Popera - 'O sole mio!

Il Volo: Piero, Gianluca & Ignazio (source)

The Amalfi Cross

There's a small town up in the mountains above the Amalfi Coast named Scala, which is one of the oldest settlements here. It boasts the oldest church on the Coast (Duomo San Lorenzo), a lot of chestnut trees, and a history as the departure point for the monk, Frà Gerardo Sasso, who went to Malta and founded the Jerusalem Hospital Order in the 11th century (which was later to become the Order of the Knights of Malta - trivia: that's why the Maltese Cross is so similar to the Cross of the Republic of Amalfi). On most days, Scala is a sleepy little outpost, but sometimes exciting things can happen there.


One evening last week, for example, the sound of music carried across the valley to the next-door town of Ravello where I was just finishing the best Pizza in the World (da Salvatore, Ravello - make a note). Further investigation, involving driving the short distance to Scala, found the entire village enjoying a concert in their small piazza - a stage, lighting, a sound system, the RAI television people; and Il Volo, three young men with astonishing voices and a taste for musical classics. This was a find -- a free concert by a trio that tours the world, has a huge recording contract, and causes Italian grandmothers to swoon incessantly.

Not only did I get to hear the ragazzi sing, I was also treated to the delightful sight of the village priest (who, it seems, has always been involved with Assisi and the Francescans and now, courtesy of the new Papa Francesco, finds himself IN with the Vatican), in his cassock and collar, up on stage with the mayor, the three singers, and a very buxom television presenter in six-inch pink heels, all singing 'O Sole Mio' along with the crowd.

Perfecting casual but sexy: Il Volo (source)

Il Volo's repertoire includes many traditional Italian favourites plus some contemporary songs, all sung in that style which has become known as 'popera' or operatic pop -- with the vocal range and style of opera but accessible to everyone, old favourites belted out in fine voices. Popera voices are generally not quite like those of trained opera singers - if they were, they wouldn't need amplification, for one thing - but popera singers bring the style to many people who wouldn't usually follow opera, and the audiences go mad for it. Think Andrea Bocelli, Sarah Brightman, Susan Boyle -- and what's not to like?

Il Volo is a trio of Italian operatic pop singers: tenors Piero Barone (b 1993) and Ignazio Boschetto (b 1994), and baritone Gianluca Ginoble (b 1995). They began singing together after a RAI television talent contest, in 2009. Yes, check those birthdates - they are very young. They are also very successful (and well-managed), with two top-selling albums, an appearance on 'American Idol' that launched an international career, and a tour of the US underway soon -- right after Scala, perhaps! Placido Domingo collaborated on one track of their recent album - at the behest, it's said, of his grandson, who is a die-hard Il Volo fan.

The boys were all born in Italy, two raised in Sicily. Judging by the fan comments on their website there's many an Italian nonna who loves to listen to them -- and also give a  little grandmotherly advice, of course:

"I absolutely love your music I am a happy grandmother of 7, great-grandmother of 3&1/2. My youngest granddaughter (4) has listened to your music so much she can tell me who is singing without looking at the tv. Please continue as you are and don't get mixed up in the bad stuff." 

At the end of competition when they first met, the three singers were chosen to perform, as a trio, the Neapolitan classic "’O sole mio". It's become their signature tune, and they do a spectacular job. You might like to be about the 10 millionth person to listen to this YouTube clip:



And if you'd enjoy singing along, like the citizenry of Scala on that night last week, here are the lyrics: (the original language is the Neapolitan dialect, not Italian).

Neapolitan lyrics
Che bella cosa è na jurnata ’e sole,
n’aria serena doppo na tempesta!
Pe’ ll’aria fresca para già na festa...
Che bella cosa na jurnata ’e sole.
Ma n’atu sole cchiù bello, oi ne’,
’o sole mio sta nfronte a te!
’o sole, ’o sole mio, sta nfronte a te,
sta nfronte a te!
Quanno fa notte e ’o sole se ne scenne,
me vane quasi ’na malincunia;
sotta ’a fenesta toia restarria
quanno fa notte e ’o sole se ne scenne.
Ma n’atu sole cchiù bello, oi ne’,
’o sole mio sta nfronte a te!
’o sole, ’o sole mio, sta nfronte a te,
sta nfronte a te!

English translation
What a beautiful thing is a sunny day!
The air is serene after a storm,
The air is so fresh that it already feels like a celebration.
What a beautiful thing is a sunny day!
But another sun that's brighter still,
It's my own sun that's upon your face!
The sun, my own sun, it's upon your face!
It's upon your face!
When night comes and the sun has gone down,
I almost start feeling melancholy;
I'd stay below your window
When night comes and the sun has gone down.
But another sun that's brighter still,
It's my own sun that's upon your face!
The sun, my own sun, it's upon your face!
It's upon your face!