On Saturday, April 18, the Basilica of San Bernardino will host the grand closing event of the ISA Season. An original production for L’Aquila, Capital of Culture 2026, featuring Simona Molinari and text by Davide Rondoni.
L’Aquila and Assisi come together in a symbolic embrace in the name of St. Francis. On Saturday, April 18, at 8:30 p.m., the monumental Basilica of St. Bernardino of Siena will serve as the setting for a world premiere of extraordinary artistic and spiritual value: “Face to Face with St. Francis: Poet of God and the World.”
The event, officially included in the program for L’Aquila, Italian Capital of Culture 2026, celebrates the 800th anniversary of the death of the Poverello of Assisi (1226–2026). The work, commissioned by theIstituzione Sinfonica Abruzzese (ISA) and funded by the Restart Funds, pays tribute to the saint through a contemporary artistic language that blends symphonic music, song, and poetry.
A stellar cast: Simona Molinari and Davide Rondoni
The project, based on an idea by ISA Artistic Director Ettore Pellegrino, features the collaboration of leading figures from the Italian cultural scene:
- Simona Molinari: The elegant singer from L’Aquila will lend her radiant voice to embody the spiritual echo of the Franciscan message.
- Davide Rondoni: One of the most influential contemporary poets and President of the National Committee for the Franciscan Centennial, Rondoni writes works that challenge modern man to reflect on the figure of the saint.
- Roberto Molinelli: The composer and conductor has transformed poetic language into a “soundscape” that ranges from cinematic atmospheres to moments of suspended intimacy.
L’Aquila and Assisi: Sister Cities of Forgiveness and Peace
As Mayor Pierluigi Biondi pointed out, the project strengthens the bond between two cities that symbolize resilience and spirituality: L’Aquila, the Capital of Celestine Forgiveness, and Assisi, the City of Peace. Both share a history of suffering and rebirth, and in this “face-to-face” encounter with Francis, they find a point of convergence between tradition and the future.
The Structure of the Work: A Musical Pilgrimage
The performance will feature theISA orchestra members alongside singers from the Gran Sasso Choir and the Novantanove Choir of L’Aquila. The score is divided into narrative scenes that will culminate in the *Canticle of the Creatures*, performed in Francis’s original vernacular. A journey that alternates between “jester-like” rhythms and “spiritual dances,” transforming the Basilica into a space of shared creation where mysticism meets theatricality.
USEFUL INFORMATION
Admission to the event is free while seats last. A unique opportunity to enjoy an immersive experience in the Baroque heart of L’Aquila, celebrating beauty as a force for social cohesion.