The primary research activity at the Istituto is aimed at increasing and updating its basic collections: the Library (through the consultation of catalogues, especially of antiquary book dealers); the Archive of Verdi correspondence (through the consultation of international antiquary dealers, through the network of corresponding scholars, and research in Italian and foreign institutions and private collectors); the Visual archive (through contacts with specialist public and private collections, and the reproduction of material).
An important research project, recently concluded (the results are published in Studi verdiani 16), concerned the orchestras in 19 th century Italian opera theaters; this project was part of a larger initiative, coordinated by the European Science Foundation, on the theme “Musical life in Europe 1600- 1900”.
Other publication projects currently in preparation are:

- The Sources of Verdian Dramaturgy: “Un ballo in maschera” ;
- The Verdi-Ricordi Correspondence, 1886-1888 ;
- The Verdi-Escudier Correspondence;
- The Verdi-Mariani Correspondence;
- The Verdi-LuccardiCorrespondence;
- The Verdi-GhislanzoniCorrespondence;

as well as the projects of the “Giuseppe Verdi” International Prize of the Parma Rotary Club.