Banco del Mutuo Soccorso - San Francesco (Rock Opera) - 1st Act - [Italy, 1975, RPI, unreleased]
Banco, the Italian progressive rock group, has been enjoying a relatively tranquil period, which some might describe as a "break." During this time, brothers Vittorio and Gianni Nocenzi, along with Rodolfo Maltese, an "adopted" member of the group, organized the Grape Festival last month in Marino. In addition to the grape harvest, the group has been composing and rehearsing with other musicians at their established base in the region.
Currently, Banco is engaged in three main endeavors: producing a new album, creating the soundtrack for the film "The Red Carnation," and developing a rock opera about the life of Saint Francis of Assisi.
Regarding the new album, recordings are scheduled to commence after their tour in England, at the Chantalain studios in Rome. The material is already prepared, and the album is expected to contain around eight tracks. The band is opting for shorter, complete tracks, leaving improvisation and thematic exploration for their live performances. This album will be their first official release in two years since "Io Sono Nato Libero" in December '73, as their previous album, "Banco," was intended for foreign markets and only contained one new track.
As for the soundtrack for "The Red Carnation," it marks Luigi Faccini's directorial debut, loosely based on the novel of the same name by Elio Vittorini. The film addresses the analogy between political events of the 1920s and the current societal unrest, particularly the discontent and confusion faced by youth in society. The band faced no limitations in their work, and the opera may evolve into another album in the future, likely after the release of the new album and the initial screenings of the film.
Although the tour of America was postponed to allow for participation in the rock opera about Saint Francis of Assisi, the project encountered organization and funding issues. The cancellation left a bitter taste, as Banco had been composing material since the previous autumn and were enthusiastic about the project. Although the opera was staged with limited resources in October, it did not meet the band's original expectations.
The figure of Saint Francis of Assisi held special significance for Banco, as he was an Italian figure who challenged the institutionalized and commercialized Church of the medieval era. The opera focused on the struggle between Saint Francis and his rival, represented by a fictional character named Mignon.
Regarding the relevance of Franciscanism in the contemporary world, the band believes in the importance of exposing oneself and taking risks for one's ideals, always respecting the freedom of others and acting with love.
Despite the cancellation of the opera, the music composed for the project will be released as a double album. The band is considering ways to make it financially accessible to fans, given the current situation in the music market.