Brian Schembri conducts World Day of Music concert in Assisi

Paris-based Maltese conductor Brian Schembri was the protagonist of World Music Day celebrated at the basilica of Assisi, Italy, on June 21, when he conducted the Orchestra Filarmonica delle Marche in a highly successful concert.

The event was under the patronage of the Maltese Ministry of Tourism, and the minister, Dr Francis Zammit Dimech, attended the concert.

The local newspaper, Corriere dell'Umbria, devoted a special four-page pullout to the event in its edition of June 21.

The concert featured the choral work Tota Pulchra, composed by the Franciscan A. Borroni (1820-1896), who was maestro di cappella at St Francis Basilica in Assisi for 40 years till his death.

Corriere dell'Umbria carried a short article by Mro Schembri about World Music Day, which was started in France in 1981, and which is now celebrated in more than 250 cities worldwide.

He commented that World Music Day shows that music transcends national frontiers and that it can unite musicians from different origins and different styles of music. It encourages all people to give importance to music, them being professionals or not.

At Assisi, the town of St Francis, this day reminds us of spirituality through music. Since the day coincides with the start of summer, one cannot forget what this saint thought and wrote about life and nature in his Cantico delle Creature, famous since the beginning of Italian literature.

The newspaper also published an interview with Dr Zammit Dimech, who spoke about Mro Schembri and about the event which, he said, can help unite Malta and Italy both artistically and culturally. He also said that many Maltese were following veterinary studies in Italy, in Umbria especially, since this course is not offered in Malta.

He described Brian Schembri as one of the most talented Maltese artists who was an excellent cultural ambassador for the island wherever he performed.