You could say that Gianluca Ginoble, 22, has been growing up on stage. One of the operatic pop sensations behind the hit trio Il Volo, Ginoble was a teenager when I first met him backstage before a concert in 2013. In those days, it really was a family affair, with moms in the wings grounding and guiding their talented kids in a world full of spotlights and temptation.
Now all in their 20s, the young men of Il Volo (Ginoble, Piero Barone, 24, and Ignazio Boschetto, 23) can travel alone, but they’re taking their family values and plenty of gratitude on the road with them as they embark upon a new world tour. I caught up with Gianluca Ginoble from Italy for my podcast where we discussed Il Volo’s U.S. tour launch, the power of family and the one staple the famous trio must always have in their dressing rooms.Il Volo’s 2017 world tour kicks off in March at the perfect venue—Radio City Music Hall. “We really can’t wait to come back to United States,” says Ginoble. “We are bringing our country through the music. The music—we always say that will never die because, as you know, it’s eternal. It’s the kind of music that Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, José Carreras and The Three Tenors, and also [Andrea] Bocelli used to sing since more than 30 years. And so, this is what we are trying to do—to follow the idea of what they did in the past, to bring opera and Italian music all around the world—also to the young generation.”Il Volo has done their part when it comes to narrowing the generation gap. “If you come to our show, you can see people from all the ages. Kids from 1 to 92,” emphasizes Ginoble proudly. It’s not unusual to see three generations filling concert halls for the Il Volo experience.While the team may be far from their homes in Italy, they are quick to embrace the U.S. component of their tour including stops in the Big Apple, Las Vegas and the Washington, D.C. area. “We share beautiful memories,” Ginoble says. “Especially in Las Vegas, because one of the shows that we did as special guests with Barbra Streisand (Ginoble was only 15 years old at the time.)…So that’s probably the best moment of our career— singing with her, it was really a dream come true.”Of course, Il Volo has scored some huge collaborations beyond Streisand, including their latest album with Placido Domingo—Notte Magica – A Tribute to The Three Tenors (Live). “It was really an honor to perform and share the stage with him,” says Ginoble.
As they prepare for another whirlwind schedule, does Il Volo have any traditions to keep them on track?
“The best thing to do before we sing, for me especially and for the three of us, is to have the support of the people you love. Because sometimes it’s hard when you’re on tour. Sometimes you feel sad, or you miss something, you miss someone, you miss everything about your home and your hometown.” Ginoble takes a nostalgic tone when he mentions missing family, and yes—the moms.“But anyway, we are growing up. We are starting to travel alone, and so to accept that we are growing up. But we do Skype, FaceTiming with our family, with our friends, and to keep us, you know, warm, and that’s the best thing to give us…the power to go on stage and do just everything we need to do.”So are there any diva-like dressing room requests from Gianluca Ginoble, Piero Barone and Ignazio Boschetta before an Il Volo concert?
“That’s very funny, you know, because two hours before we go on stage we eat pasta,” he says, laughing. “That’s very Italian. Sounds so Italian, I know. But you know why? Because pasta is very good for the throat. Because it like cleans your throat. It’s just plain pasta with no tomato—just pasta. We prefer spaghetti two hours before we go on stage…it’s good for the voice.” Sounds like great advice from great Italian moms. No room for divas, just pasta.
Listen to the conversation with Gianluca Ginoble on iTunes.
Hate to correct the good Doctor but Gianluca was already 17 years old with Streisand. I saw the show three times that summer including here in Vegas and they always did a little patter at the beginning about their ages. He always announced that he was 17 (which always amazed the audience) and then after the other two did their ages (18 and 19) she would joke about adding all their ages up together and STILL not equal hers at the time which was 70 years old.
How wonderful that he has seen the show three times, it must have been wonderful.
If he heard the recorded interview to RAIRADIO2 I’d like to know what he think of the live performances of our guys. I think they were very good, but it would be nice to know the opinion of an expert. Thank you.
Thanks for this article Anncruise, made me a little smile when they say that before a show a nice plate of pasta in white, cleans the throat, typical Italian !!
Just olive oil? No spices or cheese or anything? Don’t know if I would like that. I would try though. I use olive oil (not on spaghetti) but I would have to find a really good oil.
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Marie, I use olive oil for everything. I keep some light olive oil in the house for baking–but if I run out of it I just use the extra virgiin oil.
Marie, in fact I when I eat spaghetti in white add olive oil and plenty of Parmesan cheese and even a sprinkling of black pepper. And in any case much better than the olive oil and the butter !!!
Nice article, thanks Annecruise and Marie.
Hate to correct the good Doctor but Gianluca was already 17 years old with Streisand. I saw the show three times that summer including here in Vegas and they always did a little patter at the beginning about their ages. He always announced that he was 17 (which always amazed the audience) and then after the other two did their ages (18 and 19) she would joke about adding all their ages up together and STILL not equal hers at the time which was 70 years old.
How wonderful that he has seen the show three times, it must have been wonderful.
If he heard the recorded interview to RAIRADIO2 I’d like to know what he think of the live performances of our guys. I think they were very good, but it would be nice to know the opinion of an expert. Thank you.
Thanks for this article Anncruise, made me a little smile when they say that before a show a nice plate of pasta in white, cleans the throat, typical Italian !!
that must be pretty dry pasta with no sauce? they must wash it down with lots of water!
Pasta with a little oil and washed down with water…no coke! Adorable interview…
I use butter! So that’s why I can’t sing!
Marie, the butter is fattening, spaghetti is fabulous with an olive oil, the good one, must be slippery and tasty, not plastered and stews.
Just olive oil? No spices or cheese or anything? Don’t know if I would like that. I would try though. I use olive oil (not on spaghetti) but I would have to find a really good oil.
Marie, I use olive oil for everything. I keep some light olive oil in the house for baking–but if I run out of it I just use the extra virgiin oil.
Hey! Wait a minute… Isn’t olive oil fattening?
Marie, in fact I when I eat spaghetti in white add olive oil and plenty of Parmesan cheese and even a sprinkling of black pepper. And in any case much better than the olive oil and the butter !!!
I will try this.