In the carpentry workshop of Italy’s biggest prison inmates are turning timber salvaged from boats dumped by people traffickers into an entire string orchestra that will tour the world
Metamorfosi is run by the Fondazione Casa dello Spirito e delle Arti, an arts charity running arts initiatives for vulnerable people. The project was born after Allorto, who has led carpentry and luthiery courses at the prison since 2012, invited Francesco Tuccio, a carpenter from Lampedusa, to make nativity scenes with the prisoners out of wood from migrant boats washed up on the island.
Allorto changed his mind, suggesting they make a violin instead. He says the project had to overcome initial doubts from Tuccio about whether it would work. But a prototype violin was built with four cases of wood brought by Tuccio from Lampedusa, Italy’s biggest migrant hotspot. It was first played in February 2022 at the Vatican, where“The first violin was pretty miraculous,” Allorto says. “I did everything to make sure it was playable.
Bowled over by the prototype, Arnoldo Mosca Mondadori, a writer and poet who is president of the Fondazione Casa dello Spirito e delle Arti, suggested building an entire string orchestra. Italy’s interior ministry agreed to support the project by supplying 40The project has now been expanded to include four other prisons around Italy. Some of the inmates are making crosses and rosary beads that will be donated to school children and the Pope.
The scheme is also helping prisoners build brighter futures, in a country where reoffending rates are almost 70 per cent. Only a lucky few are admitted to the programme, with hopeful participants recommended by prison psychologists. Nicolae was determined to work in the prison’s carpentry workshop after arriving at Opera in 2016, and now hopes to get a job as a luthier once he is released. “They knew I was keen when they saw me making little violins with toothpicks and paper in my room,” he says.Claudio, a 43-year-old participant in the violin-making programme, was given a life-sentence in the UK for double homicide before being transferred to his native Italy. He now plans to launch a prison newspaper.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Red Hat's open source rot began when IBM walked inRed Hat's open source rot took root when IBM walked in
Read more »
Italy’s Giorgia Meloni opens door to more workers from outside the EU\n\t\t\tGet local insights from Lisbon to Moscow with an unrivalled network of journalists across Europe,\n\t\t\texpert analysis, our dedicated ‘Brussels Briefing’ newsletter. Customise your myFT page to track\n\t\t\tthe countries of your choice.\n\t\t
Read more »
TRNSMT age restrictions explained as organisers warn 'don't chance it'There is a strict age guideline for those attending TRNSMT festival this weekend, as organisers warn underage attendees not to bother 'chancing' it and sneaking in with fake identification.
Read more »
The Confident Mama: How to enjoy your holiday when you don’t feel body confidentMy name is Melissa and I have a 2 year old son named River. I’m an advocate for all things confidence, body neutrality and self love.
Read more »
London Marathon hopefuls told 'don't worry' as they wait for ballot resultsA record number of people applied to be in with a chance of getting a place in the 2024 race
Read more »
Knife-point robber tussled with shop worker saying 'don't be such a big idiot'During the tussle, the shop assistant suffered a cut to his hand from Craig Lewis' knife as he demanded 'just go and open the till'
Read more »