The International Summer School WISD: Word, Image, Scene, and Digital transformations,
dedicated to Opera and to its adaptations and dissemination nowadays, is part of the Research Project Polimnia. Opera for All! By adopting a fresh approach to Opera, the Polimnia project aims to enhance public appreciation of Italy’s cultural, artistic, and musical heritage, thereby boosting its appeal and international recognition. Opera serves as a quintessential representation of Italy’s national culture, artistic and musical heritage. The theoretical framework adopted is that of Community Opera, an approach that originated in the UK in 1970 and has since been developed in many countries around the world. The literature on Community Opera offers resources for a deeper understanding of opera production, from a perspective of inclusive co-construction, cultural growth, and social change. Currently, Opera is not for everyone; it is often seen as an outdated repertoire,
far removed from the artistic-musical experiences that engage young people. It is perceived as a “niche,” an “elite form of art,” too expensive and difficult to understand.
The Summer School, held in English, will take place on 22nd-25th September 2025 at the
Conservatorio Vecchi-Tonelli in Modena (Italy) and will focus on the following topics:
• Valorization of the cultural, artistic, and musical heritage of lesser-known Italian texts and
musical scores.
• Diachronic examination of the literary, linguistic, historical, musical and scenic contexts that influenced the creation and performance of Italian Opera.
• Strategies, forms, and models aimed at increase the attractiveness of Italian Opera for new generations, emphasizing inclusion, training, and education, in line with the adaptation of the international model of Community Opera.
INTAFAM_00038 “POLIMNIA. L’Opera per tutti! International Lifelong Learning and Performance for Training New Music Professionalities and Education of
Communities in Italy”. The project is part of Piano Nazionale di Ripresa e Resilienza (PNRR) – M4 C1 I3.4 Subinvestimento Partenariati strategici / iniziative
per rinnovare la dimensione internazionale del sistema AFAM, granted by the European Union – NextGenerationEU.
• Case studies on participatory opera (co-creation of Opera with local communities, involving various professional skills, resources, and specific local characteristics, reusing repertoires, venues, and infrastructures not currently utilized for these purposes).
• Rewritings, remediations, and digital adaptations in the production and performance of Opera nowadays.
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Programme
Invited Speakers
Antonella Coppi (IUL) – Giorgio Barberio Corsetti (Accademia d’Arte Drammatica Silvio Damico Roma) – Uta Felten (Universität Leipzig) – Maurizio Giri (Conservatorio di Frosinone) – Marc Jeannin (Université Angers) – Alberto Mammarella (Conservatorio di Pescara) – Federica Pedriali (University of Edinburgh) – Jesse Rosenberg (Northwestern University – USA) – Luca Salvadori (Conservatorio di Frosinone) – Riccardo Santoboni (Conservatorio di Frosinone) – Hector Sequera Mora (Durham University) – Gaetano Stella (Conservatorio di Frosinone) – Philippe Vendrix (Université Tours)
Workshops
Benedetta Bronzini & Corps Citoyen (Unimore) – Giuliano Bracci (Conservatorio di Piacenza) – Vania Cauzillo & Theresa Lafortune (Università della Basilicata/RESEO) – Silvia del Zoppo & Editor di Music Paper (Conservatorio di Gallarate)
Musical Moments Davide Pouliquen (Singer – Université Angers) – SeiOttavi (Contemporary A Cappella – Conservatori di Palermo, Rodi Garganico, Ribera) – Giuseppe Fausto Modugno & Paolo Andreoli (Piano –Conservatorio di Modena)
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Who is it for
The Summer School is open to a maximum of 24 international PhD students at universities and/or Music Conservatories and young non-tenured researchers.
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What attendants will do
During the four days of the Summer School, participants will attend keynote presentations and workshops of international experts and are also invited to present their research in a dedicated poster session (see detailed the program on the website www.polimnia.unimore.it).
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Selection Process and Criteria
The selection of participants is based on a review process organised by the Scientific Committee of the Summer School. Based on this review, the Scientific Committee of the Summer School will select INTAFAM_00038 “POLIMNIA. L’Opera per tutti! International Lifelong Learning and Performance for Training New Music Professionalities and Education of Communities in Italy”. The project is part of Piano Nazionale di Ripresa e Resilienza (PNRR) – M4 C1 I3.4 Subinvestimento Partenariati strategici / iniziative
per rinnovare la dimensione internazionale del sistema AFAM, granted by the European Union – NextGenerationEU. the participants. The selection criteria are based on the quality of the PhD or research project,
assessed in relation to its:
• theoretical approach,
• methodological standards,
• potential for innovation,
• the relevance of the aims and objectives of the project within the areas covered.
Participants will be expected to present their work at the Summer School, either in the form of a presentation or a poster.
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Application Form
The application includes:
• abstract of the PhD project / current research project (max 2500 characters, incl. spaces),
• a short CV according to the given model.
For the application form, please refer to the website www.polimnia.unimore.it. Send the application form, abstract, and CV to: polimnia@unimore.it (with the subject of the email “Application Name , Surname”).
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Timeline
The deadline for applications is June 15th, 2025.
All applicants will be informed about the selection of participants by June 30th, 2025.