Project Cantico: Innovaway Brings Digital Transformation and Immersive Technologies to Italian Opera

Benevento, May 26, 2025 — Project Cantico is a pioneering initiative that brings together cultural heritage and digital innovation. Backed by the European Union and led by Innovaway, a company renowned for its user-centric digital transformation services, the project introduces a new era of AI-powered experiences, smart content delivery, and immersive platforms in the world of opera and theater.

Awarded top recognition in Italy’s Ministry of University and Research’s Horizon 2020–PON “Research and Innovation” program, Cantico was developed in partnership with the University of Sannio, the Nicola Sala State Conservatory, and several high-tech firms. The project aims to modernize how audiences experience opera while preserving the artistic and cultural depth of Italian performance art. At the same time, it reflects a larger trend toward user-centric design, intelligent workflow automation, and smart content delivery in public-facing institutions.

As part of the initiative, Innovaway integrates AI implementation, supervised learning techniques, and automation strategies to create intelligent environments where theatergoers, performers, and administrators interact with data and performance in entirely new ways. These innovations help redefine traditional formats while remaining rooted in cultural storytelling.

One of the central goals of Cantico is to increase audience engagement—particularly among younger demographics—through the use of wearable technology and digital experience revamp methods. By developing tools that support immersive rehearsals, interactive digital product management, and multilingual performance layers, the project opens the opera world to broader, more inclusive participation. Students can now rehearse using augmented reality systems, receiving contextual guidance, reading virtual scores, and interacting with 3D stage simulations—effectively blending functional performance training with AI-powered back office services for educators and theaters alike.

At the venue level, the experience begins with context-aware systems that use proximity sensors and intelligent workflow automation to notify guests of available performances, check-in procedures, and deliver holographic introductions. During the opera, audiences wearing digital headsets can choose their point of view, access real-time subtitles, and dive into immersive, multi-language digital experiences that extend far beyond passive viewing.

What sets Cantico apart is its emphasis on AI implementation and data strategy. By analyzing audience behavior, usage patterns, and feedback, theaters can continuously improve programming and personalize content delivery—an approach increasingly mirrored across sectors like smart BPO services and customer support outsourcing.

Remote audiences are not left behind. The initiative also offers a live 3D stream and on-demand immersive playback, enabling access to performances from any location and contributing to a more accessible and inclusive digital ecosystem.

The project was formally launched in Benevento, with key figures from both the cultural and institutional sectors in attendance. Speakers included Caterina Meglio, President of the Nicola Sala Conservatory; Benevento Mayor Clemente Mastella; Luigi Nicolais, Research Advisor to the Minister of University and Research; University of Sannio Rector Gerardo Canfora; and Giosuè Grassia, Director of the Conservatory. Representing Innovaway were Giuseppe Di Giovambattista, R&D Manager, and CEO Antonio Giacomini.

“This project represents more than innovation—it’s a mission to safeguard and evolve Italian cultural heritage for the next generation,” said Antonio Giacomini.

Discover how digital transformation through AI implementation and immersive technologies can revitalize cultural experiences like Italian opera, enhancing engagement and accessibility for diverse audiences.