NAPLES, May 7, 2026 – The boundaries between stage and hospital ward blurred last night in Naples as a star-studded event at FOQUS in the Spanish Quarters celebrated the children of Pausilipon Hospital. The emotional evening culminated with singer Giorgia returning the ‘blue bracelets’ to the six young protagonists of the documentary ‘Risonanze’, symbols that originated from the Sanremo Festival stage as a collective embrace.
‘Risonanze’ Documentary Premieres with Celebrity Support
The exclusive preview of Jacopo Genuardi’s documentary ‘Risonanze’ brought together a distinguished array of personalities who wished to underscore the significance of music therapy and the humanization of care. ‘Risonanze’, conceived by Valentina Lavazza and produced by Jacopo Genuardi, Simone La Rosa, and Alessio Natale Balsamo of Visualazer, chronicles the journey of six children from Pausilipon Hospital. Through musical workshops guided by Pietro Morello and Aka7ven, these children transformed their illnesses into a song of love and hope.
The ‘Amoroforo’ Train: A Journey of Hope
A poignant symbol of this extraordinary connection was the ‘Amoroforo’ train, which traveled from Turin to Naples brimming with hope and solidarity. Numerous prominent figures from the Italian artistic and social scene boarded the special convoy to support the project and its young stars. Among those who journeyed to Naples were Ale & Franz and Luca Trapanese, who also feature in the documentary, as well as Maria Luisa Jacobelli, Marica Pellegrinelli, writer Luca Bianchini, the FantaSanremo team, Andrea Caschetto (ambassador for smiles), astronaut Paolo Nespoli, Elena Barolo, the band Eugenio in Via Di Gioia, Mattia Villardita (the children’s Spiderman), and Chiara Russo.
A Galaxy of Stars at the Event
Naples Mayor Gaetano Manfredi extended the city’s institutional greetings to the attendees. In addition to Giorgia, who made a surprise appearance, the screening was attended by a multitude of renowned figures from music, entertainment, and culture. They united to support Valentina Lavazza’s project and the Santobono Pausilipon Foundation. Notable attendees included Antonio Conte, Rosario Miraggio, Casa Surace, Nicola Siciliano, Maurizio de Giovanni, Peppe Iodice, Veronica Simioli, Veronica Maya, Maria Mazza, Barbara Petrillo, Ludovica Coscioni, rapper 081, Andrea Sannino, Franco Ricciardi, and several cast members from the popular TV series ‘Un posto al sole’, including Michelangelo Tommaso, Miriam Candurro, Marina Tagliaferri, Marina Giulia Cavalli, Patrizio Rispo, and Flavio Gismondi.
The Vision Behind ‘Risonanze’
Valentina Lavazza, the project’s creator and producer, shared her inspiration: “This project was born from a spark that ignited the first time I set foot in Santobono Pausilipon Hospital. In those wards, I recognized something that transcends words and goes far beyond medical care. Thanks to the work of the Santobono Pausilipon Foundation, something magical happens every day in that hospital. From them, in recent months, I have learned that if life cannot be lengthened, it can be broadened. From that spark, a journey began that crossed the hospital’s boundaries, allowing the stories of our six child protagonists to resonate. They taught us to recognize trust and to guard hope, which does not promise, but illuminates.”
Flavia Matrisciano, Director of the Santobono Pausilipon ETS Foundation, emphasized the project’s alignment with their mission: “‘Risonanze’ fully represents the deepest meaning of our mission: to humanize care, transforming the hospital into a space where children can continue to express themselves. This project demonstrates how, even in the most complex moments, it is possible to generate beauty. Music, in this journey, becomes a universal language of care and hope.”
Rodolfo Conenna, General Director of the Santobono Pausilipon National Hospital, highlighted the therapeutic power of music: “Music has the power to connect directly with the soul, especially with that of children. In a complex context like the hospital, it becomes a precious tool for healing. With ‘Risonanze’, we wanted to give space to this force, recognizing in music not only an artistic language but a true ally in the clinical and therapeutic journey of our patients. This project testifies to how fundamental it is to assist the child in their entirety, recognizing value also in the emotional and expressive dimension.”
Director Jacopo Genuardi commented on his cinematic approach: “With this documentary, I wanted to tell what happens when you change your point of view. In the film, we see children, families, and doctors who experience the same tension but with different intensities and reactions. I felt the film as a taut string between opposing but complementary forces. A string that always seemed on the verge of breaking but, precisely because of that tension, managed to vibrate and generate resonance. A child’s gaze can transform even fragility into beauty. They teach adults that life flows, but it happens now.”
Source: https://www.ansa.it/campania/notizie/2026/05/07/a-napoli-parterre-di-stelle-celebra-i-bambini-dellospedale-pausilipon_e8e99c71-5355-460a-9cb1-8e6fadb59231.html
