Italy

Italy's operatic history is closely associated with La Scala in Milan. Designed by Giuseppe Piermarini, the theatre opened on 3 August 1778 with Antonio Salieri's Europa riconosciuta. It became an important stage for Rossini, Bellini, Donizetti and Verdi; Verdi's Nabucco was performed there in 1842.

In Rome, the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia traces its foundation to a papal bull issued by Sixtus V in 1585. The institution combines concert activity, musical training and the preservation of historical collections. Its concert seasons moved to the Auditorium Parco della Musica in 2003. The transfer of its historical collections to the new library and media library followed in 2005, a separate event in its history.