The Stage as Home: Il Volo on Preserving Italian Melody, Globalizing Classics, and Navigating an Impatient Digital World
Set against the historic backdrops of ancient theaters and Mediterranean piazzas, Italian classical crossover trio Il Volo—comprising Piero Barone, Ignazio Boschetto, and Gianluca Ginoble—is embarking on their extensive 2026 summer live tour.
In a candid interview reflecting on their seventeen-year international journey, the vocalists discuss their Latin American collaborations, their stance on preserving timeless classics, and why the live orchestral stage remains their true sanctuary.
Bridging Italian Heritage and Global Markets
Following their Spanish-language collaboration with Carlos Rivera on a reimagined version of Riccardo Cocciante’s “Bella senz’anima,” the group addressed their expanding global footprint:
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A Natural Latin American Bond: Emphasizing that Latin America embraced them long before their breakthrough at Sanremo, the trio noted that modern music is inherently global, allowing their Bel Canto foundations to resonate seamlessly across cultural and linguistic barriers.
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Defending Timeless Art: When asked about reintroducing older, dramatic classics to contemporary audiences, the trio firmly rejected modern revisionism: “If we were to think like that, we’d have to censor a large portion of opera… Times have changed, but the power of that melody transcended any criticism. If we question that, we’d have to remove Picasso from museums or censor Tarantino’s films.”
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Preserving Culture for New Generations: Viewing themselves as artistic conduits for great masters like Puccini, their enduring mission remains introducing classical Italian heritage to younger, global audiences.
Critiquing the “Fast and Uninformed” Social Era
Reflecting on their deliberate choice to keep political beliefs private and let music take center stage, the group shared sharp observations regarding today’s media climate:
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Speed Over Depth: “Rather than an overexposed world, it’s an uninformed world… The message matters less and less than speed. Today, you have to be the first to arrive. And the faster a message arrives, the faster it is forgotten,” they observed, lamenting the decline of deep reading and critical analysis.
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Protecting the Music: By avoiding public controversy and misinterpretation, the three artists consciously protect both their individual lives and the collective integrity of the group.
Romance, Orchestras, and the 2026 Summer Tour
As their summer itinerary takes them across Italy and Mediterranean destinations—including Syracuse’s Greek Theater, Taormina, Barcelona, and a September finale at the Royal Palace of Caserta—the trio remains anchored in live musicianship:
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The Essential Orchestra: Calling the orchestra their artistic birthplace, Il Volo affirmed that full symphonic accompaniment remains non-negotiable for their two-hour live showcases.
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Defining Real-Life Romance: Off-stage, each member views romance through a distinct lens—from Boschetto’s devotion as a married father, to Barone’s lighthearted ongoing search, to Ginoble’s belief that romance is rooted in small acts of daily care.
