Long before Il Volo became an internationally celebrated trio, Piero Barone, Ignazio Boschetto and Gianluca Ginoble were three teenagers with an extraordinary dream: to build a life around music and one day perform on some of the world’s most prestigious stages.

An Italian interview from their early years offers a revealing glimpse into how seriously the three young singers viewed that dream — and how determined they already were to make it a reality.

From “Il Trio” to Il Volo

At the time of the interview, the group had recently changed its name from Il Trio to Il Volo, a name they saw as a wish for what music could bring them.

Gianluca explained that music made them “fly,” describing the feeling of being lifted thousands of meters above the ground by everything that was happening to them.

The three teenagers spoke openly about the passion they had for their new career. They said they were putting all their love, effort and energy into the project because singing and music were not simply something they were doing — they were what they genuinely wanted.

Ignazio added that they would always give the best of themselves, while Piero emphasized how much they valued the people working alongside them and understood the importance of the effort everyone was putting into their success.

The project had already taken them between Rome and Los Angeles, where they recorded their CD. For the young singers, the experience represented both personal and artistic growth.

They also had experienced producers encouraging them to work with their hearts and create something capable of moving people.

Learning From the Greatest

The boys were already aware that their extraordinary opportunity came with an equally important responsibility: learning from artists who had reached the highest levels of the music industry.

Gianluca mentioned the experience of We Are The World and the famous artists involved in it. He specifically pointed to Celine Dion and Barbra Streisand, whom the trio admired not only for their enormous achievements but also for their humility.

That quality clearly left an impression on the teenagers.

Piero agreed that humility could coexist with extraordinary success. In his view, Celine Dion and Barbra Streisand had reached the very highest levels of world music while remaining humble.

For Il Volo, that was an important lesson.

They believed that arrogance could take a person nowhere, while dedication and humility could open the way to remarkable achievements.

“We Live for This”

What makes the interview particularly striking is how young the three singers were when they were already speaking so confidently about their future.

They had experienced their breakthrough at just 15 years old, something they recognized did not happen to everyone.

Gianluca stressed that they worked hard because singing and music were their passion and their love.

Piero put it even more simply:

“We live for this.”

Ignazio acknowledged how many young people would dream of having the opportunities they had been given. They considered themselves fortunate to be able to experience such a life at such a young age.

They also remembered Roberto Cenci, whom they credited with bringing the three of them together and recognizing the potential of creating the group.

Their Friendship Was Their Strength

The interview also offered a glimpse into the relationship between the three teenagers.

They admitted that, like any group, they could disagree. But rather than hiding their frustrations or speaking behind one another’s backs, they preferred to be direct.

If one of them disliked something, he would simply tell the other.

That honesty, they believed, was one of the reasons their partnership worked.

Ignazio described their friendship, honesty, genuineness and spontaneity as the group’s real strength. The boys understood that a successful group needed to be built on trust as much as musical ability.

Their closeness was already an important part of Il Volo’s identity.

Did They Feel They Were Missing Out?

The interviewers also questioned whether being successful so young meant they were sacrificing the ordinary experiences of adolescence — school, going out with friends and simply enjoying everyday life.

Gianluca’s answer was immediate: this was the life they wanted.

Ignazio agreed. They were not pursuing music because someone was forcing them to. They were doing it because they genuinely loved it.

He compared their situation to opening a drawer as a child and finding something you truly like — once you discover what you want, you naturally want to pursue it.

The boys rejected the idea that they were missing important stages of growing up.

They admitted they might miss some outings with friends, but they also pointed out that few 16-year-olds had the opportunity to travel around the world.

For them, that was not something to regret. It was another part of the extraordinary experience they were living.

Three Teenagers With a Very Big Dream

Looking back at the young Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca, their maturity is striking.

The interview captured three teenagers who already seemed to understand that their opportunity was unusual and that maintaining it would require hard work, discipline and humility.

There was also a noticeable shyness, particularly in Gianluca, who appeared to be trying to hide his early nervousness during the interview.

Yet beneath that youthful awkwardness was a clear sense of purpose.

They knew what they wanted.

They wanted to sing.

They wanted to grow as artists.

And they wanted to take their music as far as possible.

At the time, one of their dreams was to perform at Radio City Music Hall and Carnegie Hall.

Years later, that dream became reality.

What began with three teenagers talking passionately about music would eventually take them onto those legendary stages — a powerful reminder of just how seriously Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca believed in their dream from the very beginning.

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