In Trapani, digital opera takes the stage through AI, immersive scenography, the Pepper robot, and collaboration with Madrid. The MUSIC4D project reaches a major milestone in deploying advanced technologies within higher music education and internationalization processes.
Trapani, December 9, 2025 – A name that evokes the grandeur of an era and the strength of an entire island now meets cutting-edge digital innovation: Trapani is set to celebrate the history of the legendary Florio family with the world premiere of The Florios of Sicily, a contemporary virtual opera with a Mediterranean vocation.
This ambitious project, conceived and developed by the “Antonio Scontrino” Conservatory of Music in Trapani, under the artistic direction of Micaela Carosi with original music by Salvatore Scinaldi, promises to transport audiences on an immersive journey through the historical legacy of the Florios, enhanced by pioneering technologies.
The opera represents not only a profound tribute to one of Sicily’s most influential dynasties, but also the first significant testing ground for the extensive and long-term collaboration between the Trapani Conservatory and the Escuela Superior de Canto de Madrid (ESCM). This strategic partnership will systematically leverage the opportunities provided by a phygital hub and high-performance internet connectivity—core components of the European MUSIC4D project, funded under Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) through the Ministry of University and Research (MUR).
The unmissable premiere is scheduled for December 13 at the evocative San Domenico Monumental Complex in Trapani. The performance will also be live-streamed via the Trapani Conservatory’s digital channels, ensuring global accessibility.
The digital and innovative dimension of The Florios of Sicily spans multiple domains, creating an unprecedented experience. The libretto was developed with the support of Artificial Intelligence, boldly merging human creativity with algorithmic potential. The stage design will offer a fully immersive environment, generated through responsive lighting systems and real-time sound sampling from the iconic Sicilian tuna fisheries, evoking the landscapes and atmosphere of the Florio dynasty.
In addition, the humanoid robot Pepper—developed in collaboration with the University of Palermo—will perform on stage, providing real-time feedback on audience emotional responses and establishing an innovative dialogue between artificial intelligence and human perception.
Further enhancing the technological framework, a choir and a musical trio will participate remotely, performing live from the Trapani Conservatory and interacting in real time with the artists on stage. This seamless integration will be enabled by the high-efficiency network infrastructure and the phygital hub technologies currently being implemented at the Conservatory through the MUSIC4D project.
“We are proud to present The Florios of Sicily, a project that fully embodies our vision of a music education system oriented toward the future,” stated Professor Elisa Cordova, Director of the ‘Antonio Scontrino’ Conservatory of Music in Trapani. “Through the international collaboration and digital innovation fostered by MUSIC4D, we are building a bridge between our rich cultural heritage and the opportunities offered by technology, training artists who can navigate and create within an increasingly connected and interactive world.”
The Florios of Sicily is more than an opera: it is a manifesto of Italian and Sicilian excellence in higher artistic education, uniting art, technology, and history within a compelling narrative framework.
In February 2026, the opera will travel to Spain for a prestigious international performance at the ESCM in Madrid.
