In this period of apparent calm and lack of concerts, I’m offering you the translation of three wonderful interviews with our guys.
The first was published in the newspaper LA GAZZETTA DI MANTOVA.
Il Volo: “Fascinated by Palazzo Te. We’ll have many guests on stage.”
The internationally renowned trio talks about themselves before their live dates scheduled for September 24th, 26th and 27th at the Esedra.
This year, the Esedra of Palazzo Te will once again host the fourth edition of Tutti per uno, scheduled for September 24, 26, and 27. This project, organized and produced by Friends & Partners and conceived by Michele Torpedine, features Piero Barone, Ignazio Boschetto, and Gianluca Ginoble. In short, Il Volo, an internationally renowned group, talks about themselves in this interview with the Gazzetta.
When asked why Mantua was chosen for the second consecutive year, the immediate response is a quip:
“They forced us.”
It’s enough to break the ice and transform the interview into an informal chat, consistent with the direct and spontaneous nature of the three artists. Immediately afterward, however, the tone changes:
“Mantua was truly surprising. Palazzo Te is a magical place. Honestly, we didn’t know it well, and when we arrived, we were amazed.”
They add:
“Seeing it on television was even more wonderful. We came from the Verona Arena and other very important contexts, but Palazzo Te managed to maintain the level we desired. When things are going well, you have to ride them, so we decided to return.”
The guests for the next edition are still top secret for now. The trio emphasizes that there are still several months to go and many confirmations to be made. “We can only say that there will be guests from previous editions, but also many new ones,” explains Piero. One thing is already certain, however: around 90 songs in total on the setlist.
The new single
Then comes the new single “Cuerpo sin alma,” created with Carlos Rivera, one of the most important voices in contemporary Latin music. The song, out Friday, May 22nd on all digital platforms, is a reinterpretation of Riccardo Cocciante’s “Bella senz’anima,” revisited with an Italian-Latin twist and already available for pre-save. “It’s a project designed primarily for the Latin American and South American market,” explains Gianluca. “Carlos is a friend of ours, and we were looking for something to do together. He suggested this song, which was very famous in South America in the 1960s and 1970s.”
The idea, adds Ignazio, is twofold: “On the one hand, to bring this music back to those who experienced it in those years, on the other, to make it known to new generations.”
The human journey
Speaking about future tours and their many years of career together, the three reflect on their personal and artistic journey. “We’re no longer the same as when we were 15. Traveling the world for 17 years shapes you so much.” Today, they feel more mature, more patient, and more willing to listen. “Living together teaches you so much,” they emphasize.
Finally, they reflect on the theme of mistakes: “Today, everyone wants everything right away, but on the path to a dream, there are inevitably mistakes and failures. And it’s precisely that middle part that’s the most beautiful, because it’s the path that makes you grow.”
The second interview was published by the newspaper LA GAZZETTA DEL SUD and reports an interview with Piero and Ignazio, enjoy.
“Sometimes he says stupid things that you’d just tell him to shut up.” Il Volo on allergies, missed trips, and solo dreams: “If it were just a business, it would have ended 10 years ago.” THE INTERVIEW
An interview with the two members of the popular Sicilian trio. Piero Barone and Ignazio Boschetto announce their new summer tour, debuting in Syracuse and returning to Taormina, and discuss what has kept them together for 17 years.
“Have you ever wanted to go on stage dressed as bad guys and smash everything?”
The question remains there, hanging, to break the ice and the cliché.
Piero Barone smiles with the composure of someone who truly feels that jacket is tailor-made for him. Ignazio Boschetto, on the other hand, allows himself one of his trademark grimaces, the kind of grimace of someone who respects the script but knows where to write his own part. Gianluca Ginoble, the third point of the Il Volo triangle, is missing. “No purge,” they both joke, “today we’re playing with a majority of Sicilians.”
Roots flourishing now that talk of the new, upcoming summer tour is underway (dates that precede the fourth edition of “Tutti per uno” – September 24, 26, and 27 at Palazzo Te in Mantua, subsequently broadcast on Canale 5. The return to Italian arenas is in December, while a new European leg involving the continent’s major capitals is planned for the fall of 2027). Meanwhile, two dates weigh more heavily than the others on the World Tour calendar: July 11 at the Greek Theater in Syracuse and August 22-23 in Taormina.
If Taormina is a homecoming, a perimeter where every stone and every acoustic reverberation is familiar, Syracuse is the unknown. A complete debut, almost a flash of light that would dazzle even those who have graced stages across the globe.
“We’ve taken the best seats,” confesses Piero. But it’s not just a matter of homeland; it’s more about children, and therefore about people, about the audience.
There’s a certain rhetoric about the Italian warmth, but what is it that’s really missing in Italy abroad?
“It’s not love or the way to show it,” they explain. “It’s a question of codes, of gut instinct. Even if we’re abroad, we still think in our own language and in translation; instinct gets lost in that transition. In Italy, you speak the way you eat. Interaction is spontaneous, immediate. It’s part of us.”
Then we return to that almost need for control that Barone asserts without embarrassment. “I am what you see. I like to have everything under control, to experience things calmly but precisely. I also have a sense of humor, it’s just that my teammates often don’t understand it.” “Ironic?” Ignazio immediately cuts him off with a laugh. “Sometimes he says such stupid things that you just want to say, ‘Please, shut up.’ But yes, in his rigidity, he’s hilarious.”
No smashed guitars, then, at least in the near future. No rock and roll thrills. Just a straight-laced discipline, despite the twists and turns of the road. And a lot, a lot of awareness (which rhymes with professionalism). Also because, “if you indulge in excess the night before, you pay for it the next day.” No scotch in the glass, just hazelnut coffee (Piero’s new passion, which he sips throughout our chat).
The question is there. Whether being together for 17 years, crammed into such an all-encompassing group identity, isn’t ultimately a forced democracy. A golden cage for cashing in.
Ignazio’s answer is clear and direct: “If it had been just business, it would have ended ten years ago. We have an almost messianic mission: to keep this musical genre alive, to bring it to young people, to reawaken the nostalgia of those who lived through the Pavarotti era. This unites us beyond any misunderstanding. Today, the world is moving toward individualism, but we exist and resist as a group. This is what is sometimes hard to understand.”
Yet the gnawing sting of personal ambition is human. Sooner or later, someone in every band wants to step out of the common car and travel on their own.
Piero doesn’t hide: “It’s a legitimate question. Gianluca has his inclinations towards pop music, and perhaps one day, if it’s ever possible, I might want to indulge in the whim of producing an opera. But today we know that our center of gravity is Il Volo. Today we know that together we have a strength we could only dream of alone.”
They became famous before they even wanted to.
A sliding door called “Ti lascio una canzone,” which they crossed at just 15 years old. When asked what they missed from normal life, the answer is clear. Ignazio had an adolescence, between scooters and hanging out with peers. Piero less so. “I never went on school trips. Never been to Selinunte, for example. I was severely allergic to dust, I couldn’t risk it. The only trip I ever took was to the Alcantara Gorges, and I came home speechless. A disaster.”
Now that they’re adults, the balance sheet closes with a game of mirrors. No mincing words, just a blunt concept dedicated to each other. Piero looks at Ignazio and says, “Honesty.” Ignazio returns the look and says of Piero, “Perseverance.”
The third interview was published by IMUSICFUN, enjoy reading it.
Il Volo, a never-ending journey through melody and bel canto: “We’re not just ambassadors, we love music.”
A musical journey spanning seventeen years, uniting generations and bringing the Italian opera-pop tradition to the world’s most prestigious stages. Following the extraordinary success of their leg in arenas across the United States and Latin America, Il Volo is preparing to conquer the summer of 2026 with a tour spanning Italy, Greece, and Spain.
In a detailed interview with La Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno, Piero Barone, Ignazio Boschetto, and Gianluca Ginoble open up about their new single, their deep connection to Italian tradition, and their highly anticipated performance in Barletta, Puglia, on August 7th.
The new single: “Cuerpo sin alma” featuring Carlos Rivera
The trio recently announced the release of their new single “Cuerpo sin alma,” a stunning international reinterpretation of Riccardo Cocciante’s classic “Bella senz’anima,” performed in a duet with Mexican star Carlos Rivera. The song features the prestigious production of Julio Reyes Copello, a multiple Grammy award winner who has previously collaborated with icons such as Marc Anthony, Jennifer Lopez, and Ricky Martin.
Regarding the genesis of this collaboration, the trio explains:
“Meanwhile, the collaboration with Carlos Rivera was spontaneous. We’d met for dinner and promised to do something together, also because his father was an admirer of Cocciante. Traveling the world, we realized that abroad they love what they don’t have and can’t have or create for cultural or anthropological reasons. A heritage like the Italian one, born in a country that laid the foundations for creating music in every aspect, is fascinating. And we, in our own small way, try to continue the tradition of bel canto because there aren’t many other singers our age who bring it to the world.”
Ambassadors of Bel Canto around the world: a great responsibility
Often described as the true diplomats of Italian music abroad, the three artists live by this label with extreme humility but also with great awareness. When asked if they truly feel like “ambassadors of Italy to the world,” they respond:
“It’s a subjective matter, but a great responsibility, for example, is to try to keep our enthusiasm alive when we sing, to be as consistent as possible with the choices we make. It’s true, some call us ambassadors of bel canto, but that’s only a consequence of how we feel and experience music.”
A success that is not only aimed at a nostalgic audience, but is also reaching an increasingly younger audience thanks to the timeless power of the melody:
“Just see one of our concerts. It’s true that initially, our television career, especially, was followed by an older audience, but our goal has always been to bring this genre to our peers, because today’s platforms offer more commercial tracks, but the melody is absolutely transversal. There’s a significant segment of the audience that has grown up with us.”
From Pavarotti to Operatic Pop: Great Collaborations
Il Volo’s stylistic hallmark lies precisely in their ability to break down barriers between musical genres, a path already blazed in the past by the giants of classical and pop music.
“Obviously, we took inspiration from Luciano Pavarotti; he was the first to do so and to understand the true power of this music, which could reach a wider audience. In Italy, we’re so accustomed to melody that we almost reject it; in England, for example, Adele’s most-listened-to songs are all ballads with orchestra. It’s also not true that romanticism is dead, and perhaps we should start talking about it again, offering less frivolous content. It’s not a war, absolutely, because there’s light music and more challenging music depending on the moment, but, as far as we’re concerned, we like to mix genres, singing with those artists who have become friends today.”
A perfect balance that requires obsessive care of the most important instrument: the voice.
“It takes self-love. In the past, there were times when we were a little more distracted, but today we take singing lessons, we follow a more defined path, we’re always trying to improve. People think that singing is simple, you lean in and breathe, but it’s precisely that knowledge of yourself and your body that makes the difference on stage, and if you don’t take care of it, you won’t have a very long career.”
The 2026 summer tour
The summer tour will see Il Volo perform in Italy’s most evocative historic locations. Among the most anticipated events is the fourth edition of “Tutti per Uno” (a format created by manager Michele Torpedine and produced by Friends & Partners), which will take place on September 24, 26, and 28 in the splendid setting of Palazzo Te in Mantua.
“We decided to celebrate these 17 years together and promised to do something together, but then we got carried away and added more dates. Summer tours in Italy allow us to see wonderful places, and the food in areas like Puglia and Basilicata is so good…”
The secret of 17 years of success together
Starting an international career at a very young age and pursuing it together for nearly twenty years is a rarity in the contemporary music scene. So, what is the secret to Il Volo’s longevity?
“It takes intelligence, not just from ourselves, but also from the people around us. It helps eliminate that ego, because in a group, egos can’t exist; you have to work as a team. We’ve learned this in all these years traveling the world: there’s nothing more beautiful than sharing emotions and goals. And we, who experience such high adrenaline rushes, when we achieve something, we want to celebrate it with others.”
And the last interview is a nice video with English and Hungarian translations. In it the boys talk about their upcoming summer concert in Malaga in July.
I hope you enjoyed these four interviews. Our three guys are on vacation, relaxing with family and friends, and we don’t want to disturb them, but soon they’ll be guests at an event with many singers.
That’s all for now, I’m also translating a long interview Luca Maggiti did with Gianluca, very serious and different…..see you soon!!
At the Detroit concert there were several Flight Crew fans and also our administrator, Jana, whose beautiful review of the concert you read, then there were RoseMarie Paliobes and Mark and Mary Minton.
The Mintons sent us their lovely commentary and photos:
“Hi Daniela, we’re in Detroit, and last night we went to the Il Volo concert! It was wonderful, as always. I didn’t take many videos or photos because I had a rather large man sitting a couple of rows in front of me who would have been in every shot. We also attended the soundcheck and the meet and greet after the show. They changed up the show a bit, opening with “O Sole Mio.” The first half of the concert was entirely dedicated to Italian classics—including “Granada”—while the second half was mostly in English. A truly fantastic mix of songs. We also have tickets to see them in Boston and Connecticut in November. Hugs to everyone! Mary.”
Thanks Mary and Mark, it must have been a lovely evening!!
And now enjoy this fun interview, recorded in Bologna before leaving for the U.S. East Coast tour, and conducted by San Marino RTV (remember, San Marino is a small state within Italy) in anticipation of Eurovision.
The interview is conducted in English and Italian (turn on subtitles to understand Italian).
It begins with a nice overview of Bologna.
I’m always happy to read comments from people who’ve never heard Il Volo before.
This was written by photographer David Warren Clements, who attended one of their concerts for the first time. Below are some of his photos.
“We journeyed to way south of town to photograph a group that until recently I had not heard of….I love the fact that there is so many different types of music….pretty amazing the diversity of appealing sound.
These three gents, Gianluca Ginoble, Piero Barone & Ignazio Boschetto call themselves Il Volo.”
And finally, this nice review done by HIVE MAGAZINE right after the Dallas concert.
REVIEW:We went to see Il Volo at the Winspear Opera House in Dallas, Texas!
The recent performance by Il Volo at the Winspear Opera House was an evening that blended classical elegance with contemporary charm, leaving the Dallas audience both awed and energized. Known for their powerful operatic pop style, the trio Piero Barone, Ignazio Boschetto, and Gianluca Ginoble demonstrated once again why they continue to captivate audiences worldwide.
From the moment the lights dimmed, the atmosphere in the room shifted into something almost reverential. The venue provided the perfect backdrop for Il Volo’s soaring harmonies. Opening with a dramatic number that showcased their vocal range, the trio immediately established control over the room. Their voices distinct yet seamlessly blended filled every corner of the hall, drawing listeners into a rich emotional landscape.
The setlist moved fluidly between Italian classics, operatic arias, and modern reinterpretations of popular songs. Highlights included their renditions of ‘Nessun Dorma’ and ‘Grande Amore,’ both delivered with technical precision and emotional depth. Each member had moments to shine individually, but it was in their harmonized passages that the true magic of Il Volo emerged. Their ability to balance power with nuance is a testament to years of training and performance experience.
What made the evening particularly engaging was the trio’s rapport with the audience. Between songs, they shared anecdotes, jokes, and reflections, creating a sense of intimacy despite the grandeur of the setting. Their charm felt genuine, never forced, and it helped bridge the gap between classical performance and modern entertainment.
One of the most striking aspects of the concert was how Il Volo managed to be both serious and fun at the same time. Their musical approach is undeniably rooted in discipline and tradition with every note carefully controlled, every phrase thoughtfully delivered. Yet, they infused the performance with a playful energy that kept the evening from feeling overly formal. Whether it was a lighthearted exchange between the members or a spontaneous moment of audience interaction, they showed that even the most refined music can be accessible and enjoyable. This balance allowed them to honor the integrity of the pieces while still inviting the audience to relax and be entertained.
The orchestral accompaniment further elevated the performance, providing a lush, cinematic quality that complemented the trio’s vocals. The synergy between the singers and musicians was evident, particularly in the more dynamic pieces where timing and coordination were crucial.
By the final encore, the audience was on its feet, responding with a standing ovation that felt both earned and inevitable. Il Volo’s performance at the Winspear Opera House was a demonstration of how classical music can evolve without losing its soul. For both longtime fans and newcomers, the evening served as a reminder of the enduring power of the human voice when paired with passion, skill, and a touch of charisma.
And the U.S. West Coast and Midwest tour is over!
There’s a lot of satisfaction and fulfillment, the fans are happy, and everything went well.
Piero, Ignazio, and Gianluca have returned home to Italy, for a little rest.
Our friend and fellow Flight Crew member, Jeanette Giglio, sent us this sad news.
With sadness I write this post…
Myron Heaton passed on Tuesday 04/28/26 at 10:55pm. He was 79 years old.
Myron was a long-time member of the Flight Crew and an important contributor to this blog site.
I met Myron in 2014 at an Il Volo concert in Griffith Park outdoor theater in Los Angeles.
It was my first Il Volo concert and I saw there was a group of people chatting waiting for the gate to open to the outside theater. I walked over to the group of people that were from the Flight Crew, and Myron was sharing his good fortune of meeting Il Volo at previous concerts.
I introduced myself to the group and said I was from Las Vegas.
Myron introduced himself to me and said he was also from Las Vegas and then asked me if I was interested in working with him to put a fanfare together in Las Vegas.
The rest is history!!!
I lost a good friend.
Please say a prayer for Myron and his family.
GOD bless you Myron, you were a kind and wonderful friend. You will be missed by all who knew you.
The tour progresses quickly, interspersed with many interesting interviews.
The next state was Texas, where there were two concerts.
April 25th SUGAR LAND
The concert was at the Smart Financial Centre.
Before we get to the concert, I want to remind you that April 25, 2009, was the first time Piero, Ignazio, and Gianluca sang together, exactly 17 years ago!!!
Happy Anniversary, guys! You’ve come a long way, and you’ll go a long way yet!🎉❤️🎉❤️🎉❤️
The concert featured the talented singer Maura Nava, whom we have already seen in other performances with Il Volo, together they sang the beautiful:
E PIÙ TI PENSO
At the first evening in Texas, our dear friend Deborah Georgini Beaupre was present and these are some of her testimonies, thank you Deborah! 😘
“At the end of the sound check, when they were saying see you tonight, I called out “Buon anniversario! Diciassette anni oggi!” ….and Piero immediately got excited, smiled and said…”Oh yes, that’s right! It is today and started talking to us about it! So here is the short video during the Concert about their anniversary!❤️❤️❤️”
Here we have the Musical Medley performance with four songs starting with Gianluca Ginoble singing “The Music of the Night”, Piero Barone singing “Love Story (Where do I Begin)”, Ignazio Boschetto singing “Tonight” and all three great voices singing “Don’t Cry for me Argentina”.
“My M&G photos and some photos I took. Until next time, whenever that may be! The concert was wonderful, the guys fantastic!!
A hug to all the fans: Deborah”🥰🥰
What can I say Deborah, “grazie mille” for the wonderful report on the concert and also for the beautiful videos and photos, you were fantastic, thank you so much!!😘
April 26 DALLAS
The concert was at the Winspear Opera House.
CIELITO LINDO
LIBIAM DE LIETI CALICI
SE
E PIÙ TI PENSO with Maura Nava
And finally, another nice and funny interview by USA TODAY Entertainment, preceded by a nice video with Ralphie Aversa.
Il Volo on advice from Andrea Bocelli. Why Pope Leo is their favorite.
NEW YORK– When the three singers of Il Volo left Italy for the United States to sign a record deal, it was the first time any of the then-teenagers had visited the country. It was 2009, and the trio signed with Geffen Records. At the time, Geffen and its sister labels housed the likes of 50 Cent, Eminem, Maroon 5 and the Black Eyed Peas, and those groups topped charts with hip-hop, pop and dance songs.
Still, Il Volo stuck to its goal of bringing bel canto (beautiful singing) to a global audience and they never considered the idea that they could potentially switch genres.
“We don’t want to be a copy of someone who does it better than us,” Gianluca Ginoble, 31, tells USA TODAY alongside his groupmates Piero Barone, 32, and Ignazio Boschetto, 31. “We are operatic pop singers. It’s like asking the Black Eyed Peas to sing ‘Nessun dorma.’“
The reference is an aria from the final act of the Italian opera “Turandot.” The solo song has been used in a number of films and it was performed by Andrea Bocelli at the opening ceremony for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. The trio says they have a “great” relationship with the Italian tenor, who they all count as an inspiration.
And yes, Bocelli has even offered the three younger vocalists some advice on what to do both on and off stage.
“The best advice he gave us? Eat the pasta, but with the ancient grains,” Barone reveals as the guys laugh. Ancient grain pasta is an alternative to modern wheat and can be easier to digest. “If you eat the pasta with ancient grains, you are not going to suffer with jet lag, you’re not going to suffer before a concert. Since I personally ate ancient grain pasta, my life changed completely.”
Il Volo on touring the U.S. and meeting Pope Leo XIV
Il Volo is in the middle of a spring tour in the U.S. that runs until May 2. The operatic pop trio revealed exclusively to USA TODAY that they’ll return to North America this fall for additional dates on their world tour. The eight-city trek kicks off Nov. 10 in Hollywood, Florida, and wraps Nov. 21 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
However, Il Volo jokes that while in the U.S., the group may not be looking to find the best restaurants that serve ancient grain pasta.
“Bring me to something typical here, right?” Boschetto says. “When you come to Italy, I’m not going to tell you, ‘Let’s do a beautiful barbecue,’ because (Americans) are better than us at that.”
The trio has a few more food hot takes up their sleeves: no pineapple on pizza and “shorter” (smaller) coffees. But as for performing on stage, Ginoble says the group is “really happy to be back on tour” and will be backed by a “big orchestra.”
In between their strings of dates in North America, Il Volo will play a number of shows back in Italy this summer. In August 2025, the group performed in Rome for Pope Leo XIV during the Catholic Jubilee celebration. Barone remembers a cardinal introducing the group to Pope Leo before their performance.
“‘Oh, I know them. I’ve listened since 15 years ago to your music,’” Barone recalls the pope saying as he shook their hands. “He’s my favorite.”
I’d say the Texas leg also went very well. A few more days and they’ll be ready for the final three concerts.
What about Maestro Grani, who, as you’ve seen, conducts all the concerts?
Congratulations, Maestro! Our guys can rest easy with you!
The concerts begin in Colorado, then California, then Texas, Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois.
What about the new series of songs?
Piero, Ignazio, and Gianluca have chosen a more classical program, with several operatic romances and bel canto. They are chameleonic and can afford to range from classical to pop!
April 15 Denver, Colorado
The concert was in Boettcher Concert Hall.
The guys at the gym before the concert!
ECSTASY OF GOLD
CHAT
IL MONDO
ADDIO FIORITO ASIL(Ignazio’s solo from Madama Butterfly)
This interview with FOX31+ DENVER is beautiful and funny.
APRIL 17 CALIFORNIA
The concert was in SAN JOSÉ at the San José Civic Center.
IL Volo was interviewed with a series of questions and answers by Classic Divinity, here is what was published.
#Repost @classic.divinity
Q&A with Il Volo – Pt. 1
We are truly honoured to have had the privilege of partnering with the world-renowned trio Il Volo (@IlVoloMusic) for a special Q&A session in anticipation of their upcoming North American tour.
It was an exceptional opportunity to engage with such remarkable artists and to share their insights, stories, and passion with all of you. We extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who took the time to participate and contribute thoughtful questions. Your enthusiasm helped make this experience all the more meaningful.
With appreciation, Aaron Isaiah Liu Founder & CEO, Classic Divinity
