On Monday 12 January, 430 pupils from different neighbourhoods in the city of Nice gathered at a public event to watch the general rehearsal of the opera Un monde ensemble (One World Together).
Under the direction of Sergio Monterisi, composer and conductor, and Magali Thomas as stage director, 150 pupils from the eastern neighbourhoods filled the stage of the Nice Opera House for a rehearsal that was a huge success.
Why decide to support this initiative?
For the third consecutive season, the Jacques Martel Foundation is supporting the Nice Opera in the production of a participatory opera. This format immediately appealed to the Foundation’s governance: it allows children, who are often far removed from the world of opera, to discover the professions involved in opera and to experience collective creation through a shared work.
This educational project, which promotes access to culture for all, is fully in line with the Jacques Martel Foundation’s mission to support education.
Culture creates connection—a precious connection in our communities, at a time when relationships are increasingly being built remotely, behind screens, an issue that is also important to us.
Finally, art plays an essential role in the circulation of ideas and the opening of minds, countering the uniformity that certain uses of social media can produce.