OT- Il Volo

Having grown up playing Neopolitan style mandolin and guitar (taught by Dad and his cousin) in a mostly Italian family, this kind of music is special to me. I don't know how much Italian is in names like Don, Gary, Russ, Diki, and Donnie, but you can't help but appreciate the talent you are about to see if you already haven't seen the PBS concert they did (Tony Mads ought to like this). Everyone has heard of the three tenors and I remember how popular they became. But there are three others from Italy who, while not restricted to classical music, are becoming a similar sensation. The kicker is...they are all just 17.. Il Volo at Detroit opera house BTW, they are coming to NJ in Sept.

sparky ... you are right - I LOVE listening to and watching these kids, who BTW are now 18 (GianLuca), 19 (Ignazio) and 20 (Piero) yrs old ...
My wife and I saw them in Boston last September, and would go there to see them again, but WE hope to be in Italy at that time ...
The son of good friends of ours is a manager at a restaurant in Manhattan - http://www.osteriamorini.com/index.php - and Il Volo and some others were there for dinner recently .. he said they are very personable ...
And while to my knowledge only Donnie is Italian, I am sure the rest can appreciate good talent ...

They are currently on a US tour and will be coming to NJ in Sept. I will hopefully be there. And i knew you would appreciate them!

Outstanding!

Gary

PS ... I believe after we saw them I posted about it ... while they use a 5 - 6 piece band behind them - with at least 2 keyboards - they also did a segment where each one sang a solo without the band, but using backing tracks of full orchestras ...

You don't have to be Italian to appreciate talent when you see it. But you also don't have to be Italian to see that young, pretty performers are getting breaks that older, more weathered singers that could make these whippersnappers seem like the tyros they are are banished from our airwaves.

Been to any major opera lately? THOSE performers are chosen pretty much entirely on their skill, not how young and photogenic they are. But modern TV audiences want young and pretty...

And here you go.

I sure with I were young and pretty again.

I was young... but pretty?

Even THEY don't look like they used to ...

http://www.google.com/search?q=modern+op...ih=775#imgdii=_

... and Susan Boyle is doing well without being a 'cute little pop star' ...

While many of today's viewers may only look 'skin deep' talent is TALENT ...

GARY, you're still CUTE to me (flirt...flirt)!


Russ

I haven't been around here long, but I think I've figured out how things are on SZ...

Diki= fly swatter
Man = everybody else...

Ha ha my friend...

Could not put it any better

Henni