Concerto Di Natale – 12/15/12

Concerto Di Natale

Ho ho ho! Merry Christmas Concerto!

I and Joe G., my manager, and Joe T., my music conductor, and Brian , my assistant, arrived from the Dubai, Belarus, and Moscow concerts, and we slip right into Rome, and jump right into the festivities.

This is the 20th year of this production, and it’s always broadcast on Christmas Eve or nearby. There were 28 performers, including Italian and international stars. 2 years ago I was a part of the show, and we did it from Malta. This is a real big deal production, and it’s a high profile, prestigious honor. I did Elton John’s, “Your Song,” on my own (performance number 27 out of 28), and earlier, Mel Tormé’s “The Christmas Song,” with a really beautiful Italian jazz/pop singer named Chiara… She studied at Berklee School of Music in Boston, and has 3 CD’s. Her first CD was produced by Ted Templeton and Steve Gadd was all over it. This rascal writes with Burt Bacharach. She rocks. I hope you can get to Rome at all, but try to go at Christmas time.

They go all out with Christmas decorations done by Tiffany’s and Gucci. Taste and elegance. I was immediately and over and over again saying, “Susan and I have to come back here again at Christmas time.” We did it before. Magic.

The stage was 70 feet from the edge of the front of the stage to the back wall of the stage. With a full orchestra of at least 80 pieces and 20 background singers. Amazingly, they played all the music for all the 28 artists, and stayed in place for 4 hours. That’s a marathon.

The audience could get up and move around a bit. But in fact they were there as long. They maintained attention and enthusiasm with several standing ovations right until the very end.

You would have loved 7-8 young guys who sang Jingle Bell Rock. There was also Reverend Jackson’s 15-voice tri-state mass gospel choir, which was a great thing to see in Italy. They brought a Sunday morning Church feel, and brought people to their feet.

There were 8 priests in the front row that sat 3 yards away from me, with warmth and enthusiasm all night long, and also stood up and applauded.

I was so happy to see them, and whenever I was down front and singing they knew how I loved their presence. The evening appropriately featured 3 brilliant, classical singers. 2 performed a thrilling version of, “Beauty and the Beast,” and the classical lady in white dress sang, “Ave Maria.” It thrilled me to tears.

All in all, a fabulous, wonderful event, and a great way to bring out the Christmas season, and close out the year. Hi and thank you Sabrina for all of your help! See you next year! Thanks to everyone!

Love, Al