Il Volo at Wallingford CT, September 29, 2013

*While this review is a bit dated, it’s a chronicle of attendance to Il Volo concerts.

This has been my third Il Volo concert attendance in two years. The first was at the BOA Pavilion, Boston MA in September 2012. The second was BOA Pavilion, Boston MA September 14, 2013. The last performance was so extraordinary an event, that I followed my heart and purchased a ticket for the 2^nd concert held in New England in 2013. I am fortunate to live a reasonable driving distance to both venues. This was the last show in the USA on this extensive tour of the Americas.

To have Il Volo (IV) in front of you moving, swaying and singing is to be in a bit of a dream. They live and breathe Italian style in every move, wiggle and wink. IV are sophisticated, playful, curious, but most of all warm in heart. However, the first impression after the opening number was they were subdued not tired but a little low in energy. Barone, who seems to always be in motion, only wiggled lightly to the beat of the music. Unlike the previous concerts, IV took a ten minute break after the first hour and came back even more mellow and sweet in song.

Ginoble’s body language in song is gritty, he plants his feet firmly on the floorboards and leans into his voice. Known as the philosopher of the group for his frequent contemplations on Twitter, I was impressed when he made a social statement to the audience about the purpose of their tour and the banner of “We Are Love”. It’s not just a song, but a way to live life. But, Boschetto’s infectious sense of humor pervaded. During Ginoble’s solo performance of “Night and Day”, Barone and Boschetto appeared on stage behind him and started to slow dance as two lovers caught up in the magic of the song. It was hilarious! Ginoble kept going, stayed focused and gave us a fabulous performance.

Barone was stunning in his performance of “Non Peude Se” and “Where do I Begin”. Where I appreciate his technical skill, tonight he took a step deeper into his emotional range and presented the mortification of a pierced heart and later on that of one in delirious joy. His voice rippled around the theater. The man behind me said all night, “they are all remarkable, but he gives just a bit more.”

If I never see another show in my life, I can say that twice I witnessed an Italian Art being crafted at the moment. I did capture the song on video for an addition to my personal library. Something happened during the recording I cannot explain. No matter what I did, I could not focus on Piero. He remained as a blurred image in the camera. There are lights of green and red all around him, but the camera refused to bring him into focus. The audio is magnificent. Curious how the camera conveyed that one only needed to hear this to recognize brilliance. The lights in the lens reflected that brilliance and surrounded him with the glow of passion and growth. I confess to a mysterious admiration of his presence, he is a cat, a sleek, unusual pixie. However, I have come to understand that Piero can be extraordinarily endearing in unexpected ways. When he realized there was a camera projecting their image onto a larger screen for the folks sitting up in back, he leaned in, examined the lens, looked at the image, looked back, winked away and leaned in to kiss the lens kissing us through it. All at once, he is a cat, curious, unpredictable and a sweetheart. To me he will ever more be piccioncino. My little lovebird.

Boschetto once again displayed a rambling sort of humor that although scripted, veers into nuttiness at any moment. È il mio biscottino. My little cookie. His voice was clear and crisp, he sings such bittersweet melodies and managed to draw tears from me during “Memory”. He reduced Barone to giggles several times calling him Mr. Red Glasses, running to the extreme back of the theater to find his “Maria” and being called Igna by the guys. After escorting his Maria safely to her chair, he came back and did a theatrical roll up onto the stage. There is a giddiness about him that is infectious. In body and spirit, he often reminds me of an otter.

As I read their tweets and watch the bits of video shared with fans, they do act like brothers, one minute bopping each other around, the next serious and supportive. One person in line for the meet and greet was recognized by the organizer as being at her fifth show. Il Volo does that. I was dazzled at the Boston performance only a few weeks ago. So much happened in one night that I simply had to see them again.