The Settimana Italiana has been a tradition in Montreal for the last 16 years with activities ranging from folklore groups, orchestras, operas, sports events, comedians, automotive exhibits, photography and art exhibitions, a circus, and guided tours of Little Italy. For the second year running, the Settimana will also feature prose and poetry readings in three languages – and even a Saturday afternoon in the park reserved for Italian dialects: from Neapolitan and Roman to Calabrese and Molisano.
Sponsored by the National Congress of Italian-Canadians, in collaboration with the Association of Italian-Canadian Writers and the local committee for the Montreal Literary Salon, this year’s edition of literary encounters at the Settimana takes place August 14th through 16th in Montreal’s Little Italy area (St-Laurent between St-Zotique and Jean-Talon). Aside from the trilingual and dialect readings, the events include a round table discussion, book and CD sales, and a drop-in area beneath Il Tendone (The Big Tent at the corner of St-Laurent and Mozart) for those interested in literary conversation.
The Big Tent will be open daily from 2 pm to 11 pm, from this afternoon through Sunday evening, with readings planned throughout the weekend – tonight and Saturday evening at 7 pm, and Sunday afternoon at 3 pm. Among the scheduled readers: beat poet and Bongo Beat Records owner Ralph Alfonso; poet and producer/host of The Yellow Door and Visual Arts Centre readings Ilona Martonfi; poet Emilio Francescucci; writer and Guernica publisher Antonio D’Alfonso; poet Albino Matano; writer/facilitator Maria R. Spina; Émile-Nelligan Award winner Carole David; poet, translator and essayist Francis Catalano; and writer and psychotherapist Isabella Colallilo-Katz.
Tomorrow afternoon at 3 pm, there will be a Reading in the Piazzetta (Little Italy Park, corner of St-Laurent and St-Zotique) featuring several of Italy’s better-known dialects. Among the readers: award-winning actor/writer Corrado Mastropasqua (Neapolitan); actress/radio TV star Lidia Russo (Roman); award-winning novelist Connie Guzzo McParland (Calabrese); and Ralph Alfonso (Molisano). The readers will attempt to put their dialectic words into context and provide explanations for those who would otherwise have problems following. Judging from the number of performers in the group, this promises to be an entertaining afternoon, weather permitting.
Visitors are invited to drop by the Big Tent throughout the day over the weekend. They can discuss their favourite authors, write a poem, recite a poem, enter a thought in the big black book, meet other lovers of language, writing and reading – and, if the urge takes them, buy a book or CD or two. Many of the books, from some of the best-known presses in Montreal, will be offered at a discount and, if one is lucky, might elicit the author’s signature.
Organizers for the events have stated that their intent is to help break down the barriers between the various cultures that co-inhabit in Montreal, to demonstrate how far Italian-Canadian writers have come over the last half-century, and to give something back to the community for their support and encouragement. The organizers also hope that, in future Settimana events, the literary component will grow to the point where authors will be clamouring for the opportunity to read.
For more information on other events taking place across the city during Settimana Italiana (2009), go to www.semaineitaliennedemontreal.com/
