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!!
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.
Unfortunately, fake news continues to rage in the world of Il Volo.
On February 23rd, the website NEWS.1 CHALLENGE published this post. The news is FALSE, and we don’t know if the website was the first to publish it or if it copied the news from another publication, believing it to be true.
Below is the link to the website, and immediately afterward I’ll transcribe what they published.
The Harmony of a Decade: Il Volo Secures a Landmark $10 Million Netflix Deal. ws
The Harmony of a Decade: Il Volo Secures a Landmark $10 Million Netflix Deal
The world of operatic pop is currently echoing with the resonance of a massive industry shift as the iconic Italian trio, Il Volo, officially signs a historic $10 million deal with Netflix.
This 7-episode limited series is poised to be more than just a musical retrospective; it is a high-stakes deep dive into the hearts and voices of Piero Barone, Ignazio Boschetto, and Gianluca Ginoble.
For a group that has spent nearly two decades defying the boundaries of genre, this partnership represents the ultimate validation of their influence on global music culture.
From the cobblestone streets of Italy to the bright lights of the world’s most prestigious stages, the series promises to capture the raw essence of the “Bel Canto” tradition reborn for a digital age.
The landmark $10 million partnership between Netflix and Il Volo marks a transformative moment for the classical crossover genre, signaling a new era where high-art vocals meet mainstream streaming dominance.
This unprecedented deal underscores the streaming giant’s commitment to diverse, high-quality cultural storytelling, recognizing that the trio’s appeal transcends borders and languages.
By investing such a significant sum into a 7-episode format, Netflix is betting on the enduring fascination with the “three voices” that have consistently sold out stadiums from Tokyo to New York.
The series is expected to utilize a cinematic lens to frame their career not just as a succession of concerts, but as a monumental movement that brought the sophistication of Italian opera into the living rooms of millions.
Chronicling the meteoric rise of three teenage boys from the competitive stage of Italian television to the pinnacle of global stardom, the series will explore the origins of a phenomenon that few saw coming.
When Piero, Ignazio, and Gianluca first appeared on Ti lascio una canzone in 2009, they were individual soloists with immense potential, but the decision to unite them into a trio sparked a musical wildfire
The documentary will trace those early, formative years, highlighting the sheer vocal power that initially shocked judges and audiences alike.
It will navigate the transition from being “teenage sensations” to becoming seasoned professionals who had to carry the weight of a centuries-old musical heritage on their young shoulders, all while navigating the complexities of the modern music industry.
Il Volo has single-handedly bridged the gap between traditional Italian “Bel Canto” and contemporary pop, a feat that will be a central pillar of the documentary’s narrative arc.
The trio didn’t just sing old songs; they revitalized them, stripping away the perceived “stiffness” of classical music and replacing it with raw passion and sophisticated charm.
This series will delve into the technical mastery required to maintain such vocal excellence over thousands of performances.
It aims to explain how their “operatic pop” style became a universal language, proving that the human voice, when trained to its peak, possesses a power that needs no translation to stir the soul of a listener halfway across the globe.
Beyond the technical brilliance of their harmonies lies a profound story of brotherhood and the unique challenges of coming of age under the intense scrutiny of the international spotlight.
While the world sees three polished gentlemen in tailored suits, the Netflix series promises an intimate portrait of the men behind the tuxedos.
The narrative will explore the friction, the laughter, and the shared sacrifices that come with growing up in the public eye.
Maintaining a partnership for over fifteen years is a feat in itself, and the show will provide a rare look at how their bond evolved from colleagues to brothers, revealing the “relentless spirit” that kept them united through grueling world tours and the pressures of fame.
The inclusion of never-before-seen archival footage and deeply personal interviews promises to peel back the curtain on the private struggles and triumphs that have defined their artistic journey.
Fans who have followed Il Volo since their inception will finally gain access to the “unseen” moments—the backstage nerves, the quiet reflections in hotel rooms, and the rigorous rehearsals that precede every standing ovation.
This project isn’t merely a highlight reel; it is an honest reflection on the challenges of artistic growth.
By featuring exclusive commentary from the trio themselves, the series will allow the artists to reclaim their own narrative, offering a candid look at the heights of their success and the personal costs of a life lived on the road.
With a career defined by sold-out stadiums and a relentless dedication to vocal perfection, the trio has solidified their position as a towering force whose influence echoes across every continent.
The series will highlight their global footprint, from their historic performance at the ruins of Pompeii to their emotional tribute to Ennio Morricone.
It will document how they became ambassadors of Italian culture, carrying the torch of “Made in Italy” to the farthest reaches of the earth.
Their success isn’t just measured in album sales or Grammy nominations, but in the way they have inspired a younger generation to appreciate the timeless beauty of the human voice, proving that classical roots can indeed produce the most vibrant modern flowers.
As the world prepares for the premiere next year, this limited series stands as a definitive tribute to the enduring power of music and the three voices that taught a generation to dream
The anticipation surrounding this project is already reaching a fever pitch, with fans and critics alike eager to see how the “Il Volo” story will be immortalized on screen.
It is more than a documentary; it is a celebration of the human spirit’s ability to connect through melody.
When the series finally debuts, it will undoubtedly remind us why these three men remain at the forefront of the music world—as artists who didn’t just follow the trends, but instead chose to sing a timeless truth that continues to captivate millions.
I have to say this article is really well written, but the news about Il Volo’s deal with Netflix isFALSE.
A couple of days ago, when my dear friend Judith sent me this article, I was truly shocked to read it. The news had a vague sense of being fake, but the article was actually very good.
I then tried to send the article to the Il Volo staff to clarify the veracity of the news, and they responded that it wasENTIRELY FALSE!!!!
I also find it very strange that such a well-written and detailed article, with so many compliments to our guys, is the work of a fake news writer, and I’ve come to believe that whoever wrote it is a fan of Il Volo but stumbled uponFAKE NEWS.
Once again, I urge you: don’t listen to anyone claiming to be Gianluca, Ignazio, and Piero.
On Saturday, February 7th, an episode of the show C’è Posta Per Te aired on Canale 5, and among the various guests was Il Volo.
Piero, Ignazio, and Gianluca have already participated in this format in past years, which is based on one person’s request to meet again or thank another.
The show is hosted by the talented Maria De Filippi.
I translate for you.
MARIA = This is the story of a gift, let’s start with the video.
IGNAZIO = What we’re experiencing is so beautiful that I’m almost afraid to wake up from this life that seems almost magical.
GIANLUCA = The goal is to show that we’re proud of what we’ve built but that we have so much to say. PIERO = Maestro Placido Domingo.
COLLABORATION WITH THE GREATEST ARTISTS IN MUSIC
DOMINGO = Thank you for having an incredible friendship.
PIERO = Thank you, Maestro.
Il Volo will be together for a long time, we hope forever, and full steam ahead.
MARIA = Il Volo! (Piero, Ignazio, and Gianluca enter the studio, kisses and hugs)
PIERO= Hi
IGNAZIO= Hi, good evening. How are you?
MARIA= Good, thanks. Go ahead.
GIANLUCA= Good evening.
PIERO= Thank you, thank you.
IGNAZIO= Thank you so much.
You have a crowd more enthusiastic than an 80,000-capacity stadium.
GIANLUCA= Incredible!
IGNAZIO= The same volume, exactly the same!
MARIA= They’re absolutely spontaneous.
IGNAZIO= Thank you.
PIERO= Thank you, thank you.
MARIA = Absolutely.
Let’s let Annamaria in. (The woman who sent the letter enters, kisses and hugs with Gianluca, Ignazio, and Piero)
When I met Annamaria, she said to me:
“I want to come to C’è Posta Per Te for my husband Giuseppe.” Then, she said to me: “We’ve been married for many, many years, and the worst thing that can happen to a mother and father has happened to us.”
In four months, they lost their daughter Sara, who was only twenty years old. She said to me: “Now Sara is at home in a little heart-shaped urn, with all her things, with all our cats, and every morning we give her lilac tulips because it’s right that a flower should be with flowers.”
She told me: “When Sara left, I feared my marriage would fall apart, because it’s a huge pain for me and for him. When Sara was born, he told me he had two queens: one was me and the other was Sara.”
Since Sara’s passing, her husband has put aside all his pain and has focused solely on her. She told me that all he does is look at her to see if she’s suffering. He has to go to work but doesn’t want to go for fear of leaving her alone. He’s always there to welcome her and listen to her. At this point, she decides to come here to tell him that she’s ready to embrace his pain, too, and that he needs to stop thinking only of her, but that she needs to be the one to think of him, too. She told me she wants them to cry together and talk about Sara. She wants him to vent to her, because she’s ready to listen. She said:
“I’m here. I know I can be strong right now. I know he’s hurting, but he’s keeping everything to himself and not telling me.”
I know, guys, it’s not easy. I understand, it wasn’t easy for me either, and I’m older (Maria lost her husband a few years ago).
Let’s see the mail being delivered.
(At this point, a video starts of a postman delivering the show invitation to Annamaria’s husband, and we discover that they live in Syracuse, Sicily.)
POSTMAN = Hi Maria, I’m in Syracuse today and I have to deliver your invitation to Giuseppe. I’m off!
Good evening, nice to meet you. I’m Andrea from C’è Posta Per Te and I’m looking for Giuseppe. Are you?
GIUSEPPE = Yes.
POSTMAN = Maria De Filippi sent me this. I don’t know if you’re familiar with the show.
GIUSEPPE = Sure.
POSTMAN = So, I have an invitation for you (at this point he asks a few questions to be sure of the person). I know you were born in December.
GIUSEPPE = Yes.
POSTMAN = I know you attended the IPSIA Institute in Syracuse.
GIUSEPPE = Yes.
POSTMAN = Perfect, then I’m very happy to deliver you the official invitation from C’è Posta Per Te. Here it is, it’s from Mrs. Maria De Filippi, and before we say goodbye, we always say one thing:
GIUSEPPE = C’è Posta Per Te.
(The delivery is finished, he returns to the studio)
MARIA= Guys, I’ll have you stand over there. (She asks Piero, Ignazio, and Gianluca to stand near the large envelope so they won’t be seen by the camera.)
Here we are. (turning to Annamaria)
Andrea (the postman who is now in the studio)
POSTMAN= Yes, Maria.
MARIA= Has Giuseppe accepted the invitation?
POSTMAN= Giuseppe has accepted the invitation and is here with us. Please. (Giuseppe enters)
MARIA= Hi, I’m Maria, please come in. So, in a little while, we’ll see who sent it to you, and you tell me if you want to listen.
GIUSEPPE = Yes.
MARIA = Let’s open the envelope. (At that moment, he sees the sender, who is Annamaria.)
Did you know? Did you understand? Can I get her to talk?
GIUSEPPE = Sure.
MARIA = You’re welcome, Annamaria.
ANNAMARIA = Hello my love. Unfortunately, life with us has been cruel, unfair. You always said you had two queens, but now you have only one queen left. But I want to thank you for everything you do for me, for all the care you give, for the attention you give. You’re a model husband, wonderful.
I’m here to tell you that I want to comfort you now. I want to give you all the comfort you deserve so that one day you can see that smile that defined you when Sara was here again. She would want that.
(Two children enter, positioning the hull of a boat)
(Now Maria will read a long letter with Annamaria’s words)
MARIA = Giuseppe, my love, the love I have for you is as immense as the sea we’ve loved all our lives. It has the same force as the waves that beat against the boat when we went out on sunny days, the same depth of the waters when we moved away from the coast, the same peace of the sunsets that you and I silently admired, huddled together on our sun loungers. The sea has been our heart’s place; in the blue we confided in each other, we laughed and daydreamed; in the blue we watched our little girl play and grow, and we felt happy and lucky.
Maybe that’s why when I think of our love, I see water, the water that today holds the most beautiful memories of our lives. The spark of our love, however, was struck far from the sea, one August afternoon back in 1992, when you came into my house with the excuse of accompanying my cousin. I was 15 and you were 17, and from that afternoon onward, you stopped by every day, looking at me and smiling with those shy, clean green eyes, and even though I pretended nothing was happening, something stirred inside me.
I remember when you came to pick me up from the Quintiliano Teacher Training Institute. I saw you arrive on your Cagiva Mito (a motorcycle), and my heart beat faster than the engine. “Jump on,” you’d say, laughing, and even though I was scared, I trusted you.
That trust, Giuseppe, never abandoned me, because you courted me like a boy from another time , without haste, with respect and so much sweetness. My parents weren’t really into getting engaged because of my young age until you came to dinner one night. That evening, you barely breathed, but you managed to win everyone over. From there, 10 years of engagement followed: the trips, the laughter, the silly jealousies, the nights spent talking, the mornings when you picked me up from school even in the rain. Then one fine day, without mincing words, I said to you: “Giuseppe, silver engagement rings don’t exist. Do we want to get married or not?” And the next day, you had already found the wedding reception hall. On June 7, 2003, you waited for me at the altar with teary eyes. “You’re beautiful,” you said, and shortly thereafter, life gave us the most beautiful gift: Sara, our little girl, our greatest joy, we became three.
(a little girl carrying a heart enters the studio)
Sara was born on August 31st via emergency cesarean section because she was in such a hurry to be born. You held her before me, and as soon as you touched her little hands, you gave her her first smile. I’d never seen you so excited, and just thinking about it still makes me emotional. Once we got home, you bent over backwards to help me. You bathed her, prepared her food, and cuddled her to sleep. And when Sara struggled to sleep, you patiently loaded her into the car, drove around the block, and she collapsed within minutes. The first word our daughter uttered was, in fact, “Daddy,” and when you heard it with your own ears, you dropped your work bag on the floor in shock and ran to shower her with kisses.
Even the kindergarten teachers adored you so much that you were hired as the class Santa Claus, and you, in your red suit, were even more excited than the kids. We took so many camper trips with our Saretta. Oh my, so many photos, so many laughs, do you remember? She’d sit in the front next to you, waving at everyone at the traffic lights, and you’d laugh and always repeat: “Have you seen how beautiful she is?” You were her first teacher in so many ways: you taught her to ride a bike without training wheels, she learned to swim without armbands with you, and you taught her to trust life. The three of us traveled halfway across Italy, belting out every song we could. Then came adolescence, high school, her dream of one day becoming a voice actress, solo trips around Europe, and you had the courage to let her do it.
You know, I trembled every time she left, but you always said: “Our daughter has a good head on her shoulders, let’s let her go,” and you were right, my love, because Sara was smart and it was right to trust her. Our life was a calm, colorful sea, and everything revolved around our little mermaid. None of us could have imagined that the worst of hurricanes was brewing on the horizon.
(Children enter the office carrying high waves.)
The world truly collapsed on us: that pain tormenting Sara’s chest, a cyst that wasn’t a cyst, the CT scan at the hospital, the rush to Milan, her sleeping in our bed like a baby, the two of us without a wink of sleep, and then those words from the doctors that no parent should hear.
Every time the doctor called us, you always tried to protect me and faced everything alone. Then I’d find you at night, crying in secret so as not to scare me and the “picciridda” (a Sicilian dialect word meaning “the little one”). But Sara was too smart. One day she looked at us and said, “I’m not stupid, why don’t you tell me exactly how I am?” And you collapsed on top of her, moved and tender, and said, “You’ll see, you’ll see, we’ll make it.” There wasn’t a minute that you didn’t dedicate to her. You wet her lips with water, you fixed her hair, you held her close as if you wanted to protect her from everything. When the doctors told her, “You have a wonderful father,” she smiled proudly: “I know, my dad is special and I love him so much.” But it wasn’t enough to save her. On February 2, 2025, our world of hers shattered and we sank into the blackest abyss.
A pain that has no name, no words to describe a parent who loses their daughter, but there’s something I feel today, a year later, that motivates this letter. I’m certain that Sara would like to live on through us, Giuseppe, and we must find strength and rise again for her.
(A moon descends from the top of the studio.)
Since that terrible day, you’ve put yourself aside, you’ve completely lost yourself, you’ve built a wall around your pain, and you’ve certainly done it to protect me. You ask me how I’m doing 100 times a day, you check if I’m eating, sleeping, breathing, you shower me with cuddles. To avoid leaving me too alone, some afternoons you take me with you to your business meetings. If we go out for pizza, you always make sure to sit next to me, as if you were afraid of losing contact with my hand, which you hold tightly whenever you can. You watch me talk to people, but you don’t speak anymore. You have a strong body and it seems like you can handle everything, but your soul has lost its light and I’m afraid because I see how your eyes sink when you think, I know you feel guilty for something that doesn’t depend on you or anyone else, because fate doesn’t ask permission when it acts and you, my love, did everything for your daughter, you took her to the doctors, you ran, you insisted, you suffered, you prayed, you loved as the best father knows how.
No one in the world could have done more than you. It’s time for you to stop saying, “It’s my fault,” because it’s not true, and above all, this terrible thought can’t bring our daughter back. If we’re here, it’s because I don’t want you to live just to protect me. I want to be the one to protect you. I want to help you feel better. I want you to vent to me without worrying about worrying me, because you’re a wonderful man, and above all, because Sara wouldn’t want to see you like this.
(In the studio, a sail descends from above for the boat and seagulls fly overhead.)
Giuseppe, we will never be the same again. We won’t be three anymore, but we won’t be two either, because Sara is always with us every day and in every gesture. She’s in the photo in the kitchen, in the lilac tulips you bring me on Sundays, in the tattoo we bear on our skin. I long with all my heart to see you slowly breathe again, talk again, maybe even smile one day, because Sara loved that smile and wants it back, and if you trust me, we’ll find it again together. You are the man who has loved me for 33 years, without ever letting me go without anything. You are the best father a daughter could wish for. You are all that remains of our wonderful family with our Sara walking beside us and a “great love,” Giuseppe, just like that song you loved so much and that the three of us sang together while it was on the radio.
But I have a little secret for you that’s about to be revealed: the radio stayed at home, but someone is about to come down from that staircase in front of you who I’m sure will give you the first of those smiles you deserve.
(The song “Capolavoro” begins, and Gianluca, Ignazio, and Piero come down the stairs and hug Giuseppe.)
IGNAZIO = Giuseppe, who for us in Sicily is Peppino (Sicilian way of calling Giuseppe).
PIERO = Hello Giuseppe.
GIUSEPPE = Pleased to meet you. (Everyone sits on the sofa.)
IGNAZIO = I have to tell you that you have an amazing wife, you have a great wife, and let’s just say I thought several times back there whether to talk about it or not because I recently became a father. My son is now four and a half months old, and it’s really difficult. It’s something that can’t be explained, the love for children. I can only tell you that you two are superheroes, truly.
It would be completely obvious to say that Sara is always with you, because you know it. I can only tell you, as far as I’m concerned, that you always have to start from your strengths when you’re in difficulty, and I very humbly believe that your strength today is having someone like that by your side (applause) with whom you can share and experience all the moments that come your way, even if it’s difficult, I know. (applause) It’s important to have someone like that by your side, a wife who understands you, a wife who loves you, a wife who supports you, because the man is always seen as the one who has to take care of the woman, and it’s difficult to let the woman take care of you. I see this a lot with my wife. I was lucky enough to find someone who makes me feel safe, and letting her take care of me was perhaps one of the most beautiful things I’ve learned in my life, and I’m only thirty. (applause)
PIERO = Shall I go?
GIANLUCA = Do you want to say something?
PIERO = It’s also difficult to say something because in these cases I believe that pain is an extremely personal thing, so we can’t come here and tell you how to deal with it and in what way, but we respect the way you deal with your pain.
Annamaria is your strong point, but I heard in her letter that she spoke so much about your smile. She wants to see you smile again without feeling guilty, because you’ve already proven yourself to be a great person. Strengthen your smile, your smile for your wife. (applause) We know, some people spend sixty years working through such a difficult loss, but as Ignazio said, now try to find the clarity to face the future, and it’s nice to lean on memories too. Now what remains is the memory, and I’m pleased that we are present in your memories because we know you listened to our song “Grande Amore” together, and this makes us honored to be present in your memories together with your daughter. (applause)
GIANLUCA = If there’s one thing that’s moved me since the first time we met you, it’s the light you carry within you. You have a kindness of spirit that moves me and is palpable, even though it’s the first time we’ve seen each other. It’s clear that pain may be difficult to overcome, but in life we must learn to bear it, to face it, because this is the mission we are all called to, because unfortunately, life is unpredictable.
Even if we haven’t met her, we, all the people here, Maria, Sara will also be with us, because we will carry her through your eyes, through the light that Sara transmits to you because she is within you every day of your life, and we promise you that we too, all of us, will carry her with us because we have known her through your eyes. (applause)
IGNAZIO = I feel like saying just one thing. Maria and I have talked about it often. In 2021, I lost my father, and I learned that there is a big difference between ABSENCE and LACK. Today, we can feel the absence of those who are no longer physically by our side, but not the loss, because as Piero said, we have memories, we have moments together, and some moments that only we have in our hearts, and if we close our eyes, we know what we are experiencing. Loss isn’t a bad thing sometimes, when these things happen, because you have your memories inside. (applause)
PIERO = But really, get rid of the guilt, try to get rid of it, that’s the only comfort I can tell you and give you, so rely on your smile, you’re a beautiful person, Giuseppe, and you too, Annamaria. (applause)
IGNAZIO = And then, to help you give a smile…can we? (He says, turning to Maria)….
PIERO = In the dressing room, we looked at who has the biggest pockets…
IGNAZIO =… not the wallet, Piero has the biggest one (laughter)…
PIERO = …..so Giuseppe, we know you sang our song together, we sang it in July if I’m not mistaken, right, Annamaria?
IGNAZIO = Annamaria, when is that?
ANNAMARIA = Yes, in July.
PIERO = We’ll be singing in Syracuse in July, and we want to have you at our concert. Here are the two passes for our concert, one for you and one for Annamaria (applause), but you have to make me a promise. I know you sang together, but I don’t know your vocal grade. Don’t sing at the concert, listen to the songs…
GIANLUCA = Maybe he’s better than you!!!
IGNAZIO = (he starts singing Grande Amore a cappella, Giuseppe follows him but he’s out of tune)…ok, fine, just listen!! (applause and laughter)
PIERO = Here, Giuseppe.
IGNAZIO = It’ll be a pleasure to have you with us, but then we have another…
PIERO = Wait, let’s be clear, if you’d prefer to come to our concert in another city, you can, it doesn’t have to be just the one in Syracuse.
GIANLUCA = Annamaria, we heard you’re afraid of flying, not of us (pun intended), in other words, of flying. If you change your mind, we’ll invite you wherever you like because we’ll be happy to have you. (applause)
IGNAZIO = They told us you’re afraid of flying, and then you like us, which is very strange (Il Volo = The Flight).
Since we think a moment together is essential, we’ve decided to give you a week-long vacation wherever you want. You don’t have to fly, you don’t have to worry, with your feet on the ground, you decide (he takes an envelope with the coupon). This is the trip, we want to offer you a trip, you and your wife, you have fun, you decide the place, where, when, why, be careful (all recommendations), there’s no flight, don’t worry, the spa… (laughter, applause)
MARIA = Annamaria, do you want to add anything?
ANNAMARIA = Yes. (to her husband) You have to promise me that from now on you’ll think more about yourself, that in the morning, as soon as you wake up, instead of asking me how I’m doing, think about how you’re doing. I will always be by your side, I will always be there, and we will always be together. We will never leave each other, because that’s exactly what Sara would have wanted, and from this evening on, we will face life even more united. I love you. (applause)
MARIA = (to Giuseppe) You have to answer her.
PIERO = Giuseppe, you have to answer, that really moved us all!
It’ll be difficult…
MARIA = He’ll do it whenever he wants…ok, let’s take the envelope off! (The envelope-wall is removed and now everyone can see each other. Kisses and hugs)
IGNAZIO = Wait, wait, it’s a ritual now, like every year, a hug all together!!! (applause)
MARIA = How sweet!!
ANNAMARIA = Thanks guys!!
Maria, I wanted to say something, if I may.
MARIA = Say it yourself
ANNAMARIA = I’d like to thank the National Cancer Institute, Pediatrics Department, in Milan (a center of excellence for these diseases) from the first to the last day. They pampered us, not just Sara, but us too: doctors, nurses, everyone! (applause)
MARIA = Good! (She kisses and hugs everyone, lastly Ignazio, to whom she says:) Hi Dad!
IGNAZIO = Hi Maria. As always, we want to thank you.
MARIA = Thank you.
IGNAZIO = Because, as always, you’re a crazy person because they see you through a camera, we see you outside.
MARIA = Thank you so much, thank you everyone.
IGNAZIO = Bye!
MARIA = Il Volo!!!
As always, our guys found the right words to address such a sad and moving story.
It’s hard to be appropriate, but once again, Il Volo showed us their humanity and understanding.
