“From here begins the journey together with Plácido Domingo for the Tribute to the Three Tenors”
FLORENCE – THE FANS
P: They have come from Japan!
Fan1: Yes!
G: From Japan?
Fan 2: Thank you! Thank you so much!
Fan3: Thank you! Thank you so much! It was great coming here!
G: You’re welcome!
Fan2: You guys are fantastic!
G: See you in New York!
Fan2: We love you! Yes!
“26 years ago, when Domingo, Carreras and Pavarotti sang together in concert at the Terme di Caracalla”
INTERVIEW
P: We can say that the concert 26 years ago was the key that influenced our passion for classical music. After all, 26 years ago, all three of us had not been born yet. However, it was that Pavarotti, Domingo and Carreras concert which attracted us to classical music and we grew up following that concert.
I: Thanks to Internet today, we are spoilt, because we can watch videos, videos of many years ago. They have always been our idols and we can remember them.
P: with a lot of humbleness!
I: … Especially with a lot of humbleness, but being happy to do so, it is something that we really pleased to do. And we are very happy to have had the opportunity!
G: I believe that there is nothing more wonderful in life than to have a passion, to live for something. We are doing this for the music. A kind of music that over the years, let’s say, has lost some of its popularity, no? What we are trying to do is also pass it on to the younger generation. Three 20- year olds who sing this kind of music is something new. Irrespective of the type which could be pop or classic, it is important to do something that will make an impression on most people, from the very young to adults.
FLORENCE – THE FANS AT THE HOTEL
“The fans awaiting the arrival of Il Volo”
The fans singing “Grande Amore” outside the hotel
INTERVIEW
P: We were at Taormina…
I: Taormina!
P: We were in Taormina and our manager came – we were in the pool, sunbathing – our manager, Michele Torpedine, came and said “Guys, I have an idea! What do you think about doing a tribute to the Three Tenors?” We were a bit uncertain because vocally we don’t have… we don’t have the training that a tenor who has studied for 10 or 15 years…
I: In fact, the biggest challenge was not performing the same repertoire but studying the operatic arias that we sang, right? With all the modesty possible, remembering these three great idols.
P: But we needed … we needed a best man! So we picked up the phone and called Plácido Domingo, putting this idea to him. And this is where our great friendship with Plácido Domingo began. I called Plácido and I said, “Plácido, you know, we would like to have the pleasure of remembering that magical night” and he said: “Guys, I will be with you that evening!”.
No, it wasn’t, it wasn’t that simple … because it’s easy to say “we called Domingo” and because our schedule is hectic, we called our manager and we said, “You know, Michele, Domingo said yes but now we have to get moving! We have to give it our best, the best of ourselves … “. And I must tell you that through this project, all three of us have grown, but above all, our relationship with each other has grown because we helped each other, we had our singing lessons together, I knew something more, he knew another thing and we helped each other… we were fellow-travelers on this journey!
I: For the success of this project, we must, must thank so many people… Many, starting, above all, with the orchestra, right! Because we always say that the orchestra does 50% of the performance or show and they were fantastic, nice and we learnt a lot from them, these people who are in this business and have been for years…
P: And because this was our first real experience…
I: Yes!
P: … so we didn’t know how to behave with the conductor, the orchestra … With this project we’ve learned that to speak with the orchestra, you must first talk to the teacher, with the conductor, and he talks to everyone! But on the first day we arrived: “Good morning everyone! Excuse me, that score is different, the other … “and in fact we all looked a bit ‘… but they realized that we were three boys …
G: We want to pass on our passion for this type of music to those who have never listened to it. And it’s very important to say this!
P: Also because, as the great Luciano Pavarotti has taught us, music has no boundaries. He was, I believe, the first and only one to bring music beyond the theatre walls, because he always took a risk but he always managed to work with pop and rock artists, with Pavarotti and Friends, the famous event that lasted many, many years. And I must say that Luciano, Plácido and Carreras, but especially Luciano, came to us with this indirect message, to bring this music out of all boundaries.
TEATRO MASSIMO – PALERMO
“The rehearsals before the Tribute”
INTERVIEW
G: The way in which we approached this project … also with fun right? Of course, always with respect for the kind, an important kind of music!
P: With joy for the music…
G: But also with joy, right, with fun. And during rehearsals, we were very excited, because it was the first time that we had sung Nessun Dorma or Libiamo, pieces by Rossini… The first few times it was exciting to hear the 80/90 piece orchestra of Palermo Theatre Massimo, playing behind us… it really touched the soul in the deepest part, the deepest part of the soul… we will never forget it!
THEATRE MASSIMO – PALERMO – THE REHERSALS
I (singing “tramontate stelle”): Stelle went well? Because…
Maestro: Perfect!
M: Piero, the voice is just too beautiful. Don’t do the fading.
M (to Gianluca): Go look, go look for it…
INTERVIEW
P: Finding myself on that stage, the Theatre Massimo in Palermo, with the theatre empty, because an empty theatre has great appeal, and a… a series of emotions that you just cannot describe… When people say “ what did you feel on that stage?” it is the same thing asking someone who is in love what they feel when they fall in love. You can’t describe it! When a person is in love, you can’t describe the love you have for that person! This, however, is the love we have for music, love…. The love that music gives us!
I: But in the rehearsals…. the rehearsals in Theatre Massimo, you get to the point when you understand that you are rehearsing the show… and it is much more difficult, right? Because you are singing it for the first time…. and certainly the rehearsals are maybe the most important part, right? Because you are allowed to make mistakes, repeat, study, the maestro helps…
G: You can understand where the mistakes are…
I: Yes, where the mistakes are… therefore, it’s definitely an important part of the whole project and maybe it’s the part where you are bit more nervous, because you must be careful to repeat and memorize things in the correct way.
P: And we have never sung, never performed with a scenic microphone. We have never done a show with those scenic microphones. From the videos we watched of the concerts of the Three Tenors, we were attracted to their way of singing but, personally, that microphone… I always wanted to sing with that microphone!
I: In fact, when they asked “which microphones do you want?”
P: I want that one!
I: That one!
P: I want that one! And in fact, at the rehearsals in the Theatre Massimo in Palermo, when I found myself, we found ourselves in front of those microphones, our expression was the same, with un unstoppable smile! And I have to say is it was an experience that we can’t wait to take around the world, because as you well know, we will see the concert soon – I also can’t wait to see it again- we will take it around the world in a world tour, with the release of the album which will be out in a few days… and this presentation for the music, the presentation of the beauty of our country, especially of Italy, we will do, we have done and we are doing with a lot of love!
PALERMO – THE FANS AT THE THEATRE
“The fans outside the theatre”
P: How old are you?
F1: 13!
P: 13? Let’s take a photo!
I: Hi!
F2: Hi, I love you very much!
INTERVIEW
P: Making a list is difficult… it’s, I believe… the most delicate moment of a project. It’s very difficult for us because we are three guys who talk, with three different ideas… and we also have the idea of our manager as well, all our collaborators… but we must always compare, song by song…
G: But it was not all that difficult because 80% of the repertoire is very similar to what we have always sung. We only had to add the arias…
P: Operatic arias!
G: And there is….. the “libiamo”…
I: Il Brindisi della Traviata….
G:…. Il Brindisi della Traviata…
P: “Una furtive lagrima…
G: There are songs, arias….
P: E lucevan le stelle….
I: But I have to say something! He says that it wasn’t easy, well it was… it wasn’t that difficult!
P: Well then, he says that it’s easy! I say that it’s difficult! So what do we do?
I: And I say that its’ in the middle! Because, a bit, you know…
G: Speak Italian! Speak Italian! Not ‘becose”! “Because”!!!
I: Yes! Because….
P: You have to know that he was born and raised in Bologna…
G: In Bologna eh!
P: He has residency in Bologna….
G: And you can hear it! You hear it!
P: … But he speaks Sicilian! You all tell me how come!
I: Now, can I talk? Bolognese mode! (Ignazio starts to speak with a Bolognese accent) Piero imitates Ignazio’s Bolognese accent.
G: Yes, Bolognese…
I Ok, right! But the fact is as Piero said, we have three different tastes and three different ways of thinking….
P: Three different ideas!
I: …three different ideas… it’s true! Because in short, Gianluca is the one who has to make the perfect list, right? Which maybe he thinks 5 or 6 times about before saying” it’s right here… no wait, let’s move it here… no wait, maybe it’s better at the end….at the beginning…” this is the one that we can think about more… Piero is the one who says “well, look maybe we can do this… we can do it there…” but, let’s say, it’s more…
P: The idea is that!
I: The idea is that! Me, however, I am more agreeable… I say “yes, beautiful”. If I like it I say “Yes, that’s good” without causing too many problems…
G: Yes, in fact, he is more “agreeable” (mimicking Ignazio’s accent!)
I: agreeable!!!
G: It’s like this!
P: No, he’s the one who at the end, at the end of everything, when he talks, I talk, everyone talks…. have you finished? I don’t like it! And then he starts to talk… he is always….
I: Nooooo…
G: However, the fact that we are arguing, is not always negative, because… on the contrary, if we were all alike, it would not be so positive, because we have three ideas…
I: I was born in October, I am a Libra, I must balance. Also because I am in the middle!
G: Ehh… this is also true…
P: You could have saved that one!!!
FLORENCE – THE CONCERT
“Il Volo arrives in Florence”
G: Good evening everyone!
“A few hours before the Tribute”
Ignazio rehearses the “Libiamo” with Maestro Grani
P: At 21.30, no. No, no, no. we’ll go crazy here!
G: I am excited, thank goodness, it’s positive…
Person 1: Of course, it’s positive!
INTERVIEW
!: We joke, we play, we give each other strength and we enjoy ourselves on the stage….
P: And the slaps on the back
I: and the slaps…
P: Especially his!
I: You know, because there is a lot of adrenalin, right! And when you see 6,000 people in front of you who are applauding you, like that, you get a little adrenalin and … the strength not to be afraid!
FLORENCE – THE CONCERT
G: Hair? I am worried about my hair. But do we realize where we are?
INTERVIEW
I: But do you know, the only lucky thing – which is not the only one but one of many – being 20 years old, we maybe, at times, see things with innocence, but not because we are not responsible guys. Sometimes we don’t feel the weight or anxiety. Certainly, as I said, this project was not easy, but it was taken on with a passion to do things, because the message we like to give to the youngsters like us and everyone else, is when you take on something important in life, like this project was for us, you have to tackle it with passion and love for what you are doing.
FLORENCE – THE CONCERT
PD: Eh!
I: Look how beautiful Piazza Santa Croce is! Look over there!
PD: It’s heavenly!
P: Long live “il bel canto”!
Ignazio rehearses “Una furtiva lagrima” with Maestro Grani
Maestro Grani: It’s a semitone!
G: We are geared up and ready for the evening!
“GRANADA”
P: Good evening Florence
I: Good evening to everyone! Good evening!
P: Good evening to everyone!
G: Good evening! Welcome to this concert, a tribute to our great idols, the Three Tenors, in the beautiful setting of the city of Florence! Welcome!
P: Let us thank the person who made all this possible: Ladies and Gentlemen, the Maestro Placido Domingo!
PD: Thank you, thank you so much! Welcome to this square which is incredible, no? Then listen to the music which began long before pop music… I know there are many young people who started to listen to classical music again when Luciano, Jose and I did the Three Tenor concerts. And they, instead of choosing the way..the right and easy way of pop music, chose the music we performed and that many, many people love. We can’t compare with pop music, because one needs the education in school to understand this music from the beginning, but these young men are the ones who continue our idea and truly, they are three incredible young men, with beautiful voices and a spirit… now, enjoy the concert, they are extraordinary. Thank you!
INTERLUDE BETWEEN SONGS – “GRANADA”
G: We have sung Granada many times, we have been singing it for 5 years, it’s part of our repertoire. But it was certainly different, because Placido Domingo was by our side, conducting and also, it was in a different context, in the tribute to the Three Tenors, therefore, we sang it better than other times, because the preparation and also the technical level was different. The voice has changed, for the better, positively. So we can say it was better than the other times!
“LA MATTINATA”
I: Ladies and
Gentlemen, the Maestro Marcello Rota!
“UNA FURTIVA LAGRIMA”
P: Well done!
I: It went well!
PD: Very well!
I: When I forgot that part…
PD: no, no..
I: I missed it!
INTERLUDE BETWEEN SONGS – “UNA FURTIVA LAGRIMA”
I: I was a bit agitated, I was a bit… was a bit nervous…
When we make mistakes, we realize straight away when we make a mistake. To sing on that stage and in that context of Florence was very moving….
“LA DANZA”
INTERLUDE BETWEEN SONGS – “LA DANZA”
G: “La danza” is definitely. a song… different from what I usually sing and I was certainly imprecise in some parts but….
I: That’s the beauty of being live!
G: but this is live, this is how it is, and I am completely, in love with everything that Rossini has written, also the “The Barber of Seville”… is wonderful!
“E LUCEVAN LE STELLE”
P: I’ll go first, Maestro?
PD: Yes, yes!
PD: Well done, well done!
G: How did it go?
I: Well, very well!
G: Thanks!
INTERLUDE BETWEEN SONGS – E LUCEVAN LE STELLE
P: Finding myself there, with that acute confidence, with the Maestro Domingo beside me, with his baton to conduct the orchestra.. I believe it was the most beautiful moment for me because for the first time, I liked it!
G: Good no? Good, no?
I: Did you breathe?
P: Yes!
MR: Good, Well done! Well done!
PD: It was beautiful! Beautiful!
I: We’ll see you later Maestro (Domingo)!
P: Thank you! What is it Maestro (Rota)? Torna a Surriento?
MR: Torna a Surriento!
P: Let’s go! Go!
“TORNA A SURRIENTO”
“CORE ‘NGRATO”
P: First, ladies & gentlemen, I want to take the opportunity to give a big round of applause to those who make it possible for us to sing: The Orchestra of the Theatre Massimo of Palermo! From the beginning of our career – short career! – our goal has always been to show the world the beauty of our country through music, an eternal music, a music that will never die: “il bel canto”.
P: Guys!
G: Eh?
P: It couldn’t go better than it is going today!
G: The finale was not much… today…. this evening
P: No… it finished a… a tenth early! Not a problem, the world will not end, in fact…
INTERLUDE BETWEEN SONGS “ O PAESE D’O SOLE
P: On the last tour we did – the Grande Amore tour, we finished this year, we did 100 concerts all over the world- we decided to something more, something different, duets and we did duets, Ignazio and I, me and Gianluca, Gianluca and Ignazio. Something that people did not…. did not expect from us. It’s difficult to choose the song that goes well for my voice, for his voice… what was most difficult, I think, was “O Paese d’o sole” because we have always listened to it sung by the Three Tenors and for the first time we sang it in a duet.
Above all, “O paese d’o sole” is the song where we convey that message of how beautiful our country is and how much we love our country. In fact, when “Chist’e’ o paese d’o sole, chist’e’ o paese d’o mare” begins, the audience does nothing but clap because the clapping confirms: it’s the truth!
G: Also because, an important thing to say- from our personal experience, travelling – is that all over the world, musically speaking, this is Italy, this is the Italy that everyone abroad, loves! Pavarotti’s music, Andrea Bocelli’s music, that of the Three Tenors… therefore, what we want also want to do is follow in their footsteps, bringing it not only to adults but also to the youngsters, not only the Italians but the whole world.
“’O PAESE D’O SOLE”