Accademia dei bambini presents the workshop and concert “Sotto il lume delle stelle (Under the Light of the Stars)” by artist and songwriter Natalie Merchant. The musical performance, conceived for children and dedicated to the memory of the late Giannetta Ottilia Latis who originally initiated the project with the artist, will feature new songs adapted by Merchant and inspired by poems from writer and educator Lina Schwarz.
Over her forty-year career, Natalie Merchant has earned a reputation as one of America’s most respected recording artists. A songwriter and a captivating stage performer, Merchant has distinguished herself as a social justice and environmental activist. As stated by her, “I have spent many years in the company of children, sharing music, teaching them folk songs and games, and I have written music specifically for them. I think it’s some of the most important and rewarding work I’ve ever done.”
The workshop “Sotto il lume delle stelle” features a musical performance for children led by Merchant who, joined by Italian folk music ensemble Domo Emigrantes, will present new songs in Italian, adapted from poems by Lina Schwarz, a Jewish-Italian poet, scholar, educator, social activist, and author of renowned Italian children’s books and poems. During the concert, children will be encouraged to follow the song lyrics and participate in the musical experience by interacting with Natalie Merchant, the musicians, and their instruments.
Accademia dei bambini is Fondazione Prada’s educational project developed in 2015 by the neuropediatrician Giannetta Ottilia Latis, who laid the theoretical and operational groundwork of the program while also curating its content. She was succeeded in September 2019 by pediatrician and neonatologist Gabriele Ferraris, who is currently the curator of the program. Discover the February workshops.