I promised Il Volo Flight Crew an article on the first concert of the autumn tour – Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London. It took place last Sunday, October 6th and I was completely blown away.
HOOKED
I had come across Il Volo a few years back on Facebook: they performed Il Mondo to a German audience and they were just teenage boys. I remember I posted the whole clip and wrote something on my page like “Happy Monday. Cheer yourself up” because the joy of these three very young men had captured something in me.
And yet I forgot about them – for a few busy years anyway. Then, earlier this year (2024), I (who was never ill) suffered a second heart attack. Commanded (again!) to rest, I scrolled through FB memories, listened again to Il Mondo, and wondered what had become of these boys-with-men’s-voices? Then, oh my goodness, I discovered the goldmine that is YouTube with Il Volo performances and interviews and funny moments spanning 15 years.
Hooked! I was completely hooked. And then beyond excited to see that extra date added to the start of the European tour – London, UK. I reckoned I deserved a treat for surviving despite everything, and I booked two tickets in the royal circle of the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane. I booked flights from Glasgow. I bought the albums and brushed up my Italian to understand properly their amazing lyrics. I played Ad Astra from beginning to end until I knew every note and nuance. It is my favourite album. In it, I hear the struggles and the triumphs, the joy or Felicità that they have in singing, the love that holds them together despite everything.
LONDON, 2024
And finally, here I was. I’m outside one of the oldest theatres in London, built in 1812. It retains its splendid features, the ornate plasterwork, the great glass lights, the private boxes above the stage. Our seats were in the first tier at the left side as you look from the stage. I could just be visible in one of the audience shots. I wondered about the venue – so tiny compared to Verona and others – but when the curtain came up in this old and beautiful theatre, it felt exactly right.
People from all over the world had queued to see them arrive at the theatre. If Il Volo had reservations about performing in London, they were greeted by an enthusiastic sellout.
This headline from La Reppublica:
Il Volo conquista anche Londra: “Questa città era una sfida, siamo stati accolti col tutto esaurito”
(Trans: Il Volo also conquers London: “This city was a challenge, we were welcomed with a full house”)
I’ve listed all the songs that I remember Il Volo sang; they’re below though not in any order. I was too intent on the performance to take notes during it. Th emphasis is perhaps tending towards an English-speaking audience with songs from Elvis, Sinatra and Queen, but I was so happy that they kept in the beautiful Bel Canto classics like Un Amore Così Grande and O Sole Mio because I had never heard them sung live. As I said, my favourites are from Ad Astra and it was wonderful to hear the powerful Opéra, the magical Capolavoro and to watch the interplay of these amazing voices at the same time as hearing them. Next time, I hope to hear more.
VERY SPECIAL MOMENTS
What were the special London moments? Ignazio’s warm welcome and pleasure at being in London. He told us it had been Barbara’s favourite city. Gianluca’s apologising for his American accent and promising to practise his British one (really, you sound fantastic, Gian – what a linguist!). Ignazio teasing Gianluca about his sparkly boots and Gian teasing Igna about his very Italian accent when he said: “It’s my first concert with the ring”. Piero laughing at them both. And Piero’s smile at the end of each solo, as though he can’t believe he has actually brought it off!
They were in excellent voice, of course, and their solos were truly beautiful – my favourites: Memory by Ignazio, Amor, Vida de Mi Vida by Piero and Music of the Night by Gianluca. This seemed especially to reverberate around the traditional theatre with its boxes and balconies, its hidden corners: very like the Paris Opéra which is the setting for Phantom.
They told us a little about themselves. Piero talked about their 15 year journey together, starting as young boys who didn’t know one another. Gianluca described how he gets lost in the music, how important it is to live creatively in the moment. And Ignazio spoke about losing Barbara Vitali as he introduced Hallelujah. The audience had been told strictly no phones, photos or videos but we put on our flashlights when he asked us to, as a tribute to her. And we sneaked a photo or two. But I just wanted to listen – Hallelujah is another favourite, beautifully sung. You have to hope that their very real grief at Barbara’s death is receding just a little.
One of the UK’s most famous pop singers from the 50s till now, Cliff Richard (Sir Cliff), was in the audience. He was greeted from the stage by Gianluca, and as we craned over the balconies to try and see him, Ignazio told us to be careful and not to take a dive.
The audience was lit up between songs; it seemed Il Volo really wanted to see us and to know this audience who sang and clapped and shouted their names and “Bravi!” to show them how much we loved them. There were standing ovations and I suspect more than a few tears. (Caruso got to me!) We Brits are not so cold after all.
MEETING AND GREETING
After the show, I nervously headed for the Meet and Greet. They took a little while to arrive, and while I was waiting, I wondered what on earth I could say to them. In the end, I walked towards them smiling (probably like a crazy woman) and I just said “Thank you. That was a great show”. Those three pairs of wonderful eyes looked at me, and someone (which one was it?) said, “I’m glad you liked it”. But I wanted to say, “You have cheered some of my darkest days and brought me music that makes sense of life.”
WHY THIS CONCERT?
When I think about how determined I was to see Il Volo after knowing about their music for such a short time, I realise it was the warmth expressed for and from their audiences that really drew me. Yes, they are consummate entertainers, beautiful to hear and to look at, but it is this warmth that draws people to them all over the world, I believe. At the very end of the night, as they finally left the stage, Gianluca promised they would come back next year. If they do, I’ll be there.
THE SONGS
Here are all the songs I can remember from the show. I may have missed some songs out as I didn’t take notes at the time. I was mesmerised by what was happening onstage.
O Sole Mio
Il Mondo
Se
The Ecstasy of Gold
Can’t Help Falling In Love
Grande amore
Amor, Vida de mi Vida
The Sound of Silence
La donna è mobile
Hallelujah
Miserere
My Way
Opéra
Capolavoro
Un Amore Così Grande
È Lucevan Le Stelle
The Music of the Night
Memory
Nessun Dorma
Here are highlights of this beautiful, intimate concert.
Credit to owners of all videos.