Emma Mason, who earned her BM in Voice in the Cali School of Music at Montclair State University, joined the Savatteri musical theater company in Agrigento, Sicily in summer 2025 to be part of a magical show about Greek myths set in the enchanting Valley of the Temples, a World Heritage site (see recap).
“This experience allowed me to be part of a foreign company full of young talent and their original site-specific shows. Mostly, it made me believe in my ability to do things that I did not think I was capable of: it made me more independent precisely because I had to navigate a place whose language I am not familiar with. In the process I learned a bit of Italian, and felt very lucky because the company was very welcoming with translating at the beginning. Overall, I realized that knowledge of the language allows you to be fully part of this experience and opens more doors.” Emma stated. “I loved living in a quiet town with breathtaking views, rich historical sites, gorgeous beaches for two months: I was part of the local routine, and liked it so much that I invited friends and family members over for visits over my two-month stay!”
Emma performing on the Via Sacra (Sacred Road) leading to the Temple of Concordia, and in front of it.
Emma’s vocal extension and high-pitched tone made her ideal for several chorus parts: besides playing an unforgettable coquettish nymph playfully harassed by the Faun in Il Risveglio, she performed in Scopri il teatro! and Cavalleria Rusticana, the latter presented at the Teatro Classico of Taormina.
Emma performs in Scopri il teatro, an interactive show about the history of the local theater entitled to Noble-Prize-winning writer Luigi Pirandello, originally from Agrigento (Photo by Colin Keys)
“Emma gave lightness and good spirit to this project with her high-pitched notes and creative flair. She interpreted a nymph with classical dance touches in Risveglio. She showed versatility in the several roles she was assigned in other shows during a stay of over two months, which gave an opportunity to develop friendships within the company.” Marco Savatteri, creator and director of Risveglio, remarked.
Prof. Teresa Fiore, designer and co-organizer of the internship program with Prof. McCann, coordinator of the Voice program at MSU, became aware of the impact of this international initiative not just on the MSU students but also on the local context in Agrigento. “We often look at the enrichment of the students, as we should, but any program of this nature is truly inter-national when it benefits both sides. Emma’s curiosity about artistic sites as well open-air markets, stores, restaurants, etc. made her into a local to a degree: by the time she was about to leave, she was a truly reliable source for suggestions about the best pizza in town!” Fiore stated.
As a student who had already graduated, Emma could only embark on this beautiful adventure as part of a partially self-supported independent agreement with the company (non-matriculated students are not eligible for the scholarships provided at MSU).
Marco Savatteri is about to visit our campus this Oct. to relay the Summer 2025 internship experience with Emma and other students, and present the Summer 2026 edition as well as a Reading on campus designed to acquaint students with Il Risveglio (see program of events).
Short link: tinyurl.com/EmmaRisveglio
This internship is the perfect example of how to “combine business with pleasure,” or as the Greeks would put it τὸ χρήσιμον καὶ τὸ ἡδύ (to chrēsimon kai to hēdy), which in Italian is “l’utile e il dilettevole” (MSU students – Brianna Coppolino, Emma Mason, and Mia Grizzuti – at the Temple of Concordia with MSU professors Lori McCann and Teresa Fiore, along with Maestro Savatteri, and then at the natural park beach of Torre Salsa with Prof. Fiore)