To mark the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi, the Italian Cultural Institute in Zurich and the Ars Pace Association, in collaboration with the United Nations mandated University for Peace (UPEACE), are organizing the Concert for Peace at the Salle Communale de Plainpalais in Geneva.
To quote a well-chosen sentence by the Permanent Observer of the United Nations University for Peace to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva and Permanent Delegate of UPEACE to the UNESCO headquarters in Paris Ambassador David Fernandez Puyana: «St. Francis of Assisi emphasized peace, dialogue, and reconciliation, encouraging people to resolve conflicts without violence. His teachings promoted human dignity, solidarity, care for the poor, and respect for all creation, values that support international cooperation and multilateralism».
The concert—which is sponsored by the City of Assisi, the City of Geneva, the National Committee for the Celebration of the 800th Anniversary of the Death of St. Francis, and the Dante Alighieri Society— will be introduced by the President of Ars Pace Association Enrique Barón Crespo and it will conclude the event “Francis’s Ascent into Dante’s Paradise,” a series of five events organized by Ars Pace to promote a new path of dialogue, culture, and peace in Assisi (Italy), Lausanne, Zurich (Switzerland) and Madrid (Spain), dedicated to the figure of St. Francis, whom Dante Alighieri commemorates after his death in Canto XI of Paradiso.
We asked Monica Baldi—the event’s creator and patron—why yet another concert for peace was being held in Geneva. «Personally – she replied – I strongly believe that cultural diplomacy is the tool for promoting the values of peace. I am well aware that the international governmental and non-governmental organizations based in Geneva also share this goal. The Ars Pace initiative is part of an institutional framework of well-developed ideas and projects for cooperation in the cause of peace, to which it adds a reflection on individual freedom in light of the experience of St. Francis».
The concert programme offers a musical journey, divided into three parts, which builds to a crescendo of emotion. It begins with instrumental music to reflect the simple and universal nature of Franciscan spirituality. In the first part, the three pieces by J. Massenet (Meditation), Bach/Gounod (Ave Maria), and F. Schubert (Impromptu, Op. 90, No. 3), interspersed with narration by Monica Baldi and Anna Rüdeberg, guide us with pure, meditative melodies to rediscover the figure of Italy’s Patron Saint.
This is followed by a presentation by Monica Baldi of the second part of the concert, in which Kreisler’s Liebesfreud presents a brief love story, followed by Fauré’s Élégie, which stands alone as a prayer in musical form, joined by F. Chopin’s Impromptu-Fantasy Op. 66—the poet of the piano—and F. Liszt’s Liebestraum No. 3 and S. Rachmaninov’s Prelude Op. 32 No. 12 . These are sublime works, capable of touching the deepest emotional chords—ranging from nostalgia to passion and contemplation—transforming music into prayer and praise. The ensemble, comprising violinist Anastasiya Petryshak, pianist Sebastiano Brusco, and cellist George Georgescu, concludes the instrumental music performance by performing Ludwig van Beethoven’s Gassenhauer Trio, Op. 11 (Adagio) by Ludwig van Beethoven and and Morricone’s Love Theme, from the film “Nuovo Cinema Paradiso,” which evokes love as a simple and sublime force, in perfect harmony with the Franciscan spirit. The musical programme for the first and second parts of the concert is expected to last approximately 52 minutes.
After the interval, the final part of the concert will be introduced by six children, representing nine of their peers, who, divided into three groups, will take to the stage to convey their message of reconciliation to the audience in the three official languages of the United Nations – English, Spanish and French – accompanied by the Rector of the University for Peace in Geneva, Francisco Rojas Aravena, and representatives of the Heidiseum Foundation. The Grand Finale, dedicated to world music, marks the climax of the event and features the renowned singers Mira Awad and Noa (stage name of Achinoam Nini), founder of the Re-imagine Peace festival, which was established as a sincere commitment to truth and reconciliation – considered essential for Palestinians and Israelis to live side by side, in peace and together. Mira and Noa will be accompanied by guitarist Gil Dor and they will perform togheter Rise Again (A Capella introduction), There must be another way, A word and Think of Others, while Noa alone and Gil Dor on guitarr will sing Look at Me and Little Loving from the ‘Letters to Bach’ project and Ave Maria.
The Concert for Peace in honor of St. Francis, Patron Saint of Italy, is part of the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Italian Republic. It is worth noting that the works and sermons of the Poverello of Assisi also inspired Giuseppe Dossetti, a member of the Constituent Assembly, who strongly advocated for—and personally drafted—Article 11 of the Constitution, which enshrines the rejection of war as a means of aggression and dispute resolution. Instead, Italy promotes peace and justice among free nations and international organizations.
FLYER
When
October 4, 2026, Doors open: 18:15 | Concert starts: 19:00
Where
Salle communale de Plainpalais, Rue de Carouge 52, 1205 Genève
Public Transport
From Gare Cornavin (Geneva Central Station), take tram no. 18 (direction Grand-Lancy, Palettes) and get off at the Pont-d’Arve stop, 1-minute walk to the venue
Free Admission
Free admission for current members of the „Amici dell’IIC di Zurigo“ (Friends of the Italian Cultural Institute in Zurich) association. Seats are limited. A specific communication with full details will follow.
Paid Admission
For paid tickets, please follow the link: https://eventfrog.ch/en/p/concerts/other-music-genres/concert-for-peace-a-tribute-to-st-francis-of-assisi-7500901392992758648.html
Organizers
Italian Cultural Institute in Zurich and Association Ars Pace.
Photography / Video Recording During the Event
Please note that photographs involving the audience are taken during our events. We take great care not to film or photograph children and minors. If you do not wish to be photographed or filmed, please contact us by phone. Thank you.
Illustration
Elisabetta Rogai