Press Release | Gütersloh, 10/29/2025

Bertelsmann CEO Thomas Rabe and Mayor Matthias Trepper Open Puccini Exhibition

• Distinguished guests from Gütersloh’s political, business, cultural, and social circles attended the opening reception at Theater Gütersloh
• Innovative exhibits and installations highlight the interplay between opera and media and explore enduring themes
• Exhibition open to the public from October 30 to January 4 in the foyer of Theater Gütersloh

Gütersloh, October 29, 2025 – Following highly successful showings in Berlin and Milan, Bertelsmann is now presenting the exhibition “Opera Meets New Media” in Gütersloh. Bertelsmann Chairman and CEO Thomas Rabe and Mayor Matthias Trepper officially opened the internationally acclaimed exhibition “Opera Meets New Media – Puccini, Ricordi, and the Rise of the Modern Entertainment Industry” at Theater Gütersloh this afternoon in the presence of about 100 guests from local political, business, cultural, and social circles. The exhibition is a gift from the company to mark the city’s 200th anniversary. It had previously attracted an overwhelming response from visitors, with a total of 70,000 people attending the showings at Bertelsmann Unter den Linden 1 in Berlin and the Museo del Teatro alla Scala in Milan.

“Opera Meets New Media” showcases exhibits from the Archivio Storico Ricordi – part of Bertelsmann since 1994 – in innovative installations that vividly illustrate the historic interplay between opera and media. The exhibition highlights the extraordinary partnership of artistic creativity and entrepreneurial spirit that characterized Giacomo Puccini and his publisher, Casa Ricordi, more than a century ago.

Bertelsmann Chairman and CEO Thomas Rabe said: “As part of the global creative industry, Bertelsmann works with today’s artists and creators while also taking responsibility for preserving and sharing the cultural heritage entrusted to us. This exhibition demonstrates how forward-thinking Puccini and his publisher Ricordi were – and how timeless their concerns remain, from protecting intellectual property to navigating new technologies. What the gramophone was then, artificial intelligence is today. The exhibition’s state-of-the-art design makes that connection clear.”

The City of Gütersloh’s mayor Matthias Trepper commented: “This exhibition is a wonderful gift from Bertelsmann to mark our city’s 200th anniversary. I’m delighted that people in Gütersloh will have the chance to immerse themselves in the fascinating world of Giacomo Puccini in the weeks ahead – a true cultural highlight. Bertelsmann is once again demonstrating its deep commitment to Gütersloh’s cultural and community life.”

The exhibition draws on the extensive holdings of the Archivio Storico Ricordi, which has been part of Bertelsmann since 1994. The archive contains artifacts related to Puccini’s operas published by Ricordi, complemented by letters, business documents, composition registers, magazines, and many other historical materials. The Archivio Storico Ricordi is considered one of the world’s most important music collections. Its holdings comprise a wealth of unique documents spanning more than 200 years of Italian opera history, including 7,800 handwritten scores, over 31,000 letters, 6,000 photographs, 10,000 libretti, and numerous other materials. For more information, visit www.archivioricordi.com  .

Karin Schlautmann, who, in her role as Head of Corporate Communications at Bertelsmann, is responsible for the Archivio Storico Ricordi, said: “‘Opera Meets New Media’ is a prime example of what ‘Culture@Bertelsmann’ stands for. The initiative brings together all of the company’s cultural activities and shows that Bertelsmann is not only economically successful but also deeply committed to cultural diversity, creative expression, and the responsible preservation of cultural heritage. Bertelsmann has long been – and continues to be – a strong partner to creative talent around the world, from musicians and composers to authors and filmmakers. ‘Opera Meets New Media’ is a particularly fine example of this commitment and, presented in honor of Gütersloh’s 200th anniversary, once again reaffirms our close ties to the city.“

‘OPERA MEETS NEW MEDIA – Puccini, Ricordi, and the Rise of the Modern Entertainment Industry’

Thursday to Sunday, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
On performance days, one hour before regular admission
Theater Gütersloh
Hans-Werner-Henze-Platz 1
33330 Gütersloh

Admission is free.

A richly illustrated companion volume edited by Gabriele Dotto has been published by Prestel (Penguin Random House).

For more information and multimedia content, visit www.operameetsnewmedia.com  .

In conjunction with the exhibition, Bertelsmann is sponsoring a performance of Puccini’s opera “La fanciulla del West” (“The Girl of the Golden West”) at Theater Gütersloh on November 15, presented in partnership with Kultur Räume Gütersloh.

About Bertelsmann
Bertelsmann is a media, services and education company with about 75,000 employees that operates in some 50 countries around the world. It includes the entertainment group RTL Group, the trade book publisher Penguin Random House, the music company BMG, the service provider Arvato Group, Bertelsmann Marketing Services, the Bertelsmann Education Group and Bertelsmann Investments, an international network of funds. The company generated revenues of €19 billion in the 2024 financial year. Bertelsmann stands for creativity and entrepreneurship. This combination enables first-class media offerings and innovative service solutions that inspire customers around the world.