In a remarkable display of creativity, redemption, and social value, the Orchestra of the Sea made its stunning debut at Milan's renowned Teatro alla Scala. The performance featured instruments that were crafted from wood salvaged from dilapidated smugglers' boats that had brought migrants to Italy's shores, and the craftsmen behind these instruments were none other than inmates from Italy's largest prison.
This transformative project, aptly named Metamorphosis, seeks to turn what might otherwise be discarded into something of great significance to society. By using rotten wood to create exquisite instruments and providing inmates with the opportunity to develop valuable skills, the project aims to promote rehabilitation through craftsmanship.
Among the audience of the debut concert were two inmates who were temporarily granted leave to witness this momentous occasion. Seated in the royal box alongside Mayor Giuseppe Sala, they marveled at the sight of 14 prison-made stringed instruments performing classical works by the likes of Bach and Vivaldi. One of them, named Claudio Lamponi, expressed his astonishment by exclaiming, 'I feel like Cinderella. This morning I woke up in an ugly, dark place. Now I am here.'
The Opera prison, located on the outskirts of Milan, houses more than 1,400 inmates, including 101 mafia members who are subjected to strict isolation. However, some inmates, like Nikolae, have been granted greater freedom within the institution. Since joining the prison's instrument workshop in 2020, Nikolae has become the master craftsman of Opera, progressing from crude instruments made out of plywood to exquisite violins worthy of gracing La Scala's stage. Nikolae describes his work on these instruments as a source of tranquility that allows him to reflect on his past mistakes and contemplate a future. 'I am gaining self-esteem,' he says, 'which is no small thing.'
The impact of this project extends beyond the confines of the prison workshops. One former inmate who completed his sentence is now working as a master luthier at another prison in Rome. This success story serves as a beacon of hope for others, like Nikolae, who aspire to reclaim their lives and contribute positively to society.
For another anonymous prisoner, crafting these instruments serves as a form of therapy - both physical and psychological. Having experienced the horrors of war in his home country, this inmate immerses himself in his craft, delicately chiseling the back of a violin's front piece, measuring its thickness to achieve perfect pitch. His own journey to a new country has given him a deep understanding of the desperation that drives migrants onto unseaworthy boats. As he works, he is reminded of the refugees whose lives were entwined with the very wood he is shaping. 'I think only of that as I work, what this piece of wood has lived,' he says, reflecting on the sacrifices and struggles endured by those who sought safety and a better future.
In the pursuit of creating these instruments, inmates like Claudio Lamponi and Andrea Volonghi find renewed purpose in their life sentences. They dismantle the smugglers' boats that have been deposited in a yard among the prison blocks, searching for prime pieces for the instrument workshop. By removing rusted nails and salvaging usable wood, they contribute to the project's mission. The damaged wood that cannot be used for the instruments is sent to another prison in Rome, where prisoners repurpose it to make crucifixes for rosaries. In a beautiful full-circle moment, these rosaries are then assembled by migrants at a Vatican workshop.
The boats arrive at Opera prison as they were seized, still containing remnants of the migrants' lives and a solemn reminder of the thousands who perished or went missing during the treacherous central Mediterranean crossings. Among the artifacts found aboard the boats are shoulder bags filled with disposable diapers, baby bottles, and tiny shoes, alongside cans of anchovies and tuna from Tunisia and numerous plastic sandals. The sight of these objects further reinforces the inmates' connection to the plight of the migrants they are indirectly assisting through their craft.
Crafting each instrument is an intricate process that requires an estimated 400 hours of work, from disassembling the boats to the final product. While classic violins made in the prestigious workshops of Cremona use fir and maple, the instruments of the sea are constructed from a softer African fir. The sun- and sea-drenched hues of blue, orange, and red on the wood are left untouched, serving as a reminder of the perilous journey endured by both the wood and its former passengers. The application of paint on the instruments also influences their tonal quality, resulting in an exquisite sweetness that cellist Mario Brunello, a member of the Orchestra of the Sea, describes as unimaginable. 'They don't have a story to tell. They have hope, a future,' he says of these remarkable instruments.
The House of the Spirit and Arts Foundation, responsible for pioneering the workshops for making stringed instruments in Italian prisons a decade ago, hopes that the Orchestra of the Sea's performance at La Scala will mark the beginning of a movement. Their objective is to expand the reach of these performances, bringing them first to the southern European countries grappling with migration and eventually to the northern capitals that hold significant influence over migrant policies. The foundation's president, Arnoldo Mosca Mondadori, emphasizes the power of music to transcend barriers and ideologies and hopes that it will compel politicians to reflect on the ongoing migration crisis.
The tale of the Orchestra of the Sea encapsulates the potential for transformation and redemption that lies within society's marginalized populations. Through the rehabilitation of both materials and individuals, this project reminds us of the immense value that can be found in unlikely places. Instruments created from the remnants of smugglers' boats carry with them the stories of desperation, perseverance, and the unyielding hope for a better future. As the orchestra's music fills the halls of La Scala, we are reminded of the resilience of the human spirit and the astonishing power of artistic expression to touch hearts and inspire change.
