The Path of Comets 2004

After the great success of the last edition, the journey of the comets returns to Pistoia on 3, 4 and 5 June. International poetry meetings, the annual appointment with some of the most important poetic voices on the international scene. The event, promoted by the Municipality of Pistoia (Department of Culture), in collaboration with the Tuscany Region (Department of Culture Project “Porto Franco”), the Pistoia Theater Association, with the participation of the Presidency of the Municipal Council, the Province of Pistoia and the Cassa di Risparmio di Pistoia e Pescia Foundation, is curated by Multimedia Edizioni / Casa della Poesia. The path of the comets is establishing itself on the national and international circuit as one of the most significant events among those dedicated to poetry. This year too, it foresees the presence of poets from various corners of the world, protagonists of readings, often with the aid of live music. It will be an opportunity to spend three days in the beautiful Tuscan city, visit the countless artistic places in the region and immerse yourself in contemporary poetry by meeting some of the absolute protagonists of the international scene. Here are the "comets" of the 2004 edition: from the United States: Amiri Baraka, the greatest and most extraordinary interpreter of African-American poetry and culture, poet, musicologist, political activist; Simon Ortiz, the most important and famous Native American poet; Janine Pommy Vega, one of the protagonists of the golden age of the beat generation, a prominent representative of the east coast. From the Arab world: the Iraqi poet, in exile for years and one of the loudest voices in the Arab world, Saadi Yousef; the Syrian Maram al Massri, a young, free, committed voice of female emancipation in the Arab world; Hassan Teleb, Egyptian, fine intellectual, committed, always balanced between modernity and tradition. From Spain, the "protagonist" nation in this edition: Maria Victoria Atencia and Francisca Aguirre, two of the most well-known and classic Spanish female voices, and then Jorge Riechman, a rising comet on the contemporary Spanish scene. And again: Carlos Nejar, one of the greatest Brazilian poets, Academic, Nobel candidate; Kajetan Kovic, famous Slovenian poet, translated and published all over the world; the refined conceptual, established Dutch poet, Martin Reints. Great charm and openness towards new worlds with the voice of the Japanese poet Taijin Tendo and his essential, rarefied poetry, experimenting with the use of a "universal voice"; and the poet from Chad Nimrod, the first African presence at the "Path of the Comets", one of the best ever on his tormented continent. Finally from Italy, Biancamaria Frabotta, an important poet and for years a reference figure for the feminist movement, especially in Rome; Alberto Masala is one of the Italian poets capable of using orality like few others; and hosts and established poets, Roberto Carifi and Giacomo Trinci. A series of seminars will accompany the path of the comets. On the occasion of the centenary of Neruda's birth there will be a screening of the video film by Manoel Basalto: "Pablo, death of a poet" and the testimonies of Jorge Enrique Adoum, great Latin American poet, friend and personal secretary of Neruda for several years and Ernesto Cardenal one of the poets and men symbolizing the liberation struggle in Latin America; Simon Ortiz will be the protagonist of a meeting dedicated to "native" American writing and Amiri Baraka of one on the relationship between poetry, blues and jazz music. Some of the major Italian scholars of North American literature will also participate in the two meetings. Finally, all the poets will meet the city of Pistoia (students, teachers, enthusiasts, citizens) to discuss the role of poetry in the difficult historical moment we are experiencing. A group of excellent musicians will interact with some of the participating poets. Among these: Marco Collazzoni (wind instruments), Luca Colussi (drums and percussion), Riccardo Morpurgo (piano and keyboards), Andrea Lombardini (bass and fifth bass). A "separate" appointment, but fully part of the project, is the visit of two of the poets invited to the event (Alberto Masala and Janine Pommy Vega) to the Pistoia prison.

Program

3/4/5 June 2004 Cloister of S. Francesco Pistoia PROGRAM Thursday 3 June 2004 Cloister of the Convent of S. Francesco 7.00 pm – Homage to Pablo Neruda “Pablo, death of a poet” film by Manoel Basalto Video testimonies: Jorge Enrique Adoum and Ernesto Cardenal 9.15 pm Reading Friday 4 June 2004 Cloister of the Convent of S. Francesco 11.00 am “The Comets meet the city” Meeting with the poets of “The path of the comets” 4.30 pm At the Santa Caterina prison Meeting Talking about the poets with Alberto Masala and Janine Pommy Vega 7.00 pm Meeting: Amiri Baraka, Afro-American poetry and music 9.15 pm Reading Saturday 5 June 2004 Cloister of the Convent of S. Francesco 7.00 pm Meeting: Simon Ortiz and native North American poetry 9.15 pm Reading __________ Musicians: Marco Collazzoni (wind instruments), Luca Colussi (drums and percussion), Andrea Lombardini (electric bass and fifth bass) Riccardo Morpurgo (piano and keyboards).

Information

Municipality of Pistoia Department of Culture Tuscany Region Department of Culture “Porto Franco” Project Pistoia Theater Association with the participation of the Province of Pistoia Cassa di Risparmio di Pistoia e Pescia Foundation Presidency of the Municipal Council Thanks to: Ministerio de Cultura de España. Directorate General of Books, Archives and Libraries. International Writers Program, Foundation for the Production and Translation of Dutch Literature, Amsterdam New York State Foundation for the Arts New York State Council on the Arts Pen Club Slovenia Ministry of Culture of Egypt Academy of Egypt, Rome SOCONAS INCOMINDIOS Association Embassy of Chile in Italy