Fifteen Years of Harmony: Il Volo Celebrates Milestone Anniversary, New Music, and Global Tour on ‘Domenica In’

The emotional and professional journey of Italy’s premier operatic pop trio, Il Volo, took center stage during an intimate, candid interview on Rai 1’s flagship Sunday show, Domenica In. Sitting down with beloved host Mara Venier, Piero Barone, Ignazio Boschetto, and Gianluca Ginoble opened up about their fifteen-year career, addressed persistent split rumors, shared deeply personal milestones, and looked forward to an expansive international tour following the release of their latest milestone album.

From teenage prodigies discovered on television to mature artists on the cusp of thirty, the trio reflected on a life lived entirely under the global spotlight—a journey they describe as nothing short of a capolavoro (masterpiece).

From Sanremo to ‘Ad Astra’: A New Artistic Era

Having recently participated in the 74th Sanremo Music Festival with their soaring entry “Capolavoro,” Il Volo used their appearance on Domenica In to perform the track live, showcasing a refined maturity in their vocal delivery. The song marks a distinct evolution for the group, serving as a narrative bridge between their past as classical interpreters and their future as original contemporary artists.

“After 15 years, we felt a profound need to return with new music that tells our own story,” Gianluca Ginoble shared during the interview. “It reflects how our voices have evolved and how we have grown personally and artistically.”

This transition is fully realized in their album, Ad Astra. Released as their first-ever album consisting entirely of original tracks, the title stems from the Latin phrase Per aspera ad astra—through hardships to the stars. The trio emphasized that the album delivers a crucial message to younger generations regarding the nature of dedication:

• Success as a Consequence: True success must be the byproduct of passion and artistic labor, never the sole objective.

• The Necessity of Sacrifice: Achieving meaningful milestones requires enduring challenges rather than seeking shortcuts.

• Art Over Metrics: In an industry increasingly dominated by streaming figures and monetary valuations, the trio expressed a desire to anchor themselves strictly in the emotional value of music.

Setting the Record Straight: The Power of Three

The interview provided the trio with a prime platform to directly address media speculation regarding an impending breakup. Rumors of internal friction intensified during the Sanremo festival week following a minor on-air disagreement between Piero and Gianluca regarding the musical direction of the group.

With their trademark humor, the trio laughed off the tabloid anxieties. “We argue every single day,” Piero admitted, “but we are not separating.”

To explain their dynamic, they described their internal governance with a political analogy that delighted the studio audience:

“For fifteen years, we haven’t just had individual surnames. We are Piero of Il Volo, Ignazio of Il Volo, and Gianluca of Il Volo,” Piero explained, stressing that the group functions as a single, indivisible entity where any individual choice impacts the collective whole.

                       [ THE IL VOLO EQUILIBRIUM ]
                                    │
         ┌──────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────┐
         ▼                          ▼                          ▼
    Piero Barone            Ignazio Boschetto           Gianluca Ginoble
 (Traditional Pole)        (The Balanced Anchor)        (Contemporary Pole)

Personal Milestones and the Realities of Early Fame

Beyond the music, the episode offered rare glimpses into the personal lives of the singers. Ignazio Boschetto confirmed his upcoming marriage, sparking a humorous banter about his recent ring-shopping experience. Gianluca recalled how Ignazio, anxious to keep the proposal a secret from the press, drafted him into an emergency shopping trip while they were filming a television special in Germany. “I was sweating and freezing all at once, trying to give him advice on the perfect ring,” Gianluca laughed.

Reflecting on an adolescence spent touring the world rather than attending conventional high school, the trio maintained that they harbor no regrets about missing out on a normal youth. Ignazio recalled how his high school Spanish teacher would famously bypass traditional oral exams, choosing instead to award him top marks in exchange for a live rendition of the classic song “Granada.”

However, they credited their families and long-time manager, Michele Torpedine, for keeping them grounded when global fame arrived overnight.

A Look Back at Iconic Milestones

The retrospective segments of the show highlighted the extraordinary scale of Il Volo’s global career, noting key historic moments that shaped their trajectory:

• We Are the World 25 for Haiti (2010): Just months after being paired together on Antonella Clerici’s talent show Ti lascio una canzone, the young trio found themselves at the legendary Henson Recording Studios in Los Angeles. They stood shoulder-to-shoulder with icons like Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion, Carlos Santana, and a young Taylor Swift to record the charity anthem.

• Performances for the Holy See: The group has had the distinct honor of performing for Pope Francis on three separate occasions. Most notably, they performed at the 2019 World Youth Day in Panama and the 2022 World Meeting of Families, where they sang with their own family members standing directly beside the Pontiff.

A Packing Schedule: The 2024 Global Tour

Looking ahead, Il Volo is poised to take their cultural heritage to new frontiers. The group detailed an extensive international touring itinerary that begins with highly anticipated dates across Asia, including extensive stops in Japan and China.

Upon returning to Italy, the trio will kick off a series of major summer concerts, beginning with four consecutive nights at the prestigious Verona Arena in May, followed by a rigorous 30-date summer tour across Italy’s most historic venues. The group also teased an ambitious, upcoming project currently in development: a massive, televised concert event staged directly in front of the Great Sphinx of Giza in Egypt.

As the interview drew to a close, host Mara Venier bypassed her teleprompter entirely to join the trio on stage for an emotional impromptu sing-along of “Grande Amore,” the triumphant track that won them the Sanremo Music Festival in 2015 and launched them into the upper echelons of global music. For Il Volo, fifteen years is not a destination, but a magnificent prelude to a long, harmonious future.