Catalan poet shortlisted for prestigious Canadian poetry prize
Gemma Gorga one of seven nominees for generous international award
poetry
Joan Margarit, revered Catalan poet who wrote for the lonely, dies aged 82
The writer was the recipient of the prestigious Cervantes Prize in 2019
‘Like a child at the adults’ table’: poet Enric Casasses receives Catalan literary prize
Organized by Òmnium Cultural, the Honor Award ceremony at the Palau de la Música became a night of poetic recitals
Poet and playwright Enric Casasses awarded prestigious literature prize
Recipient of 52nd Premi d'Honor de les Lletres Catalanes one of the most influential writers of his generation
Music of the soul woven with words: Catalonia to celebrate World Poetry Day
Over 200 activities in over 100 towns for the UNESCO event on March 21
Marta Pessarrodona wins Òmnium's Literary Lifetime Achievement Award
"Catalonia is a country of poetry," says the poet and writer on receiving 51st edition of prestigious prize
New exhibit gives visual form to beloved poetry
Open until April 2018, the display mixes the words of Josep Palau i Fabre and the interpretations of various visual artists
Teatre de la Gleva opens its doors to a new and unique concept in Barcelona
The theater will open on October 19 to offer artists the opportunity to do the performances they’ve “always wanted to do”
Poet Miquel Desclot completes Catalan translation of Petrarch masterpiece ‘Il Canzoniere’
The Catalan literary corpus has recently incorporated a new addition: ‘Il Canzoniere’ (‘Songbook’) by Francesco Petrarca. This masterpiece by the poet from Tuscany was translated into Catalan intermittently during 20 years by the Catalan poet Miquel Desclot. Desclot began working on the volume in 1994, following the path of the Catalan poet Osbald Cardona, who attempted an incomplete translation in the 50s, and his work has now come to fruition. According to Desclot, the last stage of the translation process was “insane” and kept him fully occupied for the last two years. The Petrarch masterpiece has 366 poems and a total of 7,785 verses, which now can be enjoyed by Catalan readers in their own language, thanks to Desclot and the edition released by the Catalan publisher Proa.
20th anniversary of the passing of Valencian protest singer Ovidi Montllor
This year is the 20th anniversary of the death of Valencian singer Ovidi Montllor who, along with other artists, promoted Catalan music during the Franco dictatorship and the transition years to democracy. Though not well-known internationally, Montllor was an important figure in the Catalan music world and especially in the opposition to the dictatorship. Back then, he started to accompany his poems with music and those of renown Catalan poets like Joan Salvat-Papasseit. For this reason, throughout the year there will be a lot of events and tributes paid to him. One of these tributes is a book to be published in March written by Catalan writer Jordi Tormo made up of photographs, poems and a review of his career.
Music, poetry and flowers to commemorate the 300 years since Catalonia's loss of its self-government
In 1714, Catalonia was defeated and loss its sovereignty, its self-government, its Constitution and its freedoms to an absolute king who imposed a harsh political, economic, social and cultural repression that was prolonged until the 1970s, only interrupted during a few isolated and short periods. Barcelona was one of the last cities to fall, but it was ultimately defeated on the 11th of September 1714, after a 14-month military siege. A few days after, all of Catalonia succumbed to the authority of the new dynasty, the Bourbons, who founded a Unitarian Spain, centralist and with an implacable homogenisation plan. Catalonia's National Day pays tribute to those defending Barcelona until the last day and aims to make citizens remember the loss of sovereignty and freedom. On the 300th anniversary of the defeat, and in the middle of the current self-determination process, the institutional celebrations were particularly symbolical and unique.
Lou Reed had voiced his admiration for Catalan poetry on numerous occasions
The rock star, who died on Sunday aged 71, participated in activities promoting Catalan culture and literature in the world. Lou Reed had stated on several occasions his admiration for some Catalan poets. The Velvet Underground founder worked with the Ramon Llull Institute (IRL) in two readings of Catalan Poetry in English. The first one took place in New-York in 2007 and the Punk icon Patti Smith as well as Reed’s life partner, the artist Laurie Anderson, also participated. The other was in Barcelona, in 2008, with only Lou Reed on stage. Some of the poems read were from Gabriel Ferrater, Perejaume, Enric Casasses, Maria Mercè Marçal and Miquel Martí i Pol.
Salvador Espriu: one of the greatest Catalan writers of the 20th century
Not many Catalan writers present the complexity and multiple facets that Salvador Espriu can offer. An intellectual committed to his nation and language, Espriu (1913-1985) was one of the greatest writers of his time. He left an extensive literary legacy, characterised by his deep words and reflections concerning death, pain and personal identity. His poems have a foundation in Cabalism and Jewish traditions, which is what makes his work so universal and what probably lends him a huge international recognition, even by writing in a minority language. This year has been called ‘Any Espriu’ (Espriu Year) in order to celebrate the centenary of his birth.