After a two-month absence I planned to come back and write an amazing story about our truly amazing guys. I thought a lot about what I would write. But on the last day of my trip to Iceland, I got the sad news that Barbara Vitali had passed away as the result of a car crash. Poor beautiful Barbara. What a great loss!

When I got the news, I thought I will still write an amazing story, but it will be about an amazing woman ~ Barbara Vitali.

Barbara was a crucial figure for Il Volo, though she remained behind the scenes she was ever present. She quietly fulfilled a significant role in Piero, Ignazio, and Gianluca’s lives. Her influence was palpable, akin to a guiding shadow that watched over the boys.

Finding information about Barbara is challenging, almost impossible, yet her impact was undeniable. Very little is known about Barbara’s life. We know next to nothing about her childhood and her formative years. If I had to sum up Barbara’s life, I would have to say her life began the day she met Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca. She never sought the limelight. She never imposed on the tour but was always present. Her role was vital, and it took immense patience to fulfill it. Michele Torpedine once said, “she was instrumental in harmonizing the lives of Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca.”

The boys’ diverse backgrounds, their adolescent challenges, and their often-long absences from their parents required someone to step into the role of mother with a certain gentleness and compassion. Barbara stepped into and up to the role of Second Mother. Barbara was by far an exceptional mother to the boys.

Her role also required her to be a diplomat. She was exceptional in the role! She was the buffer between the boys and the fans who wanted so much more. She knew the   limits and proposed the boundaries. She was overly protective! Perhaps that is why she excelled in her role; always present, always supportive, accompanying them on their journeys without fanfare.

Coordinating three youngsters from different family backgrounds into a cohesive unit was no small task. On international tours she managed all of their daily lives, keeping in mind no two boys were alike, and each needed to be handled in a different way. She was the person the boys most loved and admired besides their families. She was the go-to person! In her role as Second Mother, she certainly won the Mother of the Year Award (for 15 years).

She cultivated a profound relationship with the boys and their families, earning the love and respect of all of them.

Fans who were fortunate to meet her were captivated by her warmth and grace.

The boys have matured into fine young men, partly due to her role in their lives. Until that fatal moment, Barbara remained indispensable to them. Her guidance extended beyond professional duties, influencing the character formation and fostering a deep mutual affection and respect between herself and Piero, Ignazio, and Gianluca.

Barbara was a cherished confidante and supporter, essential to the fabric of Il Volo’s success and personal growth.

The fans are grateful for her invaluable contributions, recognizing her enduring impact on the group.

Her role as Road Manager came second to her role as Second Mother.

Dear Barbara, you will be dearly missed by the guys. They are heartbroken by your loss. You are gone from their sight but not their hearts. You will always be one of the reasons why Il Volo became who they are. Their greatness was your reward in life.

I didn’t want to disturb the story with music, so, I left the music till the end. At their concert in Catania, the guys sang their hearts out through their tears! Very emotional moments, tears of love for the woman who gave her life to these young men and gave them all her love and affection! Just as any good mother does for her children!

Piero: We started this profession when we were 15 years old and we traveled the world and with us there has always been a person who traveled all over the world with us, every day.

She was a mother when we were younger, she was the person, the most important figure for us in our travels and we would like to publicly say that we, but above all our families, will be eternally grateful to her, because our parents when they knew that she was with us and we were with Barbara, they slept soundly.

It’s very difficult and this evening, this concert will be the first of all those we will dedicate to it throughout our lives.

Gianluca:  We are all united, everyone, everyone, everyone for our Barbara, everyone, from the crew, from the technicians, from the musicians, from Michele Torpedine, all for her, because she was a special person who will continue to live inside us and will give us strength to continue doing this work, because we will sing for her, Barbara we will sing for you, for a lifetime, for a lifetime, we love you.

Ignazio: And as I said before, we would like to make this moment even more special if you help us with the flashes of your cell phones to illuminate the whole square, so for those who believe in it, someone from up there is watching us.

Thank you, Daniela, for the translation.

Following are more songs from the concert at Catania. It was all about Barbara!

According to Daniela Perani, there was a tragic car accident, Sunday evening at 8 PM near Bologna.  Barbara was driving her Fiat 500 car. For reasons still under investigation, the car driven by a 49-year-old man and the car of Barbara, 54, had a head-on collision. The man died immediately; Barbara was transported by helicopter to the hospital in Bologna.

Barbara passed away on July 9, 2024, at the Sant’Orsola Hospital in Bologna.

Rest in Peace sweet Barbara!