There is less and less time left until Sanremo and every day new interviews and videos are published.
Today I propose this interview to you in the GRAZIA newspaper.
Pay attention to Ignazio’s words. ❤️
LOVE PUSHES US FORWARD
After the victory in 2015, the three singers of Il Volo return to the Festival with the song CAPOLAVORO, which talks about the feeling that changed their lives.
When I meet the three guys from Il Volo, I can’t help but notice all their differences. In their way of telling themselves, of understanding music and the world. But at the same time I feel a unique, consolidated, respectful entity.
Fifteen years after their debut, Gianluca Ginoble, Piero Barone, and Ignazio Boschetto felt the need to focus on themselves. They did this by preparing an album that for the first time will be composed entirely of unreleased songs and in which they promise a new story that they will take on a world tour.
WHAT TIME IS THIS?
GIANLUCA= We realized that we have based our career in the past, on the strong roots of our culture that we have brought around the world. For the first time, however, we now feel connected to the present, with an eye towards the future.
YOU WILL BE COMPETING IN SANREMO WITH CAPOLAVORO. HOW WOULD YOU TELL IT?
IGNAZIO= We understood that this was the perfect song for Sanremo. Talk about love. When you are in a relationship, you stop and say: “This story is a Capolavoro”, I’m getting married next year and for me the masterpiece is exactly what I’m experiencing.
PIERO= It makes me think of that very strong feeling that grows inside you without you knowing it. When you realize you have it you need to externalize it.
GIANLUCA= For me, love is like jumping off Niagara Falls without a life jacket. You know that you rely on a person with the risk of experiencing incredible pain.
HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT OF BREAKING UP YOUR TRIO?
PIERO= Never. We have lived intense years, without ever stopping. There wasn’t time to even think about it.
BUT IT IS NOT OBTAINED.
PIERO= Yes, but there was a lot of effort. Today others only talk about immediate success achieved with the least amount of effort. It’s wrong.
GIANLUCA PARTICIPATED ON BEHALF OF THE TRIO IN THE EVENING OF GRACE FOR THE DAY AGAINST VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN. IT’S AN EMERGENCY?
GIANLUCA= For many men it is difficult to admit that they have weaknesses, there is a virility that is so flaunted and which can lead to violence.
PIERO= Each of us should make our contribution, even in small things, not laughing at squalid jokes and perhaps pointing out to our best friend that he is making a mistake in using certain words.
There was the long-awaited Radio Italia interview (I don’t like Gianluca’s trousers at all, my opinion) 🤪
WOMAN= Let me dream right away. Where have you been lately around the world? You are always around, I watch the stories, I would like to do all the trips you do. Where have you been?
GIANLUCA= We’ve been around, we’ve had the opportunity to tour, travel, but returning to Sanremo is always an emotion, because we were born here artistically.
WOMAN= It’s true, this is what I wanted to tell you, what it’s like to return, after all these trips around the world, to such an important stage for Italy and not only and above all for you who this stage has given you so much.
IGNAZIO= We have realized that we are coming to celebrate our anniversaries, it will be 15 years, we celebrate 15 years this year and it is not easy, it is not easy to be together for 15 years (Piero and Gianluca protest), let me finish, it is not easy to stay together for 15 years always with the same enthusiasm.
GIANLUCA = (to Piero). See, you don’t have to interrupt him.
PIERO= (to the person filming) Can you cut this piece?? (laughs) 😂Is not easy.
WOMAN= So what is it that keeps you tied to this enthusiasm?
PIERO= Enthusiasm keeps us bonded, the desire that unites us to always do new things, never lose that passion for the profession we carry out, we consider ourselves three privileged individuals, because we do what we love, we do it every day, so we don’t there is something more beautiful.
WOMAN= And so we return to Sanremo, the piece is called MASTERPIECE, tell me a little about it, a little spoiler.
GIANLUCA= A small spoiler that can be done….more than anything it explains the feeling that is love, but told in a profound way, because sometimes you realize that you love, only when you look back, and sometimes you realize how special this person is, like how did I do without this person before I met them. Sometimes it’s as if it suddenly falls from the sky, but it can be love for a child, love in general, universal love, how important this feeling really is that moves the world.
PIERO= For us who sing it, each of us sings it in a different way, feels it in a different way, for me CAPOLAVORO speaks in a romantic way about hope, because maybe when you don’t find it in yourself, in the most difficult moments you hope for something outside of yourself.
WOMAN= So you hope something comes…..how you turn it is a nice message.
GIANLUCA= Yes, there are people who can really change your life. Growing up, doing introspection on yourself is important, to be able to understand, to recognize love as a feeling, then there are people who can enrich your life and make it better.
PIERO= It can be dedicated to someone, something, that feeling that literally changed your life, not just people.
WOMAN = Even a little awareness when you feel certain things. Guys, we were immediately a bit philosophical, but the piece requires it, because it actually has a beautiful message. I thank you, see you in Sanremo.
IGNAZIO= Thank you very much.
PIERO= Remember……it’s not easy.
WOMAN= With this enthusiasm, it’s not easy.
IGNAZIO= However you’ve seen, nothing has changed, they won’t let me talk. 😂😂😂
And then there is this which is not an interview, but a long reflection that makes you think a lot, a long tirade made by Luca Maggitti to the administration of the municipality of Montepagano and Roseto degli Abruzzi, read it and try to understand that it’s very ironic. I really liked it, well written Luca Maggitti, sometimes you need these “little digs”.
I remind you that Luca Maggitti is a journalist who lives in Abruzzo and who met Gianluca who was walking with his grandfather and they drank a coffee.
I bring you an old photo of Luca Maggitti and Gianluca.
Gianluca Ginoble – Il Volo THE AMBASSADOR OF ROSETO AND ABRUZZO IN THE WORLD RETURNS TO THE SANREMO FESTIVAL
In short: there is no two without three.
Gianluca Ginoble – from the ancient village of Montepagano in Roseto – will return to the stage of the most important Italian event in terms of occupying television, social media and any other space. Tens of millions of people in Italy will talk about the event (Sanremo Festival) and billions around the world will in some way be involved in the various references to the event.
Every time such a media circus takes place (all the media attention for Sanremo) I think of Gianluca sitting drinking a coffee in Roseto, speaking kindly to anyone who comes to say hello. And I have the image of a Ferrari left in the garage, for some souped-up Vespone to race in competitions where class and speed are needed. (Maggitti compares the kind and polite Gianluca to a beautiful world-class car, a Ferrari that is left in the garage, to race a Vespa, a famous Italian motorbike, remember the film Roman Holidays?)
Yes, because I ask myself: is it possible that Gianluca goes to Sanremo and no one in the Municipality (of Roseto) or Region (of Abruzzo) calls him – eight days before the start of the event – to congratulate him, incite him, encourage him?
Let’s be clear, we talk about politics and government at various levels and I certainly don’t expect the administrators to call him because they truly love the artist or his genre or appreciate this exemplary boy for education and culture, who has remained very polite despite a global success that we even have hard to imagine.
(Maggitti is really scolding the municipal administrators here, because Gianluca should be called not only because he is a great artist, but also because he is an exemplary boy in terms of education and culture, despite his great success)
I don’t expect this. Furthermore, I am biased because I have always respected him.
No, I want to be cynical and wretched to the core!
(Maggitti means that if they had been cynical, the administrators would have had to call Gianluca for at least other reasons, which he will now list)
If I were a public administrator – at various levels in Abruzzo, since Gianluca was appointed, years ago, ambassador of both Abruzzo and Roseto degli Abruzzi in the world – I would call him because Gianluca creates media hype. Because its social profiles generate more interactions than all those of the various municipalities, provinces and regions combined. Not to mention the Volo one.
I see Gianluca who for almost 15 years – in a few months it will be 15 – has spoken well (more: he speaks with love) about Roseto degli Abruzzi and Abruzzo, truly helping these territories to be known.
On the other hand, I don’t see equal interest on the part of those who govern, especially the tourist-cultural part of the territory. And I ask myself: why?
What is the point of this masochism?
A final reflection, remaining in Roseto, in the limited area of via Latini. And talking about tourism and – more generally – territorial promotion.
The part of via Latini that goes towards the sea, the one after via Nazionale, has a system of decorative lights at the top with the words of the famous “Nel blu painted di blu” (Volare) by Domenico Modugno. Good, great.
(He intends to remember that in the town of Roseto some lights have been installed with the words of Volare)
But, I wonder: we have Gianluca Ginoble who won the Sanremo festival at 10 years old, at his first participation, he chose to live in Montepagano di Roseto, where his roots are, he always speaks well of his birthplace and the territory, he is always available when it comes to visiting associations that work for the good of the area… and don’t we put “Grande Amore”?
Is it possible that it is so incredibly difficult to insert the words of “Grande Amore” on the “rambla” of Roseto degli Abruzzi (via Latini, in the part that goes towards the hill), perhaps by having him turn on the lights for the first time and have him sing alone and live a cappella the song?
Is it so difficult to respect an international pop star who lives where she was born and who has the only flaw of not being haughty? Not for him, I repeat.
He (Gianluca) now travels from Rai 1 upwards, from Canale 5 upwards, from Corriere della Sera upwards. (Maggitti means to say that the most important programs talk about Gianluca and Il Volo)
For us, for our struggling territory, for tourism with less than 100,000 visitors in two years… for the fact that no one queues there and that the very expensive VisitRoseto.it gets as many likes or visits as a site set up by a elementary school, to teach children to use the web.
Is it possible that we prefer to keep the Ferrari in the garage and go for challenges with the souped-up Vespone? But what’s the point?
Mayor Mario Nugnes, do you remember when I brought Gianluca Ginoble to the Oratory of the Campo dei Preti at the request of my friend Father Antonio Ghidoni, who wanted to meet him and who defined “Grande Amore” as a prayer, and in the homily invited the faithful to vote Il Volo?
Mayor, do you remember? You had frizzy hair and were tutoring in the afternoon, and Gianluca came to hug you (him, you!), telling me that you had been his afternoon teacher when he attended the Oratory?
If you don’t remember, I’ll put the photo from that day here.
Mayor, can we ask Ferrari for the favor of lending a hand to this little village, which is slipping more and more towards numerical inconsistency and which desperately needs a great recovery plan?
I don’t know if Gianluca Ginoble – who is preparing for yet another world tour on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of Il Volo – has time, but I know for sure that a photo of him, a reel or a thought is worth the sum of all the sites’ efforts, little sites, pages and little pages of our parts.
And if I say this it is because I myself have found my articles about him translated into English, Spanish, Romanian, Portuguese and more, on the web. And I am a poor journalist who would never otherwise have been translated! 😂
I, for the umpteenth time, put these reflections into it. You rulers – at any level – will do what you believe. I only hope that you are illuminated by the beacon of the common good and real progress in your daily work.
Whatever the case, my best wishes to Gianluca Ginoble and Il Volo, remembering the emotions of the 2015 victory, when he turned 20 exactly on the day of his debut as a competitor at the Festival.
Dàje sìmbre fùrte, Gianlù! (Abruzzo expression to say: “Come on, always strong, Gianlù “)
(Another old photo of Luca Maggitti with Gianluca)
Who knows if it was because of the article published by Luca Maggitti that the municipal administration of Roseto woke up??
We want to think that it wasn’t the article, but today, Friday 2 February, there will be an award for our Gianluca in Roseto. 🎉🎉🎉
This is the motivation.
On the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the birth of ‘Il Volo’ and in view of its participation in the 74th edition of the Festival of Sanremo, the Municipal Administration of Roseto degli Abruzzi organized a ceremony to pay homage to the Rosetano singer Gianluca Ginoble who was a guest in the Council Room, at 11 am on Friday 2 February. In 2015, Gianluca Ginoble was awarded the title of ‘Ambassador to the World of the City of Roseto degli Abruzzi’ and the other two members of the ‘Il Volo’ trio, Piero Barone and Ignazio Boschetto, were awarded the honorary citizenship of Roseto degli Abruzzi.
The ceremony, conducted by Francesca Martinelli, represented a moment to make the entire Rosetan community feel the affection towards Gianluca Ginoble, to relive his great career with him and to pay homage to him with a gift created for the occasion.
And here is the video of the awards ceremony.
The mayor expresses words of esteem and good wishes and Gianluca thanks everyone and tells little things about life in his town and the emotion he always has when he talks about his city which he will always carry in his heart. ❤️
And another video by a journalist, Luca Maggitti Di Tecco, from Il Messaggero who was at the event.
The administration gives Gianluca a jewel representing a Presentosa Rose and asks him to wear it also on the evening of the festival and Gianluca wears it immediately. Then Gianluca thanks and also wants to remember his brother Ernesto who collaborated with the team. 🥰
Then there was a really nice video by Antonella Clerici (she presented TI LASCIO UNA CANZONE) who wished Il Volo her “good luck”. ❤️
The guys from Il Volo are extraordinary, I met them in the first edition of TI LASCIO UNA CANZONE and they were put together, that is, they introduced themselves alone, Ignazio and Piero are Sicilian, while Gianluca is from Abruzzo. Since they were three “lyricists” even if with different voice tones, we formed this trio and it won all the episodes, it was really very, very strong. So it was clear that they had great talent, then it was Tony Renis who first brought them to the United States, then their manager Michele Torpedine understood their potential and first they had great luck in the United States, and then also in Italy.
I remember when they showed up at their first Sanremo festival with GRANDE AMORE, which was hosted by my friend Carlo Conti, I told him: “Carlo get ready because they will win the Sanremo Festival, I’m sure of it”, because in the televoting they were too much, too strong and also very good, then they were three young guys, people liked them, I knew their potential and in fact it was like that .
And now I wish them a big “good luck” for the next Sanremo festival.
As I have already told you, many newspapers of all kinds are talking about Il Volo.
This is a Gossip magazine, it talks about Il Volo’s girlfriends. I assure you that some are not reliable news, so I don’t waste time translating them.
Even the RAI news programs talk about Sanremo and therefore also about Il Volo.
WOMAN= Sanremo Festival, on the Ariston stage, among the competing artists Il Volo, with the song CAPOLAVORO, and on the cover evening, the homage to Queen. (a video starts)
MAN= Grown up, born on the Ariston stage at TI LASCIO UNA CANZONE, in the end you know Sanremo well.
PIERO= In 2009 we met at the Ariston, then we left and returned in 2015 with GRANDE AMORE, now, after 15 years, we are returning to celebrate this great achievement, which is both professional and personal.
MAN= Who knows what Ignazio was up to at 14 years old in the back stage of the theater.
IGNAZIO= But because I, sorry…..we combined all three. It was a way to grow quickly, because in the end we grew quickly.
MAN= CAPOLAVORO in Sanremo, isn’t it a bit risky to say it right away?
GIANLUCA= In fact we wanted to title it CAPOLAVORO in brackets perhaps…..
PIERO= Let’s hope….
GIANLUCA= Let’s hope. Obviously it’s not about us…
MAN= Queen for duet, this year.
PIERO= It will be a great moment to be able to share the stage with Steff Burns and we would like to thank Vasco Rossi (well-known Italian rock singer) for lending us his guitarist, thank you Vasco!
.……..and this is Vasco Rossi’s response!
Happy to lend my guitarist STEF BURNS to Il Volo in Sanremo…..on the cover evening….he will perform a Queen solo, WHO WANTS TO LIVE FOREVER, I’m proud of him.
This interview on Radio Subasio is also very beautiful. Since at the beginning the questions are the same ones that are repeated several times, I start translating about halfway through the video.😉
RADIO SUBASIO
WOMAN=……do you sometimes argue too? Who is the most rebellious of the three? (Piero marks Ignazio with his hand)
WOMAN= Ignazio?
GIANLUCA= Every now and then it explodes, yes yes. But we have three completely different characters, but thank goodness it’s like this, because if we were the same, that creative spark wouldn’t strike, so everyone brings their own ideas, there are often contrasts but in the end we always manage to find the solution and the best for the group, well, this is important.
WOMAN= Of course, of course. But then in recent years a few things have changed in your life, we used to talk off the air, there are those who have coupled up (Ignazio), those who have exploded (Gianluca), what is the situation like, those who are single among you, do we want to say it?
PIERO= We have always tried to respect our private life and I believe it is also our duty, because we often say that we live two parallel lives, the professional life which takes up ten months of our life every year and our personal life, and we also want this to be the case. keep it.
WOMAN = It seems very right to me….
GIANLUCA= But anyway Ignazio is getting married!!
WOMAN= When Ignazio, when the happy event?
IGNAZIO = Next year.
WOMAN= So next year. Guys I wanted to tell you something else, in recent days we spoke with LA SAD (a punk group with colored hair that will be in Sanremo) and I asked them which artist (from Sanremo) they felt most in tune with and they told us Il Volo.
I even considered a collaboration with them and they said yes, absolutely.
How about? How do you respond to this proposal?
IGNAZIO= Well, they are young guys who…..
GIANLUCA= Young people, they are older than you Ignazio….(it’s true the members of La SAD are older than them)
IGNAZIO= Yes, but they are young kids in the sense of sending the message (Ignazio means that they are listened to more by young kids)
WOMAN= But can something be done?
GIANLUCA= It would be interesting, we recently met in Sanremo during rehearsals, a relationship of great respect was born, because everyone expresses their emotions in their art and it’s nice to see these differences. Everyone has space to demonstrate what they really are and we are all different, there is no right or wrong, better or worse, this is the beauty of music, so it will be wonderful to see these contrasts between Il Volo and La Sad, certainly in Sanremo .
WOMAN= Of course I agree, that’s why we’re very intrigued by this idea, this image of a collaboration between the two of you, have you ever seen it? I want to play a little game with you, to test your memory, if you agree.
PIERO= This worries me. 😁
WOMAN= Remembering the festival of a few years ago, for example Sanremo 2000, concentrate, Sanremo 2000…
PIERO= I was 7 years old….
WOMAN= You remember who won, even from hearsay, I will help you anyway because I give you three options…
IGNAZIO= Jo di Tonno (Italian singer).…
GIANLUCA= No, it was 2006…
WOMAN= I’ll give you the three options…
GIANLUCA = (to Ignazio) Jo di Tonno and I are the only people from Abruzzo to have won the Sanremo festival…
WOMAN= Oh yes, you see it!
PIERO= Do you know that I am the only Sicilian to have won the Sanremo festival?
GIANLUCA= Oh no, boy, he (Ignazio) is Sicilian…
PIERO= He’s from Bologna!
WOMAN= Guys three options for the 2000 festival, be careful: Gigi D’Alessio, Ivana Spagna or Piccola Orchestra Avion Travel? (All Italian singers)
GIANLUCA= Ah yes, “Sentimento” (it is the title of the song by the Piccola Orchestra Avion Travel)
WOMAN= Well done, great Gianluca, see what a memory! Instead, who was presenting the festival? Do you remember it? Who was there in 2000?
GIANLUCA= Fazio (an Italian presenter)
WOMAN= Good, you didn’t even need the help. Oh Gianluca, damn what a memory, well done, congratulations, you haven’t won anything, but thanks for being with us guys.
Good luck for the Sanremo Festival, we’ll meet again to hear about the fresh emotions we just experienced on the Ariston stage.
Thanks Ignazio, thanks Piero, thanks Gianluca.
Il Volo on the Sanremo 2024 stage, bye guys, thanks!
And to the happiness of many fans, this year’s summer concerts have been announced, all in Italy, here they are!! 🥳🥳🎉
But now the most beautiful interview, made by Gianluca Gazzoli for BSMT. There is the automatic translation and I urge you to activate it, because it is truly a beautiful interview, different from the usual ones, and to which our boys responded with sincerity and maturity and also with a lot of spirit.
To turn on captions click the gear button in the lower right corner of the video, then Subtitles. Then choose English from the list that appears.
The comments under this interview suggest that some people, seeing it, have changed their minds about how Il Volo has always been perceived (thanks to the Italian press)
Don’t miss this interview!!!
From school desks to the most prestigious stages in the world. Three boys who, at just 15 years old, have fascinated and conquered everyone with their extraordinary talent. Well yes, Il Volo passed through the BSMT.
An extraordinary career, started as teenagers and built with sacrifice, commitment and a lot of ambition. Ignazio, Gianluca and Piero told us how their lives changed suddenly, transforming them from simple fifteen-year-olds to world stars. Successes, family, friendship, recognition, surreal anecdotes, changes and much more. A chat in which their three very distinct personalities emerged and in which they indulged in confidences like never before.
FROM A WHOLE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE! IL VOLO passes through the BSMT
Certainly Caterina Boschetto’s words, at the beginning of the interview, contained a lot of truth.
“Know that if I sign your life will change, know that the responsibilities will become more, know that you can play but not like before, know that many things will change.”
I warned you that the media exposure of Sanremo is notable, and what I have reported to you are the best interviews of these days, but at every moment there is something new.
Taormina is not only a beautiful place, but also a place in full swing when there is IL Volo, a magical place, where in addition to listening to good music you can meet Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca walking through the streets or eating a granita at Bambar.
And it is here that Barbara di Palma met Gianluca and Piero and gave them a short and nice interview for the WEEKLY, a new program broadcast on RAI1.
BARBARA = I moved, I’m in a symbolic place in Taormina. The greatest artists stop here to eat the famous granita, and so I thought, for our first episode, to try to organize a little surprise.
I wanted to do it triple, but in reality I managed to do it double: Gianluca Ginoble and Piero Barone … Il Volo !!
(from the studio a voice “The friends of Il Volo, how wonderful.”) and I do the third. 😁
GIANLUCA = Look at Ignazio how beautiful he is, how Ignazio has changed.😁
PIERO = Can I ask you a question Ignazio?
BARBARA = (she imitates Ignazio’s voice) Tell me Piero, tell me.😁
PIERO = For 10 years I have seen you with a goatee, you are more beautiful without a goatee. 😁
BARBARA = This morning I took off my goatee to be younger, because I’m growing up (laughter) 😁
GIANLUCA = Good morning from Taormina, from the wonderful Taormina.
WOMAN = (voice from the studio) Hi guys, what a nice surprise!
BARBARA = Tonight and tomorrow night they have to sing, cheer the whole audience of the Greek theater of Taormina, and you don’t know what’s behind the cameras, then I’ll show you (she refers that behind the cameras there are all the fans who are waiting).
PIERO = We weren’t ready for the unexpected, it was something suddenly …… (Piero jokes to make it clear that they knew the interview was there)😁
BARBARA = In fact we came to eat a granita ….
PIERO = ….. I go out in the morning wearing this (he shows the earphone to his ear, Gianluca has it too, precisely because there was the interview).
You got it, I feel comfortable wearing this !! 😁
GIANLUCA = You from the studio and you from home, for those who are watching us, what a surprise, look how wonderful ….. (Saretto del Bambar’s daughter arrives and brings them the slushes).
BARBARA = The famous granita. So, Federica (Saretto’s daughter), at this moment I am Ignazio.
What’s your favorite flavor?
FEDERICA = Ignazio prefers peach and raspberry.
BARBARA = And they (Gian and Piero)
FEDERICA = They prefer almond and strawberry.
BARBARA = By now they are like little brothers to you.
FEDERICA = Of home, we have known them for many years.
GIANLUCA = We also greet the father, Saretto, who is watching us.
PIERO = Do you know what her father Saretto did? One day for my birthday in Naro, two hours from here, he came as a surprise with the trolley of slushes, we were celebrating 4 or 5 years ago and he arrived with the trolley of slushes. Saretto, a huge kiss (he sends a kiss).
GIANLUCA = We love you!
BARBARA = Taormina, you really have it in your heart, because it was also the first great theater that welcomed you, before the great success of Sanremo.
GIANLUCA = Yes, we were here in July 2014 (they won Sanremo in 2015), it was the first Italian concert, while our career started in 2009. Then, after the victory of the festival they started to know us also here in Italy, but it was weird for us.
BARBARA= The Greek Theater of Taormina believed in you, before the others!
GIANLUCA = Then, our musical genre is suitable for these prestigious and beautiful places like the Theater of Taormina, like the Arena of Verona. It’s always a pleasure to be able to sing and maybe represent our music, in such places ….. beautiful, let’s say.
BARBARA = In fact it is a curiosity that I had, that is, when you sing at the Arena of Verona or at the Greek Theater of Taormina, which have a truly unique setting, when you interpret the songs, does it give you an extra boost compared to a normal stage?
PIERO = It is clear, having the awareness of singing in a prestigious place, makes us feel privileged, sharing our music in these beautiful places, especially in Italy, but also in other places, in America, in Japan, we try not to lose never that emotion, that desire to be amazed and perhaps this, after 13 years of career, is the reason why, when we go on stage, we always feel the same sensation.
BARBARA = Instead you see here, your audience on the street following you … tell me Carolina (the woman from the studio)
CAROLINA = I was actually listening to the stories about the various tours and I was wondering what was the stage that they didn’t do, but that they would like to do …. where?
PIERO = In Italia?
CAROLINA = Even abroad, all over the world.
GIANLUCA = Look, there is a place where we would love to sing and it is the Baths of Caracalla (in Rome, where the concert of the 3 tenors was performed), and therefore it is not very far and it is a magical place ….
MAN = (from the studio) and then you come here to Weekly ….
GIANLUCA = Absolutely, then we come to you, but we invite you to one of our concerts, let us know where you want to come, it would be nice …
CAROLINA = Where can we come ???
PIERO = Let’s start from Italy, we will sing in Taormina, Agrigento in the Valley of the Temples, Torre del Lago, and many other concerts. Then we move to America, Japan and after 10 years, we will finally return to Australia.
We had two and a half years off, finally it seems that everything is back to normal.
After two and a half years we have planned a tour of around 100 concerts and so we are loaded.
BARBARA = I don’t know if you have heard, but the people behind us speak the languages of half the world.
GIANLUCA = Yes.
BARBARA = Two women from Brazil came to Taormina for their concert.
MAN = (from the studio) I wanted to ask Piero and Gianluca something, a hot comment, Ignazio is good though, is he getting along as a correspondent? (He means Barbara in the part of Ignazio)
GIANLUCA = Ignazio gets away with it, yes.
PIERO = Can I tell the truth?
MAN = Sure!
PIERO = I called Ignazio and he answered the third call and I said: “Igna, where are you? Maybe we need to do an interview, there is a live broadcast on RAI1” And he: “You do it, I’m sleeping” This is reality! (laughs).
GIANLUCA = It’s not true, he’s kidding!
PIERO = He went to sleep late, tonight he has to sing, he also has to rest.
BARBARA = I haven’t tasted the granita yet. Good, peach and raspberry.
CAROLINA = Next stop?
BARBARA = This evening and tomorrow evening the Greek Theater of Taormina.
PIERO = Do you know what the next step is? In a week we will have the honor of singing for Pope Francis at the world meeting of families on June 22nd. So see you on June 22nd.
BARBARA = And a few days ago, you interpreted our hymn in a way that always excites us a lot, with the celebration of June 2nd, and we have a little piece, right Carolina and Fabio?
CAROLINA = Sure, let’s watch it, let’s watch this video of June 2nd with you protagonists. Thanks to the friends of Il Volo.
(the video begins where Il Volo sings the Italian National Anthem)
And here they are Gianluca, Piero and Ignazio, shaking hands with our President Mattarella.
Very proud of them !! ❤❤❤
And now I am translating a video that aired on RAI 1 on 07 June.
But first I have to give a long explanation, so that you can see and rate this nice video without misunderstandings.
First of all, I’ll explain who Drusilla Foer is.
At the registry office, Drusilla Foer responds to the name of Gianluca Gori: photographer, painter, singer and actor originally from Florence, one day, out of nothing, he created this character that soon became a web phenomenon.
Her character is liked, because she is elegant, refined, is not coarse and does not show parts of the body (as many showgirls do), in short, it represents a little elegance that often, in many programs, is left aside to make room for voices more and more screaming and using vulgar terms and elegance has given way to transparencies and many centimeters of exposed skin and flesh.
Drusilla this year was co-presenter for one evening in Sanremo and was very successful.
Now she has been entrusted with this small 5-minute column entitled “Almanac of the day after” in which Drusilla has given space to “The enthusiast of the day after”, that is a small space where already famous people are invited , but pretending to be unknown.
In the second episode it was the turn of Il Volo and Piero, Gianluca and Ignazio were very good at keeping up with the game.
Drusilla interviews the boys giving them little space to explain and she ridicules their answers, as often people unknown to the world of entertainment have to undergo in their first approaches with interviews.
With all this premise, I am now translating to you what has been said.
DRUSILLA = Here we are with our guests: PIERO …. and then … Piero, who is from Naro, right?
PIERO = Yes.
DRUSILLA = Where is Naro located?
PIERO = In Sicily, in the province of Agrigento.
DRUSILLA = Very good. Ignatius instead?
IGNAZIO = I was born in Bologna, even if it doesn’t seem like it ….
DRUSILLA = This story is long ….
IGNAZIO = No, it’s short, that’s enough!
DRUSILLA = Enough … good. Instead, you will be Gianluca.
GIANLUCA = I’m the Abruzzese of the group.
DRUSILLA = Ah, Abruzzo.
GIANLUCA = From Roseto Degli Abruzzi.
IGNAZIO = Enough!
DRUSILLA = Very good. So guys I am truly enchanted by this common passion of yours. Let’s summarize a little. Do you travel the world always together?
GIANLUCA = Yes, we take many flights !! 😁😁
DRUSILLA = Because you travel far away? 😁 Not only from Abruzzo to Molise 😁 (these are the two neighboring regions)
GIANLUCA = We get together every now and then, we have many dreams, we hope to ….
DRUSILLA = How nice, that is, you go to the places and sing in the places where you go to work.
IGNAZIO = We have brought some photos.
DRUSILLA = Do you have any photos? (On the screen there is the photo of the video “Ecstasy of Gold” that they shot in Sardinia)
IGNAZIO = Here we are in Texas 😁 (before Texas he says in a low voice Sardinia).
DRUSILLA = In Texas, and you go to Texas dressed in the blue suit?😁
GIANLUCA = With the blue suit, we sing in the middle of the sand. 😁
DRUSILLA = Ah, so really ??
PIERO = We are afraid to get a tan.
IGNAZIO = You know why, now all these social networks are in fashion …
DRUSILLA = Are you afraid that there is someone taking pictures of you? But who knows you !!!! 😁😁😁
GIANLUCA = Look at those beautiful smiles. (There is a photo with them at the Arena and it is wet on the ground because it rains)
DRUSILLA = How cute, where are you in the pool? 😁
PIERO = No, we had just left the dentist, we wanted to show our teeth! 😁
DRUSILLA = Then what’s up (the photo changes, is made in Japan). Ah, how beautiful, but look, where are you here? In Molise, in the Marche (other region)
IGNAZIO = I think we are in America.
GIANLUCA = No, here we are in Japan.
DRUSILLA = In Japan, of course I recognize Japanese architecture! 😁
I hope that this dream of music will come true, maybe you will become international stars.😁
GIANLUCA = We would like to win Sanremo!
DRUSILLA = Ah Ah, but what are you interested in Sanremo (as if to say that it is something unattainable). 😁 But have you ever sung with a real pianist? 😁
Or do you just use Karaoke backing tracks? 😁
IGNAZIO = Sometimes.
DRUSILLA = Little though, would you like to try? I have a pianist, he’s excellent, his name is Maestro Di Leo.
IGNAZIO = Let’s say that in Japanese karaoke, there is no piano available. 😁
PIERO = He is very elegant.
DRUSILLA = He is very elegant, I have forced him to dress well.
PIERO = And how are we dressed?
DRUSILLA = Very good, very happy.
GIANLUCA = Thanks for giving us this chance.
DRUSILLA = Come on guys, let’s go to the piano.
Don’t be intimidated, I know that the first time at the piano, it upsets you a little. 😁
IGNAZIO = We can sing you something …..
DRUSILLA = What would you like to sing?
IGNAZIO = …… that puts us at ease ?? 😁
DRUSILLA = Yes.
IGNAZIO = One of our favorite artists has always been Jimmy Fontana. (Il Mondo)
DRUSILLA = Ah!
PIERO = See, we have this in common, we like the same musical genre, we sing the same songs ….
DRUSILLA = Beautiful, beautiful …
PIERO = We like the same artists …
DRUSILLA = But this beautiful thing (and then pretends to get bored and fall asleep) 😁
GIANLUCA = We are guys from other times! 😘
DRUSILLA = Well, very cheerful!
IGNAZIO = Do you start singing?
DRUSILLA = What song would you like to sing? I really like Jimmy Fontana
IGNAZIO = Since we talked about travel, places ….
PIERO = You know IL MONDO?
DRUSILLA = IL MONDO, if I don’t remember the words can you suggest them to me ???
PIERO = I suggest them to you.
DRUSILLA = And the hue ?? Come on guys don’t worry, how it comes it comes … 😁
IGNAZIO = But we follow you …😁
DRUSILLA = Yes, come on, come on …
(The song begins, Drusilla pretends not to know the words and Piero suggests them to her, then at the refrain IL VOLO brings out all their voices and amazes Drusilla who is offended for having been deceived) 😁😁
GIANLUCA = Enough, (he turns to Ignazio) We understand that you are good.
DRUSILLA = Not good ….. the technique needs to be changed a little, the emission is a little scarce ….😁😁
PIERO = Two more days of karaoke …
IGNAZIO = I miss karaoke in Japan.
DRUSILLA = No, guys, study! 😁
GIANLUCA = You seem a little annoyed … are you annoyed by any chance?
DRUSILLA = No, imagine,…. one two and three, out of the studio ……. come here with coaxing …. but please go far …. go out ….
IGNAZIO = We salute the piano teacher.
PIERO = We hope to see you again soon.
DRUSILLA = (to Piero) What goodbye, stop it …. (to Gianluca) goodbye ….. (to Ignazio) go to karaoke ….
IGNAZIO = But we go often …
DRUSILLA = …. to karaoke in Japan, especially you, you are disgusting, go ….. (Ignazio approaches her) Security !!
IGNAZIO = Shall we do a duet? 😁
DRUSILLA = What a duet, but go do it with Barbra Streisand !! 😁
IGNAZIO= We did it …..😁
DRUSILLA = But go away …… arrogant …. gne gne gne ….they travel …. rude … but who sent them here? ….. I’d like to know where is the casting one …..😁
What can I say, they were all very good at making this pungent irony.
Even the articles in the newspapers wrote that Drusilla was very good and also Il Volo who lent himself to this game with great self-irony.
The day after the broadcast, Il Volo published the photo together with DRUSILLA with this comment: “It was a real pleasure to participate in the ‘Almanacco del giorno dopo!’ Thank you so much @drusillafoer for hosting us!”
And now the last video I translate for you, a very important video, the news that Il Volo will be at the World Meeting of Families 2022 in the Vatican on June 22nd.
GIANLUCA = Hello everyone, we are very happy and excited to come to Pope Francis’ home and celebrate the World Meeting of Families together with the families of Rome and our families.
PIERO = On that day we will witness the importance of the strength of the support of our families in our life.
IGNAZIO = I will personally take my mother and my sister.
PIERO = I will bring mom and dad, my sister Mariagrazia and my brother Francesco, and we can’t wait to be able to hug Pope Francis.
GIANLUCA = I will come with my family, we are numerous, but the best thing is that I will be able to bring my grandfather Ernesto who, at the age of 88, will be able to shake hands with Pope Francis. These are the most important things, the most beautiful emotions in life, like a mother who is a refuge, a father who is a guide, and this is really the importance of the family.
IGNAZIO = In all these years we have always reiterated how important our families are and are still important to us, they have been like a pillar for our careers, like a lighthouse in the middle of the ocean, here, a meeting point.
So, we are really happy to be able to share this moment with them.
PIERO = In addition to our families, we will also bring our music.
See you on June 22nd. Hugs to all!
GIANLUCA = See you very soon!
IGNAZIO = Ciao!
As always, I am very happy with what Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca have said in these videos.
I hope you liked the translations and shed a little light on what was said by them.
Gianluca is very different from Piero and Ignazio. He had a calm and peaceful childhood. He didn’t have the challenges that Ignazio had or the intense classical education that Piero had. No, Gianluca lived a very simple life. Perhaps that explains why Gianluca is a romantic. With him, everything is about passion! Like his passion for Abruzzo which he takes around the world. On tour he always speaks about Abruzzo. He loves his country and, he wants others to love it too! I agree with Gianluca, Abruzzo is an amazing place. My maternal grandparents were from Abruzzo!
Gianluca’s life began in the small town of Montepagano where he lived a simple life but, when he emerged, he began a journey that would take him around the world and through his amazing voice would leave his mark in every corner of that world.
Let’s listen to how Gianluca describes the town he grew up in:
To be precise, I grew up, in Montepagano, on a hill two hundred meters as the crow flies and ten minutes by road from the sea, and Roseto degli Abruzzi.
The accents are beautiful, the dialects are beautiful, but I can say that what I prefer is the Abruzzese? I am, very, proud to be from Abruzzo. I love everything about this region. And I like to bring Abruzzo around the world and keep it high.
I am right at the sea. I’m relaxing, I’m calm! There is a sea breeze and nothing else. It’s Thursday and I am practically alone on the beach. I’m fine, from God! I’m fine because I’m home.
When Gianluca goes home to Abruzzo, he feels like he is on vacation. Montepagano is a very beautiful town. It sits at the top of a hill facing the Adriatic Sea. It is like a picture-perfect postcard! It’s no wonder Gianluca is at peace here. Montepagano is Gianluca’s paradise.
If you ask Gianluca about this paradise and how he spent his childhood there he will tell you, “My life as a child seems so far away. I remember, very, little of my childhood! It’s like twenty years have passed but, only five have passed. I’m not like Ignazio I was born and raised in Montepagano. I was traveling only with dreams. What made me dream? Music naturally.”
And, so, we come to perhaps Gianluca’s greatest passion, Music! Or let’s say our greatest passion about Gianluca, his music!
As you know, Gianluca’s mother worked, so, he went to after-school session with the nuns. He had a teacher named Gabriella. One afternoon, while Gianluca was doing homework, he suddenly got up and started singing “Time to Say Goodbye.” The teacher was speechless. “What a voice you have, what a wonderful voice,” she told Gianluca. “But do you know Andrea Bocelli?” She could not believe how it was possible for such a small child to have such a voice and to know a singer of that kind. “Of course, I know him,” Gianluca said, “he’s my idol, my favorite singer,” Gianluca said this with a certain pride. “Only I do not have his CD yet.” “I’ll bring it to you tomorrow, I’ll gift it to you” was the teacher’s answer. “I was seven, maybe eight years old and thanks to Gabriella I was able to start listening to Andrea Bocelli as often as I wanted.”
Yes, this was Gianluca’s passion as a young boy to sing Bocelli songs. And he sang them all the time. But it was music itself that motived Gianluca. In an interview with the “Rosetana Star” Gianluca said: “Music for me is the oxygen of my life.”
And it wasn’t just Bocelli as Gianluca will tell you. “As I grew older, I became more passionate about singing, including the great American classics, first of all Frank Sinatra.”
So, let’s turn to the Voice! Sinatra was known as the Voice. But I think Sinatra would be in awe of Gianluca. Love you Frank but Gianluca’s got this one!
Gianluca is known as the Velvet Voice!
I don’t who coined the phrase but, that is right on. Let’s use our senses to understand what that means. Take a piece of velvet and hold it in your hand. Now take your other hand and gently pass your hand across the velvet. What do you feel? You feel a smooth even surface that is crisp with no breaks in it. The sensation is so good that you automatically go back and do it again. And every time it’s the same. It’s pleasing!
Now take Gianluca’s voice, let the notes pass into your ears, what do you hear? A crisp, smooth, even voice with no breaks in it. The note barely passes into your ear and, you are going back for the next note. It’s always pleasing!
Gianluca is a lyrical baritone. He is exceptional because he can sing from the lowest to the highest note in the baritone range. Most baritones are limited in range. Gianluca’s voice is huge. He has a very rich chest resonance which creates a feeling of depth and drama in his voice.
A baritone’s voice is very romantic, very pleasing to listen to and is always inviting. Most songs are written for baritones. Gianluca starts, almost, every song. Why? In order for a song to be received well you must draw your audience into it. Gianluca’s voice draws you in in a romantic way and you hang on to every note. He can mesmerize you with songs like “Mi Mancherai” where he reaches into the depth of his being and yours. His interpretation of “Surrender” is electrifying. But, when Gianluca sings, “She’s Always a Woman”, he takes your breath away. The highs, the lows, the emotion, the expression. His voice expands like nothing I ever heard before. He has total command of the song. You walk away with your senses lifted to another level.
So, let’s turn to how Gianluca got to where he is today! To do this I need to introduce you to the Zecchino d’oro .
Why the Zecchino d’oro or perhaps you’re saying what is the Zecchino d’oro?
I was first introduced to the Zecchino d’orolast November when an article came out saying the Zecchino d’oro will be postponed due to Covid 19. The presenters of the year would be Mara Venier and Carlo Conti.
When I read this article, I immediately thought of Gianluca. So, what is the Zecchino d’oro and what does it have to do with Gianluca?
The Zecchino d’oro is an Italian tradition. It is an event for kids, and it is dedicated to them and to all the adults who still feel like kids.
This show is presented every year between late November and the beginning of December.
In Italy there are magical days, when it starts to get cold, and children stay in their warm homes. It’s not Christmas, but the period that precedes it when the famous Zecchino d’oro TV show is broadcast. It has been broadcast every year, for decades. It was established in 1959 by Cino Tortorella who was the good presenter who introduced the children on stage, disguised as Mago Zurlì. He was so loved by all children.
The Zecchino d’oro is the festival of the little ones. In fact, if the Sanremo Festival is aimed at adult audiences and the songs are interpreted by adults, the Zecchino d’oro is made for children, with songs tailored for children.
The songs may seem like simple songs but, they are actually much more. Special attention is given to the songs’ texts. The themes are about tolerance and peace. And this is confirmed by the expression of the event: “In this contest, the winner is not the child who sings, but the song that is sung!”
Father Berardo Rossi, one of the founders, discovered by chance, a girl who used to teach the children of his parish and organize events. Mariele Ventre, who was 22 years old, had just graduated from the Verdi Conservatory in Milan and was on her way to a promising concert career. She said yes to Fr. Rossi’s proposal and the adventure began.
Mariele liked the name Zecchino because it refers to the gold coin in the field of miracles of Collodi’s Pinocchio and thus it was called Zecchino d’oro. She founded the Piccolo Coro two years later, an institution that she would direct passionately for thirty years, until the last day before she died on December 16, 1995. Upon her death the Piccolo Coro dell’Antoniano, was renamed Piccolo Coro for Mariele.
Zecchino d’oro, however, is not only music and entertainment, but it has also been carrying out voluntary initiatives by raising funds to build schools, hospitals, orphanages, with projects all over the world, to help the less fortunate live better lives.
In 2008, the Zecchino d’oro received an amazing recognition from UNESCO, becoming a world heritage for a culture of peace: the first TV show in the world to receive such a prestigious award.
This year the images were to be reassuring to Italy. The country had the strength to bet on good feelings and a strong idea of safeguarding children.
Though you may not know this show in America, we can relate to one of the characters, Topo Gigio, the puppet created by Maria Perego. Topo Gigio landed in America many years ago on the legendary Ed Sullivan Show. For those of you who are not old enough to remember Topo Gigio, let me say we waited every week for his appearance on the show. For us kids and the adults he became a household name. Seems hard to believe that this little mouse stole the hearts of the American people.
So where does Gianluca fit into all of this? If it wasn’t for the Piccolo Choir of Roses which was inspired by the Zecchino d’oro, Gianluca may not have been discovered.
Gianluca was a member of the Piccolo Choir of Roses which is one of the local branches of this choir. The Mago Zurlì, who was the presenter of the event when Gianluca was in the Choir, was Gianluca’s father, Ercole Ginoble.
But, let me let Gianluca tell you how this all came to be….
When I sing, I don’t forget instinct. What does that mean? As I said, I have never studied singing. I learned to “use” my voice only thanks to my musical ear. I listened to the music and, it transmits everything I know. And I especially thank the Little Choir of Roses.
When I was about eight or nine, all those who knew my voice gave me the same advice: go sing in a choir. In Roseto there was the Piccolo Choir of Roses directed by the master Susy Paola Rizzo. They sang the songs of the “Zecchino d’oro” or other famous songs with arrangements in that style, with music for children. The Mago Zurlì, that was the presenter of the event, was my father. He had been for a couple of seasons.
This is where I started. It was nice because we studied the songs throughout the winter season, not the technique of singing, the songs. It was different, because we did not study the notes and how to do them, rather we studied instinctively, following what the teacher said and what our ear heard.
Then, in the summer, we demonstrated our work in the Municipality of Roseto. We sang in the squares during the local festivals, in the lidos, in the bathing establishments, around the whole of Abruzzo, all these tiny villages.
During the performances with the choir, besides the repertoire of the Zecchino d’oro, we sang the songs of Bocelli: Misere, Il Mare Calmo Della Sera, La Voce Del SilenzIo.
Of course, the greatest achievement for Gianluca and the guys was winning Sanremo! We know that it was Gianluca who convinced the guys to go to Sanremo! Or rather Gianluca convinced Piero who convinced Ignazio. And, in the end, Gianluca sums up Sanremo and the events that follow in this way!
The truth is that I was right from the beginning and, no one has ever listened to me, ever. I believed it so much that, if you notice, maybe I’m the one with the least surprised look when Carlo Conti announces the winner. Then, of those moments, one remembers little, there is great confusion, emotion. It was a dream to be able to shout, “Thank you, Italy!” from that stage. I looked at Sanremo as a child, when there was Pippo Baudo, and I was there and have won because people were on our side and it was a dream, I repeat even if I have already said. The emotion was only when my grandfather told me almost in tears: ‘Who would have told me that in my life I would see Modugno win at the Festival and then I see you win.’
On Sunday evening, when I returned to Montepagano, I found th whole village in a party, not just my grandfather: my countrymen were waiting for me from the morning to celebrate. There really was everyone, including the mayor. And then, the journalists, the local TV and a crowd of people who we could not count.
Another of the beautiful things that came after San Remo was the chance to meet the children of the Agbe, the Association of Parents of the Emopatic Children, of Pescara.
It is a reality born in 2000 from the idea of a group of parents, in fact, with children from the hemopaths treated at the Santo Spirito hospital in the city. The purpose of the association is to give support in every way to the children and families during and after the period of treatment. An initiative that, for those like me and very sensitive to the problems of health of children, and really beautiful.
The thing that honors me a lot and that, inspired by my story with Ti Lascio Una Canzone, they thought to have the children dedicate to singing, so they organize a Christmas show every year that keeps them very busy and also a lot of fun. But at Agbe they would never have thought we would meet.
Instead, after the Festival I went to see them, all young patients from 4 to 15 years, and I invited them to our concert of Il Volo Live 2015 in Chieti because I knew that Piero and Ignazio would have been happy to meet them. And, so, it was: they came, they had fun and we spent time together taking pictures and signing autographs.
But Gianluca is about emotions too! And many things that happened after Sanremo were emotional for Gianluca! Like Gianluca receiving a prize for bringing Abruzzo around the world. Let’s listen to Gianluca talk about the emotion of winning this prize.
When I talk about emotions that arrived after Sanremo, I cannot forget what it meant to receive a prize like Abruzzese that gives prestige to its region in the world.
Every year on August 5th is celebrated the Day of Abruzzesi in the world, a day set up with a regional law to remember all the emigrants. On that day five ambassadors of Abruzzo are appointed in the world, that is, Abruzzesi who have come out of the regional boundaries for different reasons and give prestige to their region.
For example, they awarded a university lecturer, a cardiologist, the founder of a cultural association, an entrepreneur and a successful executive. The ceremony, which has a different location every year, was held in the Fortress of Civitalla del Tronto, a village that is a jewel of the province of Teramo, right on the border with the Marches.
I, however, am still in Abruzzo and therefore I cannot be appointed ambassador according to regional regulations, I was awarded with a beautiful statuette that replicates the warrior Capestrano, for having brought the name of my land around the world.
I cannot tell you what a feeling it is to receive from the regional Presidency the cultural symbol of my region. The original of the warrior stands in the National Archaeological Museum, more than two meters tall, of limestone, with a large disk helmet that looks like a hat. You see it for sure. And it is one of the things I’m most proud of.
In short, Sanremo was just a dream that brought us many different emotions.
Gianluca has a heart of gold! It’s always about helping others whether through his generosity or his love of his country! That’s just how Gianluca is. He has his hand in everything and reaches it out to those who need it!
But it seems I digressed!
So now, let me go back and sum up Gianluca’s musical career! Although Gianluca never studied music he did develop a musical ear and instinct and as a member of the Piccolo Choir of Roses and his performances around Abruzzo, he was discovered by Licia Giunco who brought Gianluca to Rome to audition for Ti Lascio Una Canzone. The rest of the story is history!
And as a result of this, Gianluca Shares His Amazing Voice with people all over the world!
Join me next week as I go back Through the Fields of My Mind and open the door to a new adventure!
A few days ago a short video was published that reports some questions (perhaps asked by the fans) to which Il Volo answered.
I believe they were made before the tribute concert at the Arena.
These are a handful of questions, but it’s nice to see how Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca react and make fun of each other!
The comment accompanying the video is: “Here we are, with unexpected questions, sincere answers, laughter and curiosity.” Part 1 (so it is assumed that there will be more short videos like that.)
I translate for you:
QUESTION = Can you tell me about an event that has remained close to your heart, which happened with your fans?
PIERO = NO
QUESTION = Have you ever changed or forgotten the lyrics of a song?
IGNAZIO = Do you know how many times we have forgotten the words during a concert !!
PIERO = It was a piece in French, TUS LES VISAGES DE L’AMOUR …. and I forgot the words, I didn’t remember anything.
QUESTION = Who often forgets their socks?
PIERO = Him (and points to Ignazio)
IGNAZIO = Who, I? It’s Gianluca!
GIANLUCA = Me ?? You! (points to Ignazio)
IGNAZIO = Me? You! (points to Piero) 😁😁😁
QUESTION = Favourite song?
IGNAZIO = As of today, with the project we are doing: YOUR LOVE.
QUESTION = A ritual you do before a concert?
IGNAZIO = One of the things we often do is shake hands, (he joins his hands) like this.
QUESTION = Favorite movie?
IGNAZIO = THE TRUMAN SHOW
PIERO = No! NUOVO CINEMA PARADISO.
GIANLUCA = GOOD WILL HUNTING, with Robin Williams
This photo, published on the official page of Il Volo, informs us that on 9 September, Il Volo will be present in the Arena di Verona, at the Seat Music Awards event, an event where all the artists who have achieved their goals are awarded and certainly Il Volo. will be present for the Gold Record obtained with the sales of the 10-year CD.
Well, it is an event full of artists and music and very popular with young people, we will hear that song (usually only one) presents Il Volo.
The photo is accompanied by this comment: “Hello #ilvololovers, we are delighted to inform you that this year we will participate in the #SeatMusicAwards at the Verona Arena and we can’t wait.
It is always a great honor for us to sing in the suggestive atmosphere of the Arena!
See you in September!”
Another very nice video starring Gianluca, was published by visitRoseto.it.
It is entitled Gianluca Ginoble-Multimedia tourist guide of Roseto degli Abruzzi, and in fact, who better than Gianluca, so proud of his land, can highlight the beauties of Montepagano?
In addition, the Belvedere is very close to his home.
I translate for you:
We are certainly in one of the most beautiful places on the Adriatic coast.
I am biased, however, we are in Montepagano, in the Belvedere, the place where I grew up and looking out from here certainly helps to appreciate the true meaning of life.
Being able to look at the sea from afar and appreciate the sound of the sea waves, this wonderful sound that is like music.
I grew up on music, and as maestro Ennio Morricone said “from silence great works of art are born”.
So I invite you to be here and to look out from this wonderful place, to really be able to appreciate the good things in life, music and the sea, which have one great thing in common, are a great work of art.
Very good Gianluca and to lend you for these relaunch messages of your country, it does you honor.
The Tokyo 2020 Olympics have just ended, but we could not show you this nice video of a Mexican gymnast, Rut Castillo, performing her rhythmic gymnastics exercise with the ribbon on the well-known notes of El Triste, sung by Il Volo!!
And now let’s see what our three have posted.
In early August, they went to Milan, to Sony and then to do a photo shoot, perhaps for the new CD?
Here are the photos posted by those who took care of their appearance.
It’s also vacation time and let’s find out where our young men are.
Ignazio is always the one who publishes very little, his few photos are almost always published by others, he almost never publishes.
Here he is again at a wedding.
Piero remained in his Sicily, often photographed in Taormina.
Here, Piero with his sister Mariagrazia.
With his friend Dario Mirabile.
Surely the most prolific of photos and videos is undoubtedly Gianluca.
Here he is driving a luxurious convertible car, which I believe is not his?
(Click on photo below to hear Gianluca singing Fly Me to the Moon)
Maybe the car was used for the cousin’s wedding?
And then Gianluca, with his inevitable twin friends, allows himself a nice sport trip in the Tirino valley.
The Tirino river valley is a beautiful green lung, rich in history, nature and culture.
It is the heart of Abruzzo.
Gianluca says: “We have to take a picture, these are indelible moments.”
That’s it Gian !!
Beautiful places, but what an effort, in the end, a well-deserved rest!
And then, also for Gianluca, a few days in the beautiful Taormina!
It is also a good opportunity to attend the Rigoletto, the Ancient Theater, an opera directed by Placido Domingo.
Gianluca in the midst of two interpreters of Rigoletto. On the left, his friend Dave Monaco, who is also part of the Torpedine stable.
And so, after some effort and a lot of fun, we have reached August 15th.
Once, here in Italy, it was the only day of vacation for those who worked, today it is considered the culmination of summer: Ferragosto (literally means August grilled, that is very hot), this is the name of the feast of August 15th.
This year it is really very hot, in Sicily there was the highest temperature in Europe, almost 120 ° Faherenheit, and unfortunately there were also many fires.
There are infections of the Delta variant on the rise, but since there are so many vaccinated, the situation is under control there are no problems, for now, in hospitals.
August 15 is also the feast of the Assumption, a religious holiday, very much felt here.
Over the past week I have been thinking about where it all began for the guys. As you know, I have written excerpts from their story but, I thought it might be nice for some of the new fans to hear about where it all began for the guys. Three different stories but all with the same ending! This is the story of how they were discovered and of course their journey to Ti Lascio una Canzone.
Piero: The Beginning of the Journey
Most of you know that Piero was discovered by his grandfather. In the garden of his grandparents’ house there is a mulberry tree and hanging on that tree is an old-fashioned swing. Piero was swinging on that swing when his grandfather heard him sing for the first time! He was about four years old at the time. The following day Pietro had a recording made of Piero singing “Un Amore Così Grande.”
The evening of the recording would be the beginning of Piero’sjourney to stardom. As always, Piero’s entire family ate dinner together. The family consisted of his great grandmother, all the aunts, uncles and cousins who were like sisters and brothers to him. After dinner all the kids played soccer while the adults went outside to chat and enjoy the cool of the evening on the terrace. But this evening would be a little different because just one day earlier, Piero’s grandfather Pietro discovered that Piero had an amazing voice.
They had just finished dinner when *Pietro called his wife. “Rina, get the recorder.” Rina brought in the recorder and placed it in front of Pietro. The recorder was already prepared with the cassette that had the recording of Piero’s voice. Pietro turns to Piero’s dad and says, “Listen to this voice, Gaetano.” He pushes play and starts the recording of “Un Amore Così Grande.” Gaetano is amazed like he has just heard a good thing, and he says, “It’s beautiful, who is it daddy?” (He calls his father-in-law daddy.) Pietro says, “Piero.” Silence. Gaetano has a questioning looking on his face “How did Piero?” Pietro says, “So?”
On that night Piero’s life changed! His father did everything he could think of to start him on a musical journey. He wanted Piero to start the festivals but, he was too young. He needed to “put in a base” because the voice alone was not enough. Gaetano asked himself: “What must Piero start to do?” And the answer was: “Piero must start playing the piano”.
Piero began to study piano at the age of eight but, economically the family could not afford the costs of the lessons. So, Piero’s grandfather paid for everything, and not just from the material point of view. Stefano Tesè was Piero’s first piano teacher. The mother of Piero’s teacher lived on the floor below in his grandfather’s house and the master came to see his mother every Monday. Pietro made an agreement with Mr. Tesè to give Piero lessons every Monday at six o’clock.
Piero says, “The road was very short to my grandfather’s house, I could even go there alone, but here was the problem, to get there I had to face a dog that was going around in that neighborhood, that dog would approach and bark furiously. And I had a fear of dogs. Squeezed under my grandfather’s arm, he who being blind needed to be guided, I felt protected as behind a shield: when the dog approached, Pietro shouted: “Passa arrassu!” (fast pass), go away, and the dog went away.”
Piero confesses there was another problem, “Every Monday at six in the afternoon was a nightmare for me, because I did not like going to the piano lesson. Or rather, I liked it only when the lessons were good, when I could play, but at the beginning I was bored a lot with the hammers, solfeggios and all the things that you rightly have to learn to play the piano. Maestro Tesè was a tough guy and, I was always worried that he would scold me. After a while I started to understand how the piano worked and the lessons started to please me.”
The advice everyone gave Piero was that he should join the choir that met in the church of Santo Spirito in Agrigento. Originally Gaetano objected to this saying they would “break my sons voice,” but, eventually he came to the reality that this was the right thing to do. And so it was that Piero joined the Little Singers of the Philharmonic Association – Santa Cecilia of Agrigento.
And so it was that Piero started his classical musical education that would end at Ti Lascio Una Canzone.
Of the three, Piero is the only one who said, “…. if there is one thing I want to do in life, it is singing, living for and with music.”
The original story I wrote about Piero’s beginnings I called **The Mulberry Tree because Piero was swinging on a swing which hung from a mulberry tree in his grandfather garden. Around the time of this event, I was at home in New York busy writing a screenplay. The name screenplay was “The Mulberry Tree!”
Ignazio: The Beginning of the Journey
In this story, Ignazio leaves his friends and his school in Bologna and starts all over again in Marsala. He fought this move every step of the way but this move would bring him to the start of his journey to stardom!All the What if’s, come into play! What if the family didn’t return to Marsala? What if Caterina didn’t open the pizzeria? What if that customer didn’t hear Ignazio sing? What if Ignazio decided not to take singing lessons? Ignazio’s story begins shortly after his arrival in Marsala
In 2004 there was a great change for Ignazio’s family. Ignazio’s mom had regained her health and finally the family was financially stable so, they returned to Marsala.
Ignazio’s story of the building of the pizzeria was so inspiring that I called my original story, “A Slice of Pizza with Ignazio on the Side.”
During the first year they were back in Marsala, Ignazio’s mom had gone back and forth every day to the center of Marsala to be able to secure her great dream: to open a pizzeria of her own. In order to open the pizzeria, she needed to do certain things. First thing: she had to get the permits and all the bureaucratic things that she needed to do. Second thing: she used the ovens of friends and made pizzas. Ignazio said: “I remember it very well. She went from one oven to another and tried so many types of flour, she tried the dough, she tried so many types of mozzarellas so, when she finally opened the pizzeria, she already knew how to prepare the right dough. It is different to make pizza in Bologna than making it in Marsala, take the word of a son and brother of a pizza maker: it is different because it depends on the humidity, the temperature and the type of flour. It’s not a simple matter to make a really good pizza.”
While Caterina was preparing permits and trying different kinds of pizza, it was left for the men to build the pizzeria. With the savings Vito accumulated over the years he began the work on the pizzeria. He was now working in a company that built wooden structures and being an experienced bricklayer, the dream could be realized, and the pizzeria could be built in front of the house.
Ignazio said: “For a whole year, in every free moment, my father dedicated himself to building the pizzeria for my mother and I loved to help him, so much so that when there were a few days of school vacation, I went to work with him.”
Ignazio continues; “You will think that I tell you about the pizzeria under construction, but I am not a pizza maker. Of course, if there had not been the pizzeria, perhaps I would never have started singing seriously.
While the pizzeria grew, a passion grew within me. It was a passion for electronics and music. I had started to be part of the elementary school choir and my dad, who was more passionate about electronics than me, had bought me a mixer, a microphone and two speakers, with which we started doing the easiest thing that could be done with those instruments: karaoke.”
Finally, in 2005 the pizzeria was completed and, Caterina opened the Pizzeria dei Desideri.
Within a few months Caterina already had regular customers and since the pizzeria was right in front of the house, when Ignazio was singing at home, even the customers heard him. One day a gentleman said to Caterina, ‘You know, my daughter is studying singing, why don’t you come with your son once? Even just to try.”
Ignazio said: “Like everything else, we talked it over within my family and everyone was enthusiastic about it. It was decided, I would go and see what these singing lessona were like.
I remember it as if it were yesterday! I was eleven. I wore a yellow shirt with green stripes, fashion was never my strong point. Arianna, the daughter of the pizzeria customer, who had heard me sing, and her mother and I waited, in front of the school for more than twenty minutes for Liliana Andreanò, the singing teacher.
Lilliana Adreanò, arrived in a grey Opel Astra. She got out of the car and immediately entered the school.
I was worried, almost embarrassed. Hard to believe, right? Even as a child I’ve never been the type to be speechless.
Lilliana begins to talk about music, what kind of songs do I like to sing. It was already a strange thing because usually I just sang, no one asked me why and how. You know, Liliana, I said, I like to sing Giorgia’s songs.”
Lilliana said: “Strange for a kid to sing this kind of song.” She asked, “And which song of Giorgia would you like to make me listen to?” “Gocce Di Memoria (Drops of Memory),” I said. “I didn’t even have a doubt. I start singing and Liliana was amazed by my extension but asks me to try a male song too.”
Ignazio thought a little bit and then he said he sometimes sang Con Te Partirò by Andrea Bocelli. He started singing and, when he finished Liliana told him: “Ignazio, this is your musical direction”.
From that first lesson Ignazio began to study songs like “Il Mare Calmo Della Sera,” “Un Amore Così Grande” and all those that came to mind, and he liked it. The songs approached that genre that was not lyrical, it was modern music but with something classic.
Ignazio was very comfortable with Lilliana and they understood each other immediately because she was a sociable person, simple, as are all of Ignazio’s family.
After several lessons, Lilliana proposed that Ignazio take part in a competition organized in Paolini. Ignazio wasn’t completely convinced that he wanted to go on a stage. Until that moment he had only thought about singing, but he never seriously thought that all his singing one day could bring him into the spotlight. In short, he was afraid. Fear of making mistakes. Fear of not being able to face the stage, but just to gain mastery on stage, Liliana urged him to participate, and so in the end he decided to do it.
Ignazio said: “I was about to get on the stage. My legs were trembling, the butterflies in my stomach were no longer butterflies but crazy swallows.
I decided to participate with Bocelli’s “Con te partirò” (Time to Say Goodbye), a song that I had studied and re-studied with Liliana, but as soon as the music started, I had a terrible fear of forgetting the words. So, what did I do? I looked down all the time. So, the audience, the place, what happened around me while I was singing, it’s not that I do not remember anything, I just do not know because I only saw the tips of my feet.
Fortunately, however, I remembered all the words and it is not so obvious because sometimes it happens that I forget the words even today now that I have become professional, the emotion continues to take us despite everything and.… I came in third.”
Once the ice was broken and the stage panic was over, that ended up being just the first of many competitions for Ignazio.
After two and a half years, three that he was studying with Liliana, one day Lilliana told him that for the genre that he was going to sing another teacher was better suited to give lyrical singing lessons. So, Ignazio was convinced and started to follow another singing teacher, Roberta Caly.
So now his life became complicated. He went to Lilliana for singing lessons and interpretation. He went to Roberta for lyric singing. And he took a diction course from Lilliana and Roberta. He also went to a diction course with Lilliana and a diction course with Roberta but taught by other teachers in the school. And he also attended a jazz workshop.
Ignazio went to class every day except Sunday when he went to see Nina’s soccer matches. Nina was now playing in Serie B.
Between the school, the singing lessons, the piano lessons and diction Ignazio was always busy, so much so that he was forced to leave the school of soccer.
Ignazio could not do everything because of the economic conditions of his family. At this time Ignazio found another thing to do: an extracurricular musical laboratory. Ignazio was so busy but, he did not want to give up that workshop, it was about setting up musicals. Ignazio said, “It was one of the most beautiful experiences of my life.”
In 2007, Ignazio stopped studying with Roberta. He met Giovanna Collica, a very good soprano, who gave lessons in Siracusa. Even though Giovanna was in Siracusa, which was a long journey from Ignazio’s home, she was too important to give up. She was a very good soprano, she had even sung a duet with Luciano Pavarotti.
Ignazio concludes, “It took a lot of money to cover the travel expenses, the lessons and the registration for competitions that in many cases were not free. So, it was at a certain point, mom and dad found themselves not having enough money to send me forward. They were more hurt than me. Having always worked and being accustomed to face sacrifices for the family, they did not want to surrender to this obstacle but at the same time they did not know what to do. In the end, it was necessary to make a decision. The decision was to ask a person dear to us for a loan that, as soon as mom and dad had settled a little, would be returned.
This person has helped us with great generosity, so as, to allow me to continue to pursue this dream.” Next stop Ti Lascio una Canzone!
Gianluca: The Beginning of the Journey
So, finally, we come to Gianluca. I must tell you Gianluca’s journey to stardomwas different from Ignazio and Piero. The end result was the same but, the beginnings were different. Gianluca says: “Yes, we were lucky all three to have the families we had. Ignazio and Piero were able to study music thanks to the sacrifices, big sacrifices, of their families. I’ve never studied it, if I have to tell the truth, but the music at home has always been there.
Mom and dad tell me, when I was three years old, I sang ‘O Sole Mio’ in the town square in front of all the elderly gentlemen friends of my grandfather who were sitting around in the square.”
This was the beginning of Gianluca’sjourney to stardom.
Gianluca says, when he sings, he “doesn’t forget instinct.” What does that mean? Gianluca has never studied singing. He learned to ‘use’ his voice only thanks to his musical ear. He listens to the music and, it transmits everything he knows. And, for this, he is especially thankful to the Little Choir of Roses.
When Gianluca was about eight or nine, all those who knew him gave him the same advice: go sing in a choir. In Roseto there was the Piccolo Choir of Roses directed by the master Susy Paola Rizzo. They sang the songs of the “Zecchino D’oro” or other famous songs with arrangements in that style, with music for children. The Mago Zurlì, that was the presenter of the situation, was Gianluca’s dad, Ercole.
The choir was nice because they studied the technique of singing, the songs. It was different, because they did not study the notes and how to do them, rather they studied instinctively, following what the teacher said and what their ear heard.
Gianluca said: “If I think of 2009, the year in which I met Piero and Ignazio at Ti Lascio Una Canzone, it seems to me like yesterday.
Ignazio’s story shows that things come and you do not have to force them to arrive. It is not different from mine. Maybe, a little bit different because, apart from the Little Choir of Roses and those modest performances with my father’s theater company, I’ve never done anything else, no competitions, no festivals. I did not want to do them, I never thought about it.”
Gianluca participated in the Festival of the Adriatic, in 2006, and he won it. In 2007 he participated in Ascoli Piceno, for young talents. He sang at weddings, that’s it. He recalls, “I sang Schubert’s ‘Ave Maria’ and they paid me. My first money earned with music. And for fun, in 2007 I recorded a CD in a studio in Roseto degli Abruzzi, it was called “Start from Here.” It was a study by Vincenzo Irelli, a very good musician.” Verilli heard Gianluca sing, probably in one of the Little Rose Choir’s performances, and he said to Mr. Ginoble, “Bring him to me.” Gianluca recalls, “We spent a couple of weeks recording the CD and then we gave it to all the relatives. If I think about it today, it makes me smile. Never, never would I have thought that it would not be the only one, that I could make music my life. I tell you I only sang because it made me feel good, I was happy.”
Then what happened? In his story, Gianluca said: ‘I do not know exactly, what happened, because everything happened very quickly. If I think of 2009, the year in which I met Piero and Ignazio, it seems like yesterday. Instead, six years have passed. To tell you the truth, seven years passed from the casting sessions because it was 2008 when my father received a call from Licia Giunco.
Who is Licia Giunco. She’s an incredible woman, known throughout Italy for being the creator of an annual event called Sport for life, a great international ice-skating gala. For the gala, skating champions come from all over Europe to participate. The reason for Mrs. Giunco’s phone call was Gianluca’s performances with the choir. “We have a great talent here in Roseto,” Mrs. Guinco told Mr. Ginoble. “I would like to bring him to RAI (Italian TV Station).” Gianluca says, “My father had never thought about it. My parents had never even imagined that I would participate in competitions, let alone send me for an audition for television.”
“Let’s try,” Mr. Ginoble replied, “It would be a great opportunity.” “Dad thought it was just a different experience something that could make me have fun. Mrs. Giunco made available her contacts, we talked to Franco Fasano, whom Licia knew, and he would take us to audition with Roberto Cenci for the broadcast of RAI. Maybe this is what I liked, the idea that it was only a life experience to do, an experience that would allow me to sing for a while. My parents, as they had always been until then, did not force me in the least. They left the decision to me. I had not the slightest idea of what awaited me, but I decided instinctively, with my belly, that yes, that audition I really wanted to do it.
At the studio, when they called my name, I entered the recording room. Roberto Cenci was there. It was the first time I saw him. The impact was big because he has a very tough character and, he did not convey much sympathy at the first meeting. But the essential thing is that I start to sing: I wanted to be a little alone to think, you know. I had chosen ‘The Voice of Silence.’ I remember it perfectly. I was thirteen, the first audition was in November 2008 and, I already had this deep, baritone voice.”
And so, we have arrived at “Ti Lascio una Canzone.”
These were the guys’ beginnings, but the real beginning was when they stepped on the stage and sang “O Sole Mio,” and began their real Journey to Stardom.
Join me next week as I go back Through the Fields of My Mind and open the door to a new adventure!
*All quotes are excerpts from Il Volo, Un’avventura straordinaria, La nostra storia.
**You can read my original stories “The Mulberry Tree,” “A Slice of Pizza with Ignazio on the Side,” and “And Then There Were Three,” on my Facebook page.
Credit to owners of all photos and videos.
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