Remaining Opera Learning & Education (ROLE), funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU and Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), has officially started. On 29–30 May 2025, the kick-off meeting took place in Padua, hosted by the Conservatorio Statale di Musica Cesare Pollini. The meeting brought together project partners to dive into the core vision of the project and set the foundations for the collaborative journey ahead.

The meeting was attended by Stefano Patarino, Silvia Defend, Fabio Velo Dalbrenta and Fabrizio Da Ros from the Conservatorio Statale di Musica Cesare Pollini in Padua, Frauke Velghe from the KASK & Conservatorium (HOGENT – Howest) in Ghent, and Alfonso Guerra, representing the European Association of Conservatoires (AEC) in Brussels. The consortium is completed by FilmArt Studio, a local company expert in audiovisual and cinematic productions.

Over the course of the two days, project partners presented the project in depth, detailing its overarching mission, the key milestones ahead, and strategic ideas for future implementation. One of the highlights was the presentation of the official ROLE project website, alongside the brand’s visual identity and communication, dissemination and exploitation plan. These tools will be essential in shaping how to connect with the target audiences and stakeholders throughout the project lifespan.

The ROLE project website, which will serve as a repository of all project outcomes as well as the main means of communication, featuring regular articles about the project’s development, can be accessed here: https://www.roleopera.com/.

Project partners also had the chance to explore the Conservatorio’s impressive library collection and historic building, both of which are integral to the project’s cultural dimension. Beyond the working sessions, participants enjoyed the richness of local culture and engaged in valuable networking opportunities. Notably, partners met with representatives from the Monash University in Australia, who were visiting the Conservatorio on the same occasion.

About ROLE

The project is structured around two main actions:

  • The digitisation of a collection of 18th-century opera manuscripts (97 in total)
  • The production of a film-opera based on Mozart’s Così fan tutte, with original dialogues

These two components converge in a shared aim: to preserve and revitalise musical heritage. On the one hand, the digitisation of historic manuscripts enhances access to and usability of invaluable materials that document the history of opera and musical production between the 18th and 19th centuries. On the other hand, the film-opera offers an innovative means of reinterpreting operatic repertoire, exploring new artistic languages and methods of dissemination.

Together, these two strands form a bridge between past and future. Both initiatives are united by a common goal, to bring music closer to a broader international audience, and demonstrate how tradition can be enriched through contemporary technologies and emerging forms of communication.

With strong energy and commitment from all partners, the ROLE project is off to a remarkable start. The spirit of collaboration and shared vision that defined the meeting time in Padua sets the tone for the exciting work to come. To know more about ROLE, please contact Alfonso Guerra at alfonsoguerra@aec-music.eu.