It’s here at last, a holiday extravaganza has arrived!
Not only is it Christmas weekend it’s also Hanukkah at the same time. And next week starts with Kwanzaa and before we know it, a brand new year.
Yesterday I mentioned that I’d be sharing a vocal treat as a wee Christmas gift for you. I may be late to this particular party, but I figure I can’t be alone (and if this is “old news” for you, I’m sure you’ll enjoy regardless) so …
As our household’s official Entertainment Director, Robert was lining up our DVR recordings recently and (in among all the sports we watch!) came across a PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) special he thought we’d both enjoy. Last Saturday night we sat down and spent the evening watching Notta Magica … and were blown away.
The video I’m sharing today is from that live PBS concert special that took place in the beautiful open air Piazza Santa Croce in Florence, Italy. The concert is a tribute to the Three Tenors by three handsome young 22-year-old Italians who call themselves Il Volo. They are the baritone Gianluca Ginoble, and two tenors, Piero Barone and Ignazio Boschetto.
Il Volo: Gianluca Ginoble, Piero Barone, Ignazio Boschetto (L-R). The three young men named their group “Il Volo,” meaning “flight,” to signify the feeling that they were about to spread their wings and fly.
According to Wikipedia, at 18 years old they each competed individually on an Italian televised singing competition and performed individually over several episodes. Then the show’s creator had the idea to put them together to create a trio similar to The Three Tenors (Plácido Domingo, José Carreras and Luciano Pavarotti).
The rest, as they say, is history. Here are the seemingly-effortless, exquisite voices of Gianluca, Piero, and Ignazio performing Puccini’s beautiful Nessun Dorma (“one of the best-known tenor arias in all opera”) with Plácido Domingo conducting …
I have to confess I am not an opera fan, but I loved this. What’s not to enjoy about three dashing young men with incredible voices and an inspiring performance? For the lyrics and translation of Nessun Dorma, check out the Wikipedia entry. (PS – You can find Il Volo’s CDs on Amazon – they have a Christmas CD too 🙂 )
The Tangle Refresher series, aka Buried Treasure, spotlights hidden tangle gems from the past. It can remind you of tangles you might not have used for a while or introduce you to some you haven’t come across yet.
Here are five more tangle pattern gems and a Tangle Refresher from a year (or two) ago for your tangling pleasure. Remember to check out the “More Good Stuff” links below too.
BTW as you visit these tangles please do leave a comment of thanks and encouragement to show the artists you appreciate them for sharing their creativity to inspire yours. And please share a link to your favorite tangles with your followers on all your social media. Thanks!
Zenful tangling!
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Zenith |
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Watusee |
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Phirst |
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Opsess |
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Heart S |
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Tangle Refresher 116 |
Merry Christmas to you and yours and all best wishes for a wonderful New Year! See you again January 2nd …
December 23, 2016 | 
More like this: 
Awesomely beautiful!Thank you.
Just a breathtaking performance. Thank you.
Merry Christmas!
What a beautiful opera performance, along with eye candy too. Thanks you so much for sharing their performance.
Merry Christmas!
I’ve been tangling since August & am addicted. Thank you for sharing some wonderful tangles!
And thanks for sharing Nessun Dorma today. It always takes my breath away!
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, for “Nessun Dorma”…….that song always makes me goose-pimply! I love it, so it is a lovely and unexpected early Christmas present from you Linda!
May you and yours, all enjoy the sort of Christmas that you all love to have, and that 2017 gives you all marvellous health, masses of inspiration, and a quietness of spirit…….Merry Christmas from Australia!
Transit was the very first opera performance I attended. I wasn’t sure I wanted to go, as I was only 12, but Mum insisted. I’m so glad she did. So this opera, and this aria, are very special in my mind. Thank you for sharing this performance with everyone here, and for your work in sharing the magic that is Zentangle. All the best over the holidays, and have a very wonderful New Year.
O Linda what a wonderful gift to all of us! The three tenors video was marvelous!! I grew up listening to the operas “Hansel and Gretal” and “Peter and the Wolf” recordings for children. Tis was a real treat.
I so admire your constant work with Zentangle and your beautiful organization of it all. I become overwhelmed and your website helps to calm me down and enjoy this fantastic art form.
May you and our loved ones have the Merriest of a Christmas and Happiest of a New Year and a fulfilling 2017!!!
Merry Christmas to you Linda. Thank you for all the work you put in through the year to make this the vital site for all thing pattern!
Thank you very much Linda for the wonderful music and of course for the fantastic job you do for us, tanglers all over the world.
I wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year!
Though not an opera fan myself, I have a couple of favorites. Thank you for Nessun Dorma, Linda, which I have heard a few times, but my other great favorite is an amazingly talented Dutch girl, whose name is Amira Willighagen, who started singing publicly at the age of nine. She would be 12 now, but I recommend this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDqTBlKU4CE … It`s such a lovely surprise to hear THAT voice come from that little scrap of a girl!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all my fellow tanglers!
Thanks so much for sharing that delightful treat, Rosemary. Such a beautiful voice and it’s amazing that she hasn’t had any singing lessons. Remarkable.
Thank you Linda for sharing this. Very moving. Have a truly wonderful Christmas and fantastic 2017. Thanks for all you do for us zentanglers. I do appreciate it Happy to Holidays to all of you.
Thank you all for your kind comments and wishes, I sincerely appreciate each and every one.
(And it’s good to know I’m not out here talking to myself 🙂 )
Thanks so much Linda, I love this aria and I love all the work you do!!!
I wish you a happy healthy tangle 2017!!!!
It s Christmas morning and I just found your email before all the days festivities start. Thank you for this gift! I am not a fan of opera but when I played this video I cried and got goose bumps all over my body and I didn t even understand the words until later!! The power in their voices and the melody evoke such emotion! I appreciate all the work you do throughout the year with your invaluable website. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!
Thanks You Linda for your gift, the video and your very up to date site. Here in Australia we are enjoying a cool Boxing Day after enduring a 40 degree centigrade Christmas Day. (Adelaide was the hottest Christmas day in the world) Right now it is raining! with a delightful cool breeze off the ocean.
I do hope you have all enjoyed your Christmas Day with family and friends
Mary
Thanks you Linda!I do hope you enjoyed your Christmas day and the best to you for the New 2017!
I am a bit late to the party, but what a beautiful performance all round. My granddaughter spend 5 months in Florence during her junior year in College, and just have the opportunity to spend a weekend revisiting it four years later. I am going to send her the entire email so she can hear this aria.
Thank you to all of you that made this happen!
Thank you Linda, for the plethora of great patterns, and to everyone for their comnumity comraderie! Happy New Year to all.