As you are likely all aware, Il Volo’s world tour did not get off to a good start; the first date following their break—scheduled for July 1st in Marostica(in Veneto)—was cancelled. The concert could not go ahead due to circumstances beyond the group’s control—specifically, severe weather. Italy is currently experiencing a period of intense heat, leading to the formation of powerful storm cells that trigger weather alerts; this is exactly what happened in and around Marostica on July 1st, and consequently, due to *force majeure*, the concert was cancelled just a couple of hours before it was due to begin.
In the end, the weather in Marostica did not turn out to be terrible, but the regional authorities enforced strict regulations, and the concert did not take place.
And so, the second scheduled date arrived:
July 3rd, the concert took place in Tuscany (Central Italy) —specifically in Pistoia, in Piazza Duomo.
Fortunately, everything went very well, and Il Volo received a very warm welcome from the audience.
Here is a nice summary broadcast by TVL Pistoia. (turn on subtitles)
As you all well know, there was an earthquake in Venezuela, and Ignazio dedicated this moment specifically to the people who lived through that terrible experience.
IGNAZIO= A few days ago, I was actually in Caracas and experienced it firsthand—it was one of the worst things I have ever gone through—so I would like to dedicate this applause and my solidarity to all those who, sadly, did not make it. 😭🙏
Il Volo conquers Piazza del Duomo: the power of Italian *bel canto*. Three voices, one soul—this is operatic pop.
Gianluca Ginoble, Ignazio Boschetto, and Piero Barone performed great hits from the tradition, followed by their own original songs— “Capolavoro” and “Grande amore”—and a grand finale with “The Sound of Silence.”
The trio—comprising Piero Barone, Ignazio Boschetto, and Gianluca Ginoble—brought to the stage a performance that seamlessly blended elegance, vocal power, and a repertoire spanning both Italian and international traditions.
From the very first notes, the audience accompanied the performance of the three artists, who alternated signature songs from their careers with pieces from the great operatic repertoire and famous Italian classics.
It is a well-established formula, yet one that continues to captivate audiences of all ages, thanks to the trio’s ability to make the language of opera accessible.
The songs performed
The rapport among the three performers proved to be one of the show’s strengths: their distinct vocal personalities intertwined in precise harmonies, supported by a band capable of bringing out every nuance of the arrangements.
The evening opened with the *Carmen* prelude, followed by a string of hits ranging from “‘O sole mio” and “Granada” to “Mattinata” and “Torna a Surriento.” Next came a tribute to Frank Sinatra with “My Way,” followed by an exchange with the audience, after which the trio sang the famous “Unchained Melody” from the film *Ghost*.
Prolonged applause, then the grand finale
Among the evening’s most acclaimed moments were the performances of the major hits that made Il Volo famous worldwide—songs met with thunderous applause and an audience that frequently joined in the singing. The evocative atmosphere of Piazza del Duomo provided the perfect setting for a concert that combined spectacular flair with refinement. Then came the grand finale featuring “Capolavoro,” “The Sound of Silence,” and “Grande Amore.” Prolonged applause bid farewell to the trio, who reciprocated the audience’s affection.
Lia Baccelli, a young rock concert photographer, wrote these words and took these beautiful photos:
“I know—you really wouldn’t have expected this from me! 😂
Il Volo’s world tour has kicked off at Pistoia Blues. Following Friday night’s performance by Marco Masini, the Pistoia festival’s ‘Storytellers’ format brought the powerhouse trio to Piazza del Duomo for a concert in three acts.
What did I appreciate most? The fact that they brought artists like Tenco, Battisti, and Cohen—as well as Morricone and opera—to a square packed with people, including young fans.
Because music—all music—shares common roots, and to truly love it, you have to know it. All of it. Only then can you make a choice.”
July 4th, the concert took place place in Piedmont (northern Italy)—specifically in Asti, in Piazza Alfieri.
LA VOCE DI ASTIposts the start of the concert with these words:
“A packed square, enthusiasm, an orchestra, and great music!
Gianluca Ginoble, Piero Barone, and Ignazio Boschetto present songs from a vast repertoire that ranges from classical and international traditional tunes—arranged in a modern style—to pop tracks reimagined with a classical twist.”
“This next song is one of those—as I mentioned earlier—that is very close to my heart. I sang it a few years ago, and I always try to perform it whenever I can because it is one of those… let’s call them ‘poems’… that bring back emotions and moments shared with people who are no longer physically by my side— only physically, that is. It is truly one of those songs where, if you really immerse yourself in it, you can draw out so many emotions—from the most beautiful to the most painful. It is also a perfect song to dedicate to someone, and I hope that tonight, together with me and through this music, you too can bring back to mind—back into your memories—that person you can no longer have by your side.”
LA NUOVA PROVINCIA reports on Asti Musica as follows:
AstiMusica: Success for “Il Volo” concert – “Thank you for being with us for 18 years”
Ignazio Boschetto, Piero Barone, and Gianluca Ginoble captivated the 3,000 spectators in Piazza Alfieri; the song “Hallelujah” was dedicated “to our great friend Massimo Cotto.”
“With this tour, we are celebrating nearly 18 years together. Il Volo is about to come of age; by now, it’s like a marriage.”
That is how Ignazio Boschetto, Piero Barone, and Gianluca Ginoble—the members of Il Volo—greeted the 3,000 spectators gathered in Piazza Alfieri in Asti last night for the AstiMusica festival, marking their second appearance at the event following the 2018 edition.
It was a rich concert, highly appreciated by the audience—met with thunderous applause and a standing ovation—that saw the trio take the stage following two opening pieces performed by the orchestra under the direction of Maestro Giampiero Grani. “As you know,” Gianluca Ginoble explained at the start of the evening, “we bring *bel canto* to audiences around the world. Tonight’s concert is divided into three parts: starting with a more classical segment, then moving on to a section dedicated to our television format, ‘Tutti per uno,’ where we aim to showcase the unique artistic personality of each of us.”
Il Volo captivated the audience with a wide-ranging selection of songs—spanning from operatic pieces like “Libiamo ne’ lieti calici” from *La Traviata* and “La donna è mobile” from *Rigoletto* to film scores such as those from *Cinema Paradiso* and *Ghost*—while interspersing the music with conversations with the audience, often in a playful tone.
Highly acclaimed among the selections was “Mi sono innamorato di te” by Luigi Tenco, performed by Gianluca Ginoble. “There are artists who write songs,” he remarked before beginning to sing, “and artists who write wounds. Tenco was one of the latter. He understood, for instance, that sadness is not a weakness, but the price one pays to experience life more deeply. Let us, then, allow this song to remind us that we are truly alive when we have the courage to love.”
Next came Al Bano’s “È la mia vita,” featuring Piero Barone and Ignazio Boschetto in a performance with new arrangements. Then, pure poetry and emotion with “Hallelujah,” dedicated to two people dear to the trio who have passed away: “Our dear Barbara, who died two years ago, and our great friend Massimo Cotto—the journalist from Asti who passed away in 2024 and served as artistic director of AstiMusica—who had invited us to perform at this festival in 2018.”
Then, after two songs from the album *Ad Astra*, came the grand finale, featuring Il Volo performing—accompanied by the audience—two songs they had brought to the Sanremo Festival: “Capolavoro,” with which the trio placed eighth in 2024 (prompting a lighthearted comment about the result: “Next time, they won’t even let us in!” joked Boschetto), and “Grande amore,” the song that brought them victory in 2015. Finally, they performed Jimmy Fontana’s “Il mondo” and “Nessun dorma” from *Turandot*, followed by a final verse of “Grande amore” as they bade farewell to the enthusiastic crowd: “Thank you for being with us these past 18 years; we look forward to seeing you at the Turin concert this coming December,” they said as they left the stage.
I also wanted to let you know that, shortly before the start of the summer tour—on June 26th—Gianluca surprised the group “I MUSICABILI” in Roseto. They are a theater troupe dedicated to the social inclusion of young people with disabilities.
They posted the video with the following message:
“The full video of the surprise Gianluca Ginoble gave us yesterday. He is always like this with us: approachable, affectionate, and kind. He is always like this with everyone.
His soul is even greater than his immense artistic talent.
Another precious gift from Candida Di Bonaventura (theater teacher).❤️”
Also in Roseto, a few days later, Gianluca took part in the ROSETO GENTILE event and sang the beautiful song “Amara terra mia,” accompanied by Simone Cristicchi.
I’d say that after a rocky start, the 2026 World Tour’s summer leg has been going well; Italian venues are showing plenty of warmth—in every sense (both affection and scorching heat) 😁😁 and everything seems to be running smoothly. The next concert will be in Vigevano, Lombardy!!
She is truly a special and charismatic young woman, full of energy and good humor.
Our meeting took place in Milan in March, a day full of clouds and rain.
But before starting my story of the meeting, I want to take a few steps back, to 2021 when Milagros sent an email to Flight Crew and Jana, our administrator, forwarded it to me.
She had written a beautiful letter that I then immediately published on Flight Crew, where she told us how she had become a fan of Il Volo and what their music had meant to her.
For those who have not read that post, I will report it here.
So Milagros got into Harvard, very impressive, kudos to her.
But let’s get to the present day.
About a month ago, towards the end of February, Milagros sent another email to Flight Crew for me, here’s what she wrote:
“Hi there! I hope you are well and excited for Il Volo’s US tour!
I don’t think you’ll remember me—I only talk to Jana regularly—but a while ago, 3 years ago I think, I wrote to you to tell you my story with Il Volo, how listening to one of their songs inspired me to try to change my life and I ended up leaving Uruguay, my home country, and getting into Harvard on a full scholarship. Time flies…and I’m about to graduate! (writing this seems a bit crazy to me)
I’ve done a lot of things over the years; I traveled to 14 countries with my guide dog, giving talks around the world, advocating for disability at the United Nations in New York… and obviously well, now
I’m about to graduate and the truth is I feel that none of this would have happened if not for that second of inspiration at a time that – no joke – was one of the darkest of my life.
I decided to buy a ticket to go and see them in Boston as a graduation present for myself…and the meet and greet! I saved for years for this so I’m very excited but obviously I’m also nervous because I’m afraid that everything will go wrong, that it will only be 5 seconds, a photo and that’s it… and well, as I’m blind at the end of the day the photo doesn’t matter so much to me, I kind of feel like I’m coming full circle and thanking all the things that brought me here today and this is my way of doing it with them even though of course they would not care at all.
I just wanted to write to share this with you all- I continue to read the site very often, I love it because you always post translations of the interviews and since I can’t see subtitles it’s very useful to me! Thank you for everything you do.
Best, Mili.”
I immediately got in touch with Mili and she told me that she was thinking of coming to Italy for about ten days before the Boston concert and exactly that she was thinking of coming to Milan. What a nice surprise, Milan is an hour away by train from Brescia and so we agreed to meet in person in Milan, truly an unmissable opportunity!
So on the afternoon of Saturday, March 15, my husband and I took the train to Milan, we had agreed to meet in Piazza Duomo and exactly in front of a toy store.
Unfortunately the weather, which a week before had been splendid and warm, from the day before the meeting had become cold and rainy, but it didn’t matter.
Then there was the problem of the language, Milagros speaks Spanish and English, I speak Italian and a little English, but even that wasn’t an obstacle.
After a few minutes of visual search, the Piazza Duomo, despite the weather, was full of people, we knew that Mili had her trusty guide dog Indio with her, and finally I saw her, she was right on the other side of the intersection.
After greetings, we immediately felt in tune, she is truly a sunny girl, always smiling.
I thought that someone would accompany her to Piazza Duomo, but no, she was alone with her dog and she confided in me that she always travels alone with Indio. This was her first time in Italy and she came to Milan which is a chaotic city due to traffic and the amount of people.
While we were walking around Piazza Duomo she told me that she will graduate in May, and the gift she gave herself for her graduation was precisely the Il Volo concert.
She told me about her constant travels, she has been to 14 countries, to give conferences on disabilities, in fact I think that maybe Italy was the 15th country she visited.
As we crossed Piazza Duomo on our way to Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II she told me that the night before she had been to Navigli, a characteristic place in Milan, full of lively youth life during the evenings, in short certainly not a calm place and she liked it a lot. This place, Navigli, was also featured in the video of Il Volo di Musica Che Resta.
So, chatting pleasantly, we crossed the Gallery and I even had her step on the famous “bull’s balls” to wish her luck.
Milagros is on Facebook and Instagram and if you Google: MILAGROS COSTABEL, you will see how many interviews she has given to prestigious newspapers that have covered her and her lifestyle, such as: BBC, CNN, IL Corriere della Sera, El Observador, Model View Culture etc.
And so we arrived on the other side of the Galleria to take a picture in front of the Teatro La Scala.
Milagros immediately spoke of Piero about his dream of singing an entire opera, perhaps at La Scala!
I think I also understood that her favorite of the three is Piero!
We would have walked to the Castello di Milano if the weather had been more stable, but instead we walked back through the Galleria and then went to a coffee bar and sat down to talk comfortably.
Mili told us about her family, about her mother who had called her the night before worried to know what country she was in. As a mother I understand these worries very well, but I must say that Milagros gave me the feeling of being a very strong and self-confident young woman.
She told me that she was born really small, only 750 grams (1.65 lbs.) and they had to give her oxygen which however took away her sight, so at two and a half months she was already blind.
Her family currently consists of her father, mother, her and a 14-year-old brother.
While we sipped our hot chocolate with cream, she told me that she saved up to be able to buy the ticket for the Il Volo concert in Boston and also the Meet & Greet, but everyone told her that the time at the M&G is very short while her, instead, would like to ask them questions and maybe write about this experience.
Of course we at Flight Crew have passed Mili’s story forward, so that the guys would know about it. Who knows if she will get a few minutes of Piero, Gianluca and Ignazio at her disposal, we will know soon because the Boston concert is coming up.
Of course, we at Flight Crew are waiting for the review of the concert dear Milagros and the impression that our dear guys made on you.
The afternoon hours passed very pleasantly and we returned home, bidding a fond farewell to Milagros.
For my part I must say that I met a very determined young woman, not at all intimidated by life’s events, a strong and courageous woman who will soon graduate.
Let’s cross our fingers that her dream of being able to speak with Il Volo can come true, we wish it with all our hearts Milagros, on the other hand, as the meaning of your name shows, miracles always happen.
A big hug from me and my husband, proud to have made your acquaintance, and of course from all Flight Crew!! ❤️
After a long wait, the book-signing event in Milan has arrived, in which I wanted to participate.
I had many expectations about this event, and some were met, but unfortunately not all, but first things first.
The meeting was in Milan in the Mondadori bookshop located in the beautiful Piazza Duomo.
Since I can’t go to any of the Italian winter concerts, i.e. Turin, Milan and Rome, I was hoping for a lot for this meeting, which was scheduled with a presentation of the book, some questions and answers and then the signing of the book.
Milan is close to Brescia, just over an hour by train, the meeting was at 5:30pm, so my husband and I left Brescia on the 1:30pm train.
As soon as we arrived in Milan, Piazza Duomo was revealed in all its beauty and sparklingly dressed for the upcoming Christmas.
The beautiful Galleria in Milan, sparkling with its beautiful Swarovski tree.
We immediately rushed to the Mondadori bookstore to buy the book, a necessary condition for having a pass for the event. I had already bought the book in Brescia and I brought it with me, with the intention of having it signed even that too.
The Mondadori bookshop cashier tells me that we have the pass for the second group, because the first passes for the first group were already sold out, and she tells me that the event for the second group will be after 6:00 pm, and there will be only the signing of the book, without being able to interact with questions to Il Volo. This annoyed me a little, I tried to protest, but the saleswoman told me that there were too many adhesions and they couldn’t do otherwise.
So I went up to the third floor, where there were already many fans in line and it was only 4:00 pm.
This photo was just the final and shortest part of the queue, back there it angled towards the longest part but which I couldn’t photograph from my seat.
I couldn’t queue, as my group was on the second floor, but I could at least talk to the people in line and say hello to some friends.
And so I was able to see and say hello to Judith from Canada, in great shape.
And then I also met Sophia, granddaughter of RoseMarie Paliobeis. Both Judith and Sophia will go to the concert at the Forum in Milan, how lucky!!
I also met Alessandra Composto , but we didn’t take the photo, sorry.
A friend of mine, Cinzia, tells me she has a pass for the first group and offers it to me, I gratefully accept, so I’ll be at the first event, and I queue up, it’s very hot in the library but I’m happy to get in earlier.
But a person in charge of the library arrives who informs us that there will be no book presentation event, but due to scheduling problems, only the signing of the book!! Oh no, what a pity, I was really hoping to have a chat with Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca and instead there will only be a quick signing of the book.
It’s 17:30 and the doors of the room finally open, where Gianluca, Ignazio and Piero are already waiting, I’m at the back of the queue and I don’t see the room. the people in front of me start calling out the names of the boys.
I was hoping to have a little talk with them, but it doesn’t matter, I’m already happy to see them.
And finally after a long queue, I can enter the room and they are there at the back, here they are, finally!!
As I slowly approach, I continue to take pictures.
How beautiful they are, Ignazio is very cheerful, Piero and Gianluca are wearing surgical masks.
At one point I see that Gianluca stares into my eyes, I’m still distant, but I have the clear feeling that he stares at me and recognizes me, he sees that I’m taking pictures, lowers his mask and smiles.
In the mean time I arrive right in front of them, I put my coat on a chair, to be able to take better pictures, while I wait for my turn. But a man from the library tells me: “Madam, did you know that you can’t take pictures?” and so I put away my cell phone, but now it was my turn.
They tell me that I have to stay there next to Gianluca.
I hand over the books to sign, and while they sign, I manage to say:
“Congratulations guys for all your tour and all your events. The book is very nice”.
Gianluca = “Thank you”
Ignazio = “Have you read it?”
Me = “Of course you two (Gian and Igna) did a good introspection. (the photographer takes the picture)
Greetings from Flight Crew, (they smile at me and the photographer tells me to carry on).”
That’s all I managed to say…………shame, but that’s okay. I had the feeling that they were serene, Ignazio was laughing, I felt Piero less present because he was on the opposite side.
I didn’t want to take advantage of the time, because shortly before the library security man complained to a woman who was taking advantage of the boys’ time and ordered her to go ahead.
It’s already dark outside.
I have to rush to the train station, because just today there are strikes by means of travel and I risk not returning to Brescia.
I leave the library, one last shot of the beautiful Piazza Duomo in the evening and off to the station.
I’m tired but also satisfied.
While I’m on the return train, I check the photos I took, not bad, I like them.
Then I find a nice photo of the boys on Facebook, there on the third floor of the library, right in front of the balcony from which they performed in 2019.
And finally this nice summary video.
After a long wait, everything ended quickly.
Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca in these days have already done a book signing event in Turin, then the concert in Turin then this book signing event in Milan and the following day there was the concert in Milan (I will tell you about the three concerts in another post). The day after the concert in Milan they went to Montecarlo for a private event.
Then they will quickly return to Italy, because there is the book signing in Bologna and then the book signing in Rome and the concert in Rome, and then the final event in Jerusalem.
You guys are a force, I don’t know how you can handle this.
In any case I am happy to have seen you, even if only for a few moments, but to have seen you all smiling and serene. A hug:💗💗💗
Today I am not giving you any translations, but I want to tell you about a beautiful event in which, until the end, I did not know I could participate.
I’m talking about the copy-signing of Il Volo in Milan. The event took place on November 30th at 5:00 pm.
In the morning I woke up and immediately saw a beautiful day with lots of sun, cold, but clear.
My husband and I are the grandparents of two beautiful little girls and usually after school they two spend the afternoons with us waiting for their parents.
But my son informed me on the morning of the 30th, that he had the afternoon off, so I said to my husband: “Let’s go to Milan,” and I immediately booked the train tickets.
Here we are on the train at 2:30 pm.
We should arrive at Milano Centrale (Milan station) almost an hour and a half before the event, so we have plenty of time to take the subway to get to Piazza Duomo.
Going up from the underground subway, the view of the Duomo of Milan is always of great effect, there it is, imposing and beautiful, with its tall spires that stand out against the blue sky, magnificent.
In a moment we are at the “Galleria Duomo”, the beautiful and elegant gallery full of famous shops and already decorated for the Christmas holidays. The Feltrinelli bookshop, where the event takes place is right here under the “Galleria Duomo”, here I am.
In order to enter the bookstore, we must show our green passes (certification of having received the double anti-Covid vaccination), we must also wear the masks , then we can buy our CD, mandatory phase, to be able to access the signing event in which only one person can participate.
The area for the signing is ready, at the back of the library, there is a poster with the image of the Il Volo CD hanging, and there is a small table with three chairs for our young men.
Soon a queue of waiting people forms and then we get in line too.
This photo was published from the page of Il Volo and to our great surprise, in the first photo there is also me and my husband!! (lower right corner)
In the queue I see some friends, with whom we meet at every event related to Il Volo, and whom I always see with joy.
Meanwhile, time passes and Piero and Ignazio arrive but they go to a separate room, they await the arrival of Gianluca who is late, and when he arrives too, here they are all three taking their positions.
The environment is very relaxed, the people in the queue are polite, the security is very kind, they let us take pictures while we wait (the other times we couldn’t).
The boys are in excellent shape, Ignazio hums a song in a low voice, while he waits to sign, Piero smiles, Gianluca is the most serious. All three wear masks, which they will then take off when they start signing.
We who are in line are forbidden to take off our masks. Before reaching the boys , they make us sanitize our hands, however we cannot hug them, kiss them or touch them. We fans have to stand in front of their table, where they will sign. A girl in charge will take the photo using our personal mobile phone, so the photos will be ours immediately.
Everything goes very well, every fan stops to have a chat with Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca and they listen us available and interested.
Here are the photos I was able to take.
(please click on an individual photo to enlarge it)
I’m excited! Now, it’s my turn!
I manage to have a chat with them, first of all I congratulate them on their CD, then I tell them that in June in Verona it was a fantastic concert, so I bring them all the greetings from Flight Crew and every one of their the American friends, they smile and thank me.
I bring Gianluca a hug from grandmother Maura.
Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca listened to me with attention and interest.
It was exciting to have them so close, but it was not possible to hug them when I wanted so much.
The security signals me that they are about to take the photos so I turn around, then I said goodbye to the our young men and leave.
It was short, but intense, it was worth going to, seeing them so close and relaxed is nice.
It is a completely free event, organized by the bookshop, as long as you buy a CD. I had already bought the CD in Brescia, thinking that this year, due to the infection, perhaps they would not have done the event. I bought another CD, but I also brought the one I bought in Brescia with me and had them both signed.
I greeted the friends still in the queue, promising to meet us at the next event and then, off to a run to take the train back.
It was now dark and the “Gallery” had beautiful colors.
I took a beautiful photo of the illuminated Duomo in the cold late November evening.
Unfortunately the photo did not turn out well, but I assure you that the vision was exactly like this.
Even though my husband and I ran, we missed the scheduled train and had to wait for the next train that passed an hour later. Patience.
It was a beautiful day, I saw my beloved boys up close, I exchanged a few words with them, I have two signed CDs, it was a great adventure and I thank my husband who always supports me in these little madnesses of mine !!
These photos on the other hand, were published by the photographer of Il Volo.
The day after, the event was repeated in Rome, at the Laziale Discotheque.
Here is the photo of Nonna Maura present at the event.
On November 17, Il Volo was a guest on Radio Italia, only Italian music, for the promotion of their latest CD.
The event was led by Mauro Marino and Manola Moslehi. It was a great interview and Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca also sang two songs live.
In November two years ago, I was able to go to Radio Italia and it was wonderful. Unfortunately this year, due to COVID restrictions and also the afternoon hours, I was unable to go, too bad.
Here is the video and its translation.
Please click on the photo to view the video.
MAURO = Here we are in the Reward Music Play, complete with an audience, welcome back, well arrived, purely female audience, I must say.
MANOLA = Of course, also because today’s guests are three beautiful guys, so even the eye wants its part.
MAURO = Exactly, and for the eye, we also greet the friends who follow us on Radio Italia TV, Manola Moslehi, Mauro Marino, and then let’s call them, we are standing here on stage, because in front of these microphones, soon, yes, will perform live, the three guys from:
MANOLA = IL VOLO !! (applause, enter Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca).
MAURO = Here they are, take a seat, please, please. You can sit down.
Manola ran away and I don’t know why.
I + P + G = Hi, hi.
MAURO = When you are ready ….. here they are: IL VOLO (Manola returns to the stage)
MANOLA = I thought they sang right away, do you understand? I didn’t want to waste time.
MAURO = Are you ready?
IGNAZIO = Very ready.
PIERO = But we haven’t warmed up our voices.
MAURO = Try to do it now.
PIERO = How do we do it? Let’s start like this?
MANOLA = Come on, come and sing.
GIAN = We are yours today …..
MANOLA = Sing, sing ….
MAURO = It’s just that you don’t have microphones (the microphones in front of the boys are just for singing), it’s just for that, then you tell us everything when we get off here in front.
PIERO = Can you come near here? ….
MAURO = I can come, but I can’t give you my microphone, you know the rules (this are the new rules for COVID the microphone is personal and must be disinfected before being used by another).
MANOLA = Piero has to ask for things …
MAURO = Tell me, what is it I have to do, tell me.
PIERO = Are we on live?
MAURO = We are on live, yes, yes.
PIERO = Ah,on live without warming our voice, beautiful.
MANOLA= But no, go , go live!!
GIAN = We greet all those who look at us with their mobile phones from home !!
MAURO = I know what you will do SE TELEFONANDO, right? You let us listen to it and then we talk about it. Il Volo on Radio Italia.
(starts SE TELEFONANDO live)
MANOLA = Live on Radio Italia only Italian music, Il Volo, strictly live !! Wonderful guys.
MAURO = Thanks guys. So, we wanted to specify that they sang from the vivo, you already said it …
MANOLA = Yes, yes.
MAURO = … and they haven’t even warmed up their voices, so now guys, you are machines that go automatically …
MANOLA = Think if they had warmed up their voices …
MAURO = Great, thanks guys !! Here are the microphones, perfect and I sit down too, voila!
MANOLA = (To the audience) Did you like them?
YES!!
IGNAZIO = Here we are.
MAURO = So, there is a new album, dedicated to the great maestro Ennio Morricone, besides you have just sung this song, everyone knows that the song (the text) was also written by Maurizio Costanzo (great Italian television entertainer) and the music, is also by Ennio Morricone, we wanted to remember this because it is with this song that you opened today’s appointment.
IGNAZIO = You know how this song was born, don’t you?
MAURO = I know the story, but you tell it.
IGNAZIO = No, no, Piero tells it. 😁
MAURO = Come on Piero.
PIERO = When the idea of dedicating an entire album to Maestro Morricone, and the project was born, started for us, an extremely complex course of study, because when we entered the world of Ennio Morricone, on tiptoe, we discovered that he had written nearly 500 melodies.
IGNAZIO = More than 500 compositions.
PIERO = Not only soundtracks, we discovered that he made the arrangement of IL MONDO and also of SE TELEFONANDO.
IGNAZIO = ABBRONZATISSIMA (Ignazio mentions a very famous Italian song from the 60s)
MAURO= Also!
MANOLA = Also, it’s true! (she refers that even Abbronzatissima was set to music by Morricone)
PIERO = Lots of songs. Since we had the support of the entire family of Ennio Morricone, including his son Andrea Morricone, he told us several anecdotes, including the birth of SE TELEFONANDO. His father was queuing at the post office, to pay the electricity bill, and he hears the ambulance and the sirens of the ambulance “ta-na-na”, is born: SE TELEFONANDO.
MANOLA = What a genius though, it couldn’t be otherwise. How was your first meeting with him?
IGNAZIO = It was in 2011, because in our first album there was a song, it was a medley between Once Upon a Time in America and Malena: E PIÙ TI PENSO. So, he (Morricone) was recording, working in the studio at that time, and we met there and then in 2011 we collaborated, we sang E PIÙ’ TI PENSO in Piazza del Popolo directed by him and so it was nice. There is also the anecdote that we always tell, that Gianluca gives a YOU to the master in front of the orchestra and everyone OH OH, and he says: “Don’t worry, kid, I’ll take care of it.” He was a man of few words, he showed little, but a lot.
Then, unfortunately we had little time and opportunity to spend time together and get to know him more, but it would have been really interesting and beautiful.
MAURO = While you were talking and singing before, we looked at you, out here, and we said: “We saw these three who were kids, now you are men, now you are men.”
PIERO = It’s the beard that makes the difference
GIAN = Three years ago we were 24, in three years we are 30.
MAURO = Perfect.
GIAN = The 30th begins to approach.
PIERO = Sorry, if we had 24, how do we get 30? Where did you go to school??
GIAN = Oh yes, in three years we will be 30, we are no longer children.
MAURO = But it’s nice to see this transformation, from boys to young men.
IGNAZIO = This transformation from ugly (to Piero) to beautiful ….
MANOLA = So, in reality, it sounds strange to say to three still very young people, that you have 12 years of career behind you, one is at least impressed, I mean.
PIERO = You know that we, the pre-COVID, just before the COVID were celebrating 10 years of career with a world tour. On March 11, we suspended the tour to suddenly return to Italy, and we will be back on tour exactly after two years, so it’s a 12-year career, but two years homebound as if time had stopped.
MAURO = In stand by.
IGNAZIO = A little like those birthdays that last a week, we the ten-year that lasts two years.
MANOLA = So, we have an incredible event in Piazza Duomo (Milan) it was 2018, you were very tanned, you were, but you are still beautiful, I wanted to know from you, looking at that image there, with that crowded square, what a feeling you have on.
IGNAZIO = I was hideous.
MANOLA = That’s not true!
PIERO = But it’s strange, it’s a strong feeling to see the audience, we’ve been missing that feeling for a while.
Now we are restarting with the tour, with the events, it is a slow, uphill process, but soon we will return to that feeling of serenity that we saw a little while ago.
MAURO = We all wish it a little, we said it before while we were waiting for you, together with the friends who are here (audience), there are not many, because you have to keep your distance, but see people live, meet people, for those who do yours craft, it is crucial I guess, especially for you.
You were talking about tours, then we will talk together about the tour, which will start in March, meanwhile, here they are launching the pens ….
MANOLA = The lady from the audience threw a pen …
GIAN = But it’s Hermione Granger’s magic wand (Harry Potter’s little witch)
PIERO = (he took the pen and this one has a big fake diamond on the end) Oh my, it looks like Queen Elizabeth’s pen.
MANOLA = We explain to friends who listen to us on the radio, that a lady from the audience threw them a very discreet pen, with a diamond ….
IGNAZIO = (Ignazio took the pen in his hand) Madam, is this diamond real? Ah, is that true? (he puts the pen with the diamond in his pocket)😁😁
MAURO = The pen is gone …😁
IGNAZIO = Another pen, thanks.😁
MAURO = Let’s go back to the album, because rightly I saw that, looking at the cover, the friends who follow us can see the image here in the background of the stage, (meanwhile Piero is unwrapping the vinyl record), it reminds us a little of Sergio Leone’s films obviously (director of many westerns with Morricone’s music).
GIAN = But it was totally inspired by that world there. Shooting that world from “Sergio Leone” and those Morricone’s music, is a return to the past that is eternal, that will never die. The vintage taste that really takes everyone, especially the generations who lived through those times, but also young people, who maybe discover something they have never heard or seen.
MAURO = Indeed, she is very beautiful and this (the vinyl record that Piero is discarding) I will tell you immediately, I will steal this, tell Torpedine, where he is around here: “Torpedine, this is for me, thank you “, 😉 your producer.
So 14 songs, you said before that Morricone composed more than 500 songs etc., how did you choose these 14?
PIERO = This was the most difficult phase, choosing the songs, because there are so many. It is clear that we have chosen the most famous ones, those to which we are most connected, for example personally a song that I have always loved, is the one taken from the film NUOVO CINEMA PARADISO, “SE” (meanwhile Piero signs the vinyl record.)
I am linked to that film because you know, it is about this Sicilian child who goes to Rome, to chase his dream, so when I sing it I feel that strong emotion.
Then, together with Andrea Morricone and our producers, who are Swedish, also very knowledgeable about Morricone’s repertoire, we finally found a meeting and this 14-track setlist was born.
MANOLA = Furthermore, this new album was preceded by a concert at the Verona Arena, and directed by the son of Maestro Morricone, Andrea, also an incredible experience.
IGNAZIO = Yes, it also went on the air (the concert) a few days ago, on November 10th for Maestro Morricone’s birthday. It was a great experience, because we were finally back in concert after almost two years in front of an audience, it was the first concert in front of an audience and certainly singing all those melodies, many of which tell true stories, such as Here’s to you, which is one of my favorite songs, which talks about the story of Sacco and Vanzetti and a huge injustice. So it was exciting, both for the songs sung and for the situation in which we found ourselves, after a year and a half, to go back to the concert in front of people, we were also preparing the album, which is now out, so it was a lot nice.
MANOLA = We were talking about your 12-year career before, but there is a moment in your career, even at an international level, that you remember with more affection ….
IGNAZIO = When we met you (laughter)😁😁
MANOLA = I wanted to know this ☺….. I thank you infinitely …. and the second important moment ????
GIAN = When we saw you again (laughter)😁😁
MANOLA = For me the interview can be concluded here !! Thanks.☺
MAURO = (to Piero) And what’s yours?
PIERO = Everyone has their indelible moment, personally when we sang in front of Pope Francis in Panama, during the World Youth Day, that was something unforgettable.
MAURO = There is no Manola to keep!😉
MANOLA = Compared to the Pope, I withdraw !!😁
(starts the live of the song SE…..applause)
MANOLA = It is strange to enter at the end of this song, because it seems to disturb me, Il Volo on Radio Italia only Italian music, strictly live, we specify it, because you look like a record, guys, it’s incredible !!
MAURO = Really good.
GIAN = Thanks!
MANOLA = Well done, well done, well done
MAURO = But, among the 14 songs on the album ….
GIAN = This is my favorite ..
MAURO = His too though (by Piero)
GIAN = …. especially for the text, not only for the melody, because this was written by Andrea Morricone, the son of the master, the film (the music) was written by Andrea, but then the text is wonderful, tells a beautiful love story.
MAURO = Exactly.
IGNAZIO = What I often think is that it is totally different from everything there is today, from all the fashion music, which we listen to today, but I think that these melodies are a little like pizza for Italians, that is they are part of our culture, and we must be really proud of them, because the maestro Morricone has spread great emotions to the whole world with his soundtracks to all the greatest films.
GIAN = I imagine that tomorrow we will read in all the newspapers “Morricone is like pizza” ….😑
MANOLA = Yes, but it’s a nice compliment though.
PIERO = I understand what Ignazio means, we want to explain and clarify the title of this project, of this album, Il Volo sings Morricone. Morricone is not a man whose work is celebrated, Morricone is a genre apart, he has created a completely different genre, and is an eternal genre, which will never die.
MAURO = Indeed, the comparison is correct, it is right.
IGNAZIO = It is part of our culture.
MAURO = It is right and then you are the only ones to bring the Italian Bel Canto around the world, and therefore it was right to think of an album of this genre, with the music of the maestro Ennio Morricone, so congratulations for the idea.
What I wanted to ask you, what was the hardest song to sing, among these 14?
PIERO = Maybe “Amalia por amor”, because it is in Portuguese.
IGNAZIO = No, I think that one of the most difficult has always been “E più ti penso”, yes!
PIERO = Even “Metti una sera a cena”, it was difficult …
MANOLA = Gianluca what do you think?
GIAN = I have to tell you that for them (Piero and Ignazio), it was all particularly difficult … (laughter)😁😁, for me a little less …. no, I’m kidding!
IGNAZIO = He faced everything with high chest !!
GIAN = But I must say that it is not only the acute, the high note, it is a matter of interpretation…
MAURO = Bravo!
GIAN = …. they are very difficult melodies, which move away from “Nessun Dorma” or from songs where there is a need for vocal power, without interpretation these songs cannot be sung.
IGNAZIO = For example there is “Here’s to You”, it is a song that we expressly wanted to sing it in a much lower key than what we could have done, because in any case the songs, especially these songs, as Gianluca says, need of a great interpretation and we worked hard on it, in fact, we sang, re-sung and re-sung this song in the studio to find the perfect emotion and interpretation.
GIAN = Then if you live it in first person, as for example in the song SE of Nuovo Cinema Paradiso ….. even better
PIERO = We understand it, that you are in love, the text speaks of love, we understand it !!!😁
MANOLA = It seems to me a beautiful thing.!
GIAN = It is beautiful indeed …😘
IGNAZIO = I understand, but he is becoming a little like Abruzzo, in everything he puts Abruzzo in the middle !! (laughs)😁
MANOLA = Today it is like this, today Gianluca is in the middle (she mean that Gian is made fun of by Piero and Ignazio)
PIERO = When he breaks up, he’ll sing “And the more I think of you” (laughter)
MANOLA = But why should he leave?
MAURO = Later we hope …
MANOLA = But as late as possible! Since these are the last minutes we spend together, let’s talk about the 2022 tour right away. The orchestra from live and your voices that will somehow blend with this incredible orchestra. You will also leave for the US.
PIERO = March 3, from the US, March – April and then the rest of the world.
We would like to remind you that we will sing in Italy in two different periods: summer and autumn.
In the autumn we will do the sports halls and soon we will publish the dates.
MANOLA = Are you excited?
IGNAZIO = A lot
MANOLA = Meet the live audience again …
IGNAZIO = We can’t wait, but we really can’t wait, because we always say that concerts are the maximum expression of an artist, where you can feel really free, because yes, the interviews where you tell about yourself are beautiful, but on stage you can express everything and have that adrenaline, and it’s very different from doing interviews.
PIERO = It is the magical expression of our deepest joy.
MAURO = In the meantime, between now and when you leave for the tour, you can always come here and meet the audience in our Reward Play.
IGNAZIO = Yes, but I don’t want to have that man who hurries everyone (he points to a man behind the scenes), if we come here, we start in the morning and finish in the evening.
MAURO = No, no, don’t worry, we’ll tie him up that day.
PIERO = But you have to redo Palermo (He refers to a summer event made by Radio Italia in a square in Palermo, with great success)
MANOLA = We will do it again, we hope.
MAURO = But surely, if it can be done, it will be done. In the meantime we are waiting for you here, if you come to visit us: Radio Italia live, so at least the friends who are here (audience) can see you sing live, do a kind of dress rehearsal.
PIERO = So let’s do the rehearsal (he shows the vinyl record) This is the new album, close-up on the album: Il Volo Sings Morricone, our new album.
MAURO = Thanks guys, thanks to everyone.
MANOLA = Thanks to IL VOLO.
G + P + I = Grazie mille, bye bye.
Nice interview, and how wonderful those two songs.
I’m sorry that you have waited a long time for this translation, but my PC started to throw a tantrum, several times I had to redo some pieces.
Meanwhile, our young men, tireless, continue the promotion of the CD, they have already been to Spain and Germany and now they will also do two instore, one in Milan and one in Rome.
Finally I am attaching this beautiful video that was published a few days ago, it is Piero who sings the AVE MARIA at his best friend’s wedding, in June of this year. Good viewing!
Daniela
Credit to owners of all photos and videos.
Come in and share the love of life, friends and Il Volo!
