Maltese choir Ars Cantandi formed the backbone of the choral interventions during the world premiere of a new composition in Assisi, in Italy, last month, in a special Jubilee event marking the 800th anniversary from St Francis of Assisi’s Canticle of Canticles.
Led by choir mistress Mariella Spiteri Cefai, the chorus formed by choristers from Malta and Gozo together with additional voices from Italy, sang beautifully under the magnificent Giotto frescoes at the Superior Basilica of St Francis in Assisi, a few metres above Italy’s patron saint’s resting place, during the world premiere of Trittico Francescano by Italian composer Pietro Cangiano – a concerto composed for orchestra, organ, chorus, tenor and bass solo. The trittico was preceded by a suite in five movements – Jacopa de’ Settesoli, and an elegy for strings, harp, and organ – Sogno di Santa Chiara.
Composer Pietro Cangiano conducting the Orchestra Filarmonica Umbra Vittorio Calamani.The composer himself directed the Orchestra Filarmonica Umbra Vittorio Calamani, which accompanied the various choral and solo interventions, including those by tenor Michael Alfonsi and baritone Patrizio La Placa. The concert was organised by Maltese brand Ars Cantandi on behalf of Italian human rights NGO Fondazione Tanghetti e Chiari e.t.s. which seeks to assist victims of wars, natural calamities, and poverty by promoting the centrality of the human being.
This is the second collaboration between Ars Cantandi, Mariella Spiteri Cefai and Pietro Cangiano, who delighted audiences this April with the composer’s masterpiece Il Grande Assedio di Malta del 1565 – Nascita di Valletta at St John’s Co-Cathedral.
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