A festival in Vienna to introduce Italian writers – neighboring Austria – Blog
Massimo Montanari, Fabio Sassi, Antonio Scurati, Carlo Lucarelli … The list goes on. They are Italian authors that even the Austrian readers know. Li through their books, translated into German, but which they may now know in person, because the week they will all be in Vienna at “La Fonte”, the first festival of Italian literature in the Austrian capital (but we can reasonably also think that it is the first absolute Italian literature festival in Austria). It will take place from Friday 25 to Sunday 27 February in the Odeon theater, in Taborstrasse, the long road that crosses the second district, which Emperor Leopold I of Habsburg reserved for Jews a few centuries ago and has therefore been called Leopoldstadt ever since.
The festival will be an opportunity to meet exponents of various literary genres, from novels to literary essays, from thrillers (the word “thriller” says nothing to Austrians, who are unfamiliar with Mondadori thrillers and the “Krimi ie” genre, novels criminals) to comics, children’s books. The authors will be eight guests. In addition to those already mentioned, Mariasole Bianco, Marco Balzano, Annalisa Strada and the cartoonist Giulia Spagnulo, who hides behind the pseudonym Zuzu.
The idea of such a festival, in such an unusual location (a theater), came to Silvia Chiarini, an Italian bookseller who directs the Italian section of the famous bookshop in Vienna, which also has a German section and French. Chiarini talked about it with his colleagues from “Librai in corso”, an Italian cultural association that deals with the training of booksellers and organizes, among other things, events for the promotion of reading at home and abroad.
So why not do it also in Vienna, where there is a stable presence of a few thousand Italians? “Not to create a self-celebrating Little Italy – explains Leonardo Errani who, like Silvia Chiarini, is part of the staff of Librai in corso – but on the contrary to bring our literature to the city, to the Austrians”. The festival, in fact, is designed to offer Austrian readers an insight into Italian authors and for this reason the readings and presentations will be bilingual.
Errani adds: “The relations of publishers with our libraries abroad are not the best, unlike the French for example, and we, due to our knowledge and skills, have all the necessary contacts and experience. Moreover, for us too it was an opportunity for a wonderful adventure “. The “La Fonte” festival was born from this desire to experience this “wonderful adventure”. The fact that it is referred to as a “first edition” suggests that there are others later. “The hope – continues Errani – is that it will become an annual reference event for the city”.
Such an event cannot be organized at no cost. The main support came from the Italian Cultural Institute in Vienna, which is among the organizers, together with Hartliebs Bücher. “The Italian Cultural Institute – observes Errani – was the most authoritative and current interlocutor for us, where we immediately found availability, enthusiasm and collaboration. Ambassador Stefano Beltrame also welcomed the initiative with great interest “. Other financial aid came from unexpected sources, such as the Italian ice cream chain Bortolotti, which has three stores on Mariahilferstrasse alone. Furthermore, some publishers, Italian and German, have undertaken to bear certain costs.
But part of the costs will be borne by the same audience who will attend the meetings at the Odeon theater. In Italy it seems inconceivable that one pays to attend the presentation of a book, while in Austria this is the practice and no one is surprised. Admission costs only 6 euros (35 euros, if you participate in all eight events) and reservations are required.
How were the writers from the festival identified? “The choice was not easy – replies Errani – The list of names was obviously very thick. Then little by little, between personal problems or previous commitments, we focused on prominent names very much appreciated beyond the Alps and the authors, enthusiastic to participate and meet a different audience, warmly welcomed our invitation “.
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LA FONTE, Festival of Italian literature in Vienna, 25-27 February, Odeon Theater. in Taborstraße 10.
THE PROGRAM: Friday 25 February, at 6 pm, Massimo Montanari; at 20.30, Fabio Stassi. Saturday 26 February, at 11, Antonio Scurati; at 4 pm, Mariasole Bianco; at 8 pm, Marco Balzano. Sunday, February 27, at 11 am, Zuzu (Giulia Spagnulo); at 3 pm, Annalisa Strada; at 8 pm, Carlo Lucarelli.
RESERVATIONS. The festival website is accessible here. To book participation in the individual meetings (6 euros) or all eight (35 euros) you must go to the bottom of the “The Festival” page and click on “Book your events”.
IN THE PHOTO, the poster of the Vienna festival, in which a shaded image of the Molo Audace in Trieste appears.
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