Est Side Story – AFFABULAZIONE
The project “Est Side Story”, conceived within the framework of the AFFABULAZIONE programme, was selected through a public call for proposals aimed at the realization of live performance activities in the peripheral areas of the city of Naples. The initiative was funded by the Italian Ministry of Culture – Directorate General for Performing Arts, through the Fondo Unico dello Spettacolo.
Promoted and organized by the Foundation in partnership with Manovalanza APS—a theatre association active in artistic training and production in diverse social contexts—the project consisted of a cycle of concerts and performances held in Municipality 6 (Ponticelli, San Giovanni a Teduccio, Barra) of the City of Naples. Its objective was to contribute to the regeneration of the area, conceiving music as a tool for social aggregation and as a stimulus for cultural interest, particularly among younger segments of the population.
More specifically, the project included two concerts based on the contamination of different musical genres (ranging from Baroque music to jazz and rock), as well as a musical opera of strong symbolic value, addressing themes of sharing and trust in what is new, unknown, or different—a clear metaphor for the challenges of change currently faced by the territory. The events took place at the Auditorium of the IIS “Sannino–De Cillis” in Ponticelli, a key cultural reference point for the entire metropolitan area of Naples.
Programme
26 October 2022, 11:30 a.m.
(S)BAROCCANDO – A bridge between centuries where the impossible becomes possible
Performers: Enrico Pieranunzi, piano – Stefano Demicheli, harpsichord
4 November 2022, 11:30 a.m.
From J.S. Bach to J. Hendrix
Performers: Gabriele Pro, violin – Luca Franzetti, cello
30 November 2022, 8:00 p.m.
Il Resto del Mondo e un Mistero – opera for youth voices and choral groups
Libretto by Alfonso Ottobre, music by Piero Caraba
Performers: Coro Le Voci del 48
Invenzioni Sonore Ensemble
Massimo Tomei, piano
Anna Coppola, Choir Assistant
Sets and costumes by the Academy of Fine Arts of Naples
Lighting design by Davide Scognamiglio
Direction by Adriana Follieri
Musical direction by Salvatore Murru
The events within the “Est Side Story” series were primarily designed for students from local schools, as the performances on 26 October and 4 November were scheduled during school hours. Each event involved three to four classes per school, with an average of around 50 students, many of whom were already engaged in music laboratories as part of their curriculum or were students of instrumental practice.
The evening performance on 30 November involved not only students from IIS Sannino–De Cillis but also neighbouring schools, families, teachers, and young people from the wider area of the Sixth Municipality, thanks to the outreach work of the Maestri di Strada ONLUS Association, which supported the Foundation in dissemination and community engagement activities.
The overall evaluation of the project’s impact, also considering the significant participation, can be considered positive. The main goal—to enrich the musical culture of the area and promote access to high-quality music among students and young people living in the Sixth Municipality—was achieved. The venues hosting the events (the Auditorium of IC Russo Solimena and the Auditorium of IIS Sannino–De Cillis) enabled effective outreach and generated positive feedback from participants.
No major critical issues were encountered, except for acts of vandalism at the IIS Sannino–De Cillis Auditorium, which compromised the realization of one of the scheduled performances. This episode, however, highlighted the need for increased awareness-raising among young people regarding the value of musical culture and the spaces that host it, encouraging a sense of shared responsibility for the common good. For these reasons, the continuation of similar initiatives in the future may further contribute to the enhancement of the local context, through engaging and appealing cultural content tailored to new generations.
