Italy hosts music events honoring Saint Francis

A national music contest, “Il Mio Cantico Libero,” selected ten finalists to perform at the final on 26 September at the Teatro Flavio Vespasiano in Rieti. The contest, organized by the Meeting delle Etichette Indipendenti and inspired by the values of Saint Francis, received more than 150 applications from across Italy. The jury, chaired by poet Davide Rondoni and coordinated by project founder Giordano Sangiorgi, chose the acts Anima, Martin Basile, Felicity, Frenesi, La Noce, Lospazio, Silvia Lovicario, Francesco Rainero, Susanna Reppuccie, and Nicola Roncaglia, with special guests Erica Moue and Omar Pedrini.

Separately, on 2 August in Levanto, the piazzale of the Santissima Annunziata hosted the concert “L’amore quello vero,” part of the celebrations for the 800th anniversary of Saint Francis’s death. The event, organized by Mt5,13 Artisti Cristiani Liguria, featured the contemporary Christian group Mt5,13, the Coro Amici di San Francesco, and guest pianist Domenico Greco. The program highlighted modern Christian music that reflects Franciscan spirituality and themes of love and fraternity.