Enrico Caruso: from Naples to New York

The exhibition Enrico Caruso: from Naples to New York is the fourth of five musical initiatives promoted by theItalian Cultural Institute of New York in partnership with Carnegie Hall's United in Sound: America at 250 festival.

Opened June 5, the exhibition will remain on view until Aug. 31, 2026.
The event celebrates Enrico Caruso, one of the most influential figures in music history, whose journey from Naples to New York embodies the history of Italian emigration and its cultural impact in the United States.

The opening night, at 6 p.m., after an introduction by Claudio Pagliara, director of the Italian Cultural Institute of New York, will include a screening of the documentary Enrico Caruso, the Greatest Singer in the World (curated by Giuliana Muscio), followed by a panel discussion and the official opening of the photographic and sound exhibition Enrico Caruso: from Naples to New York, first presented at the National Archaeological Museum of Naples in 2022.

The exhibition includes rare photographs and historical recordings from the collections of the Istituto Centrale per i Beni Sonori e Audiovisivi, with curatorship by Giuliana Muscio (Senior Scholar, University of Padua) and music consulting by Simona Frasca (University of Naples Federico II).

Caruso was not only the first major global opera star, but also one of the first recording artists whose voice reached millions of listeners thanks to the new gramophone technology.
His move from Naples to New York's Metropolitan Opera symbolized the journey of countless Italian emigrants and their contribution to the construction of American cultural identity.
His art brought Italian bel canto into the American mainstream, influencing generations of singers and contributing to the birth of the American operatic tradition. His recordings, still celebrated today, marked the beginning of the modern music industry, making him an authentic bridge between the Old and New Worlds.

For the first time, the Italian Cultural Institute of New York is collaborating with Carnegie Hall on the 2025-2026 season festival, United in Sound: America at 250. This ambitious and multifaceted initiative celebrates the United States 250 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. By highlighting the extraordinary musical heritage that has flourished in the country, the festival offers a powerful portrait of America's vibrant cultural scene. Through its participation, the Italian Cultural Institute also aims to highlight the deep and enduring bond of friendship between Italy and the United States, celebrating the artistic dialogue that continues to unite the two nations.