For the past two years, between May and June, the Sferisterio arena has opened its doors to children and families from the Marche region thanks to the “Macerata Opera Family” program and the “Sferisterio a Scuola” (Sferisterio at School) project. These initiatives have been developed collaboratively by the Arena Sferisterio Association and the Department of Culture and Education of the Municipality of Macerata.
A crowd of teachers and students participated in classroom work and then attended a series of performances. This demonstrates that music and opera are art forms that, if presented appropriately, have the power to engage audiences of all ages while fostering individual growth in a deep and meaningful way. This is even more true in Macerata, where the Sferisterio plays a key role in the cultural life of the city and is renowned worldwide as the perfect setting for opera performances in the summer.
In 2022, the Sferisterio at School performances – designed for all age groups, from children in nurseries to high school students – attracted more than 6,000 people, and this year we expect to double this number. It has been a huge success, not only for the Marche region but also for local institutions, which had a unique opportunity to collaborate with the teaching staff and develop innovative education and citizenship programs.
The “Sferisterio a scuola” program is designed to enrich the school curriculum through specific activities tailored to different age groups and objectives. It provides practical and accessible training tools for teachers and families. This year, the proposed activities include training sessions for teachers and a series of performances open to all, between May and June, at both the Sferisterio and Teatro Lauro Rossi.
This year, the Arena Sferisterio Association has collaborated with local training institutions and theatrical organizations – such as the Scuola Civica di Musica “Stefano Scodanibbio” (children from 0 to 5 years old), and the theatre company “Fabiano Valenti” in Treia (high school students). For primary and lower secondary schools, the Arena Sferisterio Association continues the successful collaboration with AsLiCo, a leading institution in Europe for educating young audiences about opera theatre.
