Review of IL Volo Sanremo Exclusive Edition
Release date: September 2015
IL Volo reissued their “Sanremo Grande Amore” EP originally released, February 12, 2015, adding three new songs to the play list. The EP is certified double platinum by the Federation of the Italian Music Industry. The EP is now titled, “Sanremo Exclusive Edition” part of a Deluxe Donor Package available on PBS Television. The package also includes a DVD of “IL Volo Live at Pompeii” and the new album, “Grande Amore International Version” released September 25, 2015. This unique EP is a thank you from IL Volo to fans for supporting public television. The Italian trio of Piero Barone, Ignazio Boschetto, and Gianluca Ginoble won the prestigious Sanremo Music Festival 2015 with their presentation of “Grande Amore” (Great Love). The new songs are live solo performances. This EP now becomes the first unofficial autobiography in song of IL Volo as a bel canto trio and individual artists.
A review of the original EP is available on this blog: Romance Is Back! ~ Sanremo Grande Amore ~ IL Volo March 27, 2015Romance Is Back! ~ San Remo Grand Amore ~ IL Volo
Italian Classical Song – Genre Bel Canto
The three new songs break away from the format of performed first at Sanremo Music Festivals and might seem to be randomly tacked on. IL Volo have had difficulty in fitting into a musical genre and mislabeled as pop, opera singers. In their first Detroit PBS TV special “IL Volo Takes Flight” recorded in February 2012, the singers called their genre classical pop primarily because they sing with a classical voice. Perhaps it is more correctly termed bell’arte del canto or bel canto, an Italian singing style focused on beautiful song presentation.
The Italian press has criticized IL Volo for reinforcing a stereotypical norm of Italian music abroad. Their program is almost identical to that of the Three Tenors but, IL Volo lack the gravitas. IL Volo cover established hits in English, Spanish and Italian, but include a new song or two with each CD. IL Volo found an audience first in North, South and Central America touring extensively from 2011 – 2014. It was the win at Sanremo with “Grande Amore” when success finally came on their home soil of Italy.
The updated EP is a reflection of their careers to date. “Grande Amore” is a new song. The next five are covers of popular Italian songs but perhaps new to the American audience. The three solo pieces best present them as individual artists and may foreshadow what may be.
Piero Barone ~ “E lucevan le stelle”
Barone’s voice is a dramatic rich tenor. He has mentioned he likes opera more than once. On a recent trip to New York City, he was filmed walking down the aisle of the Metropolitan Opera House. He spoke quietly but gazed about intently.
Barone sings Giacomo Puccini’s well-known aria for tenor, “E lucevan le stelle” from Tosca. This opera has been successful since the debut in Rome January 1900 and loved by many an opera fan. Barone is performing in the role of Mario Cavaradrossi. It’s a challenge because it is presented in Act III. The momentum of the story would help the aria come out naturally full of loss and love. Barone doesn’t have that advantage and must find the passion within.
Mario was a happy itinerant painter when we first meet him. His nights are filed with the tempestuous Floria Tosca. But, he lives in troubled times. The Wheel of Fortune spins and he finds his life in ruins swiftly, his comrade is on the run, he is being tortured for information, and his beloved Tosca may have betrayed him. He is taken away to die and writes one last letter. He pauses in his grief and sings;
“The stars were shimmering
The stars seemed to shimmer
The sweet scents of the garden,
The creaking gate seemed to whisper,
And a footstep skimmed over the sand.
Then she came in, so fragrant,
And fell into my arms!
Oh! sweet kisses, oh, languorous caresses,
While I, trembling, was searching
For her features, concealed by her mantle.
My dream of love faded away, for good!
Everything’s gone now.
I’m dying hopeless, desperate!
And never before have I loved life like this!
And never before have I loved life like this!
E lucevan le stelle
E lucevan le stelle
ed olezzava la terra
stridea l’uscio dell’orto
e un passo sfiorava la rena.
Entrava ella, fragrante,
mi cadea fra le braccia.
Oh! dolce baci, o languide carezze,
mentr’io fremente
le belle forme disciogliea dai veli!
Svani per sempre il sogno mio d’amore
L’ora e fuggita
e muoio disperato!
E non ho amato mai tanto la vita!
tanto la vita!
The aria is well performed technically. Barone has to tap into deep, complex emotions and bring them to life in song. If he wants to become an opera singer, he knows the task before him. The best are excellent actors, singers, and ensemble players. He needs endurance, wit and intelligence. Opera is live and does not have a microphone to project out to the last row. He would not be the first opera singer from his native Naro, Sicily. The last singer of note was Gero Rindone (1897-1952). And, like his town, he is perhaps a hidden pearl just waiting for his worth to be fully realized.
Too bad the critics don’t take into consideration that he is bringing one aria to an audience that might never otherwise hear it. He may open up an entire range of music to fans. By his presentation alone, fans can name one of the best composers of opera and start to appreciate all that makes Italy so unique in its celebration of art.
Boschetto ~ “Unchained Melody”
Boschetto’s voice is a lyric tenor. He has perfect pitch. Physically, he is the most at ease on stage. He sings “Unchained Melody” by Alex North and Hy Zaret for the solo performance. The song was been recorded by several artists including The Righteous Brothers in 1965 reaching No 4 on the Billboard Top 100 chart. Boschetto selects dramatic popular songs that start soft, rise to a crescendo and cascade back to earth. He is finding his sound and stirring profound emotions in the listener. He is able to get subtle emotions into his vibrato and interpret the spirit of the song writer.
Boschetto is highly entertaining, moving to his own inner rhythm. The solo recording almost captures his charismatic stage presence. His rendition of “Unchained Melody” gives him a vocal challenge, but he reaches the high C with ease.
His energy is in his spine. It is not stationery but moves up and down taking his sense of self with it. He and Barone often display a love you, whack you brotherly affection on and off stage. At times, the larking reflects back to their recent shift into a more sophisticated presentation. It is in those moments of bopping each other around, that the “kid” in them still comes through.
Gianluca Ginoble ~ “Anema e Core”
Ginoble’s voice is a lyric baritone. He has a natural purring vibrato with an ascending vocal that reaches the tenor range. Every year on the calendar gives his voice more nuance when he sings those sentimental songs in a soft voice. There’s always an audience for a crooner. “Anema e Core” or “With All My Heart and Soul” is a Neapolitan song written in 1950 by Salvatore d’ Esposito and Tito Manilo and covered by Dinah Shore, Dean Martin, and Perry Como. On this recording, Ginoble sings some of the lyrics in Italian and some in English. Ginoble’s energy is in the throat. The voice of the body.
Ginoble has been criticized for his quiet appearance on stage often without much facial expression. In concert, he does generally fall back and stand alone. The last show attended in Stamford CT, June 2014, he did better at standing and simply gazing out at the crowd. Showmanship can be learned. The audience needs to connect to the performer. The performer needs to learn to project goodwill in return. In many ways, he is a throwback to a more suave type of performer. This is music for lovers. Ginoble’s smooth voice in the background can get that champagne cork popped in no time.
IL Volo “Sanremo Exclusive Edition”, new fans of the trio might want to add this to their collection. It’s fresh, and very Italian. As with most musical artists, to know who they are, simply listen. IL Volo are new, traditional and classical all at once. They are Italian artists singing in the bel canto style.
As written by Frances Ann Wychorski
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Fans can find “Sanremo Exclusive Edition” from their PBS TV Station. I’ve included a link to the WGBH Boston webpage. I have not found it for sale separately but would advise fans be on the lookout through sources such as Amazon or Ebay.
For more information about IL Volo and their music, click on the link to their updated webpage. IL Volo Music
Photo Credits to IL Volo, Piero Barone, Ignazio Boschetto and Gianluca Ginoble Instagram Accounts
IL Volo “Sanremo Exclusive Edition” @2015 Sony Music Entertainment USA Latin LLC
artist, in their heart, wants to perform and win at Sanremo. The ecstatic leap by Barone when the name IL Volo, was announced as victorious, demonstrates the joy of this moment in their career as IL Volo. “Grand Amore”, is the title track by Francesco Bioccia and Ciro Esposito. IL Volo also cover five songs on the EP from previous Sanremo Music Festivals including: “Ancora” (Once Again), “Vacanze Romane” (Roman Holiday), “Canzone per Te” (Song for You), “Piove” (Rain), “Romantica” (Romantic) and “L’Immensita” (Immensity).
Barone, Ginoble and Boschetto have crafted a unique approach to song. There is no leader. Each will sing a solo, become a duo and then a trio, finding what the song and words need for expression. Each singer knows the others strength and weaves a compelling, emotional state of enchantment. The songs are sumptuous compositions that have stood the test of time. These songs were just waiting for IL Volo to come along and record them for a new generation of romantics. Ladies will feel as if her hand has been kissed by a Romeo who won’t leave in the morning. Men will be moved to reflect on the ways of love, how it is expressed and where it can take the heart. Relax and feel your sensual side come alive with “Sanremo Grand Amore.”
On Saturday, June 14, 2014, under a bright Strawberry full moon, the Italian trio of IL Volo, performed before a sold out audience at the Palace Theater, Stamford Center for the Arts in Stamford CT. This is the fourth summer concert tour in the USA and Canada by IL Volo since 2011 and one of only fifteen stops on a brisk summer schedule. IL Volo, fresh from winning the Latin Billboard Award for Latin Pop Artist of the Year 2014, are enjoying popularity in the USA creating an exceptional style of lyrical pop with a stage show of new songs, Broadway favorites, operatic arias, and traditional Italian music. Piero Barone, Ignazio Boschetto and Gianluca Ginoble entertain the audience with a blend of sensual charismatic energy and a bit of comedy stirred in. IL Volo dazzled the crowd raising a spell of magic in the moonlight.
The band members traveling with IL Volo are: Guitar: Giovanni Di Caprio, Bass, Patrizio Sacco, Piano: Giampiero Grani and Drums: Salvatore Corazza. Pre-recorded music supplied the more complex orchestration for pieces such as “Granada”, “Mattinata” and “Beautiful Day”.
the heart with his presence. And, he does it all with a clever twinkle in the eye, he knows some of what he is capable of artistically, the audience agrees and notable gasps could be heard in appreciation of his gift.
he enjoys a little salsa dance and sway with Piero, cracking funny jokes about his on-going refinement of English and certain silly secrets. This was my third year in attendance at a concert and from the start, I noticed Piero and Ignazio like to entertain the audience with little comical skits. It appears they have worked very hard to take a natural talent and develop it into a breezy episode of jest with better timing and delivery of punch lines. I found it outright funny Ignazio’s description of Piero’s ears. “They stand out like elephants. Big, BIG elephant ears.” He gave a dramatic charade of an elephant in full trumpet while Piero quipped that the ears flattened out after he discovered the joys of a motorbike and sped off Italian style. Vvvvvvvvvvrrrrrrrrrrooooooooooooooommmmmm! Ears flat!
Gianluca Ginoble enjoys singing the American favorites of a generation just passed. The general audience age range was closer to 50. Most may have clear memories of Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra in their prime. Or, they may recall their parents dancing and playing the popular songs in their day. The younger crowd might deem them oldsters and not bother to listen. Gianluca presents their more popular works in his own smooth baritone. His rendition of the Sinatra classic Night and Day was superb. He got the mood of the piece perfectly this night being all at once sultry and suave. His rendition of the Elvis classic, “Can’t Help Falling in Love” was the only song new in the repertoire.
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