And here I am to offer you the first of the three television evenings of Canale 5 which broadcasts the three Il Volo concerts.

It was a lot of work for everyone, but it was worth it, three fantastic evenings designed for Italian television which will feature many beautiful songs by Italian singer-songwriters sung by our talented Piero, Gianluca and Ignazio.

Once again Il Volo demonstrated that it was able to offer different musical styles and guests with whom it duetted without problems.

In addition to the beautiful scenes projected on the screens, you will certainly notice the play of light created by the audience.

Upon entering the Arena, each spectator was given a beautiful luminous bracelet which then had to be returned at the end, a truly wonderful idea!!

I honestly understand that the program was more suitable for an Italian audience, but I will try to make you understand clearly what they wanted to demonstrate.

Naturally certain moments were edited for different evenings, but this was done to make everything more homogeneous and does not affect the final result.

The first TV evening begins with Claudio Baglioni (Italian singer) who enters the scene and sits at the piano, almost immediately he is joined by Ignazio who tells him that they should start by singing MILLE GIORNI DI ME DI TE (Baglioni’s song) and he performs it, then Gianluca arrives and says that it is better to start with AVRAI (Baglioni’s song) and performs it, and Piero arrives who instead wants to start by singing PICCOLO GRANDE AMORE (Baglioni’s song) and sings it, but in the end Baglioni says that he decides what with they will open the evening and he decides for STRADA FACENDO (Baglioni’s song) and all four sing it together.

Immediately afterwards Ignazio Piero and Gianluca greet the Arena audience and sing the beautiful CAPOLAVORO. 😍

This year Il Volo has decided to pay homage to Italian singer-songwriters by performing several of their songs and Ignazio begins with: TI SENTO song by Matia Bazar. 🥰

Gianluca immediately continues with the beautiful ROCKET MAN by Elton John. 🥰

And finally, Piero sings the MISERERE which this year he did in duet with Giorgia, a very good Italian singer.

At the end of the song, Piero says: “Giorgia, we just sang a song by Zucchero and Zucchero sang it with Pavarotti. Then Pavarotti with Bocelli, you sang with Bocelli and now I sing with you, all this to thank and pay homage to the man who acted as a glue to all these names, our manager Michele Torpedine.” (Torpedine is framed, Ernie is also seen behind him).

GIORGIA= Mythical Michele.

Then Giorgia thanks Piero for the beautiful evening, but Ignazio tells her that there are also him and Gianluca, 😂😂 then the guys will convince Giorgia to stay and so she will also act as co-host during the evening. 🥰

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Il Volo sings SE TELEFONANDO.

Now it’s time for a duet, Gianluca presents the song IL CIELO IN UNA STANZA, a beautiful song by Gino Paoli that Gianluca will sing together with Alessandra Amoroso.  Beautiful duet. 😍😍

Alessandra also celebrates 15 years of career and therefore, all together sing a song by Alessandra Amoroso: STUPENDO FINO QUI.

This is followed by a duet by Piero who tells how this song was born, from a news that a circus was in difficulty because the cannon woman had left. The author combined music with this news and the song was born. The author is Francesco De Gregori who enters and sings a duet with Piero. This song has never been performed with the classical imprint that Piero gives it and it is very beautiful, LA DONNA CANNONE. (this duet was done the night I was at the concert) 🥰

Piero finally admits that he was moved. ❤️

Ignazio calls Giorgia, and instead…. Giorgio Panariello (Italian comedian) enters.

In the gag, Giorgio apologizes and Giorgia is called back. She comes in and says she thought she’ll ask questions “on the fly” and they’ll have to answer quickly.

GIORGIA= What do you sing in the shower?

G= COME SAPREI (song by Giorgia)

GIORGIA= Liar!

I= (I don’t understand)

P= CAN’T TAKE MY EYES OFF YOU
Ignazio makes fun of Piero by thinking of him singing that song in the shower. 😂😂

GIORGIA= What is the song that is never missing from your playlist.

G= CAN’T HELP FALLING IN LOVE. 😍

GIORGIA= How romantic!

I= YOU AND I by Stevie Wonder

P= MY WAY, every morning I brush my teeth with Frank Sinatra

GIORGIA= If you had to choose a solo stage name, what would you choose?

G= Ignazio Boschetto 😂

I= Cucu Ramaya (song) 😂

P= Giorgio 😂

GIORGIA= Which historical group would you have liked to be part of?

G=Beatles

I= Bon Jovi

P= The Poohs

GIORGIA= The song that gives you energy.

G= THE SHOW MUST GO ON by Queen.

I= I FEEL GOOD

P= FIESTA, by Carrà

GIORGIA= The song you would dedicate to your son or daughter.

G= AVRAI (he sang it at the beginning) Or A TE by Jovannotti.

I= I don’t know because I will write it when I have a baby. ❤️❤️

P= CAPOLAVORO

GIORGIA= Last question: Which one of you will sing the next song? I’m telling you, Ignazio, the stage is yours!

Ignazio will perform a rock song, so he changes his jacket.

In the presentation he explains that this singer-songwriter’s father broke his guitar because he wanted him to study, but then he showed him that music was his life, Ignazio talks about Lucio Battisti, a very famous singer-songwriter in Italy. The song is:  IL TEMPO DI MORIRE and Ignazio uses a rock guitar!😉

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Il Volo performs the always beautiful GRANDE AMORE. ❤️

Now there is a truly very touching duet between Gianluca and a much-loved singer-songwriter, Roberto Vecchioni.
Gianluca dedicates a letter to him written “from the bottom of his heart” and reads it as he enters. I translate it for you.

“Thank you professor (Vecchioni is a university teacher) for teaching us the art of the word that opens the doors of infinity.”
(Vecchioni enters and both are very moved).
You are here. (Gianluca repeats and continues)
You taught me to embrace pain, even if it hurts
and with kindness the chains of ignorance and intolerance can be broken, generating beauty.
You showed all of us that strength lies in fragility and the courage to be yourself and that love comes suddenly and you can’t control it. Happens.
The purity of a feeling that does not possess, but frees.
I hope that no end will put your love to sleep and that your message will continue to shout loudly for all those guys like me, like us.
And you’re right about my girlfriend, it’s my job and I promise to continue treating it with care. ❤️
(The last sentences from “I hope….” are sentences taken from Vecchioni’s songs)

A long hug.

VECCHIONI= Now let’s not sing anymore, you moved me!

GIANLUCA= I want to leave you the letter, it’s a memory of me.

VECCHIONI= I’ll put it in my room in a painting.
An evening like this is unforgettable and then with you saying these things, how nice!

GIANLUCA= Thanks, it’s thanks to you.

VECCHIONI = It is thanks to humanity in general that it manages to produce sensitive people like you. (cheers)

GIANLUCA= Shall we sing?

Together they perform Vecchioni’s song: CHIAMAMI ANCORA AMORE ❤️

At the end, long hugs and Gianluca can’t hold back his tears. (Gianluca has always said that when he was little his dad made him listen to the songs of this singer-songwriter, which is why he has such great respect for him)

GIANLUCA= I dreamed and I achieved my dreams also thanks to this moment which was one of the most exciting of my life. ❤️

VECCHIONI = For me too.

GIANLUCA= And I thank you.

VECCHIONI= Are you crying? You who conquered the world, are crying for me who have conquered only one country! You’re great. ❤️

GIANLUCA= You are great. Roberto Vecchioni!

VECCHIONI = Bye everyone.

Piero’s beautiful classic solo follows: AMOR, VIDA DE MI VIDA, sung in Spanish .

It’s Ignazio’s moment who offers a medley by another Italian singer-songwriter who I think you already know: Pino Daniele.

The medley includes:
RESTA CU’MME
I SAY I STO CCÀ
YES I KNOW MY WAY
in a mix of Italian and Neapolitan.

The always beautiful Tosca romance follows: NESSUN DORMA

At this point Giorgia is called back on stage and once again Giorgio didn’t understand that it wasn’t his moment…

GIORGIO= Good thing you called me because I fell asleep on the Nessun Dorma. 😂😂

The boys apologize to Giorgio and say that he didn’t understand that the ending of the name was A and not O. 😳😁😁

Giorgio says that perhaps the Arena has bad acoustics because the three of them sing well but speak badly and from behind you can’t understand A or O well so he recommends the kids to pronounce well or to send him a whatsapp!! 🤣🤣🤣

Giorgio goes out and Ignazio tells the boys that maybe it’s best for Giorgio to have his hearing checked. 😉😂😂

And now GiorgiA comes in and has prepared some nice questions for Il Volo.

This time Giorgia will ask personal questions, but they will have to answer as if they were another of the three. 😳😳🤪🤪

Ignazio becomes Piero
Piero becomes Gianluca
Gianluca becomes Ignazio

GIORGIA= What’s your name?

GIANLUCA= Ignazio

IGNAZIO= Piero

PIERO/GIAN= My name is Gianluca, hi…..wait I have to wink.

GIORGIA= Your favorite hobby.

PIERO/GIAN= Instagram 😂

GIAN/IGNA= Playstation.

Ignazio says it’s not true, but Gianluca protests by saying that he and Piero can say everything about him, so he can do it too. 😉

IGNA/PIERO= I’m doing the marathon so I run, I run.

GIORGIA= How do you like to dress?

PIERO/GIAN= Every day different from the next. 😁

IGNAZIO=….how much I liked being Gianluca at this moment….😁😁

GIAN/IGNA= Does he know what he’s doing? He spreads the glue, goes into the wardrobe and puts on whatever remains stuck to him. 🤣🤣
(Piero compliments him for the answer)

GIANLUCA= You’ve seen, I can be nice too!😉

GIORGIA= (To Ignazio) Do you want to say something?

IGNAZIO= Now I’ve redone the walk-in closet, I got all the same clothes so I’m dressed the same every day. 😂

GIORGIA= So how do you dress?

IGNA/PIERO= Terrible! 🤣

GIORGIA= Your relationship with social media.

PIERO/GIAN= I’m here every day😂

GIANLUCA= But at least I always stay in touch with our fans.🥰

PIERO= You must know that we have just returned from Japan, we visited Nara, I have been there, but I saw more things on his Instagram than with my own eyes.😂

GIAN/IGNA= Non-existent, Ignazio doesn’t have a telephone.

GIORGIA= This honors you, can I say it??

PIERO= But who are you telling? (Igna has the sign with the name Piero)😳😳😁

GIORGIA= I don’t know, I’m confused!! 🤪🤪
Last question: What relationship do you have with the hairdresser?

PIERO/GIAN= I’ll even take my personal one to Japan.😂😂

IGNA/PIERO= He (Piero) when he goes to cut his hair, in front of the mirror says:  “The thirty-second hair back here and the one hundred and twenty-seventh is longer.” 😂😂

GIAN/IGNA= Instead you (Ignazio) go with the lawnmower 🤣🤣

GIORGIA= Give me back the signs, guys, you were very nice.

From above in the royal box position, Giorgio Panariello in a serious moment reads beautiful words of Bertolt Brecht.

“Children play at war, it is rare for them to play at peace, because adults have always been at war.
You go PUM (shot) and laugh, the soldier shoots and another man doesn’t laugh anymore.
It’s war.
There is another game to invent: make the world smile, don’t make it cry.
Peace means that not everyone likes the same game, that your toys are also liked by other children who often don’t have them, because maybe you have too many of your own, that other children’s drawings are not messes, that your mother doesn’t it’s just all yours, that all children are your friends.
And peace is still: don’t be hungry, don’t be cold, don’t be afraid.” ❤️

Il Volo sings the beautiful SMILE. 🥰

Gianluca calls GiorgiO Panariello on stage, but GiorgiA arrives.

IGNAZIO= There must be a problem back there: GiorgiO 🤣

GIORGIA= Eh, wasn’t it me?

(Giorgio enters)
Hi GiorgiO

GIORGIO= Hi GiorgiA.

GIANLUCA= But we can’t do these figures though.

GIORGIO= I explained the acoustics problem to GiorgiA back there, but she doesn’t remember it. (to Giorgia) You have to take the drops of memory (Drops of memory is a song by Giorgia) 🤣🤣🤣 because they are useful to you in these moments here. Agree?

Now it’s my turn.

Then GiorgiA goes backstage.

A long funny historical comic monologue begins by Giorgio Panariello who explains the origins of the Arena. (I translate some passages of the monologue.)

GIORGIO= We are at the Verona Arena, we are immersed in history, you don’t know these things, I have studied, this amphitheater where you are sitting comfortably, it is a Roman amphitheater dating back to the first century AD, think about it, this structure was built even before the Colosseum.

PIERO= I’ve known you forever, but I didn’t think you were such a man of culture. How do you know all these things?

GIORGIO= It’s written on the teleprompter. 🤣🤣

It’s written there.

GIANLUCA= But you can’t reveal it like that.

GIORGIO= You can read too….it’s all written there.

IGNAZIO= But you certainly read it better!

GIORGIO= Because in Verona there is nothing older and better preserved, apart from Gianluca’s forelock, than the Verona Arena. This tuft (talking to Gianluca) dates back to the time of the Etruscans, they already had this tuft here. 😂

The Arena of Verona was built by the Romans right here in Verona, what a coincidence……(now he makes a list of Italian monuments)…..look at this Arena how well it has been preserved, the walls, the stands, the audience, look at how the audience was preserved, when the Romans arrived these people were already here, with umbrellas and raincoats when it rains, they built the Arena around them, I’ve already seen that gentleman there in a bas-relief preserved in the Vatican museums.🤣

People were already here when gladiators fought in the Arena and there were also chariots, have you ever seen chariots? (The speech takes on a mischievous tone and Piero and Ignazio laugh a lot.)

Then in the Middle Ages theatrical and lyrical and therefore musical shows began to be performed and this is why you are here, and with you there is also me, your Giorgio…….your GiorgiO!!!!

GiorgiA comes back after hearing her name called, but Giorgio tells her that it wasn’t her time and sends her away.

Giorgio says that he came to sing and together with Il Volo and the audience they perform a small singing gag. 😁😁😁

Gianluca presents one of the most loved songs in the world, precisely: IL MONDO.

Ignazio says that it has been many years since they sang this beautiful song that everyone knows: LEI (SHE).

Giorgia returns and now it’s Ignazio, Piero and Gianluca who want to ask her questions.

PIERO= Question number one. Which artist did you have a poster of in your room?

GIORGIA= Whitney Houston.

IGNAZIO= Which historical group would you have liked to be part of?

GIORGIA= Queen.

GIANLUCA= What lullaby did you sing to your baby?

GIORGIA= I sang Lullaby to Smelly Cat.

PIERO= Which piece of music are you most attached to?

GIORGIA= Soul of Pino Daniele.

IGNAZIO= The strangest place where you sang a song?

GIORGIA= A wardrobe.

GIANLUCA= The most absurd gift you’ve ever received from a fan?

GIORGIA= The toilet brush shaped like a microphone.

The questions are over and Giorgia thanks the guys for the experience of being with them, she also tells them that they are human, nice and cool people.

It’s Piero’s moment who says that it’s not Il Volo that brings Italian music around, but Italian music that brings Il Volo into the world.

Piero pays homage to Puccini and all the writers of Operas by saying that Operas are nothing more than life stories where usually two people get to know each other and then everyone dies. 😳😁

Piero performs from Tosca: RECONDITA ARMONIA

Gianluca follows with the solo: ALWAYS ON MY MIND in memory of great Elvis Presley.

Now another touching moment, Ignazio reads a letter dedicated to a woman killed by her man a year ago.

And where are you, a fragile soul, in which part of the universe do you find yourself.
Who knows if where you are the sun rises and then sets.
Who knows if grandmothers bake cakes and grandfathers tell fairy tales.
Who knows if people go to harvest and you can still run among the vines.
Who knows if the sea is always curled and the wind blows strong, or maybe everything is calm, calm and silent.
Who knows if there is someone there too who wants to tie up your freedom, because here you were not free to choose.
You were deprived of the beauty of life with an act of human smallness.
Alone I am no one to say enough to violence, but if we say it together we can make a difference.
Who knows if now, where you are, you will have found love.
Hi Marisa! 🙏

Ignazio sings ANIMA FRAGILE, a song written by the singer-songwriter Vasco Rossi.

Enter Gaetano Curreri, singer of Stadio, a boy band that Ignazio followed and imitated as a child.

At the end of the duet Ignazio thanks Gaetano Curreri and at the end he says that it was a great emotion to sing this song with him and now he feels happy.

And now Il Volo, reunited, sings GRANADA in three different styles.

A beautiful tribute to Morricone follows with the song SE, taken from Nuovo Cinema Paradiso.

Now a beautiful duet by Ignazio with Mara Sattei singing CREEP by Radiohead.

We return to classical music with a solo by Piero who performs Rossini’s tarantella LA DANZA, a song already sung by Gianluca during Notte Magica.

A solo by Gianluca who sings a beautiful song by the singer-songwriter De Andrè: LA CANZONE DELL’AMORE.

This song is very sweet and Gianluca sings it with so much emotion.

When Piero and Ignazio return, Piero says: “Good boy”
and Ignazio says: “This is proof that when you sing from the heart you make a difference and so I was moved.” 😍😍😍

Giorgia returns, but this time to sing together with Il Volo, (in particular with Ignazio who often sings it), her song E POI.

Piero announces the final song of the concert, a song taken from their new album: AD ASTRA.

At the final bars of the beautiful song, a riot of confetti floods the people.

Thus ends a fantastic concert, a perfect and harmonious set of voices, sounds, colours.
Next week will be the concert I attended.
Needless to say, the television broadcast achieved maximum ratings.
Now I want to hear your opinions.
See you soon: Daniela 🤗

Credit to owners of all photos and videos.