“I have always loved Greek poetry, from the ancient Greek poets to Odysseas Elytis, C.P. Cavafy and Giorgos Seferis. I couldn’t be happier than when I was asked to do a reading of Cavafy poems along with one of the most distinguished Greek actors. I am anticipating the event and I hope the audience will enjoy it as much as I enjoyed preparing for it.”

Those were the words of the popular and acclaimed British actress Claire Bloom, who will be in Athens on May 8 to read Evangelos Sachperoglou’s new translation of Cavafy poetry, along with actor Costas Kastanas. Jointly organized by the Gennadius Library and the British School at Athens, the event will take place at Cotsen Hall (9 Anapiron Polemou, Kolonaki) and will start at 8 p.m.

Sachperoglou’s “C.P. Cavafy: the Collected Poems” was released by Oxford University Press in 2007. The book will be presented by Peter Mackridge, professor of Modern Greek at the University of Oxford, Anthony Hirst, lecturer in modern Greek at Queen’s University in Belfast, as well as Sachperoglou, the translator of the poems. Gennadius Library director Maria Georgopoulou, British School at Athens director Catherine Morgan and British Ambassador in Athens Simon Gass will introduce the book.

On his part, Kastanas pointed out the importance of this event, although he has given public readings of Cavafy poems many times in the past. “I have a special feeling, because of the transition from one language to another.” He described poetry as something that must be carefully preserved at a time when all other things are becoming devalued.