When my dear friend Valeria Bosch writes, she manages to amaze us with her words, because she interprets exactly the feelings and emotions of all of us Il Volo fans.

I just wanted to add photos and give even more importance to these beautiful words and in particular, to make sure that Flight Crew friends who don’t have Facebook could read it.

Thanks Valeria for your beautiful work.❤

Happy reading to all: Daniela 😘

 

Il Volo by St. Peter, Rome, Christmas 2020.

We were anxiously waiting for the postcard promised by Rai Uno, with wishes from Il Volo for this disarming Christmas 2020. And it arrived on time, very short (just 10 minutes), but, perhaps also thanks to this brevity, with the seal of perfection: perfect for the purpose for which it was designed, perfect for the setting, unique in the world, perfect for the voices of the three young performers who seem to improve, as if it were a precious vintage wine, every time that you have the privilege of hearing them.

At the beginning, the skillful zoom of the operator introduces us to the magic of a city immersed in darkness, from which suddenly a huge luminous area emerges, in which one of the most famous places in the world is immediately recognized, symbol of the eternal city, an icon of catholicity itself, the Basilica of St. Peter, which with its unmistakable dome and Bernini’s colonnade, seems to welcome all humanity in a warm embrace.

A play of spaces, shapes, lights and colors that in itself causes a state of emotion, a commotion that is heightened when on an improvised stage, in the square in front (Piazza Papa Pio XII), appear the singers of Il Volo, who in succession interpret three of the most famous Christmas songs: “Adeste fideles” in Latin, “O Holy Night” in English, “Astro del ciel” in Italian. As always, they are beautiful and elegant, but today there is something more, perhaps the suggestion of the songs sung, all dedicated to the arrival on earth of Jesus the Redeemer, draws in them a more absorbed expression, more concentrated than usual.

Gian has on his face a kind of tenderness, of affection, which he transmits in whoever looks at him and listens; Ignazio a deep emotion that puts his lips on a smile and a deep joy in his eyes; Piero is serious, concentrated, he also leaks both emotion and affection. And the magic circle of perfection closes when they begin to sing: in all three pieces, they sing now individually, now by concerting their voices, in a game of exchange of parts that is calibrated, studied in the smallest passages.

We are enchanted by Gian’s voice which, although it has always been the most velvety, the most swing of the group, has reached an even greater depth, with a softness and sinuosity that both amaze and enchant.

Piero clearly shows the continuous and tireless study to which he dedicated himself in this last period, his voice is more and more ductile, more elastic and more powerful at the same time: he supports the low notes (final of “Astro del ciel”) with the same ease with which he reaches the highest tones (astonishing the acute in the ending of “O Holy Night”).

And Ignazio sings for his part in the passages to the high notes, when the song must vibrate even more and must penetrate deeply into the soul of the listener. His voice has also matured, his high notes are powerful, his passages perfect, always marked, as he usually does, by the movement of his beautiful hands, which in effect become yet another instrument of the orchestra.

“Beauty will save the world,” wrote F. Dostoevskij, a lucky phrase that was then used with multiple meanings by various writers, philosophers and theologians. But the great Russian novelist was referring to the beauty of faith, which alone can save man and his destiny. And the beauty of faith is expressed above all through art, painting, sculpture, music (J. Ratzinger).

I reflected on this, looking enchanted at the “postcard” sent from St. Peter’s . . . the work of art, fruit of the highest genius of man, with those arms outstretched to contain humanity, the light that sprang suddenly from the dark city, an almost allegory of the dark moment we are experiencing, at the bottom of which, however, there will be a return to light; the purity and at the same time the high mastery of three angelic voices, raised to celebrate the Savior’s arrival, made me feel almost in front of a small miracle, a miracle of beauty and harmony.

A show that, when compared with the current deterioration of the Italian musical offer, makes us understand why, every time these guys appear, so many people stop to admire them. To get excited, to dream, to hope.

Many thanks for the video.

Thanks to the excellent screen shot work of Il Volo Sicilia!

Credit to owners of all photos and video.