Ovid tribute; Balkanika
The Latin poet Ovid is the subject of a spoken and musical tribute at the first in the new Poetic Forum series run by the Stoa tou Vivliou book arcade. Classics Professor Theodoros Papangelis and art historian Marilena Kasimati will speak on «Ovid – Transforming Mythologies.» Actor Eleni Gerasimidou will read excerpts from the poet’s work, and oboist Spyros Kontos will play Benjamin Britten’s «Six Transformations Inspired by Ovid» Opus 49 on Monday, October 6, at 8 p.m. (Stoa tou Vivliou, 5 Pesmazoglou & Stadiou, tel 210.325.3989.) Balkanika prize Serb writer David Albahari received the Balkanika 2002 prize for literature for his book «The Bait» from Greek Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos in Thessaloniki on Sunday night. The award ceremony was held under the auspices of the Cultural Capital of Europe Organization. The winning book was selected from seven candidates that were chosen from several contenders in each country, and will be translated into four languages by UNESCO. The Balkanika prize was instituted by publishers from Greece, Serbia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria and Albania. The purpose of the prize is to promote literature as a means leading to friendship and communication among the Balkan peoples, publisher and Balkanika Institution member Katia Lembessi told the Macedonian Press Agency. Albahari received a $10,000 prize and a statuette by a noted Bulgarian sculptor.
