Il Volo celebrates 10 years of songs, concerts, tours and records on YouTube with 10 Years, the best of album of their songs from “Grande Amore” to “Caruso”. The three singers Piero Barone, Ignazio Boschetto and Gianluca Ginoble, “from strangers to brothers who grew up together”, apply as heirs of Pavarotti and Bocelli and reveal the 4 most beautiful moments, the “quarrels for some girl” and a surprise for Easter. The “party” will last two years: the trio tells the press and celebrates its tenth anniversary with concerts around the world, the live return to Italy at the Verona Arena and at the Teatro Antico in Taormina, over 2 million albums sold, 500 million views and more than 1 million subscribers on the official YouTube channel.
10 YEARS.On Friday 8 November 2019 10 Years will be published worldwide, best of CD and DVD with images of the live in Matera and with the best of Il Volo’s career: “The Musica album was a consequence of Sanremo, but this record will be released internationally, because in the world those Italian pieces are unpublished. Since May we have held 83 concerts and 10 more have been added in America, Brazil and Japan. We try to follow the steps of Luciano Pavarotti and Andrea Bocelli to bring good singing to everyone: one day we would like to be their heirs.”
The three singers will return to perform in Italy in the summer of 2020 for two special concerts, on August 30th at the Verona Arena and on September 4th at the Teatro Antico in Taormina: “They are special places for artists, we have opened the dates one year first to tell the fans of our country that we have not forgotten them.” Tickets will be available in advance for the fanclub from 11:00 tomorrow, Wednesday 6 November, and for everyone online from Thursday 14; while they will be in the stores from November 14th.
10 Years will be released in various versions, including one made ad hoc for the Latin and one Japanese market, enclosing the best of Il Volo’s repertoire, from “‘O Sole Mio” to “My Way” to “Grande Amore”, from bel canto of Italian tradition to American evergreens. The track list consists of both tracks recorded in the studio and new live recordings, like the show in Matera in June. The best of is available in pre-order in 10 Years digital version – The best of with 27 tracks + digital booklet and in physical version 10 Years – The best of (Italian and International version) with 19 tracks or CD + DVD of the concert held at Matera in June 2019.
TOP 4.Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca “met” in 2009, when they were 14-15 years old: “It’s not always all roses, like in 2014 when there was a moment of transition from a record company to another .” Here are the four most beautiful moments of these 10 years together, in addition to the “cazzeggiano” before the concerts, the many trips and the live on stage:
1- The Haiti concert with Quincy Jones for We are the World 2- The tour with Barbra Streisand 3- The concert with Placido Domingo 4- Live in front of Pope Francis for World Youth Day
Here is how the relationship between the three members has changed in this decade: “Ten years ago we were quite different, now we are very close. In the early years it was not easy because we have three different heads: the whims were a bit bad. We fight and we discuss, like all the brothers, even for some girls … Now the priority in our group is to maintain serenity. When one of the three is ill and we have to bring a concert home, true friendship comes out there.” Gianluca is the most susceptible: “I get nervous easily: it’s a beautiful life but staying out of the house for two months means finding things changed on the way back, in the family and out; I always carry the melancholy, which also allows me to convey emotions on stage.”
And the future? “Later we will think of a new album: we will evaluate whether it is right to do new works, covers or projects … We are already working on future works, we have done experiments but one thing is certain: we must remain ourselves. We tried to do more pop and lighter things, our age required it too, but we understood that our dimension is lyric pop. People appreciate cover more, like the Nessun Dorma: even if we are not tenors and we still have to study. The difficulty is to find authors who write songs for lyric pop and for Il Volo in particular. However we already have unpublished works that we will be recording soon. And there is a great idea for Easter …”
MUSICA CHE RESTA.Il Volo “brings the Italian tradition around the world, not the culture of Sfera Ebbasta (an Italian rapper) and the trap”, say the three singers, “We accept musical evolution and every genre, we listen to everything and we are not like this stick to the past. We really appreciate Salmo (another Italian rapper), for example.” Gianluca reveals: “My 19-year-old brother and I listen to that music: but the musical culture, from the Beatles to Lucio Battisti (known Italian pop singer), is important. During the soundcheck we sing Sting, Police, Pink … I am the farthest from the work of us three. Then I realized that the three tenors project was right: it was a great idea, it was our greatest success so far. I was looking for something more youthful, with different sounds and productions: instead maybe that is the most suitable way. This is our personality.”
Piero declares: “Today we should check some texts and messages that are sent to young people, because they are our future: we do not generalize and do not judge, but some texts should be checked first. In the world, Italy is always considered the first place for music and fashion.” Ignazio explains: “Some things should not be touched: La Boheme should be done with the orchestra and not with electronics; evolution is not always the right thing. We sing a classic genre, which therefore will never die: fashions pass instead. We try to make the classic modern, from the visual and sound point of view, without distorting the melodies .”
3 PHRASES.Here are some statements from Il Volo at the press conference: – “There is no collaboration in sight with Ermal Meta (after approaching the social media, ed)” – “In our concerts we often ask young musicians, perhaps from the Conservatory, to give them an opportunity: we want to discover new talents among young people who share our passion for music.”
Here are the titles of the songs of 10 YEARS:
CD “10 Years”:Il mondo: ‘O sole mio; Surrender (Torna a Surriento); Smile; Caruso; Un amore così grande; Granada; My Way; Grande amore; Nel blu, dipinto di blu (Volare); Turandot: Nessun dorma; La traviata: Libiamo ne` lieti calici; People; Arrivederci Roma; Musica che resta feat. Alessandro Quarta; O Holy Night; A chi mi dice; El triste; Be My Love.
DVD “Live in Matera”: Il mondo; Un amore così grande; Granada; Surrender; E penso a te; She’s Always a Woman; No puede ser; Nel blu, dipinto di blu (volare); Arrivederci Roma; My Way; Musica che resta; Smile; Almeno tu nell’universo; Caruso; Mi mancherai; People; Love story; A chi mi dice; ‘O sole mio; La Traviata: Libiamo ne` lieti calici; Grande amore; Turandot: Nessun dorma.
TOUR.Il Volo is back from a tour in Latin America in front of over 70 thousand fans in 17 concerts and ten-year celebrations that began in May 2019 with live shows in Japan: “It was a risk to go back to South America because there wasn’t a new album but they are lots of requests arrived and the lives were packed.” Piero recounts a curious anecdote: “I never carry documents with me at concerts, I leave everything in the safe in the hotel: in Guatemala, after the live, my briefcase with the documents was found in a mall. In the room there was the PC and the suitcase but not the safe: they had eradicated it but they were good, they took only the money …”
To continue the celebrations for the 10-year career, Il Volo announces the North American Tour: the three singers will be involved in a series of prestigious live appointments from January 2020 in 12 states, which testify to the authentic success of the trio all over the world. Tickets on sale soon.
Here are the dates, including the Radio City Music Hall in New York:
28/01 TORONTO (ON) – Meridian Hall 30/01 LAVAL (PQ) – Place Bell 1/02 MASHANTUCKET (CT) – Foxwoods Casino 3/02 BOSTON (MA) – Boch Center Wang Theatre 6/02 NEW YORK – Radio City Music Hall 8/02 ATLANTIC CITY (NJ) – Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa 9/02 WASHINGTON DC (Oxon Hill) – MGM National Harbor 11/02 BETHLEHEM (PA) – Sands Event Center 13/02 DETROIT (MI) – Fox Theater 15/02 CHICAGO (IL) – Chicago Theater 17/02 ATLANTA (GA) – Cobb Energy Center 20/02 ORLANDO (FL) – Dr. Phillips Center 22/02 FORT LAUDERDALE (FL)(Sunrise) – BB&T Center 24/02 TAMPA (FL) – Straz Center 27/02 DALLAS (TX) – Winspear Opera House 1/03 MESA (AZ) – Ikeda Theater 3/03 SAN DIEGO (CA) – Copley Symphony Hall 5/03 LOS ANGELES (CA) – Microsoft Theater 7/03 INDIO (CA) – Fantasy Springs Casino 9/03 SAN JOSE (CA) – Center for the Arts 11/03 SAN RAFAEL (CA) – Marin Center 13/03 FRESNO (CA) – Saroyan Theater 15/03 LAS VEGAS (NV) – The Pearl at Palms Casino Resort
A short video of the conference, where Piero, in the end, explains the hotel theft in Guatemala.
Here are other statements of Piero, Gianluca and Ignazio reported by BLOGO.
GIANLUCA: “It’s nice to see you again. In May the world tour started in Japan and will end next year, but it is South America that has given us beautiful emotions. It was our first public, if we can say. In Buenos Aires, in one of the most important arenas of the country, made us understand when we have to say thanks to the musical heritage, to the bel canto. We try to follow the steps of great artists like Bocelli and Pavarotti and try to get this genre to reach even the most generations young people. We would like to be their heirs one day.”
IGNAZIO:“It’s always nice to meet different cultures and see the joy in their eyes. It’s nice to see that Italian culture is always appreciated and it’s nice to be able to do it. It would be something great to be Luciano and Andrea’s heirs.”
PIERO: “There have been other requests from South America, this tour has been challenging. For now there are 83 concerts, the 100 is close. Now an important part of this year with the South American tour has ended and we are back in Italy to announce this album. The album Musica was a consequence of Sanremo and was released only in Italian, in the world the songs that came out in Italy as “A Chi Mi Dice” are unpublished because they weren’t published. The international release and will be published everywhere.”
Here the video of almost the entire conference:
“If Il Volo celebrates 10 years it is not only thanks to our voices, but it is thanks to the work behind it and to our supporters. The merit is also of Michele Torpedine, who is not a simple manager: as he believes in us, no one else. He works 24 hours a day for us. Our goal is to discover new talents and give an opportunity to those he deserves.”
“With TV we have a good relationship. Il Volo is not a streaming product: it manages to convey its own message on TV. People have become attached to us and we have to say thanks to TV. It’s the only one. “A means to promote and make ourselves known. We were born on TV. We have to say thanks to talent: we were born into a TV talent, and fortunately there was no rivalry between us.”
Dear boys, beautiful news, still intense days for you, to publicize your new CD, which will be released
worldwide.
I wish you a great success with all my heart, which you certainly deserve !!
Surely you will remember that during the IL VOLO concert in Rome, we saw on video, two nice fans who came specially from Japan to attend the IL VOLO concert.
Here is the video that made them known to us, along with grandma Maura.
Their names are Yukio and Kumiko. In this video they say that they came to Italy for the concert and that they attended three concerts also in Japan.
They seemed really a very nice couple and so I thought I’d do an interview with them, to satisfy our great curiosity about everything about Il Volo.
So I contacted them via facebook and then email, and they were very kind to answer my questions:
“Hi Daniela, following are the replies of my wife and I, on your questions.”
The first question is certainly the simplest and most obvious: how did you come to know IL VOLO? How long have you been their fans? Was it an immediate pleasure or has it matured over time?
It was the morning of November 24, 2017. I happened to hear an Italian speaking voice on TV. I thought I must record it for my study immediately, since I have just started to learn Italian.
Later, I replayed the recorded program, it was the voice of Il Volo, three guys, and their witty answering with the TV interviewers was exactly full of my favorite Italian taste.
They sang Grande Amore!Sono molto commosso! (I am very moved!)
I was totally knocked out.
After my husband came back home, I showed him this video. My husband also loved it very much.
In this TV program, I found that there were two concerts in Japan, I really wanted to go to the concerts. I tried to find tickets for them, but the tickets in major ticket offices had been already sold out. But I decided, never give up to purchase. I called one of the offices of concert, Kawasaki, directly. The answer was “there are only two tickets remaining.” Lucky!
Of course, I bought them immediately. Il concerto era meraviglioso!! (The concert was wonderful!!)
Since then, we have become Il Volovers.
How many concerts did you attend?
Just before the concerts in Japan, 2017, we bought CDs and DVDs, “IL VOLO with PLACIDO DOMINGO (Notte Magica)”, commemorative album for Japan, and “Grande Amore”.
We listened to and watched the concert of Florence and Pompeii, which were contained in the DVDs. The videos ignited our dream to go to a concert held at Roman ruins in Italy.
After their concerts in Japan, we became the member of IL VOLO official Fanclub.
In line with the above and our willingness, I had been searching their concert in Europe by way of internet with a keyword of “I concerti Il Volo” in Italian. I found there was their dinner show in Monte Carlo, Monaco and asked the ticket agency in Monaco directly and got tickets.
While scheduling our trip to Europe, the official fanclub announced there were several concerts in Italy, 2018. We found we could go and listen to in Taormina, July 29. We had rescheduled and decided to go there. (Kumiko wrote)
In 2019 May, IL VOLO 10th anniversary tour started from Japan. Obviously, we planned to listen to their concerts except due to some blocked dates for us:
We attended the concerts described below:
May 13, YOKOHAMA – MINATO MIRAI HALL May 15, TOKYO – BUNKA KAIKAN MAIN HALL May 19, TOKYO – ORCHARD HALL
We brought handmade banners/flags and Japanese fans for these concerts to congratulate and send cheers to IL VOLO.
These good pictures were attached in this email.
In addition to these formal concerts, we attended/listened to following TV
recording/broadcasting programs as well as FM broadcast program:
**TV**:
On May 10, “Music station” produce by TV Asahi, is a live studio broadcasting by a set of guest artists, a kind of amusement show.
On May 14, “Utakon”. The program purpose produced by NHK is a wide variety of music genres, from enka and kayokyoku to pop, western music, and classical music, will be delivered to a wide range of people through live broadcasting and live singing.
On May 20, Daimei no Nai Ongaku Kai (Untitled Music Concerts) produced by TV Asahi. The program purpose is to challenge to integrate orchestra and music of different genres.
**Local FM radio**:
May 12, “Koyama Janet Aiko Botanica”. Inviting guests and talk to introduce on the current topic at noon time.
Finally, as you know, we attended Rome concert, June 26. (Yukio wrote)
We know that in Japan, IL VOLO has presented “Notte Magica”, while the concert in Rome, to which you have attended, is much more pop. Did you enjoy the concert in Rome? Your taste, is it more towards pop or more towards Notte Magica?
Yes, we enjoyed the concert in Rome, there is no discomfort for me. Even though the concert venue is not real Roman ruins, their performance was wonderful and the selection of the music from classic to pop was well-balanced. We were also very happy to hear new songs by Gianluca, Ignazio, and Piero.
As a matter of fact, we like to listen music from classic to pop very much. It may seem that I have no philosophy on music, Yukio sometimes listens to Flamenco guitar music.
As Il VOLO members say, their music is constantly changing and changing, so I’ m looking forward to how it will be changed in the future. (Yukio wrote)
Is there much difference between people’s reaction to concerts in
Japan and Italy?
It seems to me that Japanese audience want to listen to their music carefully and to get their message through their music. On the contrary, sorry to say this, in Italy while Il Volo sings, there are a lot of private language (talking) of the audience who is not interested in the music.
The reaction, applause, to songs seems to be the same; if the song is so emotional and touching, there is big applause.
In addition, there is one big obstacle between IL Volo and Japanese audience, that is language. Japanese audience can only understand the guys’ talk by the interpreter, even though she (Ms. Michiko Taguchi, who is an excellent translator for them, I believe.) translated the boys’ words with witness and changing voice tone depending on who speaks. In Italy, the guys could very easily communicate with the audiences, and back-and-forth of communication was speedy and comical.
What’s your favorite song ? (if you and your wife, have different tastes, make different answers as well.)
As I love too many songs, it is very difficult for me to choose just one song.
Therefore, I chose the following five songs: – E lucevan le stele – Grande amore – Music che resta – Ave Maria – Ricordami
(Kumiko)
I also pick my favorite 5 songs: – Il Mondo – Ave Maria, Mater Misericordiae – Musica Che Resta – Grande Amore – El Triste
(Yukio)
I hope these answers will satisfy you.
Thank you,
Il Volovers: Kumiko & Yukio
Dear Yukio and Kumiko, thank you very much for your kindness and for having accepted the interview.
It was not easy, I, an Italian, had to write in English and you, had to translate everything in your language to understand what I was asking you.
But in the end, we understood each other very well, our topic was music, and we all know that music has a single language and that of IL VOLO, unites people from one end of the world to the other.
You wait for an event for so long, and then in an instant, everything seems to be over.
It happened again this time.
After a dreary autumn day, sported the day before, for the day of the big event, Verona has prepared a beautiful day, with a warm afternoon sun.
The meeting of the soundcheck was scheduled for 4:30pm and finally after an hour and a half of the queue, and endless beautiful meetings with so many fans that I know only via internet, we managed to enter.
Ignazio went wild in an imitation of Freddy Mercury, in “I WANT TO BREAK FREE”, too good and nice Ignazio.
Half an hour of song rehearsals, and the boys greeted us and left. There are two full hours before the concert starts and we can’t leave the Arena.
Slowly, the whole Arena fills up, the emotion is at its peak.
A pianist opens the evening and then IL VOLO, it all starts !!!
The stage is beautiful, full of lights, a large inscription IL VOLOstands tall. It starts with “NESSUN DORMA”.
A beautiful start as documented by the video of our Alicja that was in the front rows. Thanks Alicja! 😊
“VINCINISSIMO”
“CARUSO”
At the end of the song, there is a nice exchange of our boys’ lines, I translate it for you.
G= Thank you all, nice though, but do you realize where we are? P + I = In Verona G= OK, I wanted to play the part of those who exalt, it wasn’t a prepared joke, ok I won’t say anything anymore. I= However, I, as a family member, as a brother …… P= I understand, you’re driving me away. I= No. P= But look what a face you are !! I= No. P= You have the same face as that guy on the plane. We were returning from Paris, Paris-Bologna.
I= Can it be that he is here? We hope not. P= Paris-Bologna, we enter by plane first, it was you and me ….. G= I swear to you that if it doesn’t make you laugh ….. P= It’s funny (and then addressed to people) Laugh! (laughs). I was on the plane, second row, me, corridor, Ignazio. I= No, you are wrong. P= Come on, Ignazio. I= You must tell it like this, there was the corridor, I was here and you were there, in the row in front of me, but on the opposite side. P= Perfect. A man enters, all composed, with a pair of shoes that ….. I= But what do you say “all composed” ?.
P = It was a little strange, the pistachio green shirt, the pink pants …. G= Maybe there’s someone here, dressed like that … I= (for people) Is there someone here dressed as a “pistachio and strawberry ice cream cone?” (laughter) I don’t think so.
P= Pistachio shirt and strawberry pants, and crocodile shoes, electric blue, it was something to think “tomorrow I go to the barracks to make the complaint”. I= However I approach … P= …. to me, and he tells me in Sicilian dialect …. (look, in Sicilian it says TALIA) I= But sorry, I’m here, I’ll do my part. G= I make the guy. P= No, I do it, you do Piero, me.
I= Crocodile human ice cream arrives … G= See that Pio and Amedeo (two Italian comedians) were here (in the Arena) yesterday! I= Ok, at a certain point, I see the guy arrive, he passes and I say to Piero (in Sicilian dialect for not being understood by the guy): “ Oh Piero, taliaci scarpe” (look at the shoes) …… now, one of Paris, do you think he can understand ???
P= And this guy, two meters tall, passes by, turns to Ignazio and says “Do you want to look better at my shoes ???” (laughter) …. and Ignazio makes this face …. (Piero makes an open mouth) I= But if I am here I do it my face ……. I made the surprised face !!! P= However I wanted to tell this event and now I’m leaving, as a brother, I’m leaving. (to the people) I will miss 3 minutes and then I come back, don’t cry. (applause, Gianluca approaches Ignazio) I= If now they bring us the microphones, we sing.
G= I’ll give you a little kiss. I= No, no, (Gian dismisses), you never know, Ricky Martin teaches, in the end it is so, and there is nothing wrong, though …. G= Stop it, you know it’s not like that! I= What’s got to do with it, but you don’t give it to me, kisses. G= It is a fraternal gesture. I= And you keep these fraternal gestures, all this kindness …. G= Do we want to sing ?? I= We are passionate about Musicals, and this is why we decided to sing this song, it is part of one of the most famous American Musicals in the world, “WEST SIDE STORY” ….. (Ignazio jokes with the emotions of the public) … I seem to be Mega Mind: “MARIA”.
“A CHI MI DICE”
When “SMILE” starts, there is a nice surprise, Fabio Ingrassia, on stage, performs a beautiful drawing, which in the end is a portrait of Charlie Chaplin.
Very beautiful.
One of the most touching moments:
Ignazio sings “ANCORA TU NELL’UNIVERSO”, magnificent interpretation, Ignazio, how much emotion.
Same emotion for Piero with his solo “WHERE DO I BEGIN”, wonderful interpretation.
And what about the fantastic “BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER” by Gianluca, emotion to the stars, another fabulous interpretation.
Every once in a while my eyes turned around, and it was a spectacle in the show, a flood of faces and hands that clapped, little lights that lit up, fantastic!!
And in the end, an explosion and a lot of colorful confetti, beautiful.
All really fantastic, the 27 songs performed with so much skill but also with much love, and what about the voices, the voices of Piero, Gianluca and Ignazio, are getting better and better, a charm that takes you from beginning to end.
And for those who want to see almost the whole concert from beginning to end, here is this video, it was taken up sideways and often frames the big screens, but you really don’t lose anything of the evening.
Some beautiful pics of the evening.
(Click on any photo to enlarge it.)
This was published by Elisa d’Ospina, a famous model in Italy.
Operation happiness, success.
Yesterday I wanted to surprise my grandmother bringing her to the Il Volo concert. She did not expect me to come and I found myself in Verona waiting for her. She didn’t even know that we would have seen the concert from under the stage and she was ecstatic all evening holding my hand. The strongest moment when the boys sang “Caruso”, one of the few songs that makes me cry automatically. Before he died, when he was still well, I was at the table with my grandfather and in a transmission there was Lucio Dalla singing his masterpiece. This big man of almost two meters became small and moved. From that day “Caruso” became the song that reminds me of grandfather. And last night hand-in-hand we listened together with grandma. We went out at midnight with her repeating in a loop: “What a great gift”. Thanks also to Gianluca Ginoble who greeted her from the stage. It’s nice to make those you love happy.
If you have time, don’t waste your time and dedicate it as much as you can to the loved ones. ❤️
You guys were great, there are no right words to express emotions.
To understand, you need to be there, to see, and above all to feel, and then everything will seem so simple and beautiful to you, and a wonderful feeling will come into you and you would no longer want this beautiful feeling to go away.
But as always, everything ends and you already miss all of this, but other concerts are on the horizon. The emotions continue !!
Luca Maggitti is a good journalist who lives in Roseto degli Abruzzi. In these days of early August, he interviewed, for EMOZIONI MUSICA FESTIVAL, Gianluca Ginoble, Michele Torpedine and also Marino Bartoletti.
Of these three interventions, I will translate the most interesting moments.
Let’s start with GIANLUCA.
After the various initial pleasantries, where Luca Maggitti asks Gianluca the importance of his Abruzzo and thanks him for always bringing the knowledge of his land up high in the world, they remember together the first meeting with Massimo Ranieri, which took place in Roseto, again before Gianluca became part of IL VOLO.
Luca asks Gianluca if Massimo Ranieri is an example for his life, as he is a singer, actor and director, and that’s what Gian answers.
GG= Surely Massimo Ranieri is a great example, he is a complete artist, but I, as you know, am a big fan of American music, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and they too were great actors.
I am closer to the type of music, but also to the type of acting, more American, but Massimo Ranieri, has always been an artist that I greatly admired.
Towards the end of the interview, Maggitti asks Gianluca the plans for the future of IL VOLO.
Gianluca replies that they are celebrating their 10-year career, with a tour that started in Japan and will end in the US, and the first date will be at Radio City Music Hall in New York, for the third time.
And now let’s continue with the interesting parts of the interview with Michele Torpedine.
Maggitti asks Michele, why every year, he comes for a week in Roseto, what he likes about this place, since he could go anywhere, but he chooses to come here.
Michele answers that Roseto is his second city, perhaps more than the first, because in Bologna he lead a retired life, he live in a reserved manner. Here he has many friends, beyond the relationship with Gianluca, everyone loves him here, and for him that’s important.
Maggitti shows the book RICOMINCIO DAI TRE and asks Torpedine for an explanation of his phrase “I love music, but not the world of music.”
Michele explains that there is a lot of ingratitude in the musical world and his book served to explain this fact.
Maggitti congratulates Michele, for his cover photo, of the book, confirming that it is a shot made by Gianluca.
Michele admits that Gianluca is very good with the camera and confirms that the photos that Torpedine uses on his Facebook page are made by Gianluca.
Maggitti asks how important the figure of the manager is. Torpedine confirms that if there is a good relationship, the figure of the manager is of considerable importance. Below he talks about his experience with Pavarotti and the importance of having understood the success of combining classical music with pop music.
But in my opinion, the interview where really important things were said, is this of the dear friend Marino Bartoletti.
At the beginning, Maggitti recalls the early days when Bertoletti came to Roseto, but then, confirming that for him this place has become a fixture, for him, he admits that the second reason for his coming is to re-embrace Gianluca Ginoble. (His exact words.)“Everyone knows my respect for him, but I should say, my friendship, my affection for him.”
Maggitti’s question is very strong: “What has IL VOLO to do 11 consecutive world tours and still fills all the theaters and what is the appeal of you, great music expert and journalist, who talks about them as famous and well-liked in the world?”
Bartoletti = I could answer you by reversing the question, that is, by asking me how there are still people (even our journalist colleagues) who still do not understand, this success of theirs and their talent. I admit, that I am attached to them by affection, friendship and admiration towards them, but they have everything that is asked of bel canto, skill, the ability to transmit the Italian genius abroad. But it’s the same Italian genius that should be better understood in Italy, and then I wonder, what else do these guys have to prove?
They are boys who have reached their tenth year, and sold out everywhere, even here in Italy. I can only say that I admire them very much, that I admire their “spirit of sacrifice” which is extraordinary, because they could “sit on their laurels”, instead they continue to improve, to improve. This year they were very good, even in Sanremo, where they achieved third place, so very elegantly. I would like the Italian guys to look more like them, especially as the families of the Italian boys were more like the families of Gianluca, Piero and Ignazio, because I always say this publicly, that the strength of these guys is what they have behind them, family, culture, education, humility.
I don’t know for you, but for me to read the beautiful and deserved words of Marino Bartoletti, towards IL VOLO, is like taking a sip of fresh and clear water, when you have a throat burned by thirst.
On August 16th, Piero received an award from his beloved NARO.
Let’s go in order:
This message was published by Piero, I translate the words:
On August 16th evening I will have the pleasure of dedicating time to my splendid NARO: being recognized and honored, from one’s native country, is an honor that is not at all obvious.
Here are the roots, here my story is born: the houses, the alleys, the faces, with which I grew up and of which I could tell a thousand stories.
At the moment, I will tell you only one, the affection I have for my country.
All Naro waits on the beautiful staircase.
Here is the moment of Piero’s arrival.
And here is the awarding of the prize, by the mayor, very proud of our Piero.
Mayor = Meanwhile I wanted to put the institutional band, even if it is wrong (Piero rushes to fix the band), to give the official status of the institution, the solemnity of this moment, to pay our affection, our gratitude, to a great, to an international star, which is Piero. (applause)
Considering that at this moment, I do not feel I am just the mayor of Naro and its 7500 inhabitants, but I feel like the mayor of all the Naresi (inhabitants of Naro) scattered all over the world.
So I make myself an interpreter, of all the Naresi, scattered around the world, to say THANK YOU to Piero, for the emotions he always gives us. I also greet all the friends of Canicattì who are here for Piero.
I will not dwell much, but I must tell you that I am particularly excited. You saw the first part of the video (before calling Piero, they projected a video dedicated to Piero ), well, that little boy was Piero …. (to Piero) I don’t know where your grandfather is … . (Piero indicates with his hand, on the stairway). Pietro, a big hug to Pietro, to whom a family friendship, of many years, binds me.
That mayor of 10 years ago, when Piero started it all, was me.
To give you the prize, I would like to call Magda. (Magda is a small child, new promising star of Naro, Piero goes to meet Magda and kisses her.)
With the hope that in 10 years we will be here again to celebrate even Magda.
Best wishes Piero. (kisses and hugs to Piero and delivery of the prize)
I was at Piero’s house, I saw, how many plaques, how many photos with “the powerful of the world” ….. Piero, but this is the gift of NARO !!!(applause)
One last thing and I finish, a memory, when they, in the theater of Taormina, dedicated the song to their mother, and he bowed and Eleonora, beat the song’s rhythm on his leg ….. Eleonora and Gaetano, thank you for what you you have done, for believing us, for the sacrifices you have made to make him a great man.(applause, a second awarding ceremony continues, during which Vincenzo Porrello gives Piero a special gift.)
And here is the video broadcast by local television. At the beginning Piero sings a beautiful song “NARO FULGENTISSIMA” (I think his grandfather composed it, during the video, while Piero sings, you can see his father Gaetano and his mother Eleonora, sitting on the staircase, near a white lantern.)
Mayor= For us it is a source of great pride, to celebrate 10 years of IL VOLO activity, but in particular, allow me, of our fellow citizen Piero Barone. A boy who is an international star, but who has remained a humble boy, has remained a boy devoted to his city.
I am the mayor of all the Naresi scattered in the world and for us, having Piero Barone this evening, who is the ambassador of the beauties of this city, but above all of the heart and love, of this city, can only make me absolutely happy.
Piero= My first thought, but I also think of all of you here, goes to the Bracco family, for the pain that struck them. (a young citizen of Naro, on vacation on the lake near Rome, drowned … applause).
The love I have for this country, and for our city, will never end.
Host= What do you feel for this city?
Piero= Naro, it’s me, it’s my blood. I grew up here, my whole story is here.
If it’s about my past, it’s all my grandfather’s fault, he gave me my passion for music.
When I was 8, it was he, my grandfather Pietro, who had me engraved, “UN AMORE COSÌ GRANDE”.
In one of those beautiful summer evenings over 10 years ago, my grandfather made my father hear that song, and from that moment, my father, stubborn as he is, every time someone came into the garage (he repaired cars), put me up on the bonnet of cars and made me sing either “GRANADA” or “UN AMORE COSÌ GRANDE”. I couldn’t take any more, every customer heard “GRANADA” or “UN AMORE COSÌ GRANDE”(Piero’s parents laugh).
In the same evening, there was the election of Miss Naro, and here is Piero photographed with all the participants.
Some shots of the evening, thanks to Il Volo Sicilia fanpage.
What a beautiful emotion Piero, to hear you sing that beautiful song dedicated to Naro.
And your words, for your city, fill every citizen with pride.
Bravo Piero !!
Daniela
Piero Barone with Nonno Piero Ognibene Singing “Naro Fulgentissima”
Credit to owners of all photos and videos.
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