11/5/13

Hi Everyone.

Tonight’s concert is at The Teatro Municipal in Rio De Janiero Brazil.

Here is a little history of Rio, considered to be one of the most Beautiful cities in the World.

Rio de Janeiro (/ˈriːoʊ di ʒəˈnɛəroʊ/, /deɪ ʒəˈnɛəroʊ/, /deɪ dʒəˈnɛəroʊ/; Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈʁi.u dʒi ʒɐˈnejɾu], January River), commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th largest in the Americas, and 26th in the world. Part of the city has been designated as a World Heritage Site, named “Rio de Janeiro: Carioca Landscapes between the Mountain and the Sea”, identified by UNESCO on 1 July 2012 in the category Cultural Landscape.

Founded in 1565, by the Portuguese, the city was initially the seat of the Captaincy of Rio de Janeiro, a captaincy of the Portuguese Empire. It later, in 1793, became the capital of the State of Brazil, a State of the Portuguese Empire. In 1808, when the Portuguese Royal Court transferred itself from Portugal to Brazil, Rio de Janeiro became the chosen seat of the court of Queen Maria I of Portugal, who subsequently, in 1815, under the leadership of her son, the Prince Regent, and future King João VI of Portugal, raised Brazil to the dignity of a kingdom, within the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil, and Algarves. Rio stayed the capital of the pluricontinental Lusitanian monarchy until 1822, when the War of Brazilian Independence began. It subsequently served as the capital of the independent monarchy, the Empire of Brazil, until 1889, and then the capital of a republican Brazil until 1960.

Rio de Janeiro represents the second largest GDP in the country (and 30th largest in the world in 2008), estimated at about R$343 billion (IBGE/2008) (nearly US$201 billion), and is headquarters to two of Brazil’s major companies—Petrobras and Vale, and major oil companies and telephony in Brazil, besides the largest conglomerate of media and communications companies in Latin America, the Globo Organizations. The home of many universities and institutes, it is the second largest center of research and development in Brazil, accounting for 17% of national scientific production—according to 2005 data.

Rio de Janeiro is one of the most visited cities in the southern hemisphere and is known for its natural settings, carnival celebrations, samba, Bossa Nova, balneario beaches such as Barra da Tijuca, Copacabana, Ipanema, and Leblon. Some of the most famous landmarks in addition to the beaches include the giant statue of Christ the Redeemer (“Cristo Redentor”) atop Corcovado mountain, named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World; Sugarloaf mountain (Pão de Açúcar) with its cable car; the Sambódromo, a permanent grandstand-lined parade avenue which is used during Carnival; and Maracanã Stadium, one of the world’s largest football stadiums.

The 2016 Summer Olympics and the Paralympics will take place in Rio de Janeiro, which will mark the first time a South American or a Portuguese-speaking nation hosts the event. It will be the third time the Olympics will be held in a Southern Hemisphere city. On 12 August 2012, at the 2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony, Mayor Eduardo Paes received the Olympic Flag, via Jacques Rogge, from London Mayor Boris Johnson. Rio’s Maracanã Stadium, which held the final of the 1950 FIFA World Cup, will host the final match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Rio de Janeiro also hosted the World Youth Day in 2013.

Twitters, Tweets and Keeks:

Gianluca seems to be going through a range of emotions lately.We suspect he’s a little homesick, which is understandable. Here are some of his recent tweets: ” Nervous, tired, sleepy” ” Spent time at the gym” “Going to sleep with a smile on my face” “Take all of me” “Paul the king #PaulMccartney” and today “Going to…Rio De Janeirooooooo!!! Just an hour ago he tweeted “Greetings from Rio De Janeiro”, “Here in Copacabana Beach.”

Piero Yesterday, “Interviews time” and “The next language I speak is Portuguese.”

Ignazio, Nothing new from him. We’re just glad he’s feeling better and of course that he has wifi!

Team Il Volo Has a new article “The Boys from Il Volo argue all the time, but their voices stay in key on stage” Cute article, translated from Spanish. I think it shows that like all brothers, they have their arguments.

All Things Il Volo has a new fan story and some great photos, have a look!

This is a link to a video from The Gran Rex in Argentina. Can’t tell if Gianluca forgot the words or Ignazio forgot to sing. It’s adorable!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZzrjsbX0m8 (Preview)

I sent the link to my sister, she wrote back “I loved it, shows they can make a boo boo and turn it into fun” So true!!

We are so glad all of you are here to celebrate these talented young men. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts and feelings with us!!!

Josie, let us know what concert you are attending!!’

The Peoples Choice nominations were just announced and I’m sorry to say Il Volo was not nominated!! Frustrating! but we know there are plenty awards ahead and Il Volo will be winning them! Thanks Marie for the information!

Love and luck tonight Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca!

Linda