EXHIBITION | Enrico Caruso: From Naples to New York

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

This event celebrates Enrico Caruso, one of the most influential figures in the history of music, whose journey from Naples to New York embodies the story of Italian migration and its cultural impact in America.

The evening features the screening of the documentary Enrico Caruso, the Greatest Singer in the World (curated by Giuliana Muscio), followed by a discussion panel and the official opening of the photographic and audio exhibition Enrico Caruso: From Naples to New York, first presented at the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli in 2022. The exhibition includes rare photographs and historic recordings from the collections of the Istituto Centrale per i Beni Sonori e Audiovisivi, curated by Giuliana Muscio (Senior Scholar Università di Padova) with musical consultancy by Simona Frasca (Università degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II”).

Caruso was not only the first global opera star, but also one of the earliest recording artists whose voice reached millions thanks to the new technology of the gramophone. His move from Naples to the Metropolitan Opera in New York symbolized the journey of countless Italian emigrants and their role in shaping American cultural identity.

Caruso’s artistry brought Italian bel canto into the American mainstream, influencing generations of singers and contributing to the foundation of America’s operatic tradition. His recordings, still celebrated today, marked the birth of the modern music industry, making him a true bridge between the Old and New Worlds.

Program – June 5

1. Introduction by the Claudio Pagliara, Director, Italian Cultural Institute New York
2. Screening – Enrico Caruso, the Greatest Singer in the World
3. Panel Discussion – The Sound that Crosses the Ocean: Caruso and the Italian-American Imagery, Giuliana Muscio (Senior Scholar Università di Padova) and Simona Frasca (Università degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II”)
4. Opening of the exhibition – Enrico Caruso: From Naples to New York (photographs, historical documents, and original recordings)