Definitely it wasn’t a common concert like many. Three outstanding vocal talents, the greatest opera aria’s of the world in accompaniment of the Orchestra of the Music Theater in Poznań and the audience that every artist dreams on. The Warsaw concert Il Volo, which took place on 26 June in Torwar, will remain in memory for a long time, not only for the fans but also for the band itself. Very good organization of the event with the huge involvement of fans and fan clubs touched the boys, who at the end said: “We promise you we will return here next year.” I invite you to read the only one event relation in Polish blogosphere from the Magical Night in Warsaw, where I will show you not only the concert itself but also its backstage. Together we will look at the stage, listen to Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca learn to speak Polish and where they stayed during this and previous stay in the Polish capital.
Preparing to concert
For the vast majority of Polish fans, Il Volo Magical Night in Warsaw began at the opening of the Hala Torwar on Monday, June 26 at 18:15. However, what happened before the guys went out on stage had a direct impact on the great success of the event. Let me tell you about people from the second plan, who have had a tremendous contribution both to the organization of the event and to its course. Let’s go back to the day when Polish fans first heard that Il Volo would probably sing on the Vistula River Country.
– About the boy’s concert plan in Poland we heard on 15.02.2017, during their interview in the Italian radio station RTL 102.5. On the air began to appear questions about where Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca will play during the European part of the tour Notte Magica. Many Polish fans started writing on Twitter about the concert in Poland. When this question aired on the air, Gianluca said, “We will come to Poland. We will arrive in late June.” Succeeded!! Two years after their beautiful performance and spectacular success in the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Il Volo was due to visit Poland. A few days later on the website Prestige MJM appeared official confirmation: Il Volo will play June 26 in Warsaw! Craziness has taken over all the fans – remembers Anita Olszewska from the fan club Il Volo Poland. Together with the girls we started to think about concert performances. We wanted to do everything in our power to make this concert unforgettable, and that Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca would like to return to Poland during the next tour. It was not easy, but we continued to work. The choice was to create flags of colored cards – the Italian flag on the Torwar plate and the Polish flag on the stands. Stars flash from the phone during two songs – “My Way” and “Caruso”, plus rhythmic clapping to songs and singing along with the guys “Grande Amore”. The idea to sing “Happy Birthday” to Piero came later. For the smooth concert action fan clubs were necessary consensus and help from the organizer of the concert, agency Prestige MJM and great people who work in it. Wasn’t any coincidence that at the moment when eight rolls of A4 paper in three colors, previously unfolded on the seats, wandered upwards, forming the Italian flag on the hall plate and the Polish flag on the stands, the audience was illuminated so that Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca could see Effect from the scene. Thank you for your kindness and help to Izabela Olek. – Aniela, Monika, Sylwia and I got permission from the Prestige MJM agency to enter the room earlier and unfold the sheets in the seats. Aleksandra and Patrycja were also helping us. We were afraid we would not make it before the concert, but when the gates opened, a few more people helped us – thank you again! We are happy that our ideas have been realized – Anita adds.
Working with the Prestige MJM agency at the stage of promotion of the concert among Polish lovers of Italy, I had the opportunity to see that they did a good job. Never before has there been so much talk in the Polish media about Il Volo. The boys recorded two short videos with statements addressed to fans from the Vistula River, including Easter’s Eve festivities. The organizer’s delegation also went to Taormina in early June, where they interviewed the band, both for Prestige MJM and for RMF Classic and TVP info. Ten days before the concert, Polish TV issued the first concert “Notte Magica”, which was filmed in Firenze, and here on the blog, I started a contest where tickets and records could be won.
In the gallery below you will see photos from the beginning of the concert. The Prestige MJM team at work, few shots from the rehearsal and the last photo – girls from the Il Volo Poland fan club (from left): Aniela Bogatkowska, Anita Olszewska, and Monika Fronczak.
Koncert
The fact that the orchestra will be conducted by Diego Basso I learned in the morning in the restaurant during breakfast Hotelu Regent Maestro sat down at the next table and spoke in a loud voice to the waiter: Un cappuccino, per favore. Could my sensitive Italian ears have not caught it? Non posibble! Shortly after 20:00, Diego Basso and the Poznan Orchestra of Music Theater began the concert overture to Giuseppe Verdi’s “La Forza del Destino”, and after a few minutes a long-awaited moment. The boys started with “Nessun Dorma”, “Granada” and “Mattinata”, and then each of them classically performed in the first of two solos that night. It would not be true to say that the audience was surprised because the repertoire was familiar to anyone who was a little interested in the band, as was the order of songs. Very nice surprise for the audience was the words “Thank you” and “Ladies and gentlemen” in Polish (which is in my opinion on the top of difficult language) and by far the most knowledgeable student of Polish speech turned out to be Ignazio, what you will see in the movie in both the first part of the concert and in the second part from behind scene. Pay attention to the moment when after singing “Happy Birthday” Piero asks a discreet friend to thank in Polish, and Ignazio like looking sideways told him, then Piero already in the microphone probably repeats “Thank you” – of course in Polish.
I have already mentioned that both the repertoire and the performance were not a big surprise for the fans. It’s true and I say even more surprised were Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca. It is no secret that every artist loves an active audience and Polish fans are considered exceptionally spontaneous and eager to show their emotions. However, what the boys experienced in Warsaw will certainly remain in their memory for a long time. Piero’s “Happy Birthday” singing after his first solo was not unique and I personally think it could come out better. We tried to arrange this action with the band’s management to bring in the other two guys and orchestra. It wasn’t successful, the fans had to deal with their own. The sea of star lights on “My Way” and “Caruso” made a big impression on the band, so much that on Instagram Stories Il Volo was added a video featuring the three open wow smileys. But the real flag was made by the fan club girls, an amazing action invented by the girls from the fan club. Unfortunately, you will only see a small part of “Ave Maria Mater Misericordiae”. The press accreditation conditions which Artur and I received at the meeting did not allow to show more. Let’s start from the beginning. Why this song? Because it was written specifically for World Youth Day, which took place last summer in Krakow, and where Il Volo was to sing for the Holy Father. In the fan club’s opinion, the creation of the flags during the chorus of this song was meant to symbolize the dedication to Pope John Paul II and to Pope Francis. The effect has exceeded expectations. At the moment Piero began to sing the Ave Maria refrain, thousands of people in Hall of Torwar lifted their papers up and the technicians lighted the audience. I was sitting in the second row, I didn’t pick up the card because my task was to record this extraordinary moment and reaction of the boys. They were incredibly moved.
Emotion grew with each song. Already during the first verses of “Libiamo Ne ‘Lieti Calici” from Giuliano Giuseppe Verdi, Ignazio seemed exceptionally pleased to sing, “Let’s drink happy chalices that adorn the beauty until the fleeting moment will be drunk with sensuality.” Something seems to me that Ignazio in our beautiful, Vistula country would find himself very good, not only in Polish speech but also in some habits. The highlight was the encore of the “Grande Amore”. In the song itself, the people in the first rows were standing, and the whole hall was singing, but just after the end of the farewell with the fans Piero gestured to the approach to the stage, there was craziness. Instead of the first, possibly the second, row almost all sectors went forward, and many flowers sprinkled under their feet. The boys handed their hands and made a selfie with the audience. I was very lucky because my phone first took Ignazio, then Piero. BI was so excited!
I was amazed by the reaction of the audience, who reacted in such enthusiastic way: just like at pop or rock concerts! It is clear that there are many fans in Poland. I think the most beautiful thing is that the people who came to the concert were very young. Perhaps this is the way to educate young people and bring them closer to classical music. Thanks to Il Volo and their popularity, this is actually happening. I am very happy that our Orchestra of the Musical Theater has performed so well and played beautifully in solo moments. Together they created a wonderful atmosphere – said Przemysław Kieliszewski, director of the Music Theater in Poznan.
Against the background of red-white-black scenery, the trio Il Volo was really phenomenal! Their singing enchanted all of the Torwar, and the final Grande Amore literally knocked everyone off their feet. It was an unforgettable evening: a magical evening with Il Volo! Janusz Stefański from Prestige MJM.
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Surprise with the flag was adorable. Thank you so much, said Gianluca
Behind the scene
When for most spectators the concert was over, for the few dozen VIP ticket holders the best was to come. Meet & Greet is a short meeting with an artist with the greeting and with the photo taken by an official team photographer. I had the pleasure of attending this part of the event from the beginning until the very end when the boys had left and I was asked to give a short interview to the Prestige MJM agency. Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca came out dressed up casual and completely relaxed. Piero once again in direct contact turned out to be the soul of the band, and Ignazio, apparently tired, but as always polite and very attentive to everyone, patiently stayed to the very end and posed for photos.
Monika Fronczak from Il Volo Poland came to the boys and handed them presents from fans. Everyone got a cardboard box, the content of which was almost identical.
– Monica opened a collection where fans paid any amount of money for concert and gifts. In total, we managed to collect 975 polish zloty. For this money we bought colorful cards for the action with the flag and gifts: scarves with the words “POLSKA”, flies and cufflinks with amber, and Piero additionally a birthday bracelet. In addition, Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca were given letters in which they were thankful for a great concert in Poland, for the union of fan clubs, for music, for everything. As there were still some free boxes in the boxes, Monika bought some colorful feathers to fill the empty space, which turned out to be a bullseye! – says Anita Olszewska from Il Volo Poland
Piero didn’t hide the delight of his gift. He was laughing at the colorful bow-tie, he was very surprised by the amber cufflinks, but at that moment the feather and the red and white scarf with the inscription “Poland” proved unbeatable. What a crazy thing! Feather fluttered, Piero danced and wrapped the photographer’s scarf, then went to look at his father’s scene and handed to him a cardboard box for storage. Gaetano Barone and Barbara Vitali standing next to me also had a good laugh.
Probably some of you had the opportunity to hear the assurances of the guys that next year they will return to Poland with another concert. If not, then you will hear it posted just below the video. It was a wonderful and very exciting day. Thank you very much to all who have contributed to this: the staff of Prestige MJM, without which the concert would not take place at all, the girls from the fan club who put a lot of work into mobilizing and coordinating the fans and also the characters of the evening. But this is not the end of emotions connected with Il Volo’s stay in Poland. At the very end of the Surprise Surprise gave Piero fans.
Where did the Il Volo team stop? Welcome to Regent Warsaw Hotel
Luxury hotels with five star standards in Warsaw are not missing, but it is Regent which was chosen by Il Volo during the stay in the Polish capital. Why? Maybe it’s about a perfect location right in the city center, next to the Royal Baths and relatively close to Torwar? Not necessarily, because when the guys visited Poland last September, they were not interested in sporting events. Can it be the kitchen? Hotel Venti-Tre is considered to be the best Italian restaurant in the capital. Or maybe the Fitness Center & Spa – Holmes Place – with a total area of 1200 m²? Swimming pool, sauna, well-equipped gym. Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca are not aware that Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca care about their form and that the hotel they stay in must provide them with training opportunities. Piero relaxed at the gym on Tuesday, the day after the concert, as reported by throwing a picture on Instagram Stories. Or rooms, large, spacious and very comfortable, which on request are specially prepared for allergy sufferers, which is extremely important for Piero? For sure. Besides, full discretion, which is guaranteed to well-known and very courteous, competent staff. At the Regent Warsaw Hotel, we had the pleasure of spending a wonderful 48 hours at the same time as the Il Volo crew. Although the boys didn’t arrive from Rome until Monday noon, some of the people working on the preparation of the concert, including Maestro Diego Basso, arrived on Sunday.
Pasieka in the center of Warsaw
About the hives and the delicious honey will tell you Artur
Once, I no longer remember in which breakfast television I saw a report about an apiary in the city center. On the reportage I accidentally jumped through, landing in the middle of the material, so I did not know who. I knew where – in Warsaw. We live in a time where radio noise, pesticides and God knows what else makes the bee population systematically decrease. Albert Einstein once said that when the bees will be gone, the human will remain at most four years, so I thought a cool, hippy idea – something like urban gardener only at the level hard.
When I heard from Natalia that the Regent Warsaw Hotel has its own apiary I thought it was probably about this place was the reportage that I saw months ago, positively turned up. I could not wait to see the apiary close up, you know the center of Warsaw at the intersection between Belwederska and Spacerowa streets, sixth floor, hotel guests and seven hives – superb!
The Regent Warsaw Hotel is the first and only hotel in Poland to which stand out in an original way. Thanks to the courtesy of the Hotel Management, we were able to see the bees overworked, bearing pollen from flowering plants in the Royal Baths. The view is undoubtedly unusual, because the hives are located on the sixth floor of the Hotel, where to the ground level is twenty meters and the bees, which Mr. Dariusz Suchenek – the chef of the hotel restaurant Venti-Tre and guardian of the apiaries showed us, tirelessly return to home flying nearly upward, carrying not only pollen but also seeds of grass and perennials, which fall at the inlet of hives create a flower meadow on the gravel terrace.
The idea of placing the apron “Royal Baths Gold” on the roof of the Regent Warsaw Hotel appeared in 2011 during protests of beekeepers in Warsaw. At that time, the Hotel Management decided to put two hives on the roof – today there are seven of them, inhabited by about 350,000 bees. Honey “Royal Baths Gold” from the roof of Regent Warsaw Hotel is regularly examined for heavy metals and – as Mr. Dariusz explained – meets all applicable standards. We found out taste during breakfast. Believe me “Royal Baths Gold” is excellent! Guests can also choose from the menu of the restaurant Venti-Tre, in which honey has been used. Honey is also distributed to guests as a gift on special occasions.
Running the apron on the roof of Regent Warsaw Hotel does not have a purely business dimension. Unfortunately, “Royal Baths Gold” is not available for sale.
Tastes of Italy in Ristorante Venti-Tre
Very good guest reviews, the Golden Fork Award and numerous awards: at the fine dining restaurant Fine Fine Arts Week or in the guides, including the famous Michelin, make Venti-Tre the best Italian restaurant in Warsaw. In addition to sophisticated dishes such as fine fish and seafood soups, tuna steak or pasta fresco with calamari and shrimps, the menu also includes pizza, in just a few flavors, including classic margaritas, Parma ham and four pizzas. cheese. Very rarely in Poland eat pizza because I am extremely picky in this, conferred in such temples as Gino Sorbillo or Starita and Materdei in Naples. But when I saw the wood-burning stove inside the stone, with open fire and the great fragrances of fragrant wood put in, I could not deny myself a bit of tasting. For starters, however, we received the best pesto genovese I have ever had, freshly baked bread rolls and Parmigiano Reggiano. The restaurant service is of the highest standard, the quality of the dishes and the aesthetics of their recipes are first class, the very pleasant atmosphere, the open kitchen and the outside terrace, hedged from the street. In the morning, you can also enjoy a delicious and extremely rich breakfast. Various types of cakes, fruits, vegetables, cold meats, cheeses, sausages, mushrooms, potato pancakes, omelets. Imagine a perfect breakfast and then head over to Venti-Tre. I hope you are not hungry now. Feel free to browse the photo gallery of the restaurants, both for dinner and for breakfast.
The beautiful photos posted below were sent by Anna Lewicka, thank you. Tuesday, June 27, Il Volo leaves the Regent Warsaw Hotel to go to the airport and fly to Vienna, but they find time to say goodbye to the group of fans who were waiting in front of the entrance. A very pleasant surprise for fans and droppers for boyfriends was the fact that Piero, wearing a bracelet – a birthday present from the fans, was photographed this morning at the hotel. What’s more, he also had it during two more concerts. Piero my dear, know that this small gesture on his part caused a real euphoria among some fans and confirmed them that they are able to make you happy. You are so cool! We keep your word and we look forward seeing you in Poland next time.
fot. Anna Lewicka
fot. Anna Lewicka
fot. Anna Lewicka
fot. Anna Lewicka
fot. Anna Lewicka
fot. Anna Lewicka
Dear All, I very warmly, I invite you to share your memories from the concert in the comments below the post. I hope you don’t mind me having to wait for this report for two weeks. The material was ready done at the beginning of last week but still needed an English translation.
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Natalia
The article was created in cooperation with Prestige MJM and Regent Warsaw Hotel
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