And therefore, after the latest news, we are sure that in September we will often see Il Volo on TV, at least here in Italy, and this news give us a lot of anticipation.
We had already read the news that on September 9th there will be the Seat Music Awards and there will also be Il Volo, but now two other events have been added, here they are:
On 4 September, on Rai1, there will be La Notte della Taranta.
It is a popular Apulian festival where, during the evening, typical Apulian songs are played and folk dances such as PIZZICA are performed.
This event takes place outdoors in Melpignano, in Puglia, towards the end of August.
Do you remember? In August 2018 Il Volo was at the La Notte della Taranta event, but only as a spectator, but perhaps Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca were probing the event, for their future participation, in fact I propose you the video with the interview that I translated you in 2018.
Listen carefully to their words. Click on the logo below to view the video.
P = We were really curious to see this event, and to test the air, to be able, perhaps, to come next year, who knows.
G = Yes, absolutely beautiful to see this culture, which is not only famous in Italy, but all over the world. When you start dancing, this rhythm gets inside you, it’s good, we’re going to have fun tonight.
The journalist asks Ignazio = Do you already have an idea of how to adapt your voice to the rhythm of the Pizzica?
I = Actually no, but we can always work on it. It’s nice to see how this event is all about folk song and dance and how much tradition it brings everyone into such a big event, so why not join in too? Next year or two years from now, we could join in too. It would be a great pleasure.
Journalist= Is there an evening, especially in past years that you know, or have you seen this event?
P = We have to be honest, NO. But we have always heard about the NOTTE DELLA TARANTA and this year, being free from commitments these days, we have decided to come and spend a couple of days in this magnificent land that has recently been visited and loved by tourists from all over the world. And it is a pleasure for us to be here.
As Ignazio said, on how to adapt our musical genre to this rhythm, we are a bit unprepared, but our thought is that music has no barriers and we never say: “This cannot be done”. But we say, “Let’s try and then see what happens.”
Journalist = But will you come to this event, as a guest, or as a concert teacher?
P + I + G = (laughs) As guests, we don’t think like teachers.
G = We cannot promise our presence, next year, sure, we would love it, but in one year many things happen, this year we came, we can’t wait to have fun, and why not, next year could participate.
P = The power of music is this, to see thousands of people united to dance LA PIZZICA.
Journalist = You are used to a large audience.
P = It is never enough.
Journalist = Do you know a Salento song and can you sing it?
G = Do you see how you put us in trouble? You did it on purpose (everyone laughs, then Gianluca sings a typical Milanese song … .. ha ha ha … final laughter.)
I = Thank you very much everyone, see you next year.
So you understood well, already in 2018 Il Volo had attended the event, wishing that perhaps in 2019 or 2020 they could have participated, but Covid has had a hand in it and so now we are in 2021, but Il Volo will not be present as guests, but as co-hosts of the event, together with Al Bano, the well-known singer, therefore a new and important role and certainly we will also have the opportunity to see them exhibit.
Can’t wait to see them in this role!!
Usually this event gathers over 150 thousand people. Of course, and unfortunately, this year due to Covid, only 1000 people will be admitted.
The event will take place in Melpignano on August 28th but will be broadcast on RAI1 on September 4th.
To follow, on September 9, again on RAI1, there will be the Seat Music Awards, and than, the 19 September there will be a new program on Rai1, entitled “Da Grande” the presenter will be Alessandro Cattelan, among the guests: Il Volo.
Cattelan was interviewed by Sorrisi e Canzoni. Click on photo below to view the article.
I translate for you the parts that interest us most:
“The title of the program, Da Grande, (as an adult) is more appropriate than ever …
We chose it on purpose. And it is a common thread of the program. It is a pure show, in which we will deal with the theme of growth, we will ask ourselves what it means to be great in 2021. Each generation has its age. My father, at 41 years, had already finished his parable: he had a 16-year-old son, a business he had been doing for a very long time.
Now, things have changed. So, in addition to being a show in which you dance, sing, laugh, reflect on the concept of being great, you wonder what the tests you have to face in order to be defined as such.
We will have Il Volo, with which we will have fun singing, we will change our look, we will interpret some music from various decades.”
So I would say a very crackling beginning of September!!
In the meantime, the second mini video of the short questions to Il Volo has also been published.
IL VOLO PART.2
QUESTION = Favorite dish?
GIANLUCA = Pizza. absolutely.
PIERO = My favorite dish? Ossobuco with saffron rice 😁😁😁 (it is a specialty of northern Italy, especially Milan)
A minute and thirty seconds later ….
IGNAZIO = Madalocco ????? 😁 (it’s not clear, however something similar, never heard this dish)
PIERO = What dish is it?
QUESTION = Do you have a lucky charm that you take with you to the stage?
GIANLUCA = The two of them😘 (Piero and Ignazio)
PIERO = Him 😘 (referring to Gianluca)
IGNAZIO = No, you know, nothing, no.
QUESTION = The nicest?
PIERO = Me
IGNAZIO = Gianluca 😘
GIANLUCA= (ironic) Do you see what a nice face? (and points to his face)
QUESTION = The most reserved.
IGNAZIO = Gianluca. Piero. Gianluca.
QUESTION = The most boring.
PIERO = Gianluca
IGNAZIO = Gianluca
GIANLUCA = But why me??
PIERO = You talk about carbohydrates, proteins ….
IGNAZIO = You are the most boring.
GIANLUCA = In what sense?
IGNAZIO = Gym, carbohydrates, proteins …..
PIERO = Yes, carbohydrates, proteins ….
GIANLUCA = But that’s not true!! You two make me pass for one who only thinks about that!! 😑
So, an early autumn full of commitments for Il Volo and we will certainly not tire of seeing them.
One last update, do you remember the porticoes of Bologna, so dear to Il Volo, which had presented the candidacy to be named “Unesco heritage”?
The news has been confirmed, at the end of July the porticoes of Bologna received this recognition !!!
What can I say, all right and in a little less than two weeks there will be the first televised appointment.
It is well known that Michele Torpedine was born in Minervino Murge, a small town in Puglia. In the days of late July, by taking advantage of IL VOLO’s passage for the two concerts in Puglia, Michele Torpedine was awarded honorary citizenship.
Here is a nice article published in GAZZETTA DEL MEZZOGIORNO.
Minervino, the manager of IL VOLO, honorary citizen: party with the trio
The honor to Michele Torpedine, celebrated in his hometown and accompanied by his 3 pupils
“I always thought it was a small country town with few inhabitants. Instead it is an extraordinary community, alive and vital, industrious, kind. I am really moved, and above all proud of being born in this land.” Starting from … Minervino Murge, the internationally renowned manager and music producer Michele Torpedine, who in the 1950s, in swaddling clothes, had left the “balcony of Puglia” to move with his family to the north.
An amazing career of Torpedine, discoverer of talents, producer, manager (from Zucchero and Bocelli, passing through Lucio Dalla, also collaborator of Pavarotti), who returned to Minervino yesterday in the company of “his” three young pupils of Il Volo, Piero-Ignazio-Gianluca, arrived in Puglia for the expected concerts of Barletta and Lecce: in the packed hall of Palazzo di Città, Torpedine received the Honorary Citizenship, welcomed by the mayor Lalla Mancini, the Council and the Municipal administration, by numerous authorities (such as the president of the province Pasquale De Toma, the bishop Monsignor Luigi Mansi, Bruna Piarulli, the regional councilor Francesco Ventola) but above all by his fellow citizens, who among the applauses have named him “ambassador of Minervino Murge in the world”.
In reality, everything is born on the internet: thanks to the social networks and the “I like it”, some time ago some relatives of Torpedine contact their sister Liliana. And so Felicia Angiulo, cousin of the manager’s mother, and then Vincenzo and Nella, together with Mattia and Luigi Spineto(all with different degrees of kinship) intertwine with contacts and memories, unpublished photos of the good old days, memories faded and the desire to meet, to talk about each other and hug each other.
The occasion arrived as if by destiny: the Il Volo concert in Barletta, the decision to confer Honorary Citizenship by the city council. Everything perfect, including the presence in the Hall of the “three tenors”(actually two tenors and a baritone)extraordinary boys who besides their voices also have a great gift of sympathy and humility.
“Minervino Murge is the birthplace of many personalities who, in different sectors, have achieved important successes in their work sector, the result of commitment, passion and also genius – said mayor Mancini – and Michele Torpedine is without doubt one of these.”
Also presented was the autobiographical book of the manager “RICOMINCIO DAI TRE – From Minervino Murge to the White House”, Giuseppe Tucci, president of the Pro Loco, gave him the original volume “Minervinesi distinguished in the world”, also containing the biographical profile of Torpedine. Then the flavors of the Murgia, with Torpedine and Il Volo “To the south of the soul”.
But here’s how the award ceremony took place.
And here is a service aired during the regional newscast and I translate for you.
PR = Il Volo, one of the bands launched by the manager Michele Torpedine, from Bologna, originally from Puglia, received today the honorary citizenship of Minervino Murge.
He is the manager of the IL VOLO group, tonight in concert in Barletta, we talk about Michele Torpedine, a Bolognese from Puglia, in particular Minervino Murge, who today gave him honorary citizenship, the service is by Alessandro Trevisani.
I = We will change, Minervino (laughter)
AT = When they arrive, the city council becomes a show. Il Volo is in Minervino Murge to accompany Michele Torpedine, the manager of the three singers, receives honorary citizenship, from the municipality where he was born 67 years ago.
I = We don’t sing, we came only for our manager, for Michele, we are happy ….
AT = Do you feel a little Pugliese too?
I = A little Pugliese, it is strong to say, but Puglia is a land that we love so much, we love coming so much.
MT = He was over 60 years old, I didn’t come, I was six months old, when they took me away from here, and I never came back.
They (Ignazio, Piero and Gianluca) made me understand that in the musical environment, there is also the good part, the positive part.
AT = In his career, Michele Torpedine, produced, launched and re-launched artists such as Zucchero, Gianna Nannini, Lucio Dalla, Giorgia and Andrea Bocelli, but in Minervino, the eyes of the people, are all for Ignazio, Gianluca and Piero, that this evening will perform at the Fossato del Castello di Barletta.
Are you ready for the Barletta concert?
P = Yes, yes we are ready.
AT = The first song on the lineup?
P = We can’t say.
Girl = Magnificent, fantastic. AT = Where are you from? Girl = From Milan. Woman = I would like to hug that gentleman there, who is above (Torpedine). Woman = They are very nice. I = But you have it with me ?? (he jokes) Man = We wish the guys of IL VOLO, to keep their feet on the ground, and never to take flight with their heads. P = The appeal I make: Minervino Murge, capital of European culture (applause).
And here is what Massimiliano Bevilacqua writes, present at the ceremony.
Impossible to describe with images the emotions experienced on this day. The conferment of honorary citizenship on our fellow citizen Michele Torpedine, beacon of the fantastic boys of “Il Volo”, witnessed the strong bond of the well-known manager with his hometown. The presence of civil, political, ecclesial and military authorities honored the Municipal Council of Minervino and all citizens. Thanks to the Minervino family members of Michele Torpedine, who gave unforgettable moments and rediscovered the great value of the family. A day dedicated to music, which Michele Torpedine brought to the world with Minervino in the heart. Music expresses feelings, represents our emotional part, but above all it unites. Today Minervino has taken off. That it is only the beginning of a path of growth that sees us all involved in overcoming divisions and in considering the beauty that surrounds us with different eyes.
It took more than 60 years for Torpedine to return to his hometown ……. but how wonderful it is to come back and be received with all the honors, in that town, from which his family had to leave, in search of fortune.
Even Ignazio, Gianluca and Piero, were close to you, in this happy moment, because they too, are part of your family affections.
Congratulations, Michele Torpedine.
Daniela
And here is a summary of the entire day published by Torpediniera.
And those who found Barletta, the friends Boccia and Esposito, the authors of Grande Amore.
Francesco Boccia:
I miei grandi amori…….sempre e per sempre nel mio cuore ❤️
My great loves … always and forever in my heart ❤️
And now:
L E C C E
Thanks to the beautiful photos of Mr. Ginoble, a really crowded square, in the beautiful square of the Cathedral of Lecce.
“IL MONDO”
“NO PUEDE SER” (final)
“LONTANO DAGLI OCCHI”
“MUSICA CHE RESTA”
The view is far away but it serves to have the whole of the square and the final reaction of the people. At the end of the song, the boys demand a big applause for Alessandro Quarta, who is performing in his land.
Final greetings
The encore
And here in the front row, among the people, is the bishop of Lecce.
You must know, that the Cathedral in Lecce is a symbolic square of the local church: with a single entrance, it is closed by the buildings of the Diocesan Museum and the Bishop’s Palace. The previous bishop had always denied her use at concerts. The current, Monsignor Michele Seccia, who chairs the commission, has instead decided to open it, long enough to grant it for the summer 2019, also to Il Volo and Fiorella Mannoia. Denied instead, to those singers with songs with explicit or irreverent lyrics.
Gianluca: “It is an honor to be here and to sing in front of ‘my’ bishop.”
A concert that showed a splendid combination of the baroque art of Piazza Duomo and the musical art of this trio. The uniqueness of the artistic frame of the venue was in fact highlighted by the leading singers of the evening: “As soon as we took the stage a few minutes ago, we saw a magnificent scenery, one of the most beautiful squares not of Italy but of the world.” Gianluca Ginoble said, “The idea of singing in Piazza Duomo was born four years ago, when we were on vacation in Porto Cesareo with our manager Michele Torpedine, and after coming for a walk in Lecce, we thought about how nice it would be to sing in this place. Today this dream has come true.”
It was Ginoble, who with the other comrades of the group, had an episcopal meeting with the archbishop to address a personal greeting to Msgr. Michele Seccia, stating that it was an honor to sing for the archbishop this evening. The singer recalled that he had received the sacrament of confirmation from Bishop Seccia, when the latter exercised his episcopal ministry in the diocese of Teramo-Atri. Great successes of the group excited those present, who sang songs like “Grande Amore” and “L’amore si muove”.
Among the surprises, the performance by violinist Alessandro Quarta, an artist much appreciated for his rigorous Salentine origins. A concert that took place in a workmanlike manner, the organization was impeccable in terms of plant engineering and safety and security measures adopted.
Il Volo at the Duomo, the lyric that becomes pop welcomed in the heart of the Baroque of Lecce
Their voice is majestic and seems to give further strength and intensity to the Baroque art that frames Piazza Duomo: Ignazio, Piero and Gianluca begin by singing “Il Mondo” and are full of energy, they are young, they are beautiful.
Last night in “tour” in Lecce, the three singers of the opera group “Il Volo” have bewitched the Salento public, with their masterful singing and artistic qualities, with their “savoire faire” of other times, made however very current by the sympathy and from the synergy that hovers between them. Very elegant and formal, like in a top-level theater.
Gianluca Ginoble’s grace was immediately evident, in thanking the Bishop of Lecce, Monsignor Michele Seccia, for the hospitality that the singer remembers having met on the occasion of his Confirmation. On the other hand Il Volo has always been able to juggle the graces of the Church: not least, the famous “selfie” that Pope Francis granted them this winter in Panama.
“Ah, heck, at 12 you couldn’t keep it in the Curia?!” Ignazio Boschetto jokes. The trio performed great international classics, such as “Can’t help falling in love” by Elvis Presley and “My Way” by Frank Sinatra and Italians, like “Volare”, by Domenico Modugno.
In the front line there is also a fourth protagonist: the Salentine violinist Alessandro Quarta, who a few months ago performed on the stage of the Ariston, for Il Volo, “Musica che resta”. “I’ve always dreamed of playing here, at the Duomo. But never would I have thought of a concert next to the three of them, which are the best of Italian opera music in the world!”
“And now your Alessandro Quarta, all for you”, Gianluca exclaims. And here is that the violinist has performed some passages, accompanied to the piano by the teacher Giuseppe Magagnino (Salentine pianist of national fame).
Then a moment in which each of the three sang as a soloist, to give a single voice to the different vocality and peculiarities that characterize them: in this sense, interpreting “Almeno tu nell’universo”, the tribute of Ignazio Boschetto to Mia Martini: “I am here to remind you that no one can ever judge us!”
But then also some funny sketches to soften the show:
“A nice thing happened this evening: we went on stage at 10, because at 9:30, ready to get dressed, we realized that Ignazio had forgotten his clothes in the hotel!”
“And what do you want from me?”, said Ignazio. “I proposed to do the concert in underwear, but there was the Curia and nothing could be done about it!” It is still the boys, looking around saying, “But have these gentlemen at the window and on the balconies paid for the ticket?” But how many are you? 150? They come out of the bathroom too! Let me check under the stage!”
To announce the last song, long awaited “Grande Amore”, the song with which they won in Sanremo in 2015, Ignazio recalled: “In the end the dreams are wishes that come true and this year we are celebrating our 10 years of career: the date dates back to April 25, 2009, and from there everything has changed. But it’s all the fault of this song!”
A refined public, who has repeatedly stood up to applaud and which on the final has broken down into masses, abandoning the armchairs to push himself to the foot of the stage, where the three singers have not pulled back in signing their records and gadgets . Of course, there was no lack of controversy over the blocking of an area, for security reasons.
For the rest, enormous enthusiasm for a party and a great celebration of opera, able to bring more and more young people to this musical genre.
Even the adventure PUGLIA has ended, and it seems in the best way.
Wherever they go, these guys leave behind a trail of success and love.
But immediately on the run, next stop ABRUZZO, in the land of Gianluca !!
Daniela
Credit to owners of all photos and videos.
Come in and share the love of life, friends and Il Volo!
