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The Safeguarding of the Art of Italian Opera Singing
A Living Heritage to be Safeguarded.
What is Opera Singing?
Opera singing has its roots in the declamatory nature of speech, a legacy of the great Greco-Roman orators and actors who relied on diaphragmatic support and natural resonators. It also stems from the phonatory characteristics of the Italian language, already widely recognized in treatises starting from the 18th century. All of this gave rise to a vocal technique which, while evolving over time, is distinguished by the ability to project the singing voice across large acoustic spaces while preserving its dynamic nuances and timbral richness—making it a powerful vehicle for conveying the emotional message of a musical composition.
Deeply rooted in Italian culture, opera singing is characterized by its technical refinement and capacity for intense emotional expression. This art form, which requires years of dedicated study, is an integral part of Italy’s cultural identity and has achieved global recognition.
The inclusion of opera singing in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list highlights its universal value and its role in fostering cultural connection. The works of masters such as Monteverdi, Rossini, Bellini, Donizetti, Verdi, and Puccini illustrate how opera singing continues to be a vibrant expression of culture and human emotion.
What We Do
PROMOTING AND PRESERVING OPERA SINGING
Explore our initiatives to celebrate and safeguard the art of opera singing.
Our organization brings together industry professionals and institutional representatives. The Ministry of Culture has recognized the Committee as the official representative of the opera community, encompassing all those involved and passionate about opera singing: singers, vocal coaches, accompanists, composers, historians, musicologists, set designers, directors, opera lovers, and phoniatrics specialists.
Our main goal is to promote and uphold the principles and guidelines of the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003), supporting its implementation and dissemination over time.
Concert broadcast worldwide
The Great Italian Opera, a World Heritage Site
Special event of the Ministry of Culture
June 7, 2024 - Verona Arena
The protagonists
Organizations and people behind the UNESCO recognition
The candidacy of Italian opera singing for UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage was successful thanks to the contributions of several entities.
Experts in phonetics and speech therapy, representatives of opera singers, music academies, musicologists, and composers provided essential contributions, highlighting the importance and uniqueness of Italian vocal technique.
Opera and symphony foundations and other cultural institutions have played a vital role, supporting the committee's formation and the production of fundamental research. These collective efforts have not only preserved but also expanded the visibility and global appreciation of opera singing, ensuring its perpetuation and celebration as a priceless cultural tradition.
