As Italy passes the one-month lockdown milestone, the world is watching its citizens pull together to keep their spirits up via their rich culture.
The Italians have always had a good reputation when it comes to improvisation and, thanks to now widely available technology, their resilient spirits, and a more-than-keen sense of irony, they’re broadcasting their charm and not inconsiderable talents far and wide. It is providing a welcome sense of relief in a world faced with a rapidly spreading pandemic, the novel coronavirus COVID-19.
A Country Becoming the Eye of the Storm
The crisis’ centre is in Europe and Northern Italy has been hit especially hard, specifically in cities like Milano, Bergamo, and Brescia. But weeks of enforced social-distancing have seen the curve of COVID-19 infections and deaths in the region first plateauing and now decreasing and citizens’ heartfelt expressions of solidarity have kept the world hopeful.
Love Flying Out of the Windows
As everyone suffering through lockdown will now know, windows play a vital role in keeping you connected when you’re being forcibly separated. They let you enjoy the season unfolding outside, perhaps catch a whiff of what your neighbours are having for supper, and listen to the birds’ suddenly strident song thanks to the sudden silence.
Windows have become rectangular escapes, bringing us a constant reminder that we will get through this, that things will get better, and of the great beauty in the world amidst all this terror and chaos. Whether we’re checking in on friends and family via online chats, watching movies or surfing the web for entertainment stories, or even opting to play Blackjack online in Canada, windows help us remember that life is going on and we’ll be able to get back to it soon.
Windows have played the starring role in the spectacular of Italian togetherness, too, with people singing songs and playing music together from these casements when no balcony is available.
Mid-march saw Chiara Ferragini and Fedez hosting a live concert with Andrea Bocelli via the Instagram Stories feature. They broadcast the entire event through specially set-up speakers across their Milan neighbourhood, to the delight of everyone within earshot. And musicians all over the country have taken to this medium to broadcast their songs.
Tutto Andrà Bene
Along with Tutto Andrà Bene, or Everything Will Be Alright, another Italian saying is beginning to trend online, La Cultura Non Si Ferma, or Culture Doesn’t Stop. And in an attempt to educate, entertain, and soothe Italian spirits, as well as satisfy the rest of the world’s desire to see that beautiful country, many cultural centres, museums, and theatres have made their programmes available on the internet.
The oldest opera house on earth, the Teatro di San Carlo di Napoli, is streaming ballets and operas via their social media channels most evenings, and the luxury Monteverdi estate in Tuscany has created a Digital Artist-in-Residence series featuring performances by musicians and singers who’ve performed at the venue in the past.
The show must go on, and it will. We’re just taking some time out before it does.