Zurich – A spectacular musical event featuring the ensemble of the Italian Popular Orchestra led by Maestro Ambrogio Sparagna, alongside poet Davide Rondoni, will take place at Kirche Enge in Zurich. On March 26 at 7:30 PM, in commemoration of the 800th anniversary of Saint Francis of Assisi’s death, they will present The Canticle of the Creatures – Concert of Forests, Pastures, and Hearts, a Swiss premiere. Organized by the Italian Cultural Institute of Zurich, in collaboration with CIDIM and the Suono Italiano project, and under the patronage of the City of Assisi and the National Committee for the Celebration of the Eighth Centenary of Saint Francis’s Death, the performance offers a full musical rendition of the Canticle of the Creatures, along with selected popular lauds from the Franciscan repertoire, drawn from the ancient Laudario di Cortona manuscripts. Over the centuries, the Franciscan canticle has inspired a rich tradition of Italian music, influencing 16th-century lauds attributed to Saint Philip Neri and 18th-century spiritual songs by Saint Alphonsus Liguori. Sparagna has arranged some of the most notable pieces, including the Filippine lauds Chi vuol salire in cielo, Vanità di vanità, Lodate Dio, as well as Neapolitan dialect songs such as Viene Suonno, E ninnillo mio si tu, and Oggi è nata na nennella. The combination of traditional instruments, voices, and dances—led by Sparagna’s organetto—together with the poetic interventions of Davide Rondoni, creates a mesmerizing concert experience, evoking musical forests, sonorous pastures, and resonant hearts. (9Colonne)