Il Volo set the festive tone for their Christmas concert in Sofia, captivating the audience with a breathtaking performance of the classic hymn “Angels We Have Heard on High”.
The trio — Piero Barone, Ignazio Boschetto, and Gianluca Ginoble — brought the centuries-old carol to life with their signature blend of soaring vocals, heartfelt emotion, and cinematic delivery, transforming the familiar hymn into a truly reimagined Christmas experience.
Originally written in 1862 by Bishop James Chadwick and modeled after the French carol “Les Anges dans nos Compagnes,” “Angels We Have Heard on High” is celebrated for its melismatic “Gloria in excelsis Deo” passages, designed to evoke the celestial chorus of angels heralding Christ’s birth. Il Volo’s performance honored this tradition while infusing it with their operatic pop sensibilities, building to earth-shattering high notes that left the Sofia audience spellbound.
Fans flooded social media with praise. Comments hailed the trio as “wonderful, brilliant, exceptional,” and described the concert as “a peaceful, cozy Christmas in your family environment” and “a real pleasure to watch and listen to.”
One fan noted, “You stir great and strong emotions in our hearts! May Jesus always keep you this way, above all united in the love of singing and true art!” while another added, “It succeeds in creating the real Christmas feeling — they are the best!”
The hymn’s lines, such as “And the mountains in reply / Echoing their joyous strains,” echo Psalm 98’s jubilant call for all creation to praise the Lord, and Il Volo’s rendition emphasized this spiritual resonance, blending rich harmonies and virtuosic technique to capture the joy and wonder of the season.
From their arrival on stage to the final resounding “Gloria, in excelsis Deo,” Il Volo’s Sofia performance was both a musical celebration and a heartfelt tribute to the enduring power of Christmas carols. With a blend of classical tradition and contemporary flair, the trio reminded the audience why they remain among the world’s most cherished ambassadors of Italian vocal artistry.
