As I told you, I was in the Arena in Verona for the Il Volo concert “Tutti per uno” on the evening of May 11th.
To say that it was a MAGNIFICENT concert is truly an understatement, because everything was beautiful and well prepared.
What can we say about the stage and sets?
Stunning, an alternation of lights, colors, images appropriate to the songs!!!
What can we say about the excellent orchestra of 54 elements, the excellent members of the choir positioned on two sides and the fantastic conducting of the friendly Maestro Rota?
What can we say about the numerous but spectacular guests who took turns with our guys?
What about the choice of songs, all beautiful and representative?
What about the fantastic Arena, an enchanting place, packed with a participating, cheering and collaborative audience, who illuminated the Arena with thousands of lights and sang at the top of their lungs?
And finally what to say about our three musketeers, our fantastic ones PIERO IGNAZIO GIANLUCA from their wonderful voices, their mastery on stage, their sympathy, kindness, humility and strength, they force themselves to perform in concert on TV recording without “downtime”, with numerous guests, different songs, different rhythms…… ….Priceless. Attending one of their concerts is a wonderful event, and……….a small but important note, this year it didn’t rain!!!
I realize that the first three concerts in the Arena, which have also been recorded and will be broadcast as early as May 14th by Canale 5, are designed for Italian TV, and therefore the dialogues are in Italian and the guests are known here in Italy, but the foreign audience present still appreciated it a lot and the Italian audience sang and rejoiced listening to beautiful Italian songs that are sometimes forgotten and which have triggered beautiful memories in each of us.
I didn’t make videos, because the three evenings will certainly be broadcast in excellent quality by Canale 5 and I will show them to you and translate the speeches so you too will be able to understand better, I only took some photos with my cell phone but the resolution is certainly not good, but we will have time to put better videos and photos and we will talk a lot about these concerts. This time I am attaching some videos made by my friend Francesca Brazzale who I thank very much.
Know that the emotion of our three boys was palpable.
The start of the evening was amazing, they started by singing the beautiful song from the film GLADIATOR, how exciting: “NELLE TUE MANI”.
I don’t know exactly how the three concerts will be edited by Canale 5, but I can tell you that during the one I attended, it was nice to see Piero and Gianluca join their mothers in the Arena and give them a kiss and it was sweet to listen to the beautiful words dedicated by Ignazio to his deceased father.
In the next video I propose the duet with Irama also contained in the new CD Ad Astra: SATURNO E VENERE.
My husband and I had seats in the fifth row on the far left looking at the stage and I must say that they were not bad seats at all. Near us on the first steps were Torpedine, Barbara, Michelle, Ernesto and his father Ercole who I was able to meet personally that evening.
At a certain point in Capolavoro, Gianluca came to sing right on the stage in front of where we were and we could all see that he was very emotional, to the point of tears.
The last video I propose for this little roundup is LA VITA (LIFE), a beautiful song with very important words.
And here is the roundup of my photos which, as I told you, are not very beautiful, but they are mine and we will certainly have time to see some beautiful ones.
It goes without saying that the Arena is also the ideal place for meetings between fans.
Even though my husband and I arrived at the last moment because we couldn’t find free parking for the car, I was able to say hello to Kirsten and her husband from Denmark, Laura and Ugo from Trieste, Judith from Canada, Susan and her brother from Chicago, too bad I didn’t see Jolanta from Poland then I have know Martina Gerlach-Bunz from Germany, and even if these brief hugs and greetings fill our hearts, this is yet another power of Il Volo, that of bringing together people of different cultures in the name of music.
In this photo: me, my husband Beppe, Kirsten Langer and her husband Steen.
And what about our amazing loving boys??
May 12th was the birthday of Michele Torpedine who was turning 72 years old and during the rehearsals, Ignazio conducted all the orchestral members and choristers and everyone wished Michele a happy birthday, these three were truly UNIQUE!!!
Surely Michele Torpedine will have been happy!
AUGURI TORPEDINE!! 🎂🍾🍾🥰
I don’t want to say anything else so as not to spoil the various surprises that you will be able to see during the three evenings of television.
Meanwhile, Canale 5 has broadcast this nice promo which anticipates the broadcast of the concerts.
I conclude with this beautiful comment published by my journalist friend Antonella Esposito who was present at the concert, never more beautiful words to express what an Il Volo concert is!!
Il Volo: “Tutti per uno” is not a simple concert, it is a multiplayer show in which all the pieces intersect creating the intermittent vision of a body in a periodic way. From the lighting system, to the stage scaffolding, through the graphic mood, up to the perfection of the fluidly diffused and never aggressive sound, everything is there and in the right place.
There is the setting of the Arena, there are guests, many of them.
There is charisma, the different color of voices and character, there is lightness, solemnity, memory.
There is the history of music of which it is a full part.
ARE YOU READY TO SEE THE FIRST ENTIRE CONCERT?
SEE YOU SOON!!
Credit to Daniela Perani and others for their photos and to Francesca Brazzale and others for their videos.
And so their first CD of unreleased songs was released.🥰
For Il Volo it was an exhausting week for the launch of the CD, interviews and appearances everywhere and we were also in the pre-Easter week, in short, intense days.
I was very lucky that two events were taking place not far from where I live and with great joy I participated in both together with my husband!!
The first event was Thursday 28th in Cologno Monzese, home of Canale 5 and also of Radio Italia where the meeting took place.
The second, the next day, March 29, was the signing of the CD at the Bussolengo shopping center in the province of Verona.
Both events were about 100 km (62 miles) towards Milan for Cologno Monzese and the other towards Verona, in short Brescia remains right in the middle of these two places, how lucky!! 😉🤪
I didn’t go to Radio Italia through the Fan club, but I asked Radio Italia directly to be able to participate as an audience in the event and after a couple of days Radio Italia responded to me confirming entry for me and another person, therefore my husband was also admitted, naturally we had to send all our personal data. We had to show up at the entrance of Radio Italia at 7:00 pm and therefore we left on time and arrived at our destination without problems. There was already a queue of people waiting, entry was slow, because everyone had to fill out an authorization to use their image, given that the program was recorded and was broadcast on TV.
We had also been warned that there were no seats, but we already knew this having already been to a similar event, again with Il Volo in 2019.
When we all entered, an entertainer explained to us how the filming worked, once Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca entered, they would sit on the edge of the small stage and be interviewed by the two presenters: Manola Moslei and Daniela Cappelletti, the short interviews they would have been one after the other, but then edited at different times in the video.
They also asked us if any of us had never attended an Il Volo concert and about ten people raised their hands.
And then they came in, beautiful as the sun, smiling, dressed casually and they smiled at everyone. 😍😍😍
I knew that their new CD was officially released the next day but I was hoping, since the show would be broadcast the next evening, that they would let us hear the new songs.
And in fact it was like this, they told us we could take photos and videos, but they recommended not to release the videos of the new songs until midnight.
I took several photos that I will publish starting with these:
As you can see we were really close to the stage, a few meters separated us from them and after the interviews, they went up on stage and allowed us in the audience to get closer to the edge of the stage itself.
What can I say, we witnessed a real mini-concert. Ignazio Piero and Gianluca didn’t hold back, they immediately sang seven new songs, starting with Capolavoro and then, at the end, they sang another four songs that we know very well, namely Il Mondo, Se Telefonando, Musica che Resta, Grande Amore.
Ernesto Ginoble and all the authors and producers were also present in the room.
Gianluca Piero and Ignazio were calm but, by their admission, very excited because it was the first time they sang the new songs in public and they really wanted to see our reaction.
And what about the new songs…. WONDERFUL!!!! ❤️
I assure you that if you listen live they are beautiful, the lyrics are very beautiful, and the music is fantastic, very well orchestrated, certainly not ridiculous and repetitive songs with some basic chords done on the computer!!!
Congratulations, a job done really well, this is my opinion, of course, and I am very happy to note that Il Volo did not let itself be carried away by the pop and rap songs that are now in fashion here in Italy, songs that are super popular with kids, but which they have no artistic value, on the contrary, the more they are full of false notes and autotune, the more they are admired. Il Volo is not this and it shows in this production of theirs. Il Volo has not changed its nature, it has become more pop, but always remaining true to itself. Of course we don’t think we’ll find singing virtuosity, which they know how to do very well, but which they will always offer us in their concerts. 😉
Now I’ll tell you a couple of things that you won’t see during the official video.
The boys were singing and it was hot, at the end of a song, while Piero was talking, Ignazio in a corner, not in the frame, took off his jacket and when they were about to start the song, the technicians stopped and told Ignazio to put his jacket back on because otherwise the people on the video would have seen that first he was wearing the jacket and then after the jacket had disappeared . Ignazio said: “But I’m dying of heat,” and so they told him he had to put it back on and let them see him undress it. So in the video you will see that as soon as one of the songs starts, Ignazio immediately takes off his jacket and throws it in the air!! 😂😂
Another moment that you won’t see:at the end of the recording, the boys said goodbye to everyone, but before getting off the stage, the direction checked that everything was ok, but they saw that a song hadn’t come out well due to technical problems, so the guys told us if we were sorry they had to redo a song……but NOOOOOO. 🤪🤣🤣🤣
Then, after having redone the song, and with the cameras off, Gianluca said: “Let’s do Capolavoro again,” and so it was and we were all singing at the top of our lungs. Gianluca noticed a child in the audience who was singing loudly and invited him to go on stage, all three boys tried to convince him, but the child didn’t want to go up, he sent them a kiss and that was it.
But I must say that Ignazio, Piero and Gianluca were really very kind and nice, and their voices did not betray us, fantastic as always.
Overall it was a beautiful mini concert, indeed, an intimate mini concert, because we were about 200 people, and completely free!! 👏👏👏
None of the audience was able to have direct contact with them, because in the end Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca went to the back stage, but I would say that we can be happy like that.
And now I’ll give you the entire official Radio Italia video, enjoy!!
MANOLA= Isy Bank Music Place packed for a new episode of Radio Italia live. These very young boys started and it seems incredible 15 years ago, they were three kids and it is already a great indication.
DANIELA= Yes, yes, but then they toured the whole world with their music, they filled arenas and arenas I think on every continent .
MANOLA= My goodness!
DANIELA = This summer they will be everywhere in the world again, but this evening we have them right here on Radio Italia live, soon we will have a chat with them, we are Manola Moslehi and Daniela Cappelletti, but first let’s find out who they are with our card. Later! (the presentation sheet starts)
Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca enter the stage, Capolavoro begins! ❤️❤️❤️
(my husband and I are in the audience, on the far right of the stage, just starting the right wall. We know where we were and therefore we were able to see each other but for you, it is very difficult to recognize us)
PIERO= And now we will sing our album of unreleased songs for the first time, here at Radio Italia. We will sing some songs, most of the songs from the CD, we will start with CHIARO DI LUNA. It’s exciting for us, being able to sing songs for the first time, it’s the litmus test…(a girl lets out a little scream)
IGNAZIO= I would like to understand why you scream if you don’t know the song..😂😂…. (the song begins)
GIANLUCA= Luca Faraone (one of the authors and producers) has just arrived, a round of applause to the producer and great musician, to the great Edwyn who has just arrived (Edwyn Roberts, another author and producer) and we also want to thank Cheope who wrote this song with Stefano Marletta and Michael Tenisci (they are all authors).
IGNAZIO= This next song….
PIERO= However one thing is important, sorry (to Ignazio). Often we must not fall for social consensus, we live a daily life in which we always need to have the consent of others. Tonight, like never before, we need your consent , did you like it? (loud applause from the audience).
IGNAZIO= So we started well. The next song, personally it is one of my favorites on the album, is one of those songs where you have to put your headphones on, and dedicate it to the person you love and so if you have someone you love, dedicate it to them. L’INFINITO.
DANIELA= Their album AD ASTRA was released today and this evening they are making us feel, like a gift, to play the songs from this new album. At the Isy Bank Music Play of Radio Italia , there is Il Volo!!
IGNAZIO= We talked about the producers and this next song was written and produced in part by a great Italian producer who if a few months ago his name was associated with ours they told us: “you are crazy”, and we are talking about Michelangelo (producer)
PIERO= (he hums a song by Michelangelo)
IGNAZIO= The song talks about an elegant love, therefore: SUCCEDE
PIERO= It’s a very strange feeling tonight. This year, as you know, we are celebrating 15 years of our career and we have experienced……. (applause)..thank you…we have experienced many sensations, many emotions. Tonight is a new, very strange feeling, because we had never sung all these unreleased songs for the first time, we have always been used to singing well-known songs, we have based our career on bel canto, on the cultural heritage that we have all inherited. Really in life, never say never, this album has arrived and we are really.. I am moved, excited….😍
GIANLUCA= You know why, this is beautiful….. it’s beautiful because the beauty of our work is that we can convey emotions with our voices and this album talks a bit about us, about what we’ve experienced in the last year and a half, and our relationship has also strengthened, because 15 years is a long time but we are like a family and it is important to try to send this positive message too, it is important to do what you like most and express yourself, to be you yourself and convey authentic emotions to the audience that listens to you, so we would like to thank you for all the support you have given us over all these years, and it is exciting to sing these songs that speak about us deeply, for the first time to you this evening .
MANOLA= The Isy Bank this evening is truly a place full of energy and warmth because the occasion is special, there are three guys we know, three incredible artists: Il Volo!!
IGNAZIO= Hello, hello everyone.
MANOLA= Welcome back, this is your home by now you know it, but it’s always a pleasure to meet you. What a beautiful day today! It’s special because it was released – AD ASTRA.
IGNAZIO= Today AD ASTRA was released, we have been working on it for a while, many monts if not a year and a half and we are very happy because in any case after 15 years we are working on a totally unreleased project, we have matured and reached an artistic maturity and it gave us the opportunity to have very concrete content in each song. In fact, with the songs we address themes that we feel are very close to us, such as love but also doubt, life, why we are in the world and also a little about the world as it is going at the moment in these years, that’s it.
MANOLA= How do you decide the songs to include in your first album of unreleased songs, I imagine you’ve done a skimming…
IGNAZIO= Making punches…😂😂😂
PIERO= It’s the first time and we are proud of this album, because we have put together a team of authors who have somehow coexisted with us, they listened…
MANOLA= Shall we name some names?
PIERO= Yes, then.. we have Stefano Marletta, Edwyn Roberts, Michael Tenisci, the applause also started..
IGNAZIO= Federica Abbate …
MANOLA= In short, a good team.
GIANLUCA= Yes, but then the beauty is that we are interpreters, we have never worked on an album entirely of unreleased songs, always making projects that have led us to become who we are today. We have to thank these people who gave us the opportunity to make our thoughts and emotions tangible, not by writing ourselves in the first place, so we made friends and thanks to them we can be ourselves with our songs, so thank you…….🥰
PIERO= So now that the album is out the friendship is over. 🤣
MANOLA= It’s not true, it’s impossible not to be your friends 😍
GIANLUCA= So we really want to thank them, they are here, please give a round of applause to these wonderful guys and artists first and foremost.
MANOLA= This thing is very beautiful because we are used to seeing the final result, so the album and the work behind it is often and willingly, I won’t say is underestimated, but put a little in the shade, so the fact that you underline how far you have come together, as a team effort, it is very beautiful, very very beautiful. 🥰 There is also a featuring with Irama, the first and only featuring in this new album, in SATURNO E VENERE, how did this collaboration come about?
PIERO= We had already collaborated with Irama last year in the concert we did at the Arena. This year we were in the recording studio, we felt the need for a duet and I must tell you that it is one of our objectives to play a bit with the possibilities that music gives us, to bring together these opposite worlds, and with Irama, perhaps it is also unthinkable to combine a voice like Irama in a duet with Il Volo and I must tell you that the strength of the music…
IGNAZIO= A quartet..
PIERO= A quartet, I have to tell you that the strength of the music allowed us to live an experience in the studio together with Filippo (Irama), his way of working, of recording, of writing music which is all his, is truly incredible , I wish you one day to be able to see Filippo in the recording studio while he writes the songs, he is truly fascinating, and we thank him for participating and accepting the collaboration.
MANOLA= In fact on paper, given Filippo’s vocality, it was particular to imagine as a duet, and instead the final result is truly extraordinary.
IGNAZIO= Did you hear it?
MANOLA= Yes. I did, of course, otherwise I wouldn’t be able to talk to you tonight, right? 😁 What questions are you asking me, Ignazio?.🙄.. he’s still him anyway…🤪
PIERO= He wants to put you in difficulty..😁
MANOLA= Of course, by now, I know that guy like the back of my hand! 😉
Piero, before, spoke about the Verona Arena, you want to talk about it again, because there is something very important that will happen soon at the Arena.
IGNAZIO= Breaking news is that out of four dates, three are already sold out.
MANOLA= Wow. Four concerts at the Verona Arena, you have actually already performed there, but bringing your work, your album of unreleased songs will be something else.
GIANLUCA= Already singing them live for the first time tonight is exciting, not only for some of you, but also for us because obviously listening to them in headphones and singing them is totally different, so we will give our best and we can’t wait to bring it to tour because it will be quite long, we will start from China and Japan, then we will go to the Arena and then until next year, until mid-2025, so it will be a trip to ASTRA, exactly.
MANOLA= You said 4 dates, three sold out, one is missing, in my opinion the other will be sold out very soon too, I’ll tell you.
IGNAZIO= Yes, they’re running out.
MANOLA= I’ll tell you, we at Radio Italia bring luck.👍
IGNAZIO= Oh yes?
MANOLA= Yes.
IGNAZIO= Good.
MANOLA= So we thank you because, in short, it is the first time that you are performing with your unreleased songs here at Isy Bank Music Place. Show it Piero (Manola is holding an AD ASTRA vinyl)
PIERO= Ah, the one with the most beautiful colour.
MANOLA= It’s blue.
PIERO= Look how beautiful!
GIANLUCA= It’s an object to keep at home, beautiful, it’s a piece of furniture, look, it’s wonderful.
MANOLA= Let’s say for those who are listening to us on the radio that you have just shown the color of the vinyl which is blue.
PIERO= Where is the camera? It’s here, look how beautiful it is.
MANOLA= Cobalt blue is this.
GIANLUCA= Even those who are not fans of Il Volo can take this, just for objects.
MANOLA= For objects…..it’s a bit of a fetish if you want…
GIANLUCA= A fetish, yes…
MANOLA= So guys I want to continue…
PIERO= This is Ignazio’s hand (he is looking at the back of the vinyl cover) “who continues to hope… close that window!”
MANOLA= Again for those who are listening on the radio, we are talking about the B side of the vinyl…
IGNAZIO= In what sense?
MANOLA = The cover, side B, practically has the hand of Ignazio.
IGNAZIO= They took it while I was running away and I said HELP….
GIANLUCA= In reality they chose Ignazio’s hand because it is the most beautiful of the three…😁
MANOLA= Oh well….
GIANLUCA= I won’t show you mine because you’d run away.
IGNAZIO= But Piero’s is nice too, just nice…😁
MANOLA= Guys, all three of you are beautiful, in any position, as you put on you are beautiful and you stay beautiful. 🥰
PIERO= I injured myself this morning in the walk-in closet (he has a plaster on his finger), I was about to put on a jacket and there was a sheet metal edge….
IGNAZIO=…….and we don’t care..😂😂😂…Were you saying? (to Manola)
MANOLA= Too many things, you have to make a selection. No, let’s close, I want to hear you sing again, okay? (to the audience) – YES – and so I’ll leave the stage to you. This evening in the Isy Bank Music Place three extraordinary voices: Il Volo!
IGNAZIO= This next song is bel canto 2.0, we can say.
PIERO= So, there was a dear journalist who commented on this song saying after listening to it: “You have made bel canto more contemporary”. I think it was one of the best compliments we received and it was also our goal, and it’s also difficult to sing it.
IGNAZIO= It’s difficult to sing it, but above all we are happy with the message it sends, because with this album we wanted to send messages that talk about great themes and there is a song that we will sing after which is called IL MONDO ALL’INCONTRARIO which talks about the desire to hope, to dream, in a better way…
PIERO= Ideal..
IGNAZIO= Ideal, and this song instead invites you to enjoy life, enjoy every moment of life, because life, in the end, is as beautiful as a work which is not intended as just a work of music, but can be anything, a work of art, anything, so we wanted to say this to all the guys of our age, but of all ages, to take advantage of every second, every moment of life, because no one gives it back to us and then “Today won’t come back anymore”. 👏👏👏
PIERO= Thank you, thank you all. The next one is the last unreleased song we will sing, but not the last of the evening.
We can’t leave you like this! 😍
IL MONDO ALL’INCONTRARIO, the lyrics of this song, imagine an ideal world, imagine this stage and each of us inside this stage shouting this desire, it is truly a utopian text, but hope is the last to die.
DANIELA= Not only the successes of the last album but also those that made them famous all over the world, this evening at the Isy Bank Music Place, again for us: Il Volo!
IGNAZIO= Now let’s go into the world that has accompanied us until today.
GIANLUCA= This is a song that we wrote about ten days ago and we decided to add it to the repertoire the day before yesterday. 😂😂😂
PIERO= I wrote the lyrics and the refrain goes: “Gira il mondo gira nello spazio senza fine”… I was inspired. 🤣🤣🤣
GIANLUCA= You know this one well, so let’s all sing together at the top of our lungs: IL MONDO!
PIERO= I heard a beautiful joke these days, did you hear that joke (addressing Ignazio)
IGNAZIO= No, it depends on which one?
PIERO= Il Volo is separating!!! 😂😂😂
IGNAZIO= Ahhhhh I have certain jokes….
PIERO= But my son, alone, I say, one two three (Gianluca Ignazio Piero), alone, we don’t even get to Monza..😂😂😂.. (Monza is the closest city to Radio Italia and Piero means to say that alone their success wouldn’t even reach Monza), I’m not saying Switzerland 🤣 (which isn’t very far away), but we won’t even get to Monza.
What’s next? Ah, this is nice, with this song we participated in Sanremo 2019.
PIERO= We would like to remember that the lyrics of “Musica che resta” were written by the great Gianna Nannini.
DANIELA= Welcome back here to the Isy Bank Music Place, evening at Radio Italia live together with Il Volo. Hello lads .
I+P+G= Hi, hi.
IGNAZIO= How are you?
DANIELA= I’m fine, and how are you?
I+G+P= Good, good.
DANIELA= Are you ready for some questions, you are always around, I already told you, I envy you so much, because you see so many wonderful places in the world.
IGNAZIO= Well, whenever you want we’ll wait for you and take you with us.
DANIELA= I’m on my fourth Volo, but I can’t sing.
IGNAZIO= Don’t worry, let’s do a radio tour…
GIANLUCA= Radio Volo.
DANIELA= I’m in!
PIERO= We will do a tour with interviews in between.
DANIELA= Oh, are you calling me?
PIERO= Yes, of course.
DANIELA= Promise! Ok, then I’m good to go.
PIERO= You have to learn Chinese, Japanese…😁
DANIELA= But I know!!
PIERO= Look, she’s thrilled….😁
DANIELA= I do.
IGNAZIO= From tomorrow he will start studying all the menus of the Japanese restaurants in Milan.
DANIELA= I already know, I think so.😁 Let’s talk about travel, how does your life on tour work? Do you also have some time to enjoy the trip or is it just work?
IGNAZIO= It depends, for example now in mid-April we leave for China and we have seven days of promotion first, then on the 20th we will do the concert in Shanghai therefore we will have the opportunity to visit it, also because it often happens that many promotional activities are carried out in the cities themselves, not only within an office or a studio, or a hotel, so in that case, we have an opportunity to see. In Japan we have seen a lot because we were lucky enough last year to be the first artists after the renovation of this very famous temple, a UNESCO heritage site, Kiyomizu-dera. We are the only artists who have given a concert there, they chose us as the inauguration of the temple and it is a magical place there, very exclusive….
PIERO= From now the Temple is called Il Volo…😁
DANIELA= What was her name before??
IGNAZIO= Kiyomizu-dera.
DANIELA = Kiyomizu-dera ….now Il Volo, you’ve combined the names, beautiful.😁 So every now and then you enjoy it a little.
PIERO= But then do you know what they call Il Volo in Japan? Il Vro.
DANIELA= Really?
PIERO= I swear…
IGNAZIO= Il Vro, Il Vro …
DANIELA= It’s so cute! 🥰
PIERO= Too cute!
DANIELA= It’s particular. I want to give you a little quiz, a little game, are you up for it?
GIANLUCA= Go.
DANIELA= So, we always talk about travel, let’s stay on this topic, I would like to understand what type of travelers you are, therefore: who is the one who goes on adventures and who instead wants to be served and revered?
PIERO= So, served and revered: him (Gianluca)😁
DANIELA= Gianlu…
GIANLUCA= A prince….
PIERO= On adventure: him (Ignazio) 😁
DANIELA= Ah Ignazio, let’s go on an adventure…
PIERO= Everything planned: me.😁
DANIELA= Ok, so you’re all scheduled…
PIERO= I have to know where I should eat…
GIANLUCA= So in the end he too is served and revered, obviously..
DANIELA= You just have to have your references.
IGNAZIO= I’m honest, I like the idea of taking an adventure holiday, but in the end I always end up served and revered….
DANIELA= Me too, because I’m lazy..
IGNAZIO= Me too, like a cat and more!
PIERO= Do you know what happened once? We have finished this two month tour and we decide to all return to our home. I had organized five days in a hotel in Sicily with my brother and sister. I arrive at this hotel, I get ready, I put on my swimsuit, I arrive at the swimming pool… guess who I find at the swimming pool in the same hotel? -Ignazio- He, who used to take a bath, after the jun tour I also found him on holiday. 😂
DANIELA= Ah ah ah, you can see it’s the charm….well let’s move on. Who is the one who also tastes insects, and who also brings pasta in their suitcase?
GIANLUCA= I eat, I chop everything.
PIERO= In fact, look how thin he is.
IGNAZIO= Indeed…
GIANLUCA= Then unfortunately I feel my stomach…
DANIELA= You too, eat, taste….(to Piero and Ignazio)
IGNAZIO= Yes, everything, everything, perhaps he (Piero) is much more traditional.
GIANLUCA= No, it’s you (Ignazio) who didn’t eat the head of the fish in Japan….
IGNAZIO= But how do you eat the head of a Sardinian??? Excuse me, poor thing… there was the Sardinian who looked at me like that 😂😂
DANIELA= Because it’s not the food, but how he looks at you… I agree 😁
PIERO= I ate the spicy jellyfish, good, it seems like a softer squid. 😳
DANIELA= You throw yourself into the kitchen quite a bit. Go on. Who is the one who launches into languages he doesn’t know and the one who stops at English at most? (put that way it seems like a slightly mischievous phrase)
PIERO= Wait, wait, formulate this sentence better…😂😂😂
DANIELA= Wait, I didn’t understand it either….
GIANLUCA= So it’s a bit ambiguous…🤣🤣
DANIELA = No come on!! Guys, who even speaks languages they don’t know?
PIERO= Well, it’s better…😁
GIANLUCA= Well…..it’s hard for us mischievous people…😂😂
DANIELA= Really mischievous…🙄
IGNAZIO= Gianluca is the one who holds back, that is, he learns immediately but if he then has to speak a language he doesn’t know he holds back… Piero and I gesture and make ourselves understood in all possible ways…😁
DANIELA= Ignazio our Italian gesticulation, we only understand it in Italy.
IGNAZIO= No, no you’re wrong.
DANIELA= Oh yes?
PIERO= Even the temples in Greece understood it.😁
GIANLUCA= Think about one time, once for a sandwich, we didn’t speak English the first few times and we said “un panin prosc.cott” (a sandwich with cooked ham, but all said truncated) 🤣🤣
DANIELA= You got it!!
IGNAZIO= That was my father in Los Angeles, I asked him for a turkey sandwich and he arrived with cooked ham and I tell him: “Dad, how did you tell him cooked ham?” and he: “And what do I know, I asked for a panin prosc.cott…..and they gave it to me”😂
DANIELA= They understood it! Miraculously it was understood. 😁
Okay, then: who goes from one disco to another and who goes to sleep after dinner because they have to get up at dawn, perhaps to play sports?
GIANLUCA= Disco….what? Disco hmmm…
DANIELA= No, well, I mean to be late…
IGNAZIO= Gianlu!
GIANLUCA= No, not me, not me…
IGNAZIO= Come on, when you go to Milan you go to all the parties more than for work…😁😁 Finish it..😉
GIANLUCA= What are you saying….
PIERO= Look how white you are….😁
GIANLUCA= They made me pale???
DANIELA= No, they’re making fun of you, Gianlu, it’s not true!!😁
Ok, let’s do something, we did the travel quiz….
PIERO= Do you know what time I went to sleep last night?
DANIELA= Tell me..
PIERO= At 9.40pm.
DANIELA= Not like that though…
PIERO= Yesterday I was tired, I wanted to watch television and I fell asleep.
DANIELA= Okay, come on, but stay awake tonight, because we still have to play here.
GIANLUCA= No, he switches off at 9.40pm, while he sings he does this look..(Gianluca lies down) 🤣
PIERO= 5 minutes left (in fact it’s really around 9.40pm)
DANIELA= We have to hurry.
GIANLUCA= He has the switch, then it turns off.😂
DANIELA= Thanks guys, come back to the stage of the Isy Bank Music Place, because this evening there are these three extraordinary artists with us: Il Volo!
GIANLUCA= This last song, after Capolavoro…. no, it is the most important of our career, you know very well what it is because it is our first unreleased song, among other things, of 2015 and we had the great privilege and honor of winning the Sanremo festival, nine years have already passed….
PIERO= And since that day, since we sang that melody (he sings Hey Jude)
GIANLUCA= Are you also like Troisi? (an Italian actor)
PIERO= We have to say goodbye. So we say goodbye, we have to say goodbye guys. First of all we thank all of you (Ignazio disturbs), we would like to thank….enough Igna….
GIANLUCA= Enough Igna, come on, come on…1-2-3.
PIERO= Serious moment……we would like to first of all thank all of you this evening for being here on such an important evening for us…
GIANLUCA= And if I may, thanks to Radio Italia for all the support (Gianluca is unable to say the word and makes a raspberry)….🤣😂
IGNAZIO= The ciupporto (Ignazio also says it by distorting the pronunciation)🤣
GIANLUCA= It happens even to the best, it happens even to the best…..let’s do it again!!
PIERO= And then let us thank our record company, Sony Music for the support, the support they give us every day.
GIANLUCA= Thanks again to all the authors who contributed so that this album could be….
IGNAZIO= We don’t know, but do you pay for it? Because he always says he thanks you, but you pay him a lot a month (to say thank you), I want a percentage too!! 😂🤣
GIANLUCA= Let’s end all thanks.
PIERO= We close by thanking our entire team, all the structures that collaborate with us, our manager Michele Torpedine, Barbara, everyone, everyone who with us there are no holidays, they also work on Sundays, thank you, thank you for dedicating your time, your support and above all your seriousness to us.
GIANLUCA= And thanks also to my brother Ernesto who was also part of the direction of this project, thank you for everything, we love you! 😍
IGNAZIO= And we wanted to say a big THANK YOU to you who listen to us from home, but above all to you who came here this evening dedicating GRANDE AMORE to you. ❤️
MANOLA= They have performed on the most important stages all over the world and tonight we had them here in the Isy Bank Music Place protagonists of a live Radio Italia wow, incredible.
DANIELA= Did we sing?
MANOLA= But I no longer have a voice…at a certain point I felt like the fourth member of Il Volo…
DANIELA= Yes, you sing so well….Daniela Cappelletti and Manola Moslehy will meet you at the next Radio Italia live, again here in the Isy Bank Music Place, so goodnight to everyone.
MANOLA= Bye.
(some photos published by Radio Italia)
What a fantastic evening, what emotion, how beautiful the new songs, how friendly our boys, everything was beautiful.
I won’t add anything else, I’m waiting for your comments!!
See you soon to tell you about another live event!!
As I promised last week, while I am researching, I will post old stories. This is the first of those stories!
This story if from 2021! Enjoy!
This has been an amazing week. How often over the last year have we said we missed the guys. Well they sure made up for it this week. One spectacular event after another.
So let’s start in the beautiful region of Apulia, Italy.
“La Notte della Taranta”, is one of the largest Festivals in Italy and one of the most significant manifestations of popular culture in Europe. The final concert of La Notte della Taranta, has had as many as one hundred and fifty thousand spectators in the past. It takes place in Salento, in the municipality of Melpignano, at the esplanade of the former Augustinian Convent specifically for the rediscovery and the enhancement of traditional Salento music. It is not limited to traditional music. It also allows for rock, jazz and symphonic music. This year’s host was Albano.
Listen to the voices of our guys coming alive backstage! It’s a calling! “Who sells olives.”
Meanwhile Albano awaits their arrival on stage. He tells us about the song. It is from the region of Apulia, the region where he was born. He says, “It reminds me of the autumn song. It is the November song.”
November is the time of the olive harvest and a man would always pass with a cart of olives to sell to the people. Albano and Ignazio sing a phrase in the Apulian dialect (“Who has olives, I have to buy them.”) Albano said when Modugno sang in the Apulian dialect he was very proud of him. Ignazio said, “So let’s hope, with this next song we will sing, to make you even more proud of your land.”
Albano tells the guys, “You know that I am proud to have you here beside me…”
Gianluca responded, “and we are happy ….”
Albano (continues) “…simply because I baptized these two..”
Albano is referring to Ignazio and Piero who he performed with on Ti Lascio Una Canzone. I remember those performances and that Albano was in awe of both of them. Then Albano continues about Gianluca who he didn’t perform with at Ti Lascio una Canzone.
Albano says, “And to you, (Gianluca) you I baptize this evening.”
Gianluca responds, “One day, sooner or later, we will sing together. But it is nice, I can say, that these events make it possible to spread a musical culture like this of the Taranta, and it is right that young people are attached to the roots of these great events. We must not lose this desire to carry on traditions, we too, as young people, are proud to be here tonight.”
Ignazio elaborates on this thought in one of their interviews…
“It is certainly one of the most important cultural events in Italy, and welcome, because I always say that Italy is a nation full of different cultures and traditions and certainly these events give space to make known their own traditions and culture, and therefore we are honored to be part of it, alongside Albano, an Apulian DOC, who has never forgotten his origins and there is also Madame (she is a singer) who is a young woman, like us. Hence the importance of carrying the roots, ALWAYS, in any situation, in any place.”
When the music begins our guys sing the National Anthem of the region in Griko which is a mixture of Italian and Greek. Another language to add to their list!
Griko is unique to this region but there are other regions, in Italy, that speak languages other than Italian. In many Arberesh villages where the people are Italian, Albanian and Greek they have their own languages. My grandfathers’ town Vaccarizzo Albanese is an Aberesh town and they have retained the archaic features of both Gheg and Tosk dialects. Many of the words they spoke at the festival, I understood. It was a beautiful experience for me.
The guys performance was magnificent. From the first larilò larilò lallero to the last, the whole stage was alive with their voices and a rhythm and beat that I can’t get out of mind! You could see how much the guys were enjoying it. Their interpretation of this beautiful song was awesome! Festivals are at the heart of the Italian people. They love them! This song is so full of joy and happiness.
The dancers were wonderful! Through the dance, they told the story of the people, of their labors and, their joys. The hardship of life and the happiness of home and family! Their singing and the dancing was very uplifting. And the guys’ interaction with the dancers and musicians on stage brought the whole story together. They brought the audience into the song and together they presented the history and culture of the people. This was very unique and the guys helped us to see another culture within their Italian culture. A magnificent delivery of the beautiful Anthem of the Griko people! Truly an amazing event!
Next stop Venezia! Talk about an exciting event!
Where do I begin…
In the afternoon the guys attended the award presentations where they were presented as winners of the 78th Film Italy Movie Awards. Upon exiting the building, they were interviewed by an unknown man…
Man: This is not Sanremo, this is the cinema exhibition!
Piero: But it seems a little like Sanremo, we meet, all familiar faces.
Gianluca: We are preparing a very ambitious recording project which is a tribute to maestro Ennio Morricone. We had the opportunity to collaborate with Vittorio Storaro in a music video, so we are here in the company of a great master of cinema, Vittorio Storaro.
Ignazio: He chose our voices for a tribute of the video of “Your Love,” which is shot in the Frasassi Caves, and therefore it is beautiful, this is not the first time we come here. It is always a beautiful atmosphere. Venice is a place that is stupendous.
Later in the day, the guys appeared in their transport to Lido. What do we see here? We see three elegant young men who are on the brink of a new direction in their lives. Not leaving all that they are and all they always will be, we know they will never leave the concert stage, but taking the next step on their road to greatness!
What we’ve been watching these last few months, every time we see the video of the Frasassi Caves, is the guys embarkation on a new and wonderful experience in their lives. They are the stars of this Short Film. They are what makes this film possible. Vittorio Storaro’s genius and the presence and voice of Il Volo have made this movie an award winning production.
To help you understand this better let me tell you what Storaro had to say about this…
The idea actually comes from what we have been through all this last year, the disgrace that has happened to us from the pandemic, which has closed all the arts a little.
But then there was an idea which came from Pirandello, who said: One, Nobody, One Hundred Thousand (the title of a Pirandello novel), and in this case becomes a Once Upon a Time, as the project of Il Volo and the music of Ennio Morricone, start from Once Upon a Time in the West, directed by a great director, Sergio Leone, with the music of Morricone, the subject of Bernardo Bertolucci and Dario Argento, so there is a whole series of characters that carry some new message.
A message that also becomes a hope, not only in the present, but also in the future, because if before, once upon a time there was Nobody, where art enters, in this case Music and Singing, which is represented by Il Volo, the song with the music of Ennio Morricone “Your Love,” brings a new energy, energy that practically becomes: Once upon a time there was no one, and now Il Volo ~ over and over!
So we will see that Gianluca, Piero and Ignazio multiply.
When they descend from that blessed rope where the first boys went down here in the caves many years ago (50 years ago), it is a little like entering a seed into mother earth and thus forming a new generation, which is the generation of the future.
Il Volo, in this case becomes a symbol, as, not only does it enter the womb of the earth, it first regenerates the energy of life, but it can do it in all the squares, in all the theaters, in all the places of the world, and that, certainly is what music is, nevertheless it carries a great message of love.
Storaro was so right that carrying their music around the world will revive the music industry through this project. Through it the music will be alive again.
So that also sums up where our guys are headed! A part of their new direction. Presenting this movie throughout the world. It is our guys bringing a message to the world. A message of hope and love for all people and all nations!
So let’s rejoin the guys on the red carpet.
Along with the Storaro family we find Storaro’s newly adopted family Il Volo.
These guys certainly lit up the red carpet. Elegant in their Dolce & Gabbana tuxedos there was no lack of interest in their presence.
How did the guys feel in this moment? Perhaps the words of Ignazio in a Rappler interview sums it up. “It was amazing working with Maestro Vittorio Storaro, remembering all the most beautiful moments that he spent with the Maestro Morricone….It is our dream. The three of us will be on the red carpet with Vittorio Storaro.”
Of course Ignazio was referring to, Vittorio Storaro, their director, the veteran director who won three Oscars, including one for Francis Ford Coppola’s masterpiece, Apocalypse Now, which he and the director shot in the Philippines.
The new short, dedicated by Storaro to the master composer, Morricone, who passed away in 2020. A clip of the movie was premiered at the fourth edition of Filming Italy Best Movie Award on the occasion of the 78th Venice Film Festival. And as you know Storaro won a Best Italian Film award and so did our guys for their starring role and their song “Your Love.”
Next the cocktail party…
Did you notice where all the women flocked to? Our guys! Who could resist these gorgeous guys. They grace the room with their presence. When they enter a room it lights up.
Italy what have you to say about your guys now. You have got to be so proud of them. Look at how they shine in the world! But there was never a problem in recognition. We in America have always been proud of them and called them our own. I hope this project will allow them to spend more time in the US! Maybe at the Academy Awards. Although we will only see the film for the first time on September 25th at the premier at the Frasassi Caves we already know how important this project is and how beautiful this film is.
Let them lose on the red carpet again! Our red carpet in America!!!
From this project we can see so many more projects like this on the horizon.
We are so proud of the award they won at the 78th Venice Film Festival, but that was only the beginning!
Next stop Verona…
Do you ever feel when they’re in Verona, they are home? I certainly do. To me they own the Verona Arena. Every performance there is phenomenal!
They returned to the Seat Music Awards to sing their beautiful song, “Your Love” and to pick up their second award for the week!
While writing this I remembered a year ago when they were at the SMA. It was to restart the music industry.
I’m going to go back to the story I wrote about the event last year. “Turn on the Lights”
I know we will never forget the night before the performance when the guys went to the Arena to check out the lights. It was beautiful and funny at the same time. Let’s pop in to listen to the guys conversation:
Ignazio to Piero: What are you doing?
Piero: What are you looking at?
Ignazio: The light that is there.
Gianluca: It’s Beautiful.
Ignazio: The gorgeous light. Gorgeous! Gorgeous!
Of course, Piero pulled out his phone and started to video.
But what was it about the lights that got Ignazio’s attention? Well they were as Ignazio said, “La Luce Stupenda! “The lights were gorgeous,” but I think he was thinking about the last lights that he saw on stage. When they turned off the lights at their last performance in the US and went home to a country in pain from a pandemic!
When the guys arrived on stage, they had a message for the world and all people in the industry:
Ignazio: 2020 will be remembered as the year where the world would be constrained to be turned off.
Gianluca: For the music employees the verb “turn off’ means the end of the show, when the curtains close and it is the waiting moment for the next show, but this time the waiting lasted more than expected, the silence was unavoidable.
Piero: Now, the world is getting ready to start again! Now the moment has arrived to raise the curtain! Now, we will turn on the music!”
This beautiful statement was followed by the performance of the evening. Their choice of “Nessun Dorma” sent an even stronger message. It’s says we may have to perform under these new world conditions, but we don’t have to change who we are or why we’re here. In this ancient Arena we look to the past while following the path to the future.
From their first note the whole arena lit up. Their voices were clean and crisp. Their presence was illuminating. Their notes rose above the Arena into the night sky to let the world know music is back! The final note of their song sent the final statement. All three voices rose in unison and their voices sent forth a note that took our breaths away! It said We Have Returned! ”Turn on the Lights.”
Isn’t it ironic that one year later they win an award for the short film Frasassi Caves for which they are represented as regenerating the energy of life? Music is their energy!
They so deserve this award.
So let’s get back to this weeks’ performance at the Arena.
Prior to the guys performance, the stage was set up with multi color lights but when the guys arrived on stage, I think they were even surprised. The stage was lit as it was for last years performance. Very simple, very plain but what was going on in the audience was a totally different story. All phones were lit up. It was magic.
They stepped on stage in their beautiful but informal all black attire. Elegant in its simplicity!
As they come face to face with the audience, I could see the emotion in their faces.
Look at how these people love them and how they love their fans!
And then it begins. …
This song is slowly becoming a signature song! A song that reminds us of sadness but brings us to a new and exciting time in the lives of our guys! It’s as if Vito left them a final gift, a new and exciting adventure in their lives. It is the song that will lead the way in their new tour around the world. Always before them will be this song and the movie which has already and continues to make its mark in history!
At the end of the song, Vanessa Incontrada and Carlo Conti spoke with the guys about the Tribute to Ennio Morricone at the Verona Arena.
Gianluca greets everyone, “Good evening!”
Carlo: “Il Volo, to start these SEAT Music Awards in the best way.”
Vanessa: “And what an atmosphere theycreated for you (the audience), with all the mobile phones on, great emotion I saw in your faces.”
Gianluca: “We are happy to see you again.”
Vanessa: “Us too.”
Carlo: Us too, us too.
Gianluca: Finally in the Arena.
Vanessa: Finally, but it has now become your home.
Carlo: In short, I mean, you did an extraordinary event on RAI1 just dedicated as a tribute to Maestro Morricone.
Piero: We had the honor of paying homage to Maestro Morricone here at the Arena of Verona, for us, the audience, for an artist, for a singer, it is oxygen. It was an evening full of guests, but for us, the biggest guest was the audience. After a year and a half, to see them again, sing for them!
Vanessa: We understand these words well, but will you take this event to the world? I guess so.
Ignazio: Yes, we start in March 2022, we finally start with the world tour and we finish in September – October, from America, we end up in Japan and then New Zealand, so beautiful.
Vanessa: You have many things to do, let’s say.
Ignazio: Yes, but it is wonderful, after almost two years, to start singing again. I remember that a year ago, in this same program, we said …. let’s hope it starts again, the music can’t stop and meet again after a year and see that the music has never stopped, it’s beautiful!
Vanessa: Seeing them (the audience), as you said, involved with you, is nice.
Carlo: A beautiful concert, a beautiful television event, but there is a tribute album to Ennio Morricone, when will this album be released?
Gianluca: Let’s say that it is a very ambitious project, that with great responsibility, right on tiptoe and a lot of humility, we decided to undertake this path which is a musical project that is a tribute to all the most beautiful soundtracks of the maestro Morricone.
Piero: And tonight we announce the date.
Gianluca: Yes, because this record will be released on November 5th, from Cinema Paradiso, to Once Upon a Time in the West, to the Good, the Ugly, the Bad.
Vanessa: His greatest songs, let’s say.
Gianluca: And we can’t wait to start the tour.
Carlo: Well a great album and therefore it will be released on November 5th.
Then Carlo presented the guys with their DIVA award…
Carlo: I seriously read the inscription: Arena di Verona Award for Il Volo, for the tribute project to Ennio Morricone, represented with great success right here at the Verona Arena, live on RAI1, and for the over 10 years of career, which led them to be known and appreciated representatives of Italian music in the world.
And so we come to the end of the events of the last week. But….
We’ve gone from Melpignano to Verona but what about Beyond. I said the end of the events, not the end of the story. So we follow the guys no matter where they go from Melpignano to Verona and Beyond but, where beyond?
Let’s listen to what Gianluca had to say about their future….
“Our dream is to see The Ecstasy of Gold performed at the Academy Awards.”
That works for me! Onward to the Academy Awards! Hope to see you there!
Join me next week as I go back Through the Fields of My Mind and open the door to a new adventure!
We fans like seeing Il Volo very much, it makes us feel good, it puts us in a good mood, it cheers up the evening, and therefore every occasion is excellent.
This time it is the opening event of the operatic year at the Arena di Verona, which turns 100 this year and therefore an appointment that will be broadcast live Instagram worldwide, and the chosen opera will be AIDA from Giuseppe Verdi.
An important event for which many excellent invitations have been made, who are expected on the red carpet for a brief interview, among the guests also Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca, here they are on their arrival on the red carpet.
What can I say …. what a vision, what elegance ….. beautiful, natural, elegant, they advance on the red carpet, they are immediately joined by Gigliola Cinquetti, a well-known singer, now 75 years old, who won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1964 . They are interviewed by Milly Carlucci.
MILLY= But I see some guys that we all know, here they are, they are Il Volo.
PIERO= Good evening.
MILLY= And there is also Gigliola Cinquetti.
MILLY= Here we talk about music, the music that takes our hearts, and then I must say that over the years the Arena has become a symbol of Italian culture in the world, a bit like all our music, let’s say “high” music in the world, it is the one that acts as a forerunner and you have felt the affection of many different countries, when you arrive perhaps bringing Italian romances, you are the example of the crossover between pop and opera.
IGNAZIO= We try to make many understand that music has no limits, and how the Arena has broken down the barriers of opera, it has broken down the barriers of the small audience and has reached the general public, opening the doors of the Arena also to popular music and pop music, we are very happy about this, because it has given the opportunity to make this temple of music known to more people. (Ignazio says this because years ago the Arena was only for opera, now there are also pop shows).
MILLY= You have been here many times for pop reasons, in the sense that you have sung here many times on non-opera occasions, but have you never seen an opera here?
PIERO= Never at the Arena di Verona, this is our first time.
MILLY= Then we have a debut.
PIERO= First opera at the Arena di Verona, we are honored to be present on such an important evening, and to see an opera that has marked the culture of our Italy. We are very happy and honoured.
MILLY= All right, do you have a sheet music with you to follow along? You don’t have it, now we’ll give you the sheet music, but you need the ear, Gigliola is right.
PIERO= But I advise the public to go and look for the curiosities of Aida on the internet, they are 5 beautiful curiosities.
MILLY= Really beautiful. I’ll let you go and take your places.
PIERO= Thank you, thank you very much.
Michele Torpedine was also present at the event.
As for the opera, it started 10 minutes late because a light rain fell at the beginning, but nothing to do with the pouring rain of the Il Volo concert.
The show began with the Frecce Tricolori passing through the Arena and the Italian national anthem sung by a choir wearing long dresses in the three colors of the Italian flag.
Here is the photo posted by Piero.
Very good singers and the whole orchestra, on the representation, the theater director wanted to amaze with a modern effect, very impactful, but let me tell you that I prefer the traditional version, this is obviously my personal opinion.
It was a surprise to see our beloved Gianluca, Ignazio and Piero on television for this event, our eyes widened and what can I say a little vision.
Reserve these beautiful surprises for us again, we are waiting for you.
In spite of “just” having been in Rome back in December to enjoy the guys’ last concert in 2022, I did immediately get very excited when reading the announcement that IL VOLO would come to Verona primo May. A new craving arose… My husband would be away working in Norway these dates, so should I try to fly down on my own… Well, albeit Verona isn’t exactly around the corner from Copenhagen, Denmark, where I live, it is still “just” some 2½ hrs. away by air, so… And with concert tickets running half of the prices in my country and budget airline Ryanair offering very reasonable tickets to Italy, it didn’t take me long to convince my husband, that it would be a perfect thing for me to do while he was gone 😉. Talking it over with my good Italian friend Daniela – as you all know so well here – it was soon decided that I should come and she would help me with the ticket and practical arrangements. So she was on her toes at 10:00am sharp when the pre-sale opened and succeeded in getting us good seats on second row. Top! Jihaa – once again I was to experience IL VOLO live. 😀 💓
That the weather wouldn’t be particular good in Verona didn’t come as a surprise… I had followed the forecast for more than a week before my departure – but yet again, last June when my husband and I were in Verona it did likewise rain on the very day of the concert but cleared totally up in due time, so why shouldn’t it do that again? I was optimistic. Having said so I did, however, pack my long, warm woolen winter coat – in spite of Daniela having told me that it would be way too much for a spring day in Italy – but to-day I am truly glad I did and thanks to same I believe I avoided catching a huge cold or pneumonia as indeed it came in handy! Both on my arrival day – and on the very day – the weather was, however, pretty acceptable with a mild temperature, slight overcast and a tiny bit of drizzling only, so things were looking quite promising for a while. Till the very moment we set out for Verona. The first bit of rain drummed on the windshield. Well, it would pass, no doubt. But having reached Verona, parked and walked the short distance to the lovely square in front of the Arena, it was no longer just drizzling, nor a little bit of summer rain – it started pouring seriously… One hour before the concert we were admitted to the Arena, but everyone crowded together in the dry shelter under the historical buildings as by now it was raining cats and dogs! The street sellers had a big night exchanging their toys and souvenirs with a range of small umbrellas and rain covers – and the demand was huge. Soon we were a group of hooded people in all colors letting no-one detect the fine clothing that we so carefully had chosen to wear at this event and now all hidden by rain gear! We couldn’t be standing there forever, however, and we were directed into the beautiful Arena and to our seats.
Last time here I did almost lose my breath from the lovely sight and the wings of history when entering these more than 2000 years old roman ruins, but focus this eve was on everything else – namely on all the people working on and around the stage trying to swipe off waters from same and re-organizing entrance areas and covering up cameras etc. The possibility of a cancellation was still rather open, so I followed each single move carefully. Fortunately, most of the stage is covered by a big roof, but it was obvious that several meters into the stage the floor was wet and would continue to be so… And what about microphones? The lightening? And the instruments? Would they be able to work in the now more than heavily pouring rain? Daniela and I had planned to meet up with several fans from Italy and abroad, but it was simply not possible to move around under these conditions. Once seated I did actually not get up a single time as it would mean your seat getting all wet again and water from your rain cover would drip down and sneak in under same. So sadly we had to give up on that. Luckily we had met a few people while sheltered by the entrance and others made a round in front of us waving a big hello. But a great social get-together never occurred. All the while the rain got worse and worse… Soon drops from my hood ran down my face and clouded my glasses only to flow further and down into my lap forming little pools that evidently flowed over and made little waterfalls down to my knees and legs and soon made me soaking wet where not sheltered by the cover. Trying to take photos/videos meant having to get your arms and hands out in the free and allowing waters to sneak in from the sides, so in general I gave up on doing it as it was likewise more or less impossible to press the buttons or zoom with the by now drenching wet hands. Unfortunately, it did likewise mean, that clapping my hands would not be an option unless it was under the rain cover where it could hardly be heard… Well, but few minutes before 21:00 hrs. the musicians did, however, start to enter the stage – and a voice announced that the concert would go on and carried through to the end. What a relief 😁!
The stage was already lit up in a bright blue setting but few minutes later a big “fanfare” sounded and Gianluca, Ignazio and Piero marched in on stage from the right – most likely not as planned as at the second show they had a separate entrance ceremony – but, finally, caught in the bright spotlight, were our 3 beloved guys immediately setting in with the first tones of “Granada”. That this concert had a very special purpose did quickly show, as following Piero’s usual classical interpretation of this song Gianluca did suddenly step aside dragging an oldfashioned microphone across the scene changing the mood of the song into a typical crooner-swing style version before in the end Ignazio took over and the mood once again changed – now into a more modern pop/rock song. Yes, they had a message! Add to that their appearances. Albeit all dressed in black they were so absolutely not on the same page. Piero wore a fine black tux with a bit of bling-bling and a white rose looking exactly as elegant as one can expect of an opera singer. Gianluca wore a suit of the finest soft leather from top to bottom including a pair of rather tight fitting trousers with that typical 70-style sway at the feet that most of us recall so well and looking stunningly sexy, while Ignazio had jumped on the bandwagon of the latest trend wearing an oversized jacket and way too long baggy trousers true 1930 style, that in all honesty didn’t do him any good but made him look pretty heavy. Knowing Ignazio though he doesn’t really care what he wears and the choice must have been the one of a stylist and not particularly one of his, I believe. The whole scenario did, however, immediately signalize that this show was all about the IL VOLO guys showing and introducing to us their individual characters and personal choices of music genres and to prove that IL VOLO is much more than just 3 guys singing “O Solo Mio” together. A grand opening!
Not knowing what to expect of the show having just a few weeks prior to same learned of the fact that the guys would have a load of local Italian guest-stars join them, I was curious as to how that was going to function – but shortly following the guys singing a couple of their traditional songs the very first guest was asked to the stage – and it would appear that these guests were not to perform on their own but rather in duets with one or more of the IL VOLO guys. Coming from Denmark – and hence being a foreigner – I must admit that I had never heard of any of the invited Italian artists before, so I am sorry to admit that I cannot tell you whom they were and what they were singing.. Sorry. But there were quite a number of artists and having no program at hand, I cannot remember who was who. I trust, however, that Daniela will fill you all in as to this issue in her article. These artists performed their own hit-songs joined by one or more of the IL VOLO guys – and according to the response from the audience they were well known by the locals who were happily singing along in the rain, so we are talking about rather popular artists loved by the Italian people. And all of absolute different characters as well as representing various musical genres. Some were great – some gave the duets an synergy effect and raise the songs to a higher level – while yet others admittedly didn’t exactly sound too good due to the voices not truly suit each other. I tend to think that some of these guests most likely were invited out of a planned strategy. Namely to show and prove how fantastic singers and performers the IL VOLO guys are no matter whom they are coupled with nor what kind of genre of music they are introduced to. The guys shined throughout the evening and did most certainly show that they master it all including showmanship and hosting.
A few of the duets did stand out though – and I should like to mention among others the tall singer Mario Biondi with whom i.e. Ignazio did a fabulous soul song: “You make me feel like a natural woman” by Aretha Franklin and the Russian opera singer Aida Garifullina who coupled with Guianluca in a beautiful duet: “Angels” by Robbie Williams and looking stunningly pretty in a pink dream of a dress. Gianluca looked almost star-struck at her and did obviously enjoy singing with her. But first and foremost when Aida joined Piero in a piece from “La Traviata” a major highlight was born!. A brilliant match for Piero who in her got a partner of his own caliber – or above – inspiring him to perform better than ever. And did they ever look good together! Like a prince and his princess. Piero’s fine tux was in place! And they were about the sweetest when in the end they did a bit of waltzing. Piero shone as the brightest star!
Ignazio Boschetto (Il Volo) ft. Mario Biondi – You make me feel like a natural woman
Aida Garifullina & Gianluca Ginoble (Il Volo) – Angel
As indicated in the name of the show a larger number of songs by our guys were anticipated – and I believe we were pampered with some 4-5 songs from each of them. Some we have heard before but also totally new ones. Piero delighted us with several opera arias the names of which I do, unfortunately, not know. But he delivered them brilliantly and did once again prove that his many hours of studying opera have so absolutely not been in vain. He is improving for each time I hear him. Very soon he is going to reach his next goal – to stand on the famous La Scala stage in Milan. He is ready! Bravo Piero!
Ignazio had chosen to show us various types of songs including one in which he accompanied himself by guitar – and then he did once again go down the lane of interpreting a mega hit song by a world famous female singer, and this time none the less than one of Whitney Houston’s, namely: “I will always love you”. Who would ever dare follow in the footsteps of Whitney Houston? Our dear Ignazio, of course. And boy did he ever nail it! I don’t know what it is with Ignazio and why he wants to sing songs by these famous female singers, but he is capable of making the songs “his” – taking ownerships of same. Fantastic! And I heard that he was singing Celine Dion’s immortal “My heart goes on” Wednesday night. Likewise with great success. He is awesome…. A rascal you do never know what to expect from, but you can always be sure that he delivers!
Gianluca had a ball on stage not letting us forget that he is a great admirer of Elvis Presley and that type of music and next to his beautiful version of “Can’t stop falling in love with you” (probably song to his girlfriend seated in the audience) he went down the same road singing the popular 60th rock tune “Crazy little thing called love” by Freddie Mercury/Queen dragging the microphone behind him and imitating moves and steps from Elvis/Travolta/Mercury’s 50th and 60th shows. I don’t think we have ever seen him so freely and loose on stage before – and he loved it. No doubt he has been working hard on these performances rehearsing steps and moves over and over and crossed some personal limits too doing so. Personally, I don’t know what to think… His voice is so beautiful and he sings fabulously – but dancing is not his force and these performances seems more like fantastic resemblances of his idols rather than Gianluca showing us the best of himself… I know I am a bit harsh here. In Denmark we have a saying: “Whom you love you chastise” – and I cannot hide that Gianluca is my favorite Il VOLO and I love him in all aspects. So out of love to him I wish he would have more confidence in himself and the courage to interpret the chosen songs in his very own way instead of resembling others. To me Gianluca has a much greater voice and a much larger potential than any of the singers he tries to imitate. He has been given a voice beyond compare – a unique gift – and he owes to himself and the world to make good use of it. Hence, if he feels more comfortable sitting on a chair with closed eyes fully emerging into a song – then let it be. I recall with great fondness his version of i.e. “Mi Mancherai” – standing totally still on the stage but having the audience fully in his hands and giving me the chills. He mesmerizes us when he becomes one with the song. He is capable of much more and ought to challenge himself further in songs like i.e. “New York, New York” (by Sinatra) or the main theme of “The Phantom of the Opera”. Sorry, Gianluca. I’m giving you assignments ;-). Having said this, he enchanted and surprised us all following with a Beatles medley – beautifully performed. I have always thought it would be interesting to have the guys sing Beatles as actually many of these songs have some extraordinary cords/harmonies that – at the time – you did not normally hear pop groups use or sing. And I bet IL VOLO would be able to do something awesome with these songs. Well, we didn’t get the harmonies but we got a lovely medley beautifully presented by Gianluca. Kudos!
In similarity with others I had a certain extended fear that the special concept of this concert might have given us less IL VOLO and more other Italian artists. I couldn’t have been more wrong! The extended length of the concert – 3½ hrs. – gave them ample time to not only sing duets with all the guest performers but likewise to sing more individual soli than normally while likewise pampering us with a large selection of their regular repertoire. So many that I cannot even recall them all, but among others: Il Mondo; The Ecstasy of Gold; Telefonado; Amore Così Grande; Volare; Grande Amore, A Chi mi dice, My Way and many others. So we were in no way let down – on the contrary. We got more than a “normal” IL VOLO Concert while all the guest performances were true VALUE ADDED BONUS! So we need to have full confidence in the guys knowing that they will always deliver! On top we got a full 24 piece symphony orchestra, an opera choir, a beautiful light-show, a lovely TV hostess who didn’t take over but filled in the gaps in a fine way and as such: A BRILLIANT SHOW! And in spite ending up soaking wet and cold – would I have done it again? You bet I would! It was worth all the trouble and each single rain drop. My only regret: I would have loved to clap my hands red in excitement and giving standing ovations over and over – but I didn’t due to the rain and the effect that would have followed. So sorry guys.
Credit to owners of all photos and videos.
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