Hi Everyone,

Just one day to go until one of the biggest concerts ever for Il Volo. The concert at the Radio City Music Hall is a dream come true for Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca. As promised here are more facts about this Grand Theatre. The picture in the heading is of the “Grand Foyer”

Just two weeks after its gala opening, Radio City Music Hall premiered its first film, The Bitter Tea of General Yen. Before long, a first showing at the Music Hall virtually guaranteed a successful run in the theatres around the country. Radio City’s huge screen and widely spaced seats make it the ideal movie house. Since 1933 more than 700 movies have opened here. They include the original King Kong; National Velvet, the film that secured Elizabeth Taylor’s hold on the silver screen; White Christmas; Mame; Breakfast at Tiffany’s; To Kill a Mockingbird, starring former Radio City usher, Gregory Peck; Mary Poppins; 101 Dalmatians; and The Lion King. In the early years, a standard movie run lasted one week. Later, extended runs of five or six weeks became common. Cary Grant, Ginger Rogers, and Katharine Hepburn have taken Radio City box office prizes for the number of films screened here. All three had more than 22 of their films shown at the Hall. The popular movie-and-stage-show format remained a Radio City signature until 1979, when the mass showcasing of new films called for a new focus. Today, the Music Hall still premieres selected films, but is best known as the country’s leading hall for popular concerts, stage shows, special attractions and media events.

CHRISTMAS AT ROCKEFELLER CENTER: A HOLIDAY TRADITION

Lights twinkling on the tree, skaters gliding across the ice, carols ringing in the air and the annual Radio City Christmas Spectacular.

Rockefeller Center is the nation’s favorite Christmas destination. The spirit of the laborers who decorated the first tree on the site almost seventy years ago lives on in the giant, gloriously lit spruce that graces the Plaza throughout the holiday season. The tree lighting ceremony draws huge crowds eagerly awaiting the official start of the season. And for weeks, happy kids and harried commuters are stopped in their tracks by the sight of the gossamer angels with golden trumpets and the sound of music in the winter air.

For 80 years, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, starring the Rockettes, has continued to create lasting memories for generations of families that have made this cherished show a holiday tradition. As America’s #1 holiday production, the Christmas Spectacular is attended by more than one million people annually and has played to 74 different cities outside of New York with its regional touring production.

Since 1932, the Christmas Spectacular has played at the famed Radio City Music Hall and today’s show still features beloved favorite numbers, including Parade of the Wooden Soldiers and the Living Nativity, which have been performed since its inception.

This year, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular celebrates 85 magical years of the Rockettes and will perform to cities outside of New York including Nashville, Chicago, Dallas and St. Louis.

Twitters, Tweets and Keeks:
Not much coming from the “Guys” today.Check out some photos of Il Volo on Mundial with some fans from Miami Beach. Also a video from Gianluca singing “Come Fly With Me.”

This is just a guess, i’m assuming they will fly to NY today to settle in before the concert.

We on the Board of “The Flight Crew” are as disappointed as Il Volo and all of you, that they did not get a nomination for a Latin Grammy. We also realize that they are young and with their amazing talent and dedication they will receive many awards during their careers. In the interest of moving on we wish to concentrate on a very exciting time of their careers; a concert at Radio City Music hall on Friday, September 27th. We hope all of you that love Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca will join us in celebrating this milestone with them!!

Safe trip to NY Guys!!! Tomorrow is the day!!!

Linda

Hi Everyone,

The excitement is building!! If it’s exciting for us, can you imagine how Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca feel about their concert at Radio City Music Hall this Friday? They have dreamed of this since the beginning. In a walking tour of New York City 3 years ago they pointed to the Grand Old Theatre and said “Someday we’ll sing there” Their dream has come true and we are so happy for them!!!
For the next few days I will share pictures and the extensive history of this beautiful theatre.The picture in the heading is of the “Great Stage.” It especially brings fond memories for me; as a child my parents would take us to New York City to see the famous Christmas Spectacular at this historic theatre. The following is a partial history of “Radio City” from it’s web site. We’ll have more tomorrow!

When the stock market crashed in 1929, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. held a $91 million, 24-year lease on a piece of midtown Manhattan property properly known as “the speakeasy belt.” Plans to gentrify the neighborhood by building a new Metropolitan Opera House on the site were dashed by the failing economy and the business outlook was dim. Nevertheless, Rockefeller made a bold decision that would leave a lasting impact on the city’s architectural and cultural landscape. He decided to build an entire complex of buildings on the property-buildings so superior that they would attract commercial tenants even in a depressed city flooded with vacant rental space. The project would express the highest ideals of architecture and design and stand as a symbol of optimism and hope.

The search for a commercial partner led to the Radio Corporation of America, a young company whose NBC radio programs were attracting huge audiences and whose RKO studios were producing and distributing popular motion pictures that offered welcome diversion in hard times. Rockefeller’s financial power and RCA’s media might were joined by the unusual talents of impresario S.L. “Roxy” Rothafel. Roxy had earned a reputation as a theatrical genius by employing an innovative combination of vaudeville, movies and razzle-dazzle decor to revive struggling theatres across America. Together Rockefeller, RCA and Roxy realized a fantastic dream – a theatre unlike any in the world, and the first completed project within the complex that RCA head David Sarnoff dubbed “Radio City.” Radio City Music Hall was to be a palace for the people. A place of beauty offering high-quality entertainment at prices ordinary people could afford. It was intended to entertain and amuse, but also to elevate and inspire.

“The Boys” are enjoying some leisure time in Miami, but are also recording. I hope they get enough down time, they’ll need their best energy for New York!!

Twitters Tweets, Keeks and Brabbles: Ignazio has Brabbled a Picture of palm trees and ocean saying “Which is more beautiful than this?” Gianluca tweeted “Good morning Miami” and you can see a short Brabble video of Piero on Mundial during a recording session.

Check out Team Il Volo for a glowing review of the Orlando concert. “Il Volo at the Amway Arena-Orlando”, courtesy of thehotspotorlando.

Please remember to sign Ignazio’s Birthday card!!!

Linda