The Teatro Costanzi in Rome recently hosted a sleepover event for around 130 children between the ages of 8 and 10. The event was part of an outreach program aimed at making opera more accessible to young people in Italy, where music education is often neglected despite the country’s rich musical heritage. The theater’s general manager, Francesco Giambrone, believes that opera should be for everyone and aims to dispel its elitist image by welcoming children to the theater to eat, sleep, and play. The goal is to make opera more familiar and accessible to a wider audience, especially children.
Italy has been criticized for not prioritizing music education, with many experts pointing out that the country has not fully utilized its musical patrimony. Despite efforts from individuals like Maestro Antonio Caroccia and organizations like Opera Education, political support for music education in schools has been lacking. Former lawmaker Michele Nitti’s attempts to introduce legislation to add musical education to school curricula were unsuccessful. However, Italy did succeed in having opera singing added to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The sleepover at Teatro Costanzi included children from scout troops in Rome’s outlying neighborhoods, some of whom had never visited the theater before. For many of these children, the visit was a chance to experience something new and to dream beyond their daily lives. The opera house also runs outreach programs for the homeless and people from disadvantaged neighborhoods, broadening its reach and engaging with new audiences. By engaging with young people through educational programs and events like the sleepover, the theater hopes to cultivate a younger audience of loyal patrons.
During the sleepover, the children were treated to a behind-the-scenes look at the theater, including a rehearsal for an upcoming performance and a treasure hunt. They also took part in workshops where they designed ballet costumes, learned ballet positions, sang in a choir, and played an opera-themed version of snakes and ladders. The event aimed to engage the children in a fun and interactive way, encouraging them to appreciate opera and the arts. The success of such programs is evident in the theater’s growing younger audience, thanks to efforts from individuals like Nunzia Nigro, the theater’s director for marketing and education.
The children were serenaded by a phantom named Emma, played by Valentina Gargano, a soprano in the opera’s young artists program. Despite some initial fears, the children were reassured that Emma was not a real ghost and were encouraged to share their experiences and return to the theater in the future. Overall, the sleepover was a memorable experience for the children, who got to explore the theater, learn about opera, and participate in creative workshops. As they headed home, many expressed their excitement and gratitude for the opportunity to experience something new and magical at the historic Teatro Costanzi in Rome.
