The festival’s opening night, scheduled for 9 PM, features performances by sopranos Ana Maria Pinto and Marina Pacheco, accompanied on piano by Olga Amaro and Cristóvão Luís, concluding a series of events including a colloquium on “The Dialogue with Poetry in the Musical Works of António Victorino d’Almeida,” a talk, and an autograph session with the composer.
A key highlight of the first day is the arrival of the “literary train” in the early afternoon at the Pocinho station, carrying 22 students from the Balleteatro de Matosinhos. These students will recite poetry on the train and continue these readings at various locations including the market, Rua de S. Miguel, Praça do Tablado, and Praça do Município, engaging directly with the public.
Ana Filipe, the Culture Councillor of the Foz Côa municipality, announced that various cultural activities are planned over the festival’s four days, targeting diverse audiences, particularly schoolchildren from the district of Guarda.
“Throughout the festival, we have a very eclectic program with activities starting at 10 AM and running into the night, featuring several renowned poets,” she stated.
Filipe emphasized that this festival, the country’s oldest literary event, highlights the cultural scene in the interior, encouraging an appreciation for the arts, especially within school communities.
This morning, students will participate in sessions in schools, followed by meetings and debates with poets Álvaro Leonardo Teixeira and Eduardo Leal, along with a youth session titled “The 25th of April and Music” with Carlos Pedro and Rui Fonseca, and a singing workshop led by Ana Maria Pinto.
In the afternoon, a colloquium focused on António Victorino d’Almeida will feature contributions from publisher Cristina Ovídio, researcher Jorge Maximino, and musician and composer Alejandro Erlich-Oliva.
Thursday highlights include an encounter-reading and presentation of the book “As Trapezistas” by Ana Zanatti, followed by her collaboration with José Anjos in the recital “The Poem Begins with a Knot in the Throat.”
Friday’s schedule features a tribute colloquium to writer A.M. Pires Cabral titled “A.M. Pires Cabral’s Poetry: 50 Years in Perspective,” exploring influences from António Aragão and Herberto Helder, with poet António Barros in discussion with Augusta Villalobos.
The day also includes sessions with students and teachers and interactions with poets A.M. Pires Cabral and Fernando Pinto do Amaral, actors Rui Spranger and Ana Couto, and musician José Anjos. There will be readings of poems by Luís de Camões and Fernando Pessoa and a performance by Apuro Teatro.
On Saturday, poetry takes center stage with a debate “Poetry and the Ideas of Luís de Camões in Contemporary Culture” by José Henrique Manso and Fernando Pinto do Amaral. The anthology “Farewell Happy Fields” will be presented by Rui Lage, with poetry by Natália Correia, Alexandre O’Neill, and Fiama Hasse Pais Brandão to be recited by Ana Couto.
A “conversation-concert” with Mafalda Veiga will close the festival.
The organizers highlight that the festival reinforces educational connections by utilizing author visits for pedagogical engagement.
Students will give back to the community by reading Luís de Camões’ poems, marking the 500th anniversary of his birth, and presenting the exhibition “Friendship in Art” at the school library.
A Poetry Book Fair, organized by Snob Bookstore and Publisher, will be held during the festival.
All sessions and performances are free to attend.
