Ambassadors

Yesterday the team of 'De Ambassadeurs', (The Ambassadors), program on the classical Flemish radio station, had invited me for a conversation and classical music. This was a special kind of feedback that was a fallout of the three day Small Festival of European Art of Poetry in Antwerp September 16-18. You can read more about is here.

The team goes out of its way to make the guest feel comfortable. their goal is to make an interesting program with lots of good music which has been chosen to please the guest. The atmosphere is intimate, kind and professional. One of the questions was you seem to write seldom about music. Well once in a while I do.

Alle solisten heten Kim

(Tsjaikovsky Pianoconcerto 1- zesde laureaat Koningin Elizabeth wedstrijd 2010)

He taaie trekken
van slepende strijkers
en kaarsrechte
kracht voor 't klavier
de blik op oneindig
te vroeg gedaan
en dan de razernij
getemperd geoefend
voluit
en dan de stilte
als het haar neerkomt
na de donderdag

horen de vingers op de toetsen
de blazers & bazuinen
de pauken & geroffel
en de slag

This as a thank you.

Friends who who missed the program can listen at the De Ambassadeurs

Liu Xiaobo - WIPC - Flanders

 Liu Xiaobo Chinese defender of human rights, condemned to 11 years of imprisonment for exercising his right to free speech has received the Peace Nobel Prize. Here a picture of one of last years actions in support of imprisoned writers. See the empty chair of Liu Xiaobo and then Pen Flanders President Geert Van Istendaal.
sms:foto duisburg/rhein 2009

In The Small Festival of European Art of Poetry five members of a Writers in Prison Committee were involved (16-18 of September in Antwerp). There was an empty chair on stage for Chinese author Zheng Yichun and all writers in prison because of writing what they felt they must. Link to Pen.

Here you see Job Degenaar President if WIPC Netherlands preparing for the finale of the Festival with the chair and poster in the backgroud.

©: Bram Goots