Tag Archives: Pavarotti

PIERO AND JOVANOTTI by Daniela

In these days of quarantine, there are live videos, between our boys and their friends.

This is Piero with Jovanotti. I state that Jovanotti, (also called Jova, but his real name is Lorenzo Cherubini) is a famous Italian singer-songwriter, rapper and disc jockey.

The live is very interesting and therefore I translate roughly for you.

Friendly greetings between Piero and Jovanotti.

Piero says that he returned three days earlier from the US where Il Volo was on tour, but they did not realize from there what the situation was like in Italy.

He is now in Naro, and is in quarantine. He says that quarantine stimulates creativity, he must commit the days, the mind, he takes advantage of it to study, and read.

Jova asks where the other two are and Piero replies that everyone is at home, Gianluca is in Abruzzo and Ignazio in Bologna.

Jova asks if there is someone at home with him and Piero replies that he is alone, that he has not yet seen his parents and his sister. Piero says that in America they didn’t have the feeling of what was going on, that if you put on gloves and a medical mask, maybe you looked badly.

Piero Jova 01

Now also in the US the situation is different.

Now everyone looks to Italy, also as an example and then we receive many messages from all over the world of solidarity and we must be proud of this.
Jova asks if they were on tour and Piero replies that they were on tour since January and they have had to cancel the last three concerts.

Piero explains how fortunately they managed to return to Italy, because he says that after Trump’s speech where he said he would close all flights from Europe, and for Europe, Alitalia, sent a completely empty plane to the US to take the compatriots who wanted to return to Italy.

Jovanotti says that Italians always show the best side when there are emergencies. He says it is in these cases that Italy proves to be a united country.

He says his daughter was also in the US for study and managed to catch one of the last flights.

Piero Jova 02

Then he asks Piero if he is afraid.

Piero replies no, because he is convinced that we live in the safest country in the world, even if he admits that in Sicily, the health facilities (hospitals) are not exactly vanguard, but there are many people of good will. Therefore, by contacting some friends from Agrigento, they thought that, for now there are few cases in Sicily, but if the contagion were to come as strong as in Lombardy, the health facilities would collapse immediately.

And so he and these artists from Agrigento decided to start this fundraiser to help these hospitals. They will channel the donations to this bank account, but they will not give the money, but they will ask what the hospital needs and will buy it and give it to them. All coordinated with local authorities.

Piero says that the duty of the artists is to spread this initiative and says that today there are no records sold or concerts. Today there is only one concert, that of staying united and carrying out this great battle.

Jova greatly appreciates Piero’s speech and tells him that he is “great”. He remembers that they met quickly in a waiting room of the Catania airport and exchanged their contacts.

Then Jovanotti (who has many followers) invites everyone to follow this beautiful initiative, very important.

Then he tells Piero that he wants to hear his voice, he says that he knows that Il Volo sings all over the world bringing the Italian melody, especially the songs in Italian, and says that they are a rarity.

Piero replies that it’s nice to see Americans, even the Japanese, who get excited even if they don’t understand the words.

At this point Jovanotti asks Piero to perform the NESSUN DORMA.

Piero says that his neighbors will be tired of hearing him, as long as he always sings. Jova says they told him that the summer rental agencies have requests to rent apartments near Piero’s !!

So Piero shows the view from his balcony and Jova says it is a beautiful place, a real historical center.

Piero Jova 03

Naro

 

Then he tells Piero that he appreciates Il Volo, because they also love to joke and play down their image, also lending themselves to slightly different interviews, such as the one they did with Fiorello, proposing Il Volo in a rock version.

Piero confirms that they try to bring the message of bel canto to the younger generation too.

Jova asks if they have ever sung in China and Piero confirms yes, in 2015, the year of the dog. Then they do a search and discover that when Piero was born, it was the year of the rooster, then they try, laughing, to make a symphonic version of Jova’s song.

A message from Fiorello arrives (on their video) and recalls a Sicilian song and immediately Piero sings a piece of it. Jova is not Sicilian and does not understand the meaning, so he asks Piero who tells him to ask Fiorello. (It has a mischievous meaning, that’s why Piero replies like this.)

There is also a message from Ignazio saying that they have abandoned him. Jova says no and asks where Ignazio is, Piero replies that he is in Bologna and that due to the jet lag he cannot sleep

So they talk about the importance of sleep to have a rested and fresh voice before the concerts, and Piero also recommends eating apples, and also cold water.

Jovanotti asks Piero if he ever met Pavarotti and Piero says that he missed by two years before their start as Il Volo.

(In this 2013 video there are Pavarotti and Jovanotti in a song by Jova, during “Pavarotti and friends.”)

So they talk about the performances on people’s balconies, these days, and confirm that it is the most beautiful thing, that those videos have gone around the world and that everyone imitates us for this, because it is the most beautiful thing in the world.

Piero tells Jova, that his dad, when he had the auto bodywork shop, put him on the hood of customers’ cars and had him sing UN AMORE COSÌ GRANDE and GRANADA.

Jova says that he is almost 54 years old, Piero’s dad, Gaetano, is only two years older.

Piero says that La Boheme is his favorite opera and Jova says he saw it a year ago at the Metropolitan.

Then Piero sings a piece of the Cavalleria Rusticana.

Piero confirms that he is studying to do an opera, but it takes months and months of study and tries to do lessons via skype with his teacher from Bologna.

Jovanotti tells him that when he debuts at the opera, he wants to be there, then asks if Gaetano wanted to be a singer, and Piero says no, but his grandfather was sincerely sought for singing and says that he and his grandfather have the same voice and he tells how his grandfather noticed his potential.

So Piero tells of the economic difficulties that his father has suffered, in order to take him to various competitions or singing lessons, and Jovanotti says they seem like stories from centuries ago, instead they are recent and very beautiful stories and Piero says that Ignazio and Gianluca also have similar stories.

Jovanotti concludes that now that everyone has time, they must use it to rediscover many things that are not done during busy days.

Then they say goodbye with affection.

Piero has also made specific messages to persuade people to collaborate to raise funds for hospitals in Sicily in the Agrigento area.

Also together with other Sicilian artists.

This is the link to support hospitals.

Go Fund Me Link – Click Here

Congratulations Piero, your commitment in this case is honorable.

We are confident that you will succeed in your fundraising goal and your healthcare equipment will be donated to hospitals.

Thanks for your effort, you are my sweetheart. ❤️

Daniela 

Credit to owners of all photos and videos.

 

Pavarotti 10th Anniversary Show – Special Exclusive by our own Daniela!

 

Our very own Daniela surprised us all by sending us an email of her attendance at the taping and rehearsals for the Pavarotti Event on September 6th!  Below, is her experience, as well as some editing and formatting by me.  But still mostly in her own words…


From Daniela…

This is the promo of the broadcast:

https://www.facebook.com/raiunoofficial/videos/1544358462269865/

Here is the video of their song, as well as the beginning of the evening.

 

 

“Ciao a tutte,

Ten years ago, a great tenor died, Luciano Pavarotti.  In his memory, a great event was scheduled at the Verona Arena broadcast live on Rai1, September 6, 2017.

Yesterday, September 5, from the official fanclub arrived an e-mail that if you wanted to attend the free rehearsals you just had to show up at 7pm. in front of the Arena gate and we can bring other people, the card was not required. I just wanted to tell you that I have just returned from Verona Arena where I and my husband have attended the event in memory of Pavarotti that will be done tomorrow. Lucky for us, we just lived less than an hour away from Verona.

All this was done because for IL VOLO, besides the rehearsals, there was also the recording of their participation, in short for them tomorrow will be a “fake direct” because will be transmitted how much was recorded tonight.

The big evening came.

The beginning of the evening it is announced that Il Volo will perform Granada together with the soprano Angela Gheorghiu. They were very good and there was a lot of support for them, but let me say I would have preferred they sing a song all to themselves.

At first, we were about 500 people but the rehearsal was long and in the evening, it was cold. At the end, we were about 150 people all arranged focused because during the television shooting you could see the audience. I was in a good position in the central corridor.

They were allowed to sing as if it seemed they were actually present in the Arena.

Their show was recorded on Tuesday night, the boys had to leave for Mexico, shortly afterward, as we saw from the pictures of Gian and Piero on the plane.

My husband and I had the pleasure of being there when the boys were recording their song at the Arena, it was a great experience and absolutely free. Piero Ignazio and Gianluca are wonderful as usual.

I enjoyed the show. I did some photos and a couple of videos. They asked us not to divulge photos and videos until tomorrow evening.

We have seen the tapes of the tenors: Carreras, Grigolo, Meli (I’m not sure he is), and of course IL VOLO.

The guys were very stylish, there was also the presenter Conti and the orchestra, all were elegant.

Carlo Conti asked Angela and Il Volo their thoughts on Pavarotti after they finished their song….lucky for us, Daniela translated the guys’ answers for us!

Piero: We did not know Luciano but for us he is the image of music, music in the world.  I remember when the master disappeared in 2007, on the news in China raised the black flags and there I realized that we had lost someone important.

Ignazio:  Surely for us it was a great inspiration, especially for the project we have faced to date. For me personally, I imitated Luciano when I was a little kid in my bedroom, then my mom came and said to me “but it was you Ignazio?” For me I grew up a lot with Luciano and we really bring him into our heart, and who does not?

Gianluca: The most charismatic man in the world, probably of the century, has succeeded in his mission of bringing lyrical music to everyone, to the people but especially to the young and this is the most important thing.

I finish with a phrase, today an important Italian newspaper has devoted a long page to Pavarotti’s memory and after describing not only the great artist but the simple man who had also succeeded in his spontaneity, this newspaper finished the article writing: “IL VOLO, like it or not like, are his virtual sons.”  (I love this quote!…jmv)


Pictures below from Daniela:

dan 1

 

dan 2

dan 3

dan 4

dan 5

These pictures below from RAI, but sent by Daniela…

I think Igna and Luciano have the same cheeks!  🙂

 

Til next time….a presto!

Jana

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DID YOU KNOW????

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Hi Everyone,

There is much happiness going on around here!!  Il Volo is coming back, not just for their March concert with Laura, but touring The US again this year! The concerts are fewer than usual, but we understand their need to travel to other countries, especially ones they have not been to before. We have to share although it’s hard!!!

This time we’ll have a look at the great Italian tenor, Pavarotti. Piero says the first CD he bought was one of Luciano Pavarotti’s.

Luciano Pavarotti,  12 October 1935 – 6 September 2007) was an Italian operatic tenor who also crossed over into popular music, eventually becoming one of the most commercially successful tenors of all time. He made numerous recordings of complete operas and individual arias, gaining worldwide fame for the brilliance and beauty of his tone—especially into the upper register—and eventually established himself as one of the finest tenors of the 20th century.

As one of The Three Tenors, Pavarotti became well known for his televised concerts and media appearances. From the beginning of his professional career as a tenor in 1961 in Italy to his final performance of “Nessun dorma” at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Pavarotti was at his best in bel canto operas, pre-Aida Verdi roles, and Puccini works such as La bohème, Tosca, and Madama Butterfly. Pavarotti was also noted for his charity work on behalf of refugees and the Red Cross, amongst others. He died from pancreatic cancer on 6 September 2007.     pav2

Luciano Pavarotti was born in 1935 on the outskirts of Modena in Northern Italy, the son of Fernando Pavarotti, a baker and amateur tenor, and Adele Venturi, a cigar factory worker. Although he spoke fondly of his childhood, the family had little money; its four members were crowded into a two-room apartment. According to Pavarotti, his father had a fine tenor voice but rejected the possibility of a singing career because of nervousness. World War II forced the family out of the city in 1943. For the following year they rented a single room from a farmer in the neighbouring countryside, where the young Pavarotti developed an interest in farming.

After abandoning the dream of becoming a football goalkeeper. Pavarotti spent seven years in vocal training. Pavarotti’s earliest musical influences were his father’s recordings, most of them featuring the popular tenors of the day – Beniamino Gigi, Giovann Martinelli, Tito Schipa, and Enrico Carus. Pavarotti’s favourite tenor and idol was Giuseppe Di Stefano and he was also deeply influenced by Mario Lanza, saying: “In my teens I used to go to Mario Lanza movies and then come home and imitate him in the mirror”. At around the age of nine he began singing with his father in a small local church choir.

After what appears to have been a normal childhood with a typical interest in sports—in Pavarotti’s case football above all, he graduated from the Scuola Magistrale and faced the dilemma of a career choice. He was interested in pursuing a career as a professional football goalkeeper, but his mother convinced him to train as a teacher. He subsequently taught in an elementary school for two years but finally allowed his interest in music to win out. Recognising the risk involved, his father gave his consent only reluctantly.

Pavarotti began the serious study of music in 1954 at the age of 19 with Arrigo Pola, a respected teacher and professional tenor in Modena who offered to teach him without remuneration.

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While undertaking an international “farewell tour,” Pavarotti was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in July 2006. The tenor fought back against the implications of this diagnosis, undergoing major abdominal surgery and making plans for the resumption and conclusion of his singing commitments.He died at his home in Modena on 6 September 2007. Within hours of his death, his manager, Terri Robson, noted in an e-mail statement, “The Maestro fought a long, tough battle against the pancreatic cancer which eventually took his life. In fitting with the approach that characterized his life and work, he remained positive until finally succumbing to the last stages of his illness.

Pavarotti was born in the outskirts of Modena in Northern Italy.

Modena  is a city and comune (municipality) on the south side of the Po Valley, in the Province of Modena in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy.

mod2

An ancient town, it is the seat of an archbishop, but is now known as “the capital of engines”, since the factories of the famous Italian sports car makers Ferrari, De Tomaso, Lamborghini, Pagani and Maserati are, or were, located here and all, except Lamborghini, have headquarters in the city or nearby. Lamborghini is headquartered not far away in Sant’Agata Bolognese in the adjacent Province of Bologna. One of Ferrari’s cars, the 360 Modena, was named after the town itself. One of the colors for Ferraris is Modena yellow.

Modena is well known in culinary circles for its production of balsamic vinegar and also for its Military Academy, Italy’s “West Point”, which is housed in the Ducal Palace.

mod1

Famous Modenesi include Mary of Modena, the Queen consort of England and Scotland; operatic tenor Luciano Pavarotti (1935–2007) and soprano Mirella Freni, born in Modena itself; Enzo Ferrari (1898–1988), eponymous founder of the Ferrari motor company; the Catholic Priest and Senior Exorcist of Vatican Gabriele Amorth; renowned chef Massimo Bottura and the rock singer Vasco Rossi who was born in Zocca, one of the 47 comuni in the Province of Modena.

Latest tweets include, “In Bologna” from Gianluca. Piero celebrating food and family this past Sunday and Ignazio sporting his new tatoo “Born To Rock” and in English too!!

Up to date tweet from Piero, “On the way to Rome”, can flight to here be far behind?

Pretty soon we can get back to our “In Case You Missed It” column as we get more and more information about their tour. Keep checking the right side of the site page under  ‘Coming Up..Il Volo’, for the latest tour dates as we get them.

 **More tour dates are coming out, but we won’t post until we have confirmation.

**** New tour date from Helen. June 19th at Freedom Hall Amphitheatre, Sterling Hts. MI.

******* Here is a link to vote for “The World Award” for Latin Billboards. It is a popularity award.

http://msnlatino.telemundo.com/entretenimiento/Premios_Billboard/premio_tu_mundo

Hope you enjoyed a look at Pavarotti and his birthplace of Modena!

Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca, we are so looking forward to seeing you again! Love and Luck!                                  cropped-a-mlla-linked-feb-5th.jpg

Linda