MIH
Ricordi Historical Archive
The Ricordi Historical Archive is one of the most important music archives in the world, preserving over 200 years of Italian music publishing history. Founded by Giovanni Ricordi in 1808, it holds original manuscripts by renowned composers such as Giuseppe Verdi, Giacomo Puccini, and Gioacchino Rossini. The archive houses more than 8,000 scores, 15,000 letters, set design sketches, and iconographic materials. It documents the evolution of opera and classical music, with a unique collection of librettos and concert programs. Today, it is managed by Bertelsmann and based in Milan, with ongoing projects for digitization and cultural promotion.
Project design
Development of software platforms for cataloguing
Digital archival consulting
Algorithms and AI for cultural heritage
The Puccini Online portal was launched to mark the centenary of Giacomo Puccini’s death (1924–2024), one of the greatest opera composers of all time.
The initiative was driven by the need to bring together and provide digital access to the most important documentary sources related to Puccini, which are preserved in numerous public and private institutions.
Key partners include the Simonetta Puccini Foundation, the La Scala Theatre Museum, and RAI Archives, along with other institutions significant to the preservation of Italy’s musical and cultural heritage.
Puccini Online is an innovative Public History project dedicated to the digital enhancement of Puccini’s heritage. The portal is designed to offer various in-depth pathways. In addition to a section dedicated to archives and digital collections, it features an editorial area that provides historical context on Puccini’s works and life, with contributions from scholars and experts.
Thanks to this structure, Puccini Online is not just an archive, but a multimedia platform that integrates textual, visual, audiovisual, and sound content—offering a comprehensive and interdisciplinary perspective on Puccini’s legacy.
The portal is particularly useful for consulting scores, sketches, and photographs, enabling an in-depth and interactive user experience. Visitors can not only view documents, but also contribute to their enrichment, in keeping with the principles of Public History—treating history both as a subject of study and as a shared, participatory cultural heritage.
From a technological standpoint, the project has been made possible thanks to the support of partners specializing in digitization and cultural heritage management. The platform is powered by Made In Heritage, in collaboration with mind@ware and regesta.exe, who provided the technical solutions for archiving and access.
Puccini Online serves as a model for how digitization can preserve cultural heritage while making it accessible to a global audience, promoting the understanding and appreciation of one of the greatest composers in music history.
Thanks to the synergy between cultural institutions, public bodies, and technology partners, the portal—designed to grow and evolve over the coming years—ensures that Puccini’s legacy remains vibrant and accessible for future generations.