Related video above: The venues being used at the 2026 Winter Games (NEXSTAR) - During the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Milan, as the red, yellow, and blue paint tubes rained color down on dancers prancing around the stage below, three older-looking figures with giant heads could be seen dancing with them Friday. But who were these three men? Well, the answer is that they're some of the most famous composers in the history of Italy. From left to right in the picture above, they are: Gioachino Rossini, Giacomo Puccini and Giuseppe Verdi. They appear in the ceremony as masters of Italian harmony, being conducted by Italian actress Matilda de Angelis. Harmony, of course, is the theme of this opening ceremony, coming amid rising global tensions and strained international partnerships. All three were the most accomplished Italian opera composers of their time, helping to shape the voice of Italian music for years to come. The Associated Press contributed to this report.