Milan reacts to the Ukrainian emergency and the city’s cultural institutions respond. Spontaneously and in a compact way: in aid of the populations suffering under the bombs and refugees, but also thinking of those who, in Russia, suffer from censorship and oppression. This morning a meeting promoted by the City Council’s Department of Culture took stock of all the planned initiatives. Councilor Tommaso Sacchi opened it, recalling how “theaters, orchestras, museums, schools, directors, artists, curators” activated their energies “each with their own means of expression, deeply feeling the responsibility of solidarity and support increasingly necessary “.
Already almost sold out the Concert for Peace on April 4 at La Scala and the open rehearsal of the Philharmonic next Sunday, the Arcimboldi Theater has announced a dance gala with international étoiles for April 7, the proceeds of which will be donated entirely to the #MilanoAiutaUkraine Fund promoted by the Municipality together with the Milan Community Foundation and the Italian Red Cross. The patron of the Arcimboldi, Gianmario Longoni, recalled how the theater hosts the Ukrainian Academy of Ballet and how he is currently engaged in welcoming artists from the war zones. Among other things, a Ukrainian circus show is in preparation.
Claudio Longhi, director of the Piccolo Teatro, underlined how the commitment must be not only immediate, but long-term. Hence the decision to welcome some students of theater training courses in Kiev into residence at the Scuola del Piccolo (the men, as we know, are all obliged to stay at home), as well as the start of a theater workshop for refugees. A focus on Ukraine will have space, next May, in the “Present Indicative Festival: for Giorgio Strehler”. The “Paolo Grassi“ and “Claudio Abbado” Civic Schools also welcome students, while the “Altiero Spinelli” organizes Italian courses for newcomers.
Thursday 17 at 20.30 in the Sala Verdi of the Conservatory there will be a big concert in support of the #helpukraine project organized by the students of the National Jazz Orchestra of the Italian Conservatories directed by Pino Jodice. LaVerdi is making available from today for the concerts of the current season tickets at the controlled price of 10 euros. By purchasing them, you can add a donation to support #MilanoAiutaUkraine. And on April 13, an Easter concert in collaboration with the Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo, with Bach’s Passion according to John and the possibility of paying a contribution.
Until the end of the season, the Quartetto Society reserves 100 free tickets for refugees hosted by Casa Jannacci and Caritas. President Ilaria Borletti Buitoni recalled that “culture is never neutral: it is on the side of peace, but distinguishes between victims and perpetrators of violence”.
The Parenti Theater, which hosted a very crowded theme evening on Sunday, will allocate the proceeds from the premiere of Fiodor Dostoevskij’s “Impersonator” and Anton Cechov’s “Uncle Vanya” to the #MilanoAiutaUkraine fund, scheduled for Tuesday 22 March. Andrée Ruth Shammah: «In an indisputable way, this time the Milanese have dragged their own institutions».
The Triennale has launched “Planeta Ukrain”, a project curated by Gianluigi Ricuperati with Lidiya Liberman and Anastasia Stovbyr to collectively reflect on the theme in preparation for the 23rd International Exhibition which will open at the beginning of the summer. President Stefano Boeri recalled how the exhibition will provide for the Ukrainian pavilion «a main point in the Palazzo dell’Arte and the rest spread in the various rooms. The invitation to the Russian government has been withdrawn, but dissident artists will be present. Among other things, we are in contact with the Garage Museum of Contemporary Art in Moscow ».
On Friday 18 to 12, images of great photographers will be auctioned at [email protected] at a cost of 100 euros, in favor of the Children’s Hospital of Kiev. Among the participating artists Oliviero Toscani, Francesco Jodice, Guido Harari, Maurizio Galimberti, Toni Thorimbert, Mario Sorrenti, Sarah Moon. The initiative is of the Perimeter magazine with the Liveinslums NGO.
Finally, Divertimento Ensemble is offering five scholarships to five Ukrainian composers who have remained in their country, commissioning five new pieces which they undertake to perform in concert. And the initiatives continue to multiply, pending the Saturday sit-in at the Arco della Pace.