Memorare ’26: Saint Francis’s Canticle of the Creatures becomes dance in Bologna’s San Petronio

The historic Basilica of San Petronio in Bologna is set to host the third edition of Memorare, a biennial artistic event that combines dance, music, and song to meditate on profound themes. This year, scheduled for November 8 and 9, Memorare ’26 marks the 800th anniversary of Saint Francis of Assisi’s death by centering its creative exploration on his celebrated Canticle of the Creatures.

Initiated in 2022, the Memorare series has evolved to address significant spiritual and social reflections, with previous editions focusing on meditation and peace respectively. For 2026, the event revisits Saint Francis’s vision of nature and humanity’s relationship to creation, emphasizing the ethical responsibility to care for the environment as a shared home.

Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, Archbishop of Bologna and a leading advocate for the event, views this edition as a vital reminder of our interconnectedness with the natural world. According to gramilano.com, he highlights the saint’s unique perspective, which blends admiration with a participatory bond to all creatures, a view increasingly rare in contemporary society’s utilitarian mindset.

For the first time, Memorare ’26 introduces an open dress rehearsal on November 8 dedicated to school students, underscoring a commitment to engage younger generations. Organizers note this initiative is especially poignant amid growing uncertainties about the future, aiming to inspire hope and environmental consciousness through artistic experience.

The event is the brainchild of Vittoria Cappelli, a Bologna native and dance producer, who curates the project by weaving together diverse artistic disciplines with a shared ethical and spiritual purpose. Over a decade, Cappelli has extended dance education into underrepresented areas, and this edition reflects that ongoing dedication to youth involvement.

The program presents a series of performances where five elements named in the Canticle are embodied by different artists, each bringing a distinctive interpretive style. Nicoletta Manni, étoile of Teatro alla Scala, reprises her role as Sister Moon, performing a piece originally created by Maurice Béjart, linking historical ballet heritage with contemporary reverence.

Brother Wind is represented through a solo choreographed by Carolyn Carlson, featuring electronic soundscapes and a modern dance vocabulary, interpreted by Céline Maufroid. This choice introduces a contemporary sonic and movement language to the meditation, inviting audiences to attune to the elemental breath of the world.

Water is celebrated in a gala performance of Asaf Messerer’s Spring Waters, danced by La Scala soloists Camilla Cerulli and Mattia Semperboni. The music, derived from Rachmaninov and adapted for clarinet and piano, adds a lyrical counterpoint to the choreography.

Brother Fire’s portrayal draws from Michel Fokine’s iconic Ballets Russes work The Firebird. Marija Bulanova of the Mariinsky Ballet performs in a vivid flame-red costume inspired by original designs, accompanied by a piano rendition of Stravinsky’s score by an emerging artist from the Imola academy.

The closing segment features Sister Bodily Death, with Fokine’s The Dying Swan danced by Ukrainian first soloist Anna Muromtseva, who has found refuge and a new artistic home in Hungary. This piece, once a tribute to pandemic losses, now serves as a poignant reflection on mortality’s profound mystery.

Adding to the program’s depth, six students from the Ballet School of the Accademia Teatro alla Scala participate in a choreographed Ouverture à la danse, framing a vocal recitation of the Canticle accompanied by historic organ music from San Petronio.

Choral contributions come from the Cappella Musicale di San Petronio, directed by Michele Vannelli, whose rendition of Benjamin Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb supports a world premiere choreography by Sasha Riva and Simone Repele. These artists previously gained recognition at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony.

The production is a collaborative effort involving Bologna Festival, Teatro Comunale di Bologna, ERT Emilia-Romagna Teatro, and other cultural institutions, with support from local government. Bologna’s mayor, Matteo Lepore, emphasizes the event’s role in nurturing a city-wide sense of environmental stewardship through the arts.

Memorare ’26 stands as a testament to the potential of interdisciplinary art to invoke reflection on humanity’s place within creation. By engaging established and emerging performers, educators, and audiences, the event encapsulates a contemporary homage to Saint Francis’s enduring legacy. Details on attendance and free admission with booking are available through Bologna Festival’s official channels.