Making violins from old boats - 28th February 2024

These instruments are special. The wood's from boats. Migrants from Africa travelled in them. Many died on the journey.

Prisoners in a Milan prison learn to make the instruments. Enrico Allorto's their teacher.

Enrico Allorto: "However, when they arrive here they don't, they don't know anything about musical instruments. That's why I've taught them everything here. And this is another reason to be proud, to see that as well as getting unsuitable wood to work, people, without training, can also end up becoming artists, let's say."

Prisoners find the migrants' things in the boats. The people died on the way to Europe. They just wanted a good life. 27,870 migrants died at sea.

Andrea's a prisoner. He says the things in the boats make him think. Now, he understands his problems are small.

Andrea: "I keep in mind that we receive the boats with everything inside except the people. And when these pieces of reality arrive, which are so important and at times overwhelming, it's normal to reflect on them. And many times you realise that your problems, your miseries, can be much more solvable in relation to how difficult others' are."

This project started about 10 years ago. The prisoners make violins and other instruments. Then, the 'Orchestra of the Sea' started. It just gave its first performance in Milan.

For Claudio, another prisoner, it's a way to remember the migrants. It also helps prisoners. They learn a job.

Claudio: "The boats will play, then, at the Scala, they will become musical instruments and rosaries. They'll enter people's homes to bear witness, then, to the migrant problem. While we, however, are reborn because we learn a trade, which is important in prison."

The prison let Claudio go to the performance. The instruments are different colours. They make people think of the migrants' journey. But the boats give hope to men like Claudio too.