SoleLuna
Paolo Gasparin
Cantata for soloists, choir and orchestra on the eighth centenary of St. Francis's passing (2026)
Based on the original text of the Canticle of the Creatures by St. Francis of Assisi
About the work
SoleLuna is a cantata for soloists, choir, and orchestra , composed by Paolo Gasparin on commission from the Franciscan Order of Treviso on the occasion of the eighth centenary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi and published by Casa Musicale Sonzogno. The cantata, lasting approximately 30 minutes, sets to music the Canticle of the Creatures, the lauda written by St. Francis in 1225, renowned for its spiritual and literary value.
The work is divided into seven movements and stands out for its communicative power, thanks to the incisiveness of the themes, the effective musical rendering of the text, the dramatic tension impressed by the voices and the choir, and the richness and variety of the orchestral colors.
Performed for the first time in Treviso on 10 January 2026 under the patronage of the National Committee for the celebration of the eighth centenary of the death of St. Francis , the work was a great success.
Listen to the complete work
“I am sure that Piero Ostali would have been proud to have this work in his catalogue.”
Chiara Renino, editorial director
"Beautiful, effective, and well-orchestrated. The piece will always be highly praised."
Pierangelo Valtinoni, composer
“It was a huge pleasure to be part of this wonderful experience.”
Elisa Bonazzi, mezzo-soprano
“The result of the Cantata is extraordinary, with moments of pure emotion.”
Franco De Vincenzis, theologian
The composer
Paolo Gasparin is a composer, conductor, and teacher. After studying at the State Conservatories of Castelfranco Veneto and Verona, where he earned diplomas in Composition, Choral Music and Choral Conducting, Band Instrumentation, and Music Education, he specialized in Advanced Composition at the Accademia Filarmonica in Bologna with Azio Corghi.
He obtained a master's degree in Philosophy from the University of Venice, where he studied with the philosopher Emanuele Severino, graduating cum laude with a thesis on Music as an Original Sacrifice (supervisor U. Galimberti).
Among the awards we remember the National Arts Award of the Ministry of University and Research.
His works, published by Sonzogno, Edizioni Ricercate and recorded for Sony BMG and Da Vinci Classics, are performed in Italy and abroad (among others at the St. Petersburg Philharmonic) and broadcast by Rai Radio 3. He teaches Elements of composition for teaching at the Conservatory of Alessandria and is the founder and director of the Alumni Cantores project (2022) dedicated to choral singing.
Contacts
e-mail: alumnicantores@gmail.com
