Buona notte amici e famiglia!

We have been very busy the last few days with concerts, rehearsals, lots of practice, and the occasional riposa!  We are having a blast, and here are a few pictures to tell the story of our last few days here in Assisi.

This is a rough video taken during the premiere of Dave's choral work "Ubi caritas" in the Basilica of San Francesco, with Melissa as the soloist:

Dave conducts a rehearsal of Ubi Caritas

Dave composing in the Piazza

Instrumental concert in a Roman Forum

After performing a concert at an Italian Retirement Community

Traditional Umbrian food at its finest

The most delicious panna cotta 

Assisi Music Festival Jazz Concert

Dave on the Mini Metro

In Perugia

The Basilica of St. Francis

On a day of adventure to Perugia, the capital of Umbria

The road to Rome is paved with cats...who haven't learned to read (the sign reads: Non-drinkable water)

Cake with frutta.  Mmmmm. 

The window in our room

Melissa with St. Francis' parents

A delicious lunch of gnocchi with truffles and a traditional Assisi pasta dish

Lunch time view on to the main piazza in Assisi

Fountain in Assisi

Rehearsal in the Piazza

Salve, Friends and Family,
We are here in Assisi! It is incredibly beautiful here. Right now we are sitting in a local caffé eating lemon mousse cake and drinking delicious Italian coffee.

Today was our first day of "work." rehearsing for the many upcoming concerts. This is a large quantity of music! The festival consists of 22 performances in 14 days, not including several church services. It is hard to think of our many hours of rehearsal as work, when we are surrounded by such a picturesque town and countryside.

News of note: my new choral piece, Ubi Caritas, will be premiered this Sunday during a Mass at the Basilica of St. Francis!  First rehearsal went great, despite some challenging harmonies.  I wrote a solo descant for Melissa, so this will also be her first solo in Italy. We visited the Basilica today. The views within and without were stunning, and it was flooded with pilgrims and tourists. The frescoes, sculpture, woodworking, and other art were filled with stories and meaning and could keep an art historian busy for years.

Here are some picture highlights for your enjoyment.

Buona sera!

Dave and Melissa

Our room (nostra camera)

Caprese



The view from the city at dusk




The Basilica of St. Francis (San Francesco)



Buon giorno!