La Scala concert features violins that inmates made from battered migrant boats

Orchestra of the Sea plays violins, violas and cellos made by inmates in Italy 's largest prison.

Wood recovered from dilapidated smugglers’ boats that brought migrants to Italy ’s shores.

The project, dubbed Metamorphosis, focuses on transforming what otherwise might be discarded into something of value to society.

Two inmates were granted leave to see the concert featuring 14 prison-made stringed instruments.

Each instrument takes 400 hours to create, from disassembling the boats to the finished product.

Orchestra of the Sea hopes the La Scala concert will be the beginning of a movement to bring performances first to southern European countries bearing the brunt of migration.

The instruments are assembled from a softer African fir, the sun- and sea-drenched hues of blue, orange and red left as a reminder of the journey.