Journalist / Interviewer: Antonina Schubert

For over a decade and a half, the Italian trio Il Volo has brought the tradition of bel canto to audiences around the world, blending classical technique with contemporary influences and a sense of timeless romance. Consisting of Gianluca Ginoble, Piero Barone, and Ignazio Boschetto, the group first captured international attention after forming in 2009 on the Italian talent show Ti Lascio Una Canzone. What began as a television moment for three teenagers has since grown into a global career spanning multiple albums, world tours, and performances on some of the biggest stages in the world.

When I caught up with Il Volo, the trio was just hours away from taking the stage in Mexico. Despite their busy schedule, they took time to reflect on their nearly two decades performing together, their connection with fans around the world, and what audiences can expect from their upcoming North American shows.

Seventeen years into their career, Il Volo is not slowing down. In fact, they are doing the opposite.

“We are celebrating, this year, 17 years of career,” Gianluca shared. “We started when we were 14 or 15 years old. We have a very faithful audience that keeps following us and growing with us. People our age, people of all ages come to our concerts, and that’s really beautiful.”

From the very beginning, Il Volo set out with a clear goal: introducing new generations to the rich tradition of Italian vocal music.

“Our goal has been to bring bel canto following the steps of Pavarotti and Bocelli,” Gianluca continued. “It’s a privilege to keep spreading bel canto to the younger generation. We’re really happy to get back to the States with a new repertoire, new songs, adding arias and also American standards. It’s going to be a beautiful party.”

While their global success might feel inevitable now, the trio admitted they never expected their journey to grow into the career it has become.

“No, never,” Ignazio said when asked if they imagined this path when they first auditioned as teenagers. “We weren’t even supposed to be on Italian TV. Imagine thinking that it would lead to this career. And until 10 years ago it was just a hobby and butterflies and dreams. Then you realize it’s a real job, and talent alone is not enough to achieve your goals. It is crazy and it is life, and God gave us a great opportunity.”

Piero added something that has clearly guided their work since those early days: “Talent is a gift. It’s a career, it’s a job.”

That sense of perspective has stayed with them over the years, especially as their lives continue to evolve. The trio joked about how their personal milestones now shape their experiences on the road.

“Ignazio just became a father,” Piero shared with a smile. “That baby has the best uncles.”

“I wrote two lullabies that keep him sleeping very well at night,” Ignazio added.

Despite spending much of their lives traveling the world, the group says their families help keep them grounded.

“Our family is very close to us,” Piero explained. “When we go back home, we are just three normal people. We work, we travel, and then you go back home and feel so normal. They bring us back to the real value of life.”

That appreciation for connection extends to the fans who have supported them throughout their journey.

“Our audience is our balance,” Piero said. “We leave our first family to go meet our second family, our audience. The reason we are celebrating 17 years together is because they come to our shows and listen to our music. We always give our best every single night we go on stage.”

Over the years, Il Volo has watched both their music and their voices grow alongside them. Looking back at early recordings from their teenage years, the trio says it’s almost like listening to another lifetime.

“Yesterday we were in the car from the airport to the hotel. We were listening to our voices and recordings of songs from 2011/2012,” Gianluca said. “We were 18/20 years old, and we were talking about how our voices were different. We used to sing in a completely different way. We’ve changed a lot. But that’s our story and it’s beautiful. We were 15-year-old kids singing bel canto. You can imagine how our lives changed.”

Today, that experience has helped shape their approach to performing.

“Now we are very focused,” Piero explained. “We know clearly what the audience wants to hear from us, and when we are on stage we want everything we sing to feel real. Thank God, it’s also the music we love to sing.”

Their concerts reflect that balance between tradition and connection. Alongside beloved Italian standards, the trio often incorporates songs that resonate with audiences in different parts of the world.

“I like ‘Smile’ by Charlie Chaplin,” Gianluca shared. “We sang that song with Barbra Streisand when we were on tour with her in 2012. And for me to sing this song in the United States, I feel the energy of the people. They really get emotional when we sing that song.”

For Piero, one of the biggest highlights of the show comes near the end.

“My favorite is ‘Nessun Dorma,’” he said. “It’s the final song of our show with the highest note of the show. After two hours, reaching that high note is the biggest challenge for us. The moment we reach that note is the moment we say, ‘we made it.’”

Ignazio’s choice, after thinking about it for a moment, was simple and heartfelt.

“‘Il Mondo.’”

Throughout their career, Il Volo has shared the stage with legendary artists, including Barbra Streisand during her 2012 North American tour. Looking back, the trio says those early experiences shaped how they approach their own performances today.

“She controlled everything,” Gianluca recalled. “From the orchestra to the songs, the setlist, the way she dressed. Everything was perfect. The lesson Barbra Streisand gave us is that talent is a gift. You have to work hard and take care of it.”

That attention to detail now carries into their own shows, which aim to transport audiences straight to Italy.

“Italy outside of Italy,” Ignazio said with a laugh when asked how he would describe their concerts to someone seeing Il Volo for the first time.

“We sing the most important Italian standards and the Italian songs that represent Italian tradition and culture,” Piero explained. “You will feel like you are in Italy for one night.”

The trio also makes a point to celebrate the cultures of the countries they visit.

“In Argentina we sing Argentine standards,” Gianluca said. “In Mexico, we used to sing with mariachi. We are Italian and we bring bel canto, but we also like to share music from other cultures. We want to use our voices to connect with different music around the world.”

In recent years, Il Volo has continued expanding their musical journey with new material, including their 2024 album Ad Astra, which reflects their growth both personally and artistically.

“It talks about who we are at 30,” Gianluca said. “We sing standards that represent our voice, our culture, and our way of seeing life.”

Between their touring schedule and hints of new music already in the works, the trio remains focused on continuing the journey they started as teenagers.

“We are working on new songs that match perfectly with our repertoire and our voices,” they shared.

And while their careers have already taken them across the globe, there are still dreams left on the list.

“Maybe one day Madison Square Garden,” Gianluca said. “That’s one of our dreams. America loves Bocelli, and we want to bring this music to even more people in the United States.”

With more than 60 tour dates scheduled across 2026 and 2027, Il Volo shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. The trio recently brought their world tour through Mexico, Central America, and South America before returning to North America this month.

Their first round of North American tour dates kicks off April 15 in Denver, Colorado, and wraps up May 2 in Rosemont, Illinois. One of those stops includes a performance at Columbus’ historic Palace Theatre on April 29, giving Ohio fans the chance to experience the trio live.

Their second round of North American dates will kick off November 10 in Hollywood, Florida, and wraps up November 21 in Hamilton, Ontario.

Among the newly announced stops is a milestone moment for the trio. On November 17, 2026, Il Volo will perform at the Infosys Theater at Madison Square Garden, bringing their dream of playing the iconic venue to life.

Nearly two decades after three young singers first came together on Italian television, Il Volo continues to carry the tradition of bel canto across the world, one stage and one audience at a time.

For the trio, the goal remains the same as it was from the beginning: sharing their love of music, culture, and connection with the fans who have grown alongside them.

You can find the full list of upcoming tour dates and ticket information at: https://www.ilvolomusic.com/tour

FOLLOW IL VOLO: WEBSITE // INSTAGRAM // FACEBOOK // TIKTOK // YOUTUBE

SPRING NORTH AMERICA TOUR DATES:

April 15, 2026 – Denver, CO @ Boettcher Concert Hall
April 17, 2026 – San Jose, CA @ San Jose Civic
April 18, 2026 – Los Angeles, CA @ Peacock Theater 
April 20, 2026 – Highland, CA @ Ya’amava Theater
April 21, 2026 – San Diego, CA @ San Diego Civic Theatre
April 25, 2026 – Sugar Land, TX @ Smart Financial Centre
April 26, 2026 – Dallas, TX @ Winspear Opera House
April 29, 2026 – Columbus, OH @ Palace Theatre
May 1, 2026 – Detroit, MI @ Fox Theatre
May 2, 2026 – Rosemont, IL @ Rosemont Theatre

FALL NORTH AMERICA TOUR DATES:

Citi cardmembers will have early access to presale tickets beginning Monday, April 13 at 10 a.m. ET through the Citi Entertainment program. For another presale opportunity, fans can also sign up at fanclub.ilvolomusic.com to gain first access to the artist presale beginning Tuesday, April 14 at 10 a.m. ET using the code BELCANTO. And general sale will begin Friday, April 17 at 10 a.m. ET.

November 10, 2026–Hollywood, FL @ Hard RockLive
November 11, 2026 – Estero, FL @ Hertz Center
November 12, 2026 – Tampa, FL @ Benchmark International Arena
November 14, 2026 – Philadelphia, PA @ Xfinity Mobile Arena
November 15, 2026 – Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun
November 17, 2026 – New York, NY @ Infosys Theater at Madison Square Garden
November 19, 2026 – Boston, MA @ TD Garden
November 21, 2026 – Hamilton, ON @ TD Coliseum