Sunday 11 May at 6 p.m.
El Born Centre de Cultura i Memòria
Sala Moragues
Plaça Comercial, 12
Barcelona

Barcelona Poesia is the oldest poetry festival in Barcelona, held since 1985. A mirror of poetic diversity—from oral traditions to experimentation, from classical forms to bold new expressions—this festival features recitals, performances, dialogues, and tributes. For one week, the streets, gardens, libraries, and historic venues of the Catalan capital become the stage for a grand collective celebration of poetry.

This 40th edition is the most international to date: alongside Spanish poets, many others have been invited by European cultural institutes, the European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed), the Versopolis network of European festivals, and Manchester City of Literature. This year’s programme highlights poetry as a tool for thought and transformation.

On Sunday 11 May at 6 p.m., the Maltese poet Elizabeth Grech and the Turkish poet Adnan Özer have been invited to read their works during the “Recital de la Mediterrània” at the El Born cultural centre. This recital is dedicated to Mediterranean poetry and organised in collaboration between Barcelona Poesia and IEMed, the European Institute of the Mediterranean.

Elizabeth Grech’s poetic voice, with her reading in Maltese (the only Semitic language of the European Union) “Words Like Waves / Parole Come Onde”, will intertwine with the Turkish of poet Adnan Özer.
It will be a unique opportunity to meet and listen to two poets deeply rooted in their respective traditions, who come to this edition of Barcelona Poesia to remind us of the poetic heritage of countries that share not only the Mediterranean Sea, but so much more.

“If the world is gradually becoming something we no longer want, perhaps we should listen more to the poets—voices of resistance in the trenches of beauty and eloquence—who cry out for a better world, here and everywhere,” urge the festival’s curators, Maria Callís and Manuel Forcano.

For further information:
https://www.barcelona.cat/barcelonapoesia/ca/recital-de-la-mediterrania

https://www.iemed.org/events/mediterranean-recital/