Mediterranean Requiem Mass for Migrants

Experience a unique and moving tribute at an upcoming concert in Milan, Italy, honoring the thousands of migrants who tragically lost their lives in the Mediterranean. Set against the backdrop of instruments crafted from the very wood of migrant boats, the concert features a symbolic rendition of Mozart’s Requiem, delving into themes of loss, transformation, and hope.

By Francesca Merlo

In the wake of two tragic shipwrecks in October 2013 that claimed the lives of 636 migrants in the Mediterranean Sea, an emotional tribute will take place on 3 October 2024 at the Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio in Milan. This solemn event serves to remember the staggering 30,300 lives lost in the Mediterranean over the past decade.

At the heart of the tribute will be the Quartet of the Sea, a string quartet comprised of two violins, a viola, and a cello. However, these instruments are far from ordinary—they have been skillfully crafted by inmates from Italian prisons using wood salvaged from migrant boats. This powerful gesture is part of the “Metamorphosis” project, which transforms instruments of danger into instruments of beauty, offering a profound reflection on survival, transformation, and the power of second chances.

Exploring the Music

The Quartet of the Sea consists of talented musicians Eugjen Gargjola, Agnese Tasso, Eva Impellizzeri, and Michele Ballarini. The quartet will perform a special arrangement of Mozart’s Requiem, titled Mozart’s Unfinished, created by Eva Impellizzeri. This poignant title highlights the parallels between the unfinished masterpiece and the lives tragically cut short in the Mediterranean, often described as a graveyard by Pope Francis.

The arrangement concludes with the haunting Lacrimosa, symbolizing the tearful farewell to the deceased. Just as Mozart’s piece was completed by Süßmayr after his passing, humanity continues to carry the burden of unfinished stories, including those of migrants and marginalized individuals.

This tribute, inspired by Pope Francis’ advocacy for migrants at sea, serves as both a remembrance and a prayer for a future where love can heal even the most broken among us.

Embracing Transformation

The Metamorphosis project, supported by the Casa dello Spirito e delle Arti Foundation, empowers inmates from Opera and Secondigliano prisons to craft musical instruments from migrant boat wood. This initiative seeks to symbolize transformation and redemption, providing prisoners with new skills and purpose. Founded by Arnoldo Mosca Mondadori and Marisa Baldoni in 2012, the foundation focuses on offering second chances and supports vulnerable individuals through various projects both locally and globally.