Projects

IFFV contributes annually to Festival Verdi and its programs. This current annual pledge of $150K provides vital support for the Festival’s programming and is funded in part by donations, IFFV360 memberships, and events. The remaining balance is contributed by our corporate partners and generous major donors.

IFFV provided essential funding to the inaugural Accademia Verdiana New York, which took place from January 13-18 and culminated in a final concert on January 22, 2025. The event was co-sponsored and hosted by Fondazione Prof. Roberto Massini ETS and Casa Italiana Zerilli‑Marimò at NYU where the workshop took place and featured masterclasses with Francesco Izzo, Jonathan Friend, and Eleanora Buratto. The ten participants, who were selected by audition with the input of IFFV board members, all received free tuition plus a $500 stipend for attending. IFFV support for this initiative was $25K.

The details for Accademia Verdiana New York 2026 are currently in the works and it is scheduled to be an annual event each January. It is an excellent mechanism for presenting US based young artists to the artistic staff of Festival Verdi and educating the next generation of singers in the style and performance practice of Verdi’s music.

Verdi Off hosted an international competition for new multimedia works based on the music or themes of Verdi’s operas. IFFV provided funding support for the initiative. IFFV members were given an behind the scenes tour of the winning exhibition by Lorenzo Paoli and Alessandro Pasquinucci entitled “MARCIA TRIONFALE – L’esodo verdiano”.

The Fortunino Award takes its name from one of Giuseppe Verdi’s middle names. The Fortunino, or “little fortunate one”, is given annually to a promising artist from Festival Verdi who significantly impressed the members of IFFV during their annual visit to the Festival. The recipient is invited to New York for the IFFV Spring Gala. IFFV support for this initiative includes the award and travel expenses for a total gift of $6K.

Winners of the Fortunino Award

2025 Marta Torbidoni (soprano) for her portrayal of Odabella in Attila at Festival Verdi 2024
2024 Antonio Poli (tenor) for his portrayal of Oronte in I Lombardi at Festival Verdi 2023

Verdi Off and Teatro Regio won the prestigious Premio “Filippo Siebaneck” at the 2024 Premio Abbiati for their musical programs in the Parma prison system. In 2023, IFFV General Director, Brian Dore, performed Mr. Ford in a mini-production of Verdi’s Falstaff with the cast from Festival Verdi’s production in Busseto. The video below (in Italian) highlights the experience of working with the incarcerated choir and the reformative effect it can have on the prison population. IFFV is proud to support Verdi Off in this continuing project.