Coletta (Rai1): “‘Prodigi’ is a demonstration of value entertainment”

“There is a ‘value’ entertainment that gives hope to the possibility that news and stories that have the power to reduce our ‘omnipotence’, even in show business, can be conveyed, albeit in a construct of lightness. It is for this reason that I immediately wanted ‘Prodigi’ to be back on the air after the pandemic stopped “. This was stated by the director of Rai1 Stefano Coletta, speaking at the presentation of ‘Prodigi – La musica è vita’, the first evening dedicated to talent and solidarity created by Rai1 in collaboration with Unicef ​​and Endemol Shine Italy, broadcast by Teatro 1 of Cinecittà World on the Rai flagship network on Wednesday 17 November at 9.20pm. “Valorial – Coletta insisted on this adjective – because it has a goal that is in our profession and that should not be overlooked: the fact of thinking that talent should remain in first place and that the public can be conquered precisely because talent is a priority. , the result of a commitment, especially if it is wedged in young people. It is a showcase of great satisfactions, because many values ​​that the public service must pursue are put back together. And it is also a strong signal that we are able to talk about other emergency issues in addition to the pandemic. In this sense, ‘Prodigies’ redelivery of emergencies that must not remain only in the information sphere, putting at the center those of many young people who live in the country alongside so many tales of talents. It is the double gaze of the lucky and prodigious child, supported by the family in his artistic aspirations “. Speaking of the hosts of this fifth edition of ‘Prodigi’, Serena Autieri, already at the helm of the fourth edition, and Gabriele Corsi, the director of Rai1 described them as professionals who “have a significant talent, a quality that I always look for in my choices. Serena is truly a young woman and mother who knows how to act, sing and entertain, but above all she has her own identity that is the mirror of our targets. Gabriele Corsi is a boy with a reading of the world of values, he is a very profound person. I am happy that they are the godparents of these talents. They show us that the public service can and must combine lightness with work on deeper issues, such as those of Unicef ​​”. Autieri, ‘Gabriele excellent travel companion’; Corsi, ‘driving with Serena is like cooking with cream’ “Gabriele Corsi was an excellent travel companion – said of his colleague Serena Autieri – An overwhelming journey of love and passion for these guys. Feelings that we must now convey to the homes of viewers. We are thrilled with these talents that we have followed step by step, and I, personally, also as a mother. Thanks to Unicef ​​and Rai for this possibility, which I hope will be a beacon for the many young people who will look at us “. “Leading with Serena is like cooking with cream – said Gabriele Corsi – it was very easy. Doing things like this gives meaning to my work: lightness, as Proietti taught me, is the opposite of stupidity. It is an evening that is good for the heart and which, as Coletta said, flies above prejudices, because even the boy who plays the bassoon is a superstar. ‘Prodigies’ can also be a stimulus to understand that music and culture are an expression and a means for freedom “. The protagonists of the evening will be, also on this occasion, nine very young talents in dance, singing and music, between 10 and 16 years old, accompanied in their performances by the youth orchestra ‘Sesto Armonico’, directed by Maestro Matteo Parmeggiani. Judging the performances of the young artists will be a jury composed of six celebrities from the world of entertainment and art: Malika Ayane and the Goodwill Ambassador of Unicef ​​Italy Peppe Vessicchio for singing, Ermal Meta and Laura Marzadori, first violin of the Orchestra of the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, for music, and Samantha Togni and Luciano Cannito for dance. Guest star of the jury, in addition, a special friend of Prodigi, Flavio Insinna, already presenter of the previous editions of the program. They, the jurors, will elect the three finalists for each category – music, dance, singing – while the overall winner, who will receive a scholarship offered by Unicef ​​Italy, will be elected by the technical jury, made up of one hundred experts in the field of the three categories. The award was presented by Carmela Pace, president of Unicef ​​Italy, who will also remember the 75th anniversary of his birth and who stressed that “’Prodigies’ is important, because we highlight the little wonders. Children are prodigies through music, song and dance. I wish all children that they can be prodigies. I also say this on the occasion and because tomorrow is Children’s Rights Day “. Rozera (Unicef ​​Italy), ‘enthusiastic about’ Prodigi ‘, the young people have a remarkable stature’ “Each edition has a story in itself, it is a product we are enthusiastic about – said Paolo Rozera, General Manager of Unicef ​​Italy – We will talk about how the ‘Unicef ​​works, describing the connections between Italy and the rest of the world. If we work well in our home, this is an achievement for the whole world. The guys who participate in the event work a lot, have a remarkable stature; I remember that the boy who won the first edition also won the Paganini Prize a month ago. Even more than other times we tell what Unicef ​​does together with its partners, such as the State Police, whose involvement we are delighted with. I also remember the Itinerant Sky and many other associations, which have understood, especially during the pandemic, that the problems and ties belong to everyone. Autieri and Corsi and all those who worked on this episode did it with great passion “. “We are proud to make available to the public a format for a project that is more than a television program – said Alessia Ciolfi of Endemol Shine – It is a special show of solidarity, the synthesis between music and generosity, it is a talent where the protagonists are particular, in which the boys do not aspire to success, but only want to nourish their dream, which is to get educated. ‘Prodigi’ is the fruit of more than a year’s work. We went looking for talent, knocking on music schools and conservatories. We auditioned on Zoom and went to find them in their bedrooms, which became rehearsal and recording rooms. ‘Prodigi’ gave the children the opportunity to move forward, it is a point of passage, a stage in their artistic path, in fact the prize is a scholarship “. “That of ‘Prodigi’ is a team effort – said Claudio Fasulo, deputy director of Rai1 – An experience among the most important, with the double aim of entertainment made up of content and solidarity. Unicef ​​and ‘Prodigi’ wake us up from torpor making us understand that the problems are around the corner and we will tell stories of the heart that are close to us. A format made of virtues – he added – We work on a double track, 9 talents who go against the tide making choices of great commitment and creating a world of passions different from those we are used to. We will see surprising skills thanks to a team led by two friends, two conductors, two extraordinary workers, with technique and heart. “Vessicchio (Goodwill Ambassador Unicef ​​Italy), ‘I saw so much participation, motivated and sacred ‘”The difficulty in judging the talent in these young people – said Beppe Vessicchio, Goodwill Ambassador Unicef ​​Italy – is given by the comparison tools of fferent. Giuseppe Gibboni, who won by popular acclaim in the first edition of ‘Prodigi’, also won the Paganini competition. Participants are bearers of a signal of commitment. Talent can be spontaneous, and stay there. But nurtured and committed talent is the most important thing. It immediately makes you understand that there is a stretch of continuity between the moment of the show and the message that we need our commitment to resolve those disharmonies at the basis of a series of problems that surround us. In conclusion, harmony was the fundamental element of this work. The donations testify how far this work has gone. I saw a lot of motivated and sacred participation ”The evening, in addition to the dance, song and music performances of the nine prodigies, will see the alternation of various guests and moments of solidarity for Unicef. Unicef ​​Italy Ambassador Lino Banfi will be present, together with the organization’s spokesperson Andrea Iacomini and Alessandra Pacifico of the State Police, about the experience with refugee children from Afghanistan at a reception camp in Rome – where they Banfi went together with Roberto Mancini, Goodwill Ambassador of Unicef ​​Italy. And again, there will be the Goodwill Ambassador of Unicef ​​Italy Alessandra Mastronardi, who will speak about the reception program in Gaziantep, Turkey, just 100 km from Aleppo, to ensure shelter and protection for Syrian refugees and guarantee girls and boys schooling. Regina De Dominicis, UNICEF Representative in Turkey, will also be on stage. The theme of foster families will also be addressed, thanks to the story of Cristian, a boy of Albanian origins who, thanks to his foster parents, managed to realize the dream of dancing. To tell his story, testimonial Stefano De Martino went to Cernusco sul Naviglio, while on the stage of “Prodigi” there will be the general director of Unicef ​​Paolo Rozera. During the evening, moreover, Clementino will also make a dedication to the children and will bring the story of Angela to the stage, a girl who loves to dance hip hop and who attends the Glass House of Forcella in Naples, where the workshops take place. Forcella Brilla LAB, an experimental formula proposed by “Il Cielo itinerante” with Unicef ​​and the Friends of Carlo Fulvio Velardi Onlus Association and L’Altra Napoli Onlus, to promote equal opportunities̀ and offer girls and boys important solicitations, both from the point of view of scientific and technological subjects (Stem), both bringing them into contact with music and art. Ersilia Vaudo, ESA astrophysicist will also speak. Roy Paci and Christopher Goddey, aka Chris Obehi, will also take the stage for a story that comes from Palermo, the city where Chris arrived in 2015, still a minor, fleeing Nigeria. Now 21, Chris has begun to talk about his experience with the guitar and, in 2020, came into contact with Unicef ​​as a guitar teacher in a skills development and participation program. With them also Anna Riatti, Program Coordinator in Italy of the Unicef ​​Office for Europe and Central Asia. Finally, the video message from a friend of Unicef: Ultimo, Unicef ​​Italy Goodwill Ambassador, on a mission in Mali. The funds raised by Unicef ​​during “Prodigi – La Musica è vita” will support programs against child malnutrition and to combat Covid-19. Viewers will be able to support UNICEF by donating 2 euros to 45525 via SMS from Wind Tre mobile phones. Tim, Vodafone, Poste Mobile, Iliad and CoopVoce; 5 euro to 45525 with call from fixed network Twt, Convergenze, PosteMobile; 5 or 10 euros to 45525 with a call from a fixed network Tim, Vodafone, Wind Tre, Fastweb; it will also be possible to make a regular donation of 9 euros per month by calling the toll-free number 800 07 06 06.