Italian Opera: From UNESCO Recognition to a Conservation Plan

The recognition of Italian opera singing as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, in addition to representing a unique occasion for celebration, calls for a deeper reflection on its cultural and artistic importance. The conference "From UNESCO Recognition to the Safeguarding Plan" therefore aims to offer an exclusive opportunity to explore and discuss the future of this artistic expression. Through a series of thematic sessions, the conference aims to examine the distinctive characteristics of Italian opera singing, explore conservation strategies, and discuss community initiatives for its promotion. With the participation of internationally renowned experts, academics, and artists, the event will be a melting pot of ideas and visions aimed at outlining a roadmap to ensure the prosperity and relevance of opera singing for future generations.

This conference represents a crucial opportunity to deepen our understanding of opera singing and its potential in a rapidly evolving world, underscoring the ongoing need for dialogue between tradition and innovation.

The day will begin at 11:00 with the official greeting from the authorities and the presentation of the UNESCO parchment, a highly significant symbolic recognition for the Italian opera singing community.

First session: context of the candidacy

The morning session, titled "The Reasons for a Candidacy," will feature presentations by experts such as Elena Sinibaldi of the UNESCO MC Office, Matteo Paoletti of the University of Bologna, and Rosanna Savoia, professor of opera singing at the Genoa Conservatory, who will illustrate the cultural value and international importance of Italian opera singing.

Second session: definition and areas of study

At 2:30 PM, the discussion will shift to the definition and characterization of Italian opera singing, with presentations by Fabio Rossi, Gea Garatti, and Marco Beghelli. This will be followed at 3:30 PM by the session "Areas of Safeguarding and Development," which will explore strategies for the protection and promotion of opera singing.

3:30 PM THIRD SESSION: Areas of protection and development

Moderator: Carmelo Di Gennaro (Complutense Institute of Musical Sciences). Participants: Marco Tutino (composer), Giovanna Cassese (President of the National Council for Higher Education in the Arts and Music), Giovanni Botta (Councilor of the National Council for Higher Education in the Arts and Music), Orietta Calcinoni (ENT and speech therapist), Terenzio Cassina (Head of the Medical Service at La Scala Theatre), Paolo Besana (Director of Communications at La Scala Theatre).

Roundtable: Community Involvement

The day will conclude with a roundtable discussion at 5:00 PM, involving some of the opera industry's key stakeholders. The role of the Safeguarding Committee and the importance of community involvement in keeping this artistic tradition alive will be discussed.

Closing of the works

The activities will conclude at 6:30 PM with a summary of the discussions and proposals that emerged during the sessions, outlining future steps for the preservation of opera singing.

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Program updated on 20/10/24

11:00 AM GREETINGS FROM THE AUTHORITIES AND OPENING OF THE WORK

Hon. Gianmarco Mazzi

Undersecretary of State for Culture

Honorable Cristina Rossello

Advisor for Gender Policies in Higher Education and Research for the Ministry of University and Research

My Fulvio Macciardi

President of ANFOLS and Superintendent of the Teatro Comunale of Bologna

Mo Luciano Messi

President of ATIT and Superintendent of the Teatro Regio of Parma

Mo Roberto Abbondanza

President of ASSOLIRICA

Mo Federico Domenico Eraldo Sacchi

President of the Committee for the Safeguarding of Italian Opera Singing

11:45 Undersecretary of State Gianmarco Mazzi delivers to the Community the certificate of inclusion of the Art of Italian Opera Singing in the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

FIRST SESSION: The reasons for a candidacy: artistic heritage as intangible heritage

12:00 - Identifying, defining, and constructing: the practice of lyrical singing

as UNESCO intangible heritage

Elena Sinibaldi, National Focal Point - UNESCO Convention 2003; UNESCO Office - DiAG - Ministry of Culture

12:15 - Italian opera singing as an intangible asset: a journey towards awareness

Rosanna Savoia, Opera Singer and Teacher

12:30 - Performing Arts and UNESCO: A Complex Relationship

Matteo Paoletti, Associate Professor in disciplines of

show - University of Bologna

1:00 PM - Break in work

SECOND SESSION: In Search of a Definition of Italian Opera Singing

Moderated by Carmelo Di Gennaro, Musicologist - Complutense Institute of Musical Sciences

2.30pm - Can linguistics contribute to the definition and knowledge of

and to the protection of Italian opera singing?

Fabio Rossi, Full Professor of Italian Linguistics - University of Messina

2.45pm - Choral practice of Italian Opera Singing in

professional field

Gea Garatti, Chorus Master - Bologna Municipal Theater

3.00 pm - The choral practice of Italian Opera Singing in a non-profit context

professional

Massimiliano Tonsini, Head of Special Projects - National Academy of Santa Cecilia

3:15 PM - Why are we interested in ancient treatises on singing?

Marco Beghelli, Full Professor of Musicology and History of Music - University of Bologna

THIRD SESSION: Areas of protection and development

Moderated by Carmelo Di Gennaro, Musicologist - Complutense Institute of Musical Sciences

3:30 PM - The Interrupted Song

Marco Tutino, Composer

3:45 PM - The crucial role of higher education institutions in the arts and music in safeguarding Italy's tangible and intangible heritage, and policies for its transmission to the future.

Giovanna Cassese, President of CNAM

4:00 PM - The transmission of assets in a formal context

Giovanni Botta, CNAM Councillor (College XIV)

4:15 PM - Protecting the health of opera singers:

experiences in risk assessment and health surveillance

Orietta Calcinoni, Specialist in ENT and Phoniatrics - Terenzio Cassina,

Head of Medical Services at La Scala Theatre

4:30 PM - Safeguarding the Recording Heritage

Paolo Besana, Director of Communications at La Scala Theatre

5:00 PM ROUND TABLE: Community bodies and the role of the Safeguard Committee

Moderated by Carmelo Di Gennaro, Musicologist - Complutense Institute of Musical Sciences

Proposals, projects, and priority requests for safeguarding in the educational, performance, and scientific fields

and cultural policies

Participants:

Roberto Abbondanza (President of Assolirica), Virgilio Bernardoni (Vice President of the Giacomo Puccini Study Center), Francesco Bellotto (Verona Conservatory), Daniele Borniquez (Accademia Teatro alla Scala), Andrea Cigni (Superintendent and Artistic Director of the Ponchielli Theater in Cremona), Ettore Galvani (National President of FENIARCO), Stefano Lamon (Music Educator), Pierluigi Ledda (Managing Director of the Casa Ricordi Archive), Barbara Minghetti (Programming Director of the Teatro Sociale di Como/ASLICO), Gianni Tangucci (Cultural Manager, Music Educator), Stefano Vizioli (Director).

6:00 PM - Reasoned summary of the main acquisitions

Elena Sinibaldi and Matteo Paoletti, Rapporteurs of the study day

6:30 PM - Closing of proceedings

Scientific Committee: Paolo Besana, Francesco Bellotto, Carmelo Di Gennaro, Mariano Festa, Cecilia Gasdia, Luciano Messi,

Matteo Paoletti, Federico Sacchi, Rosanna Savoia, Elena Sinibaldi, Massimiliano Tonsini, and Marco Tutino

Production coordination: Federico Domenico Eraldo Sacchi

Scientific coordination: Francesco Bellotto

Communications and Press Office: Carmelo Di Gennaro

Organizing Secretariat: Giulia Orefice Paticchio

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