Once again master Leonardo De Amicis has been entrusted with the artistic direction of the 730th Celestinian Pardon., scheduled to take place in L’Aquila from August 23 to 30.
Named in 2019 by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the historical-religious event, also called the first jubilee in history, is held every year in Abruzzo’s capital city and will open as usual with the rite of lighting the brazier, accompanied by the“Song of Rebirth between Heaven and Earth,” a free show conceived by maestro De Amicis himself and written with Paolo Logli.
Officially, the Perdonanza begins on Aug. 16 when the Morrone Fire relay retraces the route of the “Magnificent Procession,” the one that in 1294 accompanied the hermit Pietro da Morrone from Sulmona to L’Aquila to become Pope Celestine V. A month after his solemn coronation he granted plenary indulgence to those who were truly repentant and confessed, formalizing it in a bull given to the City of L’Aquila. Thus is repeated every year, for 730 years, the procession of the Bull that accompanies the transfer of the historic document from Palazzo Margherita, seat of the City Hall, to the basilica of Santa Maria di Collemaggio, allowing people to pass through the Holy Door and offer the plenary indulgence in an act of deep intimacy and, at the same time, collective participation. The procession is made up of civil and religious authorities, ladies and knights in period costume, about 1,000 figures, representatives of the castles that contributed to the founding of the city, each with its own banner of recognition, of the Quarters and of groups related to L’Aquila’s medieval history.
The secular program of the event, on the other hand, will include on the opening night, performances by some of the leading artists in the Italian music scene in what is called the Theater of Forgiveness, the stage set up in the forecourt of the Basilica of Collemaggio: The Kolors, Malika Ayane, Colapesce-Di Martino, Tiromancino, tenor Gianluca Terranova, Renato Zero, all accompanied by the Symphony Orchestra of the ‘Alfredo Casella’ Conservatory of L’Aquila, as well as a large choir made up of some of the most important ensembles in the area. A second characteristic venue of the event is the steps of San Bernardino, which this year will host the Grand Gala of the Stars with Eleonora Abbagnato, paired with Michele Satriano, first dancer of the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma; a third stage will also be set up for the youngest dancers in Cathedral Square, which will instead feature performances by artists Achille Lauro and Rose Villain. And again there will be during the course of the evenings the music of Umberto Tozzi, the show of Ezio Greggio and the announced and highly anticipated concert of Pooh.
