Multisensory Opera: Enhancing the Senses for and with Persons with Visual Disabilities

Opera has long been a significant part of Italy's musical heritage, with its arias echoing around the globe for over two centuries. However, the availability of accessible operas for individuals with visual disabilities is a much more recent phenomenon, in Italy and Europe. Nonetheless, the response to these accessible performances has always been positive and continues to grow. This article focuses initially on a shift in perspective in the concepts of disability, accessibility, and inclusion, as reflected in international legislation and directives, as well as in practical implementations of accessibility. The article then moves on to analyze experiences of inclusive design for accessible opera performances and related activities, where blind and sighted individuals collaborate for mutual benefit and empowerment. Central to this discussion are the notions of participation and inclusion, alongside theories of action research. In its final section, the article presents findings from surveys aimed at assessing the enhanced well-being and empowerment of individuals with visual disabilities who have actively engaged in the co-design of accessible operas.