really liked The Lions of Sicily by Stefania Auci.
Gianluca: Herman Hesse
What do you appreciate most about your friends?
Gianluca: The ability to listen without any judgement.
Piero: The ability they have to take me on a completely different path to that of my work. When I’m with them, I forget about the tours, the rehearsals, the music.”
Ignazio: Of my friends, who are not many, I admire that they love me unconditionally, without needing a reason to do so.
Where would you like to live?
Piero: At the sea.
Gianluca: Where I have lived for 15 years, I have never wanted to move.
Ignazio: More than a place, I’m interested in who. Today I couldn’t live without my wife.”
What is your current state of mind?
Gianluca: Restless.
Piero: Serene and also enthusiastic.
Ignazio: Proactive, exciting, sparkling.
What are your favorite names?
Gianluca: Future
Piero: Eleonora
Ignazio: Bianca
Gianluca: We all said women’s names… we would all like to have a daughter.
Ignazio: I can’t wait to do her ponytail with the vacuum cleaner, like in the social tutorials. 😂
What is your favorite occupation?
Piero: Playing tennis.
Gianluca: Writing the diary every day, writing my emotions, thoughts, writing poems.
Ignazio: Tennis, padel (pickle ball), and being in the studio.
What is your motto?
All for one.
What is your greatest achievement?
Ignazio: I think that at 30 a man, understood as a human being, feels satisfied if he has achieved emotional and economic independence. For me, the fact that I succeeded is a huge achievement.
Piero: I believe that the most important thing is to cultivate credibility.
Gianluca: Control your emotions.
Little by little we have reached the end of the year and Ignazio and Gianluca let us discover how they will spend the end of 2024.
Ignazio with Michelle and friends.🥰
Gianluca with Claudia and friends.🥰
The year 2025 has arrived.
On January 4, the POOH concert, recorded this summer in Venice in Piazza San Marco, was broadcast on Canale 5.
During the concert to confirm their great friendship, Il Volo sang two songs with Pooh: PIERRE and UOMINI SOLI.
Great words of friendship, respect and esteem between Il Volo and Pooh!
Backstage with Michelle Hunziker, presenter and great friend. 🥰
As I write to you it is January 6th, the Epiphany, the Christmas holidays are over, the new year has begun and soon there will be the start of the Il Volo tour in the Palasports, but before the tour we will see them in some television programs in in which they took part and which have not yet been broadcast. So, see you soon.
I leave you with this beautiful video published today by Michelle, relating to the wedding between her and Ignazio. In addition to the beautiful images, listen to Ignazio’s beautiful voice in the song written by him for the wedding and sung in Spanish.❤️❤️
Where were we? The last three concerts before the August break.
31 July: Palmanova
The beautiful star-shaped city, with a polygonal plan with nine points, a fortified military citadel, in ancient times surrounded by walls, or rather bastions, and turrets or “armors” at the corners, truly remarkable.
NELLE TUE MANI
NESSUN DORMA
SUCCEDE
AMOR VIDA DE MI VIDA (Piero)
ALMENO TU NELL’UNIVERSO (Ignaazio)
LA CURA (Gianluca)
You all heard the unrest that occurred in Venezuela after the elections and before the song Hallelujah Ignazio made this beautiful and sweet dedication:
“If you allow me this evening I would like to personally dedicate this next song to everything that is happening in Venezuela, now you know that for me it is family (applause) and not all information reaches the world and this next song is for them, for those who have suffered , for those who are suffering, and for those who have unfortunately already left us, we would like to invite you to turn on your cell phone flashes because who knows, maybe they are seeing us from up there.”
In response, Michelle published this photo with this dedication:
“Thank you my love @ignazioboschetto for dedicating this song and raising your voice for our Venezuela!!!”
And now a delightful moment in the company of Olivia who brings us a sweet smile. 😍
GRANDE AMORE final piece
The regional news TG Friuli Venezia Giulia also talked about the concert (activate subtitles)
some photos
August 3: MONTE CARLO
The concert will be held in the beautiful Salle Des Etoiles.
The concert will be opened by Lara Ferrari, an Italian singer who posted the photo with this dedication:
“It was a great emotion to open the beautiful Il Volo concert in the splendid Salle Des Ètoiles of the prestigious Sporting Club Monte Carlo with my big brothers Sugarpie & The Candymen.
Thanks guys for the photo and the chat!”
Dinner is also provided for the public present and we all know that the Monte Carlo public is perhaps a little more demanding than the public that crowds out the various concerts, but I can say, after seeing the various videos that the public certainly appreciated the great skill singing and entertaining by Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca!
And this is it for the last three concerts before the two-week summer break, it resumes on August 24th with the concert in MONOPOLI (Bari).
But the news doesn’t end here, because Il Volo has announced new dates that it will hold in January in the sports halls in Italy, here they are:
So the concert program in Italy intensifies long before leaving to come to you in the US. 😉
But this is not the only news. 😉
A Sicilian city: Agrigento (which is also the province where Piero lives), is a candidate to be the Capital of Culture next year and therefore to promote the event they thought of filming a nice concert by Il Volo in the beautiful Valle dei Temples and exactly in front of the Temple of Concordia. This project has taken shape and the concert is scheduled for August 31st. Since the square contains few people, around 500, and the video is sponsored by the Municipality of Agrigento and therefore free, entry by invitation was considered and Il Volo therefore sent an email to those registered in the fan club to invite them to sign up. this opportunity. It’s truly a beautiful gift for anyone who can be present at this concert!!
Temple of Concordia
And this is the email that went to all the fan club members.
But, do you remember that Il Volo said they were going to film a PBS special filmed in Egypt with the pyramids? Unfortunately, the very tense situation in the Middle East caused this beautiful event to be cancelled.
It is also thought that this event in Agrigento could also be used for the PBS special, but this is not yet confirmed.
The Agrigento Notizie newspaper talks about two concerts, one on August 31st and the other on September 1st. It is also thought that this event in Agrigento could also be used for the PBS special, but also for the Canale 5 Christmas special, but these two latest news has not yet been confirmed, so we will follow developments.
Concert of Il Volo in the Valley of the Temples, 2 dates: it remains to be clarified who will be able to attend.
With the regional decree of recent days, the bureaucratic procedures are unblocked for an event that will be more advertising than musical.
The first details of one of the “highlight” events of the city’s preparation for the year of capital of culture 2025 are starting to leak out, albeit informally: the Il Volo concert in the Valley of the Temples.
An initiative that will in all respects be more advertising than musical in itself, so much so that in the decree signed in recent days by the Sicilian Region, with which 500 thousand euros are allocated to support the event, it is linked to the promotion on TV between Italy and the United States. This is because the concert by Piero Barone, Ignazio Boschetto and Gianluca Ginoble will take place on two dates, August 31st and September 1st, in favor of cameras: a show will be filmed to then be broadcast on Mediaset channels during the Christmas period, The other one will be used for US TV.
What still needs to be understood is whether and how it will be possible for the public to attend the concerts. The location, probably the esplanade in front of the Temple of Concordia, will not be able to accommodate more than 400 people and it is not yet known how they will be selected: the hypothesis of an invitation-only event is the most accredited, while it seems very unlikely that an initiative of this type could be open access.
The economic aspect also needs to be defined: if it is true that the decree approved in recent days allocates 500 thousand euros with funds from the cultural heritage department, the overall cost of the operation should exceed one million euros, with other resources coming from national and regional governments as well as the archaeological park.
And this is all for the moment, I would say that our boys don’t have a moment of peace, I hope that at least in these very hot days of August they will be able to rest a little and regain their energy.
My Sicilian holiday went very well, I only went to Palermo and Cefalù. In Palermo I was staying right next to the Cathedral from where Il Volo sang on July 15th. From my bedroom window I could have seen them very well without even moving. It’s a shame that when I booked the days of my stay, nothing was known about this further commitment of Il Volo in Palermo.
But that’s okay, the important thing is to always have good and positive news from our beloved boys.
Lots of news these days, but let’s get straight to the most recent news.
During the television broadcast on Rai 1, all the singers admitted to Sanremo were invited to say the title of the song they will present at the festival.
The broadcast was live from the Sanremo Casino, where the Sanremo Festival was born.
The arrival of Il Volo at the Sanremo Casino.
Here is the title of the song that Il Volo will present in Sanremo and here is the moment in which they gave this news.
C A P O L A V O R O
AMADEUS= The next competing singers are other winners, they represent a 15-year history, a history of music, of friendship, of success all over the world.
After the victory in 2015 and third place in 2019, it is a great pleasure to announce Il Volo’s return to competition at the Sanremo Festival (applause)
G+P+I= Hello, hello everyone.
PIERO = (to Amadeus) You’re in great shape.
AMADEUS= Just don’t eat! You know, the energy!
IGNAZIO= Like dismantling the kitchen and assembling the gym!
AMADEUS= Good, more or less!
GIANLUCA= Fiore, (Fiorello, TV presenter), steals your job!
AMADEUS= I must say that the fact that someone says: “They won Sanremo….” but how many things have happened for you, we’re talking about a worldwide success, which continues to be worldwide, therefore also a notable commitment, because you really travel the world.
GIANLUCA= Yes, I truly believe that the secret, and it is a message that we also want to send to those who have followed us over all these years, is to always remain cohesive, cultivate friendships, even if we have not chosen each other, learn to know each other, not to clash the sensitivity of the other, I think this is really important, because being cohesive makes us stronger. Individuality is important, cultivating it, but I believe being a cohesive group is the key that has allowed us to reach 15 years of career.
AMADEUS= Absolutely. We talked about the victory at the Sanremo Festival, who doesn’t remember that 2015 with Grande Amore. (the video of the victory starts).
This is one of those songs that the public has taken over (it means that everyone knows it)
PIERO= But our expression makes you understand the emotion and adrenaline that the Ariston stage gives you, because many of you will know that we met on the Ariston stage, in the television program 15 years ago. It’s not the first time, in some way we were baptized on that stage, but every time it’s a new emotion, even though it’s the umpteenth time.
IGNAZIO= If I can spoil one thing, I’ll see you in 5 years because every 5 years we come to celebrate the anniversary, in 2019 10 years, this year 15 years, we’ll see each other again for the 20th.
AMADEUS= It’s true! I’m happy that it coincides with 2024 (it will be Amadeus’ last presence in Sanremo as host), which is why I extended it by one year.
And what do you bring to Sanremo?
GIANLUCA= Wait, let’s say it together?
AMADEUS= As you wish: one two three….
I+P+G= CAPOLAVORO (Masterpiece)
How exciting, and how beautiful they are, as you will have noticed they are also dressed in an elegant but informal way, in fact Amadeus’ wife, Giovanna, does not miss the opportunity to point this out in a nice way. 😁
GIANLUCA= How are you?
GIOVANNA= I’ve never seen you in a tank top…
PIERO= I’m not in a tank top.
GIOVANNA= Yes, you are in a tank top (and shows Piero’s tank top and then Ignazio’s), look, Il Volo in a tank top, a little transgressive! 😁
In fact, you will notice that the new image of Il Volo is certainly different from what we are used to seeing. They are followed by a designer (the most fashionable currently in Italy) Nick Cerioni, who is famous for giving a different imprint and has relaunched the image of several Italian singers.
Nick Cerioni himself published these words on his page:
“A project that I have always cared about, not only for the immense artistic luster that these three guys give to Italy but because they are three unique people.
I worked with Il Volo on the creative direction of the visual part of their new project and together we created a world (or rather a universe) that speaks of this new beginning.
The videos and photos are by the best of the good (yes, I’m biased) Leandro Emede (Nick’s husband)✨”
Here are some shots from Leandro Emede.
And I think this will be the cover of the new single:
For this evening, Il Volo wore Armani suits, as VANITY FAIR tells us.
Il Volo in Giorgio Armani
Black in three look variations, which demonstrate the desire to bring the three different personalities of the trio onto the stage. Ignazio Boschetto’s outfit is the most linear, Piero Barone wears a tuxedo with a t-shirt instead of a shirt while Gianluca Ginoble sports a softer outfit with an open shirt.
Other shots of the evening.
Greetings to Caterina Balivo (the one who presents another Rai program)
And in this video Piero, Gianluca and Ignazio tell us that this video is on Sanremo RAI’s Instagram and they ask us to let them know if we like the title of the new song and Gianluca specifies that it is not self-referential.
Many newspapers and broadcasts talked about the evening and this is just the evening in which the titles of the songs were discovered. As you can understand, there is a lot of visibility that revolves around the Festival and this is certainly what Il Volo was looking for when launching a new work.
It is absolutely forbidden to listen to the song before the Sanremo evening, under penalty of disqualification. Furthermore, as I have already told you, all the singers competing cannot appear on any television network other than RAI, the regulations are very restrictive on this.
And in this video, Gianluca, Ignazio and Piero jokingly communicate on the web the title of the song they will sing in Sanremo in 2024.
Instead, in this other video, Gianluca, Ignazio and Piero communicate that they have a Whatsapp channel and say to subscribe to their channel to be updated on the news. To sign up just open this link.
Robbie Williams, of whom Gianluca is a fan, was also invited to perform at the same private event and in fact there are several videos in which Gianluca and also Piero can be seen listening to Robbie sing, with Gianluca’s evident enthusiasm.
……and what you don’t expect is that Robbie, while he is singing Angels (the song that Gianluca sang with the soprano in the Arena), invites Gianluca to sing and gives him the microphone.
Gianluca was very excited and wrote on his page: “Last night was crazy with @robbiewilliams 🔥 and now who sleeps anymore.”
Shortly before the Monte Carlo event, the staff announced that Il Volo would return to concert at the Verona Arena in May, on 9-11-12.
There was an immediate rush for tickets, because advance sales began the same day as the announcement.
I already have my ticket and even if I didn’t manage to get the best seats, I will be in row no. 5 side, I can’t wait and I will definitely meet lots of friends.
Who of you will be there?
Meanwhile, my beautiful Christmas EP has also arrived. What a beautiful gift!!
On 15 December in Bologna the Donatello Restaurant (where Il Volo often goes) celebrated 120 years of activity and among the various guests at dinner there were also Piero Barone and Michele Torpedine.
At a certain point in the evening a beautiful duet was born between Piero and a soprano to the tune of the song “Non ti scordar di me.”
But let’s take a look at the new sweet engaged couple, here are some beautiful photos of them together in Milan, Ignazio and Michelle, but how beautiful they are!! ❤️❤️
For now there is nothing else, but soon it will be Christmas and therefore I take this opportunity to wish you my personal wishes for a beautiful Christmas, which will bring joy, health, happiness and above all in this moment, PEACE. ❤️
Best wishes to all of you!!
Daniela 😍❤️
Best wishes for a peaceful Christmas from all the Flight Crew staff:
Jana, Kelly, Daniela, Pat and Susan
🎄 MERRY CHRISTMAS! 🎄
And to celebrate Christmas we propose again the beautiful concert recorded in Jerusalem a year ago, when there was no war yet.
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!
If I must tell the truth, this is my least favorite holiday! To me it’s a sad day because we remember all those who we lost over the years and we think of them in a different way than we do on other days. We think that they left us too soon and this year too quickly! I, like many of you out there, suffered many losses this year and I saw many people I love suffer!
Halfway through the year, I was speaking with my aunt, who turned 100 this year! I said, “Aunt Christina, you’ve been around a long time. What do you think about what’s going on?” She replied, “Susan, I remember grandpa saying every 20 years we have to have a war to clear out the old and start fresh again. This is our war!” I guess she is right. This war we are fighting is different, it is a war with an invisible enemy that haunts each of us every day!
What made this year different? The one thing that was really different was we were all in this together. You woke up every morning and turned on the news and no matter where you lived New York, Italy, Germany, Russia, Australia, the news was the same – Wash Your Hands! Wear a Mask! Social Distance!
As to the guys, they certainly did a great job of reminding us to do these things! And when they weren’t talking about this, they were working to help people in Italy and around the world. They took us along on all their journeys in support of these people. We joined them for Altismo Live! In support of Latin American farmworkers. We enjoyed circling Italy through project Italians 4 Life with the wonderful song Ma Il Cielo è Sempre Più Blu (But the Sky is Getting Bluer and Bluer). And, of course, O Sole Mio for UNICEF!
So, we’ve come to the end of the year that was, and now we have to take time to reflect on what we are leaving behind! Yes, there were lots of bad things that happened but there were also some good things. Having a hard time figuring out what they were? Let’s take a look at some of the good things that the guys did! They came to us live every day! So, let’s start there.
LIVE FROM IGNAZIO’S HOME STUDIO
The announcement that came from Ignazio on May 16th kept us sitting on the edge of our seats waiting to see what this project would be. We knew it would include the Il Volo musicians but what was this big surprise. Ignazio gave us a hint!
Ignazio said: With this video, I would like to thank many people. First of all, the doctors who during this time made their lives available to others. Here it is, altruism. I think it’s one of the most important things in the world.
For me, this is one of the most important songs,this song makes us understand that we are all part of this world and everyone has a piece of the universe. And so, I decided to propose “Almeno tu nell’ Universo” . (At Least You in the Universe)
What we got was a production straight from Ignazio’s soul! The drama of the black and white video along with the most intimate, passionate rendition of “Almeno tu nell’ Universo” we ever heard left us speechless. His amazing voice brought us to a universe where there is no limit, and we could float along on his magnificent notes, reaching unbelievable heights! It brought us all to tears.
Ignazio along with Giampiero Grani on piano, Alessandro Quarta on violin, Bruno Farinelli drums, Pierluigi Mingotti on bass and Gino De Vita and Andrea Morelli on guitar, set in split screen, gave the performance of a lifetime. The arrangement and video mix were so perfect it seemed hard to believe Ignazio did it all from his home. Genius at work!
LIVE FROM PIERO’S TERRACE
We could hear the silence of this small beautiful town and the only sound in the background was the chirping of the birds. Then suddenly, Piero began to sing “Nessun Dorma” and his voice rang out over Naro inviting his neighbors to come out on their terraces to listen to him and applaud his magnificent voice. And how did Piero react, the same way he does in concert, with that beautiful smile he greeted his neighbors and thanked them for their applause. And then, he gave us a birds’ eye view of Naro from his terrace explaining about all the baroque buildings and structures in the town including the history of it all. Jovanotti was just as thrilled and impressed as we were. Piero showed us around his terrace pointing out his cactus and taking time to tell us about his antique coffee mill. What a treat to share this special time with him!
And what about his beautiful “AVE MARIA” that warmed our hearts.
Gianluca really perfected his piano playing in quarantine! We listened to him sing while looking out over his beautiful garden which looks down to the Adriatic Sea and the beautiful beach of Roseto degli Abruzzi. Picture postcard perfect, it was amazing and we were all wishing we could be there with him! And he spent lots of time walking on the beach with Luna and playing out in the yard with her.
But the most exciting of all was listening to Gianluca’s very romantic voice which touches every one of our senses. He sang so many beautiful songs for us while playing his piano with Luna at his feet. It gave us a warm and happy feeling which left us feeling very secure!
And then the summer began and, the quarantine was over and, the guys came together after being separated for months. And what did they do? They took us on another journey. First, we watched them take on a new appearance with their Dolce & Gabbana wardrobe. Their mini-Concert for Dolce & Gabbana’s women’s line of clothing and the presentation of the men’s line of clothing at the Campus Parade in Milan. It was wonderful to see them back together and listen to them live.
Then they went to Monte Carlo for their first concert in five months followed by their appearance at the Taormina Film Festival where these three gorgeous guys appeared, dressed like three Princes, in their Dolce & Gabbana Tuxedo’s. They were so handsome they took our breaths away. And their performance at the festival representing the film “Devotion,” the story of Dolce and Gabbana, was amazing. Just seeing them back at the Greek Theater in Taormina made us feel everything will be okay from now on. After all, this is their theater, the heart of who they are.
And if that wasn’t enough, we got to spend a Special Day with the guys in Polizzi Generosa celebrating the opening of “Devotion” and Domenico Dolce’s 62nd Birthday! What an extravaganza! The parade, the costumes, the musicians and dancers. What can I say it was just a fantastic day and it was All Live for us to see on Instagram and Facebook.
As they stepped back on the stage at the Verona Arena, for the reopening of the music industry with their presentation at the Seat Music Awards, we remembered their last performance there in 2019. Spectacular then, spectacular now!
Then came the announcement that they would pay tribute to Ennio Morricone with a Concert in Piazza Pio XII next June 5th!
Il Volo with Roma’s mayor.
Which brings another thought to mind! Do we ever take the time to consider what goes into their performance? We see them on stage and we are in awe of them but, what it takes to get them there is amazing and a lot of hard work. In January they will start preparing for their June 5th Concert. It doesn’t start and end with the concerts. There’s lots of preparation and rehearsals. Everything has to be just perfect because, after all, these three young men are perfectionists!
And then there was their final performance for 2020, their mini-Concert at Piazza Pio XII on Christmas Day. And here the guys sent us their final greeting for the year!
Gianluca: On this special day when we all feel close from afar, we wanted to find a way to wish you all happy holidays.
Ignazio: And we did so in the way that best suits us, through music from this gorgeous square where we feel like we are enveloped in a welcoming embrace.
Piero:We hope this holiday season may bring a smile to your homes and warm your hearts. On this “Oh holy night” we wish to dedicate every single note and every single word to you all.”
Yes, there was so much that was bad about this year but, I just wanted to show you that there were some good things that happened too.
As we approached 2020, I thought with a number like 2020, this will be a year of vision. What was my vision for the year? I thought it would be my best year in ten years. I had so much business and the future looked so bright but, we all know how that turned out. But I never could have imagined, when it all began, that I would spend my whole year doing what I love best, writing! Thirty years ago, I walked away from a career critiquing films. Who could imagine that I would turn back the clock and start writing again! And above all writing 40 stories about our three amazing guys, Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca!
The guys spent the year inspiring us, kept us company and certainly took the time to tell us what they were doing and what we needed to do to stay safe. In a recent interview they were asked what they missed most this year. They replied traveling. It is their life after all. And we are very much a part of that life. Hopefully we can all get back to it soon.
Finally, how do I sum up this year? Every morning when I get up, I sing. What do I sing? “Smile!” Is it because of the guys? Well, I certainly love when the guys sing “Smile,” but no, I’ve been singing this song since I was a child because I believe no matter what happened yesterday, today has the possibility to be better, so, “Smile, just Smile.”
Happy New Year!
Credit to owners of all photos and videos.
Come in and share the love of life, friends and Il Volo!
