Among the many interviews they gave themselves to, Il Volo was also interviewed by Don Walter Insero, a wonderful interview for the program “ON THE ROAD awaiting the 2025 Jubilee”.
Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca are expected by Don Water in front of the basilica of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere. A very informal meeting where Ignazio, Gianluca and Piero opened their hearts without any problem, talking about life, faith, and religion.
I translate for you..
DWI= Welcome back to ON THE ROAD. We are in Trastevere (Rome area) in front of the basilica of S. Cecilia, patron saint of music and musicians.
This young Roman woman, from a noble family, learned the message of Jesus, became a Christian and, in order not to betray her faith in Jesus Christ, she was martyred in the third century.
Since then this has become a place of silence, prayer, which has welcomed millions of pilgrims who have come to pray at the tomb of St. Cecilia, and this place will welcome the pilgrims of the next jubilee, who will find here an oasis of contemplation and peace.
PIERO= Don Walter good morning.
DWI= Hey hello!
Hi Piero, hello Ignazio, hello Gianluca.
IGNAZIO= A magnificent place.
DWI= How nice to meet you here..
GIANLUCA= It’s a great pleasure!
DWI= …in front of the Basilica of Santa Cecilia, we are on our way ON THE ROAD towards the 2025 jubilee.
I welcome you to this which is your home, because it is the home of Cecilia, who is the patroness of music, of musicians, of singers, of singers, (at this moment Barbara and Torpedine can be seen behind them) so I have the pleasure to accompany you on this journey.
GIANLUCA= It’s an honor!
IGNAZIO= Thank you, thank you very much.
DWI= It’s music that brought you together, right?
GIANLUCA= Yes, let’s say that music is what gives meaning to our lives, let’s say that everyone uses different tools to discover their own mystery, so we used this great tool that allowed us to dig inside ourselves and make sense to life. We are what we are through the voice and certainly together the strength is greater to convey emotions to the public and excite everyone here.
DWI= When you were very young, true, you discovered this artistic vocation.
PIERO= I believe that recognizing one’s vocation when young is a great privilege. We immediately recognized it thanks also to the support and support of our families, it was they who introduced this musical genre, which is Bel Canto, the genre that we sing, and therefore we owe everything to music.
DWI= And did the families support you in this?
IGNAZIO= Absolutely, I think that especially at the beginning, they were a fundamental part of our growth and, to put it simply (he means simply), I like to say “to keep our feet on the ground”, and they continue to do so today , so we really have to say thank you to our families because they taught us the true value of being a family, what it means to be a family.
DWI= Well, let’s go in then. Look how wonderful. (he points to the painting of the vault)
They prayed and asked Cecilia to pray for us.
GIANLUCA= With singing, which is the best prayer.
DWI= Yes, Bach says that music is a privileged path because it brings the soul closer to God. Is this true for you too?
GIANLUCA= It is the soundtrack of one’s emotions, like the poets who in their madness, like Leopardi (Italian poet) spoke to the moon waiting for him to respond. And it’s a bit like touching the sky with your emotions I think.
PIERO= Whoever sings prays twice, right?
DWI= Saint Augustine says so.
PIERO= And we do it often, singing on stage, almost every day and I think I recognize that we are three hyper-privileged people because what we feel on stage I think is an emotion that cannot be described. It’s not really easy to describe and make concrete, so I think three of us share the same sensations, an advantage for the three of us.
DWI= But can we say that music has brought you closer to God in your journey?
IGNAZIO= In a certain sense yes, also because we started from three small towns, where perhaps we know in small towns there are many more people inclined to believe, to find a foothold in what could be help from a saint, especially in music, like Saint Cecilia, so for us, our parents always prayed to God that their children could one day find their own path with their own talent, so absolutely yes.
PIERO= Personally my first approach to music was thanks to the church.
DWI= Oh yes?
PIERO= Because as a child I always went to church, so I sang in the choir, without inhibitions…
IGNAZIO= I was also part of the choir.
PIERO= I was an altar boy, I sang, so I know all the sacred songs. For us it would also be a great desire to be able to contribute during the jubilee with this magnificent art: music.
WOMAN’S VOICE = Rome, Trastevere district, it is in its beating heart, among its narrow streets, that a jewel full of charm and mystery stands: the basilica of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere. It is here that almost 1800 years ago the young Cecilia, considered the patron saint of musicians, was martyred.
DWI= You sang in the presence of the Holy Father, of Pope Francis, in a meeting with young people and a global family meeting, with your families. What did it represent for you?
IGNAZIO= Look, the first time was in Panama.
DWI= Yes!
PIERO= World Day..
IGNAZIO= World Youth Day and having a million young people in front of us……I remember that after singing we commented on this, that there was an energy, that it was an altar, it wasn’t a stage….
DWI= Sure, sure.
IGNAZIO= A gigantic altar and you could feel this energy, I don’t know, it seemed magnetic…
PIERO= A deafening silence…
IGNAZIO= It was a deafening silence, it’s one of those experiences that really happen a few times in your life and that is given by energy, because in the end I think that people are energy, life is energy, and seeing a million people , in the same place, for the same reason, an energy was created that is truly unforgettable for us.
PIERO= And then, on 22 June (2022), being witnesses during the World Family Day, I think it was one of the great objectives of these 15 years together, because from the first day we have always tried to reach those who listen to us and also to those who don’t listen to us, this message of unity but above all this strength that are values, families, because sometimes, perhaps due to the frenzy that we experience during daily life, we forget about certain values, that is, a call with mother, maybe hear the grandparents….
DWI= Sure, sure.
PIERO= And in the end you realize that this important value that is family has arrived.
DWI= What do you remember about the meeting with Pope Francis, Gianluca?
GIANLUCA= Obviously the greatness of a person is demonstrated by his humility, I think, right? And therefore his humility is an example for all of us, many young people who are still experiencing a difficult moment in our era, seeing themselves in a person who can truly be like a family member, asking for advice, admiring him from afar in all parts of the world , I believe that this, however, is the main thing for us artists too, because then music is like a eulogy to madness, if you think about it, because there is no rationality, nothing is created from rationality. All this (looks at the basilica), artists who have been inspired by a spiritual journey, because only through spirituality can something wonderful be created and that’s a bit what we are doing with our music, our creativity takes hold from our madness, from our almost childish madness, if you think about it.
DWI= This masterpiece by Stefano Maderno (Italian sculptor) which describes what he saw when the body was observed and surprisingly, when they opened Cecilia’s tomb, they found her body in exactly that shape you see.
PIERO= Which year are you talking about?
DWI= So, the survey was done in 1599 and Stefano Maderno sculpted the marble in 1600.
PIERO= And she was found like this, in this position.
DWI= Yes, in this position, because a first attempt was made to suffocate her, in what was the “calidarium” (spa), it was a noble house because they had heating and they had the spa in the house and they tried to suffocate her there and instead she was beheaded, three shots were planned, can you see? It excites me, because look at his delicate neck, it has the signs of this cut that his body has maintained, so when Maderno commissioned this work, he knew that the intact body had this sign. Then she bled to death, a terrible death, but tradition says that while she was in agony, she had expressed the desire that this, which was her home, become a place of prayer and the Christians came to pray, the faithful then came and there are also Benedictine nuns who pray night and day, so the prayer is constant.
What does this work inspire in you?
GIANLUCA= It’s a manifestation of pain if we think about it, which is the basis of everything, only through pain does a certain growth in life certainly occur. She is a woman who then based her life on art, certainly, such a young woman and therefore an example for all of us, because even from suffering, as I was saying, important growth can be drawn.
PIERO= I really believe in coincidences. During the Sanremo Festival, the last one we did, we were given a holy picture of Santa Cecilia…
DWI= Oh…
PIERO= ….and we put it behind the cover of our cell phone and during that day we talked a lot about Santa Cecilia and today we find ourselves here in the basilica of Santa Cecilia…
DWI= Who guards her body, so it’s there, she’s buried here…
PIERO= What coincidences…
DWI= Yes, they are those gifts of providence.
And for you Ignazio?
IGNAZIO= I think that there are many miracles in life, for example I live in Bologna and there is a church where Saint Catherine is and even there the body remained intact. These are things that I don’t know… returning to the topic of energy, I am always amazed by these things, maybe there are those who believe more, those who believe less, but one cannot help but believe what life tells us. offers: miracles, energies….
GIANLUCA= That the most religious attitude is to cultivate doubt and dig deeper and deeper into oneself.
DWI= Sure.
GIANLUCA= Not just outside, a constant, spiritual search that leads you, at a certain point in life, to have enlightenment from different points of view, which can be a life dedicated to God, why not!
DWI= It’s true, doubts, questions, are part of the journey of life. The Pope wanted this motto for this upcoming jubilee: “Pilgrims of hope”.
Do you feel like pilgrims? Do you feel like you are searching, on your way or have you already arrived? You are very successful, do you feel like you have arrived?
IGNAZIO= We are constantly on the move.
PIERO= It’s a continuous journey with ourselves, in search of ourselves, always trying to show the best side of ourselves and I believe that faith, like great things, is a commitment, a constant, daily commitment. For our part, this commitment has always been there and perhaps in some difficult moments, because perhaps faith is only remembered in difficult moments, whereas we should also remember it in good moments. We try to do it every day, so yes, we consider ourselves pilgrims.
DWI= Sure. Ignazio, you?
IGNAZIO= I agree, perhaps as I said before, there are those who are more attached, he (Piero) is very attached to the church, to religion, I am a little less…
GIANLUCA= You are still looking for the point of this journey…that’s right, we are still young…
IGNAZIO=…..precisely I define it as my path, because I am a person who always tries to be amazed by things, so for me the path is to always remain amazed and hope to find answers in what I experience.
PIERO= Also because each of us has a different experience, a different past, we are three strangers who met 15 years ago, but each of us has experienced moments in our lives that have also marked us.
DWI= Sure and that you agree.
GIANLUCA= In life we have always been empty containers, because we almost had no home, always maintaining our roots and values, but from the age of 14, travelling, learning about different cultures, made us feel, as I was saying, empty containers. Having a personal spiritual journey, not children of our culture, of our society, therefore reading, really reading what is written in the Bible, not believing in a belief, what is there, why do I have to believe, I have to inform myself, I have to understand what really happened and what are the ideals of this great religion that for millennia has guided millions of people of all generations of antiquity. So get informed, read, understand well what the great content of this great story is.
DWI= (they meet the Benedictine mother) How is mother? Nice to meet you, you are the mother Abbess MariaGiovanna: Piero, Gianluca and Ignazio. This year they were in Sanremo and they gave him an image of Saint Cecilia which they kept on their cell phone and so today they were happy to be here praying to their patron saint.
MOTHER= Best wishes, best wishes, may God bless you and guide your path.
I+P+G= Thank you, thank you very much, goodbye.
DWI= How beautiful your cloister is.
MOTHER= Yes.
DWI= The jubilee is in a few months, how are you preparing, how do you want to experience this jubilee?
IGNAZIO= We are 29/30 years old, and this will be our first jubilee that we will actually experience, because the last time we were only 4/5 years old, we didn’t even know what it was, so we will live it with curiosity, hope because in these years we have been cultivating this word – is very much hope, hope for something better, hope that something can really change and there are many people who, in any field, in music, in politics, in religion in their own way are trying to change. Look at Pope Francis, who I have so much admiration for, such a humble person who plays such an important role and it’s not always simple, right?
DWI= Sure.
PIERO= In some way our greatest desire is to be able to contribute with our art, with music, also because in the past we have had the opportunity to live these unique experiences.
I believe that the year of the Jubilee, the opening of the Jubilee is a very important moment for everyone.
IGNAZIO= It was a wonderful experience and we want to thank you.
DWI= Thank you, I thank you, thank you Piero, thank you Ignazio, thank you Gianluca. Thank you because with your art you sow hope in this time that is in some ways so difficult and dark and music is this universal message that reaches all hearts.
Can I ask you to take a selfie so I can immortalize this moment!
IGNAZIO= Sure
PIERO= Wait, like this.
GIANLUCA= Higher, higher..perfect!!
What can I say, I don’t know about you, but I was very touched by the mature and absolutely relevant answers to the topic that our three young men gave.
Messages of hope and love, faith, energy and life.
I am deeply happy to be able to once again see the versatility of Piero, Gianluca and Ignazio who, just as in singing, can move from interviews with “light” topics to interviews with “deep” topics, without any problem.
I also really liked the lowered tone of our kids’ voices as a sign of respect for the place where they were.
Congratulations once again guys!! ❤️
The INFORM newspaper published this page on the event, in four languages, which I attach.
In the interview we talked about two events that occurred with Il Volo in the presence of the Pope and therefore I thought I would attach them and review them together.
Il Volo at the world meeting of families 22 June 2022
Il Volo a Panama, World Youth Day 2019
And after hearing and reading the beautiful words of Gianluca, Ignazio and Piero and listening to their beautiful voices, what better time in view of Easter to wish you all the best wishes from all the Flight Crew staff.
HAPPY EASTER
from the bottom of our hearts and may it bring peace to this troubled world.
So I promised you to continue with the translation of the RTL 102.5 interview, but these three young men: Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca, didn’t stop for a moment!!!
Let’s go in order:
Thursday 14 September
Private event in Rome, in the beautiful Villa Aurelia, organized by the VIP travel agency: I.D.I. TRAVER SRL.
There aren’t many videos or photos, but from that little we see a very beautiful location and a very elegant audience.
Friday 15 September
New program on RAI 1 hosted by Bruno Vespa, entitled “5 minutes”.
Short but really nice interview, Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca happy and relaxed, important news from Piero!!!
We’ve been missing “Uncle Bruno” interviews for a long time!! 😉
PIERO= Hi Bruno, we wanted to greet you and congratulate you on the new program.
GIANLUCA= We just returned from the tour in South America.
IGNAZIO= Do you have 5 minutes? (paraphrasing the show title) Just to tell you what happened.
GIANLUCA= So we’ll tell you everything.
PIERO= See you soon.
GIANLUCA= Hi!
VESPA= And here they are: Piero Barone, tenor 30 years old Agrigento. Ignazio Boschetto, 29 years old, Marsala/Bologna Gianluca Ginoble 28 years old, Roseto Degli Abruzzi, only boyfriend.
GIANLUCA= Abruzzo like you.
VESPA= Like me. The other two womanizers. 😁😁
PIERO/IGNAZIO= No, no.
VESPA= I said it on purpose. What have you done?
PIERO= Many things, we promised you our presence, we came to wish you a good season.
VESPA = And happy tour to you, because you never stop, now a minimum of stasis and then you start again.
PIERO= We leave in two days for this 2-month European tour. We are happy because we will sing in cities we have never been to, in Greece, we will also sing in Prague. We are happy because next year we will celebrate 15 years of our career…….
VESPA= ……speaking of career, when Antonella Clerici took you on TI LASCIO UNA CANZONE you were fifteen years old, and immediately had an extraordinary success in America, but in Italy no one knew you, so much so that 10 years ago, on 17 December 2013, you made your television debut here. Let’s see it. (a short video of that evening in 2013 appears)
GIANLUCA= The incredible thing is that we were older then than we are today, we have gotten younger over time.
VESPA= So, you went to Sanremo essentially to make yourself known to the general public.
PIERO= We went to Sanremo thanks to you.
GIANLUCA= Let’s say that you were one of the first to believe in us, before the Italian success, let’s say, because it all started with talent…..
VESPA= There was a song called Grande…. how does he do it? 😁
PIERO= (he mentions a refrain from Grande Amore a cappella)
VESPA= But did you know that you don’t sing badly? 😁😁😁
IGNAZIO= Let’s try.
PIERO= The public should know that we were undecided whether to go to Sanremo or not for that song, (Grande Amore) you listened to that song and said: “You have nothing to lose, go!”
VESPA= In fact, all you had to do was win!
Then the great duets began in America, Domingo, Anastacia, Barbra Streisand, then Ramazzotti and then remember Woody Allen? When we met him in New York.
IGNAZIO= Absolutely. (a video starts that summarizes all those moments)
VESPA= How much fun we had in America. So you have returned to Italy for the first time from a theatre, the Arcimboldi, a glorious theatre, among other things the general public got to know it when during the restoration of the street, La Scala moved there. Sold out, there you are.
GIANLUCA= Yes.
IGNAZIO= It was a wonderful experience, arriving in Italian theaters for the first time. We knew Arcimboldi from other television programs, having close contact with the public in Italy, having them close in a more intimate environment, was very interesting and beautiful.
VESPA= Sold out.
IGNAZIO= For 6 concerts…..
VESPA= Listen, but you also wrote the soundtrack…
IGNAZIO= By Makari, it was beautiful, it was interesting, I like the composition and therefore it is small satisfactions that unite us.
VESPA= (he turns to Piero) And do you remember when we sat in the seats at the Metropolitan?
PIERO= Yes.
VESPA= Your dream was to go there. Right? Is he left? Are you growing it?
PIERO= It’s my goal. And the most important thing is to persevere.
VESPA= How old?
PIERO= I believe and hope by 30. I have just turned 30, by the end of the year (by June 2024) I hope it happens.
IGNAZIO= I hope you reserve a place for me….
PIERO= No, not at the Metropolitan, debut with opera….
VESPA= Where, where….
PIERO= Let’s hope, I can’t say because we are still in the preliminary phase…
VESPA= Role, role??
PIERO= I hope for TRAVIATA, Alfredo!! ☺
VESPA= Ah, let’s start high…..and you boy (to Gianluca)
GIANLUCA= For me the objective of Il Volo is always the main one, then, who knows, then we’ll see, we are united and we are strong together.
IGNAZIO= However, if I may, I don’t know how much time we have, we want to thank you, because in these years you have given us fundamental support, especially in 2015, where you encouraged us to participate in Sanremo, because you were the first to say that We had nothing to lose anyway….
PIERO= …. and in 2013 to believe in us…
IGNAZIO= And then we want to wish you a good season, great success and lots of fun…
VESPA= You guys too! Good luck.
PIERO= Thank you.
VESPA= Are you going to Sanremo this year??
PIERO= Amadeus!!
IGNAZIO = Ama, Ama…..
GIANLUCA= Hi Amadeus!
VESPA= Hi Ama, are you taking them to Sanremo??
(with these sentences, it seems that Piero Ignazio and Gianluca want to say that the decision is up to Amadeus who is the artistic director of Sanremo and who decides who the competitors will be, so the three of them could have even proposed themselves). 😉
Saturday 16 September
Il Volo will be one of the guests scheduled for the evening at the Arena organized by TIM MUSIC AWARDS.
The evening was supposed to be live on RAI 1 but, due to the final volleyball match between Poland and Italy for the European Championships, the evening takes place on Saturday evening in the Arena and is broadcast on Sunday 17th on Rai 1.
Even if a big secret surrounded the evening, during the afternoon rehearsals it transpired that Il Volo will open the evening with the beautiful Hallelujah.
(Il Volo opens the evening, without introduction and with a truly engaging Halleluja, then the presenters enter, Carlo Conti and Vanessa Incontrada)
CONTI= What a start!!!
VANESSA= Oh my goodness, we’re off to a great start here at the Tim Music Awards.
CONTI= Il Volo
VANESSA = With these three handsome boys.
CONTI= What a show (greetings)
VANESSA = What gentlemen
PIERO= Good evening Verona, good evening everyone.
IGNAZIO= It’s nothing new that I have a weakness for…. (Vanessa)
CONTI= What a start, what a powerful start. Lights, crazy atmosphere, thanks also to your voice, the orchestra and the audience of the Verona Arena, in this magnificent place that you know well.
VANESSA= Next year 15 years of career.
IGNAZIO= Yes, let’s say we are getting older too.
VANESSA= All of us, me too.
IGNAZIO= Time passes for us too, we had a lot of fun.
CONTI= You will celebrate in the best way, the Arena is your home, we will be waiting for you soon, because we will see you again.
IGNAZIO= See you later.
PIERO= See you later (Il Volo exits)
VANESSA= What a great start.
CONTI= We started off great.
VANESSA= Yes, great.
(At this point the evening continues with many other singers. The video resumes with the mid-evening performance of Il Volo. There are three solo moments, the first is Ignazio performing from the royal stage with AT LEAST YOU IN THE UNIVERSE.
The second is Gianluca with ANGELS sung among the audience.
The third is Piero with E LUCEAN LE STELLE from the stage. At the end all three reunite with a short chorus of Grande Amore.)
VANESSA= They opened the evening of this TIM MUSIC AWARDS and obviously now they return to this stage. I, Carlo, would define them as the 3 musketeers of Italian music.
CONTI= Three unique, extraordinary voices, who are loved and known throughout the world, and truly perform with the same success not only in Italy, but from Japan to the United States, on the 5 continents, everywhere.
VANESSA= They are: Ignazio, Piero and Gianluca.
CONTI= Il Volo.
IGNAZIO= Arena, let’s turn on all the flashes (start the 3 pieces of solos followed by Grande Amore – applause)
CONTI= Il Volo!
VANESSA= I love this song so much. (Vanessa sings the chorus of the song) Here we are again.
CONTI= It seems like yesterday, you know that they won Sanremo, my first Sanremo in 2015…..I said: “The Sanremo Festival wins with Grande Amore Il Volo”, it was 2015.
VANESSA= And look where they are now!
So, 2 million records, 1 billion views, millions of subscribers on the YouTube channel. What else do you want?
PIERO= But they are fake numbers come on…..
VANESSA+CONTI= But how are these fake numbers?
PIERO= But yes you said random numbers (piero is ironic, because these are the responses of certain young people or the press when they talk about Il Volo).
VANESSA= Yes, in fact they came to mind like this now. (Vanessa supports Piero’s game, because it is logical that she gives real news).
CONTI= Let’s do one thing, let’s move this way, so the masters (orchestra) whom I greet and thank, can leave.
PIERO= Ok.
IGNAZIO= The orchestra of Franciacorta ( a country very close to my home)
PIERO= Carlo, Vanessa, can we tell you something very important for us?
VANESSA= Tell me, tell me, sure.
PIERO= We can’t say the day yet, but next spring we will have 3 big events here at the Verona Arena, the ALL FOR ONE concept, three big events where every evening there will be 10 guests…
CONTI= With you?
PIERO= Yes, here at the Verona Arena. So we are really happy to announce this event.
VANESSA= But it’s a scoop.
GIANLUCA= But then next year will be a year of great celebrations because we are celebrating 15 years of career.
VANESSA= Exactly, as I said before.
GIANLUCA= Exactly.
IGNAZIO= We will also have Carlo Conti as a guest who will sing with us for the first time.
CONTI= Sure, I guarantee it. All for One is a bit like your life philosophy.
IGNAZIO= Absolutely, we grew up together, it’s been 15 years now, unfortunately we’ve been together…. no, I’m joking!! (laughs) We have been together for 15 years and we really know each other better than our brothers, and sharing our music together, but above all with you (the audience), which in the end is thanks to all of you if we are here, so we are very grateful to our public and to the people who have followed us since day one. And in April 2024 he will even tour Japan.
IGNAZIO= Yes.
CONTI= Here are the prizes for you, a prestigious prize, the ARENA DI VERONA prize with this motivation:
FOR THE GREAT SUCCESS OF THE EVENTS AT THE VERONA ARENA TO WHICH THEY BROUGHT ALL THE SOUNDS OF MUSIC, OPERA, POP, ROCK AND GREAT SONGWRITING,as you also demonstrated tonight, MAKING THE PUBLIC EXPERIENCE A REAL JOURNEY INTO MUSIC THAT ONLY THREE GREAT ARTISTS OF TALENT AND SENSITIVITY LIKE IL VOLO COULD INTERPRET. Good guys! (applause)
GIANLUCA= Thank you
IGNAZIO= Thanks everyone.
PIERO= Thanks Verona. (The DIVA award is given to them)
VANESSA= They are well deserved, good luck, see you next year.
PIERO= See you next spring, thanks everyone!
IGNAZIO= Thank you very much Verona!
VANESSA= Good evening.
PIERO= Thanks to all of you, have a good evening. (final greetings)
IGNAZIO= Hi guys, we are Il Volo.
PIERO= To all the friends of RAI Radio 2….
GIANLUCA = ???? ( He didn’t remember the phrase to say) 😁😁😁
IGNAZIO+PIERO and then GIANLUCA= We send a big hello!!
Rai Radio 2interview with Il Volo and LaMario
LAMARIO= I remember when I saw you for the first time, I was younger too, but you were obviously children and now I find them again: grown up, cool, successful…..oh how beautiful life is!
IGNAZIO= Cool… I would be slow to say it….but…
LAMARIO= But it’s like this….
PIERO= Established yourself, but I wouldn’t say it…
GIANLUCA= Sweaty tonight…
IGNAZIO= We were lucky enough to do in life what we like, our passion, and it’s nice to grow together, 15 years have passed…
PIERO= We can say that we are privileged.
LAMARIO= I really like this consideration, but sorry, can you tell me the story of the Korean band? Because I’ve read it, but I’d like to hear it from you
IGNAZIO= We too saw it on social media.
LAMARIO= But they didn’t warn you?
PIERO= No.
LAMARIO= They didn’t even have the good heart to send you their piece for you to listen to?
PIERO= But they are strong. They are very strong, right Ignazio?
GIANLUCA= Ignazio didn’t like it very much…
IGNAZIO= No, why?
PIERO= I have to tell you that I like the Korean version of Ignazio, I prefer it. (laughter, Ignazio tries to make some Korean sounds)
I’d say it was a very intense weekend and the award at the Tim Music Awards was truly deserved.
And what about the news that Piero will soon be making an entire opera, fantastic!
And now off to Zurich immediately, the concerts begin!!
And here we are at the second review, this concerns the concert in Rome on December 23rd, the last Italian concert, and it was written by my friend Kirsten Langer whom I had the pleasure of meeting this year at the Verona concert.
“Kirsten, I’m so glad you and your husband were able to come to Rome for this concert, thank you for writing us this lovely review and it was a pleasure to help you in this adventure. 😘”
Enjoy reading!! Daniela
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MY VERY BEST X-MAS GIFT:
– A CONCERT AND MEETING WITH IL VOLO, 12/23/22 –
And yet it wasn’t at all an X-mas present as the concert was scheduled for October but postponed to December due to Corona. But a gift it was indeed!
A fantastic concert – they have never been singing any better and all three guys were on top of their game and high spirited.
Unique individual voices – out of this world when in harmony! Add charm, energy, jokes, big smiles, a great and varied repertoire, beautiful music from the orchestra and warmth and love that reached way out beyond the edge off the stage and right into the hearts of the audience who loved them from the very first strophe and gave them standing ovations over and over.
They are world class! I’ll be back, definitely!
Where to start…
Let me introduce myself. I am Kirsten and live in Copenhagen, Denmark, and I have been a dedicated IL VOLO fan for a couple of years and experienced my very first live concert this summer in Arena di Verona, Italy, a beautiful event – and, by the way, where I did likewise met up with our great and sweet Daniela ☺.
Already by then I had also purchased tickets for their autumn concert in Rome, to which my hubby and I had planned yet a small holiday but, alas, then the concert was moved to December and on none the less than the 23rd – the day before Christmas – which in my country is celebrated in the evening on the 24th. Only one airline offered flights back in due time – did we dare take the risk? What should we do? I was about to give up but couldn’t get it over my heart to cancel the tickets, which had been so difficult to obtain, so I just left the issue unsolved for a long time. However, when our son offered to host and prepare everything for X-mas Eve, we decided to go through with the project and made arrangements for 48 hrs. fling to Rome 22-24 December.
I was all excited once again ☺.
In Rome, we found splendid weather, two days of warm sun, accompanied us.
Fan club arrangement with flaws … and you need a lot of patience!
Things got even better when firstly the guys announced a book signing event in Rome on the 22nd – jihaa, we could just make it – and then even better the Fanclub offered a Soundcheck arrangement on the 23rd followed by a personal meeting with the guys during which they would answer questions about their new book and greet the members.
WOW, now it got truly exciting! Almost too exciting… and the mood did drop a couple of degrees when the venue for the Rome book signing was advised. A huge Shopping Mall way outside the city centre to which local transportation would be more than 1 hr. each way – or some EUR 100 roundtrip for a private taxi. I was prepared to do the latter, but Daniela kindly suggested we skip it due to the bad location, the limited time and not the least, that we were to meet up with the guys the next afternoon and hence no doubt could get the book signed there. Reasonably enough, so we dropped the idea and Daniela found us a bookstore close to our accommodation by the Piazza Navona, where we could purchase the book easily while still enjoying the beautiful sights of historic Roma. (Thank you ☺).
(My dear husband in front of the obelisk at Piazza Navona. The sky is blue ☺)
Next hurdle appeared – we had no idea as to the time for the Soundcheck and were told that the same would not be available until very shortly before… – but we had to pre-order a private taxi to take us to the venue, Palazzo dello Sport, which appeared to be located yet a long way from downtown Rome some 30-45 min. drive, so how to coordinate?
Once again Daniela was of great assistance to us kindly checking up with the Fanclub postings on our behalf and keeping us updated. (Thank you again). The time was announced 2½ hrs. before meeting time! Well, we had guessed the time pretty much correctly and made the transfer in fine time, but still…. Not to miss out of anything we were at the assembly point around 17:00 hrs. – 20 minutes before time. We did soon find a little group of people with admission tickets in hand as well.
A young lady appeared (apparently from the Fanclub) and showed us to the gate in question and then nothing more happened. We waited… and waited… and waited.
(In the photo my husband is waiting in line.)
No action at all. Around 18:00 hrs. The young lady did finally come around again, starting to tick us off manually and hand us a bracelet. So far so good, but then – again waiting and more waiting. Finally around 18:15-18:20-18:30 we were let into the concert hall only to find the Soundcheck already in full swing… We rushed towards the front seats passing Michele Torpedine who nodded and smiled kindly to us 🙂.
Gianluca was rehearsing one of his solo while the two other guys were hanging around the stage. In a corner of the stage Gianluca’s girlfriend was seated on a chair and apparently he is still very fond of her as he went forth and back to cuddle and kiss her constantly.
Then they rehearsed a couple of songs and that was it! 10- 15 min. at a maximum. They gave the Fanclub group (I think we were about 50-70) a quick hello and smile from the stage and off they were… That is, Ignazio went to chat and fool around with their guitar player for a bit, but soon he was away too. We could hear Gianluca sing a bit of a bossanova song in the distance but not visible. Piero is long gone.
We were then awaiting the guys to re-appear for the book chat, but instead a lady came firmly asking us to move to our official seats.
Eh??? This could not be true? But no signs of the guys or anyone from the Fanclub to give instructions, so we rose. I hate to think that the guys would skip this scheduled meeting on purpose… or they should have forgotten? It seems so far from their general attitude towards their fans. There got to be some communication error down the line or some other good explanation. I hope so. Yet they ought to have figured out that in similarity with Turin and Milan would likewise have a meeting scheduled for their Rome fans… Needless to say, I was disappointed.
Well, sometimes one can be a bit lucky too, as suddenly we spied Gianluca behind the barrier with a little group of fans in the one corner. Signing autographs and taking selfies. We rushed over and he did most kindly😘 likewise sign my book and offered to take a selfie with me. ❤
Kudos to Gianluca for appearing albeit not in the way that was scheduled. Few seconds later he was, however, all gone again. We hung around the spot for a bit, and then suddenly we caught sight of Ignazio passing by in the distance. At this time my good old teenage rock-attitude took over and I called him over trying to explain that I came all the way from Denmark. He stopped, gazed for a split second and then came to the barrier and quickly grabbed my book and pen and signed as well as let a few other fans have selfies.
Then he rushed off again as swiftly as he had arrived. Piero was never in sight. But 2 out of 3 are, of course, better than nothing – but somewhat let down I cannot avoid feeling.
I shall not bother you with yet another hurdle story when it appeared that the seat-figuration of the hall apparently had been changed over the years and, therefore, the seats I had selected no longer were placed in the first section but now rather far back on the floor in a not too good place… Well, to make a long story short we ended up being offered new seats that luckily appeared to be even better than the original ones, namely now on the 6th row next to the middle aisle with a very good view of the entire stage.
And it must be said that the young ushers were very kind and helpful to us but likewise apparently had experienced this situation before. After all, some of the tickets were already sold back in 2019/2020!
A long wait was now ahead of us as you are not let out once in… and the concert was not to start till 21:00 hrs. “Palazzo dello Sport” is absolutely an ugly and dull venue – all concrete with plastic chairs and no décor and with no cozy bars or eateries available. It’s a sports center able to hold a lot of people, and that’s it. So a plastic glass of lukewarm cheap red wine and a bag of potato chips made it out for dinner.
At this stage we were beginning to wonder if the trip was worth the while – but then the concert started!.
And what a concert!!!
At 21:10 hrs. It all began and the three guys entered the stage to the fanfare-like “Ecstasy of Gold” by Ennio Morricone – the famous Italian film music-writer to whom they dedicated their latest album.
And in a split second all our troubles were forgotten and we were fully encapsulated in the wonderful music.
They were wearing their nice new velvet tuxedos looking their best, they were very elegant indeed. 😘😘😘
They seemed in great spirits and full of energy. Lots of smiling and joking around. No one in particular in charge – all of them bidding in with presentations, stories and jokes. The latter was apparently rather humoristic at times as people around us were giggling and laughing – but not speaking a word of Italian we did, of course, not catch that part of the experience.
The repertoire was to a certain extent the same as in Verona, yet with the omission of some of the classics such as some of the Italian Bel Canto songs and i.e. Delilah. But we were lucky to enjoy two of the most beautiful Morricone songs, namely “Se” and “Your Love”.
As usual they did each sing two solos –and Ignazio’s “All by Myself” was once again incredibly well performed and had the audience giving him a standing ovation.
Standing ovations were likewise in abundance to Piero for his two opera pieces incl. “No Puede Ser”.
He seems to get better and better each time I hear him. What volume and control of his voice. And his following huge smiles verified that he indeed himself likewise enjoyed being on stage presenting them.
Gianluca did a very beautiful and emotional version of Elton John’s “Your Song” that was very well received with standing ovations by the audience as well, while – personally – I think it is time for him to let go of his Elvis favorite “Can’t Help Falling in Love”. He does it extremely well, but he can do better and needs some new challenges.
Standing ovations were indeed also much in place for the two duos – respectively “La donna è mobile” by Ignazio and Piero and “Hallelujah” by Gianluca and Ignazio.
The latter was extremely emotional and when everyone in the audience was waving their lit cellphones the atmosphere was breathtakingly beautiful…
Apparently there were interesting people in the audience and Gianluca introduced and pointed out to us his grandpa Ernesto, of whom he is very fond and dedicated a song to him. Actually, he was seated just a few seats further down our row without us having noticed. After the show Gianluca’s father came to fetch him and must have been seated elsewhere. Gianluca had, however, yet a great introduction to do – namely the Oscar-winning famous Italian cinematographer Vittorio Storaro (and Eleonora’s grandpa). He and some family/friends were seated just across from us, and when Gianluca a bit later came down into the audience while singing: “Here’s to You”, he went straight to their row to greet and hug them personally. A beautiful moment to encounter.
Ignazio had one of his great moments too, when he sat down on the top of the grand piano and sang one of his well-known ballads profoundly and heartfelt. Saying Ignazio you never know what to expect. Always in a good mood with a sneaky smile in his eye he never let us down.
This evening he seemed in an even greater mood than before and he gave us his now famous “disco-ball-show” happily dancing forth and back the stage in a for-the-moment improvised choreography sporting his new silver-shimmering tuxedo jacket bringing the big smiles about. Who doesn’t love him?
As to tuxedos the guys seemed to have a bad clothing-day, each changing into a rather different and colorful jacket for the second half not matching each other in any way what-so-ever. Taste cannot be discussed… so I shall refrain from commenting on this new idea – only that Gianluca’s orange/red tiger print jacket is absolutely awful especially dressed with a red shirt; Piero’s black bling-spotted suit would be nicer with a pair of plain black trousers –and Ignazio’s “disco-jacket” is just too much and needs a thorough fit. He he he. But yet again, they can wear a brown potato-bag and we will love them .😁😁😁
Being Christmas time they concluded with three season songs, namely their little jolly “Christmas Medley”, the pompous “Adeste Fideles”.
and finally, of course, their new “Happy X-mas (War is Over)”.
During the latter everyone in the hall was once again waving their lit cell-phones creating a warm, intimate and lovely atmosphere. As an “extra” number they closed off as usual with “Grande Amore” and suddenly two hours had disappeared in no time.
But if the show was over for us – the party seemed to start for the guys – as instead of leaving the stage they did suddenly go “all bananas” with Ignazio climbing the grand piano and high standing calling manager Michel Torpedine, travel manager Barbara Vitale and some further staff to the stage and a huge hugging and kissing ceremony followed with the guys running across the stage from side to side with the arms high in the air, finger kissing the audience and hugging each other as had they just won the World Championship in football! They seemed almost in ecstasy and it was truly fun to watch how happy they were as if they had not expected to do so well themselves…
They were SO happy and sweet. ❤
(In this photo: Ignazio gets on the grand piano and the manager Michele Torpedine, the tour manager Barbara Vitali and the other members of the Il Volo staff are called on stage to embrace and kiss.)
At the end of the concert a lot of fans rushed towards the stage to get better photos of the guys or hand them X-mas gifts and shake hands. The teenager grows in me again, and I follow along . Only to find Gianluca kneeling down right before me and the group of people I stand next to, so I get a close-up photo as well . ❤
What a beautiful concert – what a fantastic show.
Compared to the concert in Verona they seemed a lot more lively, talkative and all over the stage. I/we loved each single minute of it and yes, it was indeed worth all the worries and flaws!
Cannot wait for their next concert. I/we will be back – most definitely. ❤❤❤
Warmest wishes for a Happy New Year to all members of The Flight Crew and love from Denmark:
Kirsten.
Here are some of my short videos and photos, I hope you like them!!
In this whirlwind of news, events and concerts in this month of December, there have also been the last three concerts of Il Volo in Italy.
I can only say that it was a success in all three cases. These concerts have been postponed several times due to the pandemic and many tickets had already been bought since 2019.
Despite everything and despite the fear of contagion that still hangs over proximity of people in indoor places, people came and were truly satisfied.
At the last concert, Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca and all the Il Volo staff were so euphoric with the result, as if they had climbed a very high mountain.
Here is a small summary of the three concerts, where I will put different videos:
TURIN – December 15th
The snow, which had not yet reached Turin, saw fit to arrive in the afternoon of the day of the concert, creating inconvenience for those who had to reach the arena.
Because of this, the concert started over half an hour late in order for people to arrive. 😘
ECSTASY OF GOLD
This is a video shot by Ercole Ginoble, immediately after Ecstasy of Gold, where you see the whole audience and Gianluca who starts by saying :
“Hello Turin, welcome to this warm evening.”😁
SE
NELLA FANTASIA
Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca wore elegant velvet jackets with leather lapels.
But after the formal part of the concert, the boys changed jackets, Piero and Ignazio wore very bright and special jackets, Gianluca, on the other hand, wears a simple blue jacket.
ALMENO TU NELL’UNIVERSO
We are very close to Christmas and therefore Christmas songs are also sung.
ADESTE FIDELES
AMAZING GRACE
Just a couple of days and here we are in Milan.
MILAN – December 17th
Everything repeats itself.
SE TELEFONANDO and CARUSO
Between one song and another, there is a “curtain” between the three boys. Ignazio tells Piero that he had a great inspiration that allowed him to write a beautiful song. He sits down at the piano and goes on to say that those things happen once in a while. Gianluca confirms that he has already heard the song and it’s really beautiful. Piero is amazed, but doesn’t know whether to trust him, but Ignazio is serious and therefore wants to make the whole audience hear the new song . He says: “Are you ready?”
Piero asks for the title of the song and Ignazio says “My cold winter,” and he starts playing………….brrrrr. (all gone, just a cold shiver) 😁😁😁
HALLELUJAH
E LUCEVAN LE STELLE (the stars were inserted later in the video)
JINGLE BELLS and HAPPY XMAS
VOLARE
This photo was posted by stylist Nick Cerioni who recommends clothing for boys and who gives the photo the following title:
IL VOLO ROCKSTARS 😁😁😁
In this concert Gianluca also convinced himself to wear an extravagant jacket.
ROME – December 23rd
Another replay
IL MONDO
YOUR SONG
IGNAZIO’S JACKET
Ignazio jokes a lot about this, saying that with that jacket he looked like one of the glittering lamps/disco balls that went around at the discos in the 70s. 😁
When Ignazio enters the stage, a chorus begins from the audience: “you are beautiful” and Ignazio immediately says that a chorus like this must be done to Gianluca, to him they can say “you are very good”. 😁😁😁
UN AMORE COSÌ GRANDE
HAPPY XMAS, WAR IS OVER
I would say that they were three important dates and that they confirmed Il Volo’s charisma and the great affection that the public has for them.
And let’s not forget that between one concert and another Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca also had four book signing instores, and exactly:
TURIN
MILAN
BOLOGNA
ROME
You have a resistance to fatigue, really remarkable guys.
That’s not all, because our friends Alessandra Composto and Kirsten Langer were present respectively: at the concert in Milan and in Rome and the two of them have already sent me their reviews.
So soon you will read the emotions of our friends.
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:💗💗💗
Daniela 🤗
Credit to owners of all photos and video.
Come in and share the love of life, friends and Il Volo!
