“‘WE’RE NOT TRYING TO IMITATE LEGENDS.’ 🎤🇮🇹 — IL VOLO BREAKS DOWN THEIR THREE TENORS TRIBUTE THAT LEFT NEW YORK STUNNED” Inside an intimate live interview in New York, Il Volo opened up about their most ambitious project yet—a powerful tribute to the legendary Three Tenors that has taken them from global pop-opera stars to cultural torchbearers of classical music.

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Bridging Generations and Genres: Il Volo Honors The Three Tenors in an Exclusive Adorama Live Theatre Interview

Introduction: A Global Phenomenon Comes to New York

Italian Pop Trio Il Volo Chats With Juliet Papa

The energy inside the Adorama Live Theatre was palpable as 1010 WINS reporter Juliet Papa welcomed one of the most culturally significant crossover acts of the 21st century: the immensely popular Italian operatic pop trio, Il Volo. Comprising baritone Gianluca Ginoble and tenors Piero Barone and Ignazio Boschetto, the group has captured the hearts of millions worldwide.

Juliet Papa opened the conversation by noting the trio’s staggering international reach. “I actually even got a tweet in Russian,” Papa shared, highlighting the diverse global audience tuning in to witness the interview. With an enthusiastic round of applause from the intimate live audience, the three charming musicians settled in to discuss their latest milestone project, life on the road, and the universal power of melody.

The Ultimate Tribute: Honoring The Three Tenors

The focal point of Il Volo’s current musical chapter is a massive, deeply personal project: a tribute to the legendary Three Tenors—Luciano Pavarotti, Plácido Domingo, and José Carreras. More than a quarter-century after the original trio’s historic 1990 concert at the Baths of Caracalla in Rome, Il Volo is introducing this timeless repertoire to a completely new generation.

When asked by Papa why three young men in their twenties decided to take on such a monumental legacy, the trio was quick to emphasize that the project was born out of pure reverence rather than replication.

“The Three Tenors for us are our idols,” Gianluca Ginoble explained. “They are the three people who introduced us to this passion and this love for this kind of music—for lyric opera. What we did with this new album is a tribute. We completely do not want to imitate the Three Tenors.”

Italian Pop Trio Il Volo Chats With Juliet Papa - YouTube

Coincidentally, about 80 percent of the repertoire Il Volo has been performing matches the iconic 1990 Caracalla setlist, featuring timeless Italian classics like “’O Sole Mio” and “Torna a Surriento,” alongside Spanish masterpieces like “Granada.” What makes this project truly historic, however, is the official backing they received. In the 26 years since the original phenomenon, Il Volo is the first young group to receive the full support and collaboration of all three legendary entities. Plácido Domingo joined them on stage to conduct and sing, José Carreras offered his official blessings, and the Luciano Pavarotti Foundation actively supported the endeavor.

Unconventional Roots: Demystifying the Operatic Training

One of the most surprising revelations of the interview came when Juliet Papa asked if the trio had undergone rigid, classical opera training from childhood. The definitive answer was no.

Gianluca revealed that his foundational influences were actually rooted in classic American vocalists. “My idols are Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and I love American music,” he stated, though he noted he also grew up listening to Andrea Bocelli and traditional Italian pop.

The trajectory of their lives completely shifted in 2009 when the three separate teenagers competed on the popular Italian talent show Ti lascio una canzone. The show’s producers decided to put them together to sing “’O Sole Mio,” the most famous Italian song in the world. The chemistry was instantaneous. By 2011, their debut album was released in the United States, launching them onto the global stage.

Ignazio Boschetto also took a moment to clarify the technical distinction of what Il Volo actually does, addressing the common misconception that they are full opera singers.

  • The Scope of Their Music: They do not perform complete, hours-long operas.

  • The Technical Focus: They perform operatic arias and classical crossover pieces.

  • The Reality of Training: As Ignazio pointed out, a vocalist requires many years of intense, specialized study to withstand the physical demands of an entire operatic production.

“We are aware that we cannot sing an entire opera,” Ignazio admitted candidly. “But we really put all our effort into getting prepared for this concert because we wanted to remember our biggest idols.”

Rehearsing with a Legend: Plácido Domingo as Mentor

Working alongside a titan of the music industry like Plácido Domingo could easily intimidate young artists, but Il Volo described the experience as profoundly transformative. While they had briefly interacted with Domingo in 2012, this tribute project allowed them to spend meaningful, extended time sharing ideas and absorbing decades of wisdom.

“We knew that Plácido Domingo was a great person, but now he is our icon, our mentor, and our everything,” Piero Barone shared warmly. “Without him, it would be a completely different thing. With him, everything became much easier.”

Piero noted that despite their young age, Domingo treated them with immense respect, guiding them through the intricate technicalities of the difficult arias. The master gave them invaluable advice on both vocal execution and stage performance, bridging the gap between his legendary experience and their budding careers.

Blending Genres to Unite Generations

What sets Il Volo apart is their deliberate choice to mix classical operatic pieces with traditional pop and Broadway standards. Their repertoire features iconic tracks like Sinatra’s “My Way” alongside sweeping theatrical numbers like “Maria” and “Tonight” from West Side Story.

Gianluca explained that this musical diversity is a core component of their mission to preserve global musical traditions. By blending these styles, they have successfully cultivated a unique audience demographic that spans multiple generations.

At their shows, it is entirely common to see elderly opera enthusiasts sitting alongside teenagers. Ignazio joked about his tendency to repetitively say “you know” while trying to express how rewarding it is to see young faces in the crowd, drawing affectionate teasing from his bandmates—a moment that highlighted the genuine, brotherly camaraderie the trio shares.

Life on the Road: Sicilian Banter and Hometown Tourism

The interview took a lighthearted turn when Papa asked about their dynamics while traveling. The trio joked about needing to carry a GoPro camera to capture their chaotic, humorous life on the road, though they admitted they avoid doing so to stay out of trouble.

Piero and Ignazio, both hailing from Sicily, revealed a favorite tour pastime: speaking to each other in their native Sicilian dialect. This occasionally leads to awkward and funny encounters when they realize a nearby stranger is also from Sicily and understood every word they said. Gianluca, on the other hand, proudly represents Abruzzo, located on Italy’s eastern coast, a short drive from Rome.

The conversation also touched on how the group’s global fame has transformed their quiet hometowns into major tourist destinations. Piero, who lives in the small Sicilian town of Naro, noted that fans frequently travel across the world just to visit his hometown and see his house. “Tourism is getting very big there,” Piero said proudly. “When we are on the road, we really miss home. I’m very happy when you pronounced the name Naro correctly.”

A Borderless World Tour and the Power of Melody

Looking ahead, Il Volo outlined an incredibly demanding international schedule. Following a rigorous global promotional tour for the tribute album, the trio is set to launch a massive world tour starting in the United States, followed by legs in Latin America, Europe, Italy, and eventually Asia and Australia, including highly anticipated stops in Abu Dhabi and Japan.

When Juliet Papa questioned whether audiences in non-Italian or non-English speaking countries fully comprehend their lyrics, Gianluca offered a beautiful perspective on the transcendent nature of art.

“It doesn’t matter about the language; it’s all about the melody and the beautiful music,” Gianluca insisted.

He drew a parallel to European audiences listening to American pop icons: “When my grandpa and my dad used to listen to The Beatles, they didn’t understand any part of the lyrics, but they loved the music. It’s the same thing for Italian music.” He further noted that the legendary American vocal styles of the 1950s—exemplified by Italian-American icons like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Tony Bennett, and Perry Como—were essentially an evolution of traditional Italian vocal techniques popularized by singers like Claudio Villa and Domenico Modugno.

Conclusion: A Show-Stopping Finale

To close out the interview, Juliet Papa asked if the trio would be willing to give the audience a small taste of their vocal prowess. Despite joking that it was still early in the day and their voices weren’t fully warmed up, the trio demanded a bit of vocal reverb from the audio engineers and launched into a stunning, impromptu acapella performance that left the Adorama Live Theatre spellbound.

With their signature blend of powerhouse vocals, youthful charisma, and deep respect for musical history, Il Volo proved once again why they are a vital bridge between the past and the future of global music. Juliet Papa concluded the session by wishing them luck on their upcoming world tour, leaving fans eagerly anticipating the trio’s next triumphant return to New York.