A Celebration on the 800th anniversary of the death of St Francis of Assisi

Programme

TALK BY DR SIMONE KOTVA

(University of Cambridge and the University of Gothenburg)

The Ecstatic Ecologies of St Francis

In this talk, Simone Kotva will be introducing St Francis’s Canticle of the Sun (of Canticle of the Creatures) through the lens of Giovanni Bellini’s St Francis in Ecstasy. Bellini’s painting throws light on the ecological thought of St Francis and the Franciscans, drawing attention that is otherwise easily missed. In Franciscan spirituality, creatures are not only the object of a contemplative gaze but are understood as co-contemplative with human animals. 

J. Vella (1942 – 2018)                            Il Cantico delle creature op. 61

Simone Kotva is Reader in Theology at the Department of Literature, History of Ideas and Religion, University of Gothenburg. She is the author of Effort and Grace: On the Spiritual Exercise of Philosophy (Bloomsbury, 2020) and Ecologies of Ecstasy: Mysticism, Philosophy and Vegetal Life (Columbia, 2026). Simone writes at the intersection of ecology, theology and critical theory, with a special interest in the history and practice of spiritual exercises. 

Maria Frendo is Associate Professor of English Literature at the University of Malta and a member of the editorial board of CounterText, a Literary Studies Journal published with Edinburgh University Press. She is also a Fellow of the London College of Music and of Trinity College of Music, London, in classical singing and pianoforte performance respectively. Her recently published monograph is Vissi d’arte: Puccini and Decadence. Maria is the co-curator of the Joseph Vella Music Archive at Il-Ħaġar Musem, Victoria Gozo, assistant Artistic Director of the Victoria International Arts Festival, and leader of the Laudate Pueri Choir of St George’s Basilica. She was appointed to the National Order of Merit in 2012.

Natascha Chircop studied at the Conservatory ‘G. Verdi’,Milan, graduating in piano and flute under Prof. E. Perrotta and Prof. G. Gallotta, and later in chamber music at the Academy of Florence with Prof. Masi. She furthered her studies with internationally renowned musicians including Prof. Barbizet, Prof. Petroushansky, and Prof. Patero. She has performed across Europe, in Syria, and in New York, and recorded for Italian radio and international labels including Gega and Rugginenti. Her recordings feature works by Vella with orchestras in Porto and Sofia, alongside numerous chamber works. As a soloist, Natascha’s concerto repertoire includes works by Franck, Jirasek, Ravel, Grieg, Pace, and Vella, while her two-piano performances include concertos by Poulenc, Saint-Saëns, Arnold, Tansman, McDonald, Mendelssohn, Britten, Bruch, and Vella. She also performs regularly in piano duet recitals in Italy and Malta, and currently teaches flute, piano, and chamber music at the Malta School of Music.

Jacob Portelli is a Maltese harpist, violinist, violist, and cellist whose work spans solo performance, chamber music, and historically informed performance practice. He holds an LRSM in harp and violin as well as a Diploma in viola. Since 2020, he has served as Resident Harpist of the Archdiocese of Malta, performing regularly at major liturgical celebrations and national occasions. Jacob is a founding member and violist of the Cordia String Quartet, with whom he has appeared internationally, giving performances in cities including Athens, Caltagirone, London, and Torino. A passionate early-music performer, Jacob is also active on period instruments. With the VIBE Ensemble he performs on Baroque violin and Baroque cello. His international engagements have also included performances at Westminster Abbey, where he took part in a special musical event featuring Calum Scott. In 2020, Jacob released four studio albums – Kinnor, Nevel, The Christmas Song, and We Three Kings – showcasing his versatility across sacred and concert repertoire.