A symphonic orchestra, AI-generated interactive videos, and a monumental program: the PNRR-funded project arrives in one of the world’s music capitals with an immersive performance redefining the aesthetics of Mediterranean heritage.
PALERMO, March 12, 2026 – Vienna, the cradle of the great European symphonic tradition, prepares to set the stage for the ancestral forces of Southern Italy. On Sunday, March 15, at 7:00 PM, Music4D will present the audiovisual event “Between Myths and Legends of Sicily” at the elegant Halle E+G in the MuseumsQuartier. The performance explores the archetypal duality of “Water and Fire”—the defining identity of an island cradled by the sea and dominated by the volcanic presence of Mount Etna.
This event, of the highest artistic and scientific profile, is conceived and coordinated by Maestro Epifanio Comis, a prominent figure in today’s musical landscape and the founder and music director of the Symphony Orchestra of the “Vincenzo Bellini” Conservatory of Catania—an ensemble with which he has undertaken prestigious international tours, solidifying its global reputation. On Austrian soil, Comis will lead an inter-institutional orchestra composed of top talents from the Conservatories of Catania, Palermo, and Messina. They will be joined by a parterre of exceptional soloists: the renowned Slovenian clarinetist Darko Brlek; the tenor Adrian Autard, a rising star of the Viennese opera scene; and Matteo Bortolazzi, a brilliant student of the Catania Conservatory.
“Between Myths and Legends of Sicily” is designed as a total sensory experience, featuring a repertoire deeply rooted in Sicilian identity. The program includes evocative works such as Immersa Vox by Emanuele Casale, La Giara by Alfredo Casella—inspired by the novella by Luigi Pirandello—and Bellini Reloaded by Giovanni Ferrauto. The journey culminates with a performance of Scriabin’s Prometheus, envisioned as the apotheosis of fire and volcanic power, amplified by a digital scenography that envelops the listener in a captivating visual narrative—a journey spanning the historical twentieth century to the boldest contemporary expressions.
Visual direction is provided by Gianpaolo Romania, with avant-garde lighting design by Pixel Shapes. The production’s distinctive edge lies in the convergence of performance practice and technological languages: the music interacts in real-time with an experimental video apparatus—a tapestry of shapes and colors generated by Artificial Intelligence. “This project is a synesthetic journey that exalts our roots,” emphasizes Maestro Epifanio Comis. “Technology ceases to be a mere accessory and becomes a tool capable of expanding Sicilian symbolism, rendering it a total immersive experience.”
The entire performance, which will be recorded for a CD release, is the result of meticulous research integrating MAX/MSP software within the symphonic textures. The Viennese residency represents a moment of synthesis for the strategic vision of Music4D, the PNRR project launched in 2024 and led by the “Alessandro Scarlatti” Conservatory of Palermo, to which the “Vincenzo Bellini” Conservatory of Catania has contributed its creative signature with the design of this international event.
“Between Myths and Legends of Sicily” is more than an isolated initiative; it is a manifesto for a production ecosystem that aims to revolutionize Higher Arts and Music Education (AFAM), bringing Italian cultural heritage to the world’s most significant stages. The goal is to establish a model of collaboration where academic excellence and scientific innovation merge to give shape to the art of the future.
