Florida Atlantic Partners in $7.5 Million European-Funded Projects Integrating AI and Technology into Opera

Florida Atlantic (FAU) recently  announced its role as a partner in two international projects aimed at transforming opera by integrating advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and digital humanities. Funded by Italy’s Ministero dell’Università e della Ricerca (Ministry of University and Research) and the European Union, these initiatives bring together an array of prestigious global institutions, including the Fondazione Accademia d’Arti e Mestieri dello Spettacolo Teatro alla Scala (often referred to as “La Scala”), the Accademia Nazionale d’Arte Drammatica “Silvio d’Amico,” and the Università degli Studi di Padova, to explore the intersection of technology and the performing arts.

With a combined total funding exceeding $7.5 million, these projects represent an investment in the future of opera, merging classical performance with state-of-the-art digital technologies. The opportunities for FAU to join these initiatives arose from the university’s Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Conservatorio “Giacomo Puccini” La Spezia, Italy. FAU has received more than $220,000 for the projects outlined below.

Casta Diva: Women in Italian Opera. The first initiative, Casta Diva: An International Research and Production Digital Platform on Women in Italian Musical Theatre, took place during Italy in Transit, which was held on FAU’s Boca Raton campus from February 5 through 7, 2025. The event celebrated the cultural contributions of women in Italian opera and established a multilingual digital platform showcasing collaborative research and artistic productions.

Alongside Conservatorio di Musica “Giacomo Puccini” La Spezia, FAU has partnered with the Conservatorio di Musica “Antonio Vivaldi” Alessandria and institutions across Italy, Portugal, and the United States to bring greater attention to the often-overlooked roles women have played in this art form.

MTNT-Music Theatre and New Technologies: A New Paradigm in Opera Studies. The second project, MTNT-Music Theatre and New Technologies: Toward a New Paradigm in Opera Studies and Performance, aims to revolutionize opera by incorporating emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and metaverse experiences.

A core component of MTNT is the establishment of four research doctorates focused on digital transformation in opera studies, awarded through an elite network of institutions, including Università degli Studi di Padova and Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel (Royal Conservatory of Brussels). FAU’s inclusion in this initiative solidifies its role as a leader at the intersection of performance, research, and technology. FAU joins an exclusive group of American institutions participating in these projects, including New York University, Stanford University, and Columbia University. 

The project will explore several areas, including applying digital humanities to Venetian Baroque opera and integrating metaverse technologies in modern performances to engage younger audiences and increase access to opera. Part of this project is the performance of a forgotten opera rediscovered by Ph.D. candidate Barbara Salani and the topic of her dissertation in the Comparative Studies doctoral program at FAU. P.C. Guglielmi’s opera “Amalia e Carlo” will be performed for the first time in Italy, in Massa, in September.

A Global Collaborative Effort. These projects highlight the significance of international collaboration, connecting institutions from nine countries—Italy, Belgium, France, Portugal, Estonia, Poland, the United States, Austria, and the United Kingdom. Involving 30 institutions, this initiative demonstrates its far-reaching global impact.

Ilaria Serra, Ph.D. (Department of Languages, Linguistics, and Comparative Literature) and Mitchell Hutchings, D.M.A. (Department of Music), are leading FAU’s participation in these projects. This opportunity enhances the university’s research capabilities and creates new pathways for students and faculty to engage with a global academic and cultural network. These efforts are expected to bring substantial educational and cultural benefits to Boca Raton and beyond, fostering deeper connections between local and international communities. For more information about FAU’s Department of Music, visit www.fau.edu/music.