Occitan Symposium, Banquet & Performance

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On Saturday, November 23, Poets House, in partnership with City Lore and NY’OC Trobadors, hosts a landmark symposium celebrating and bringing the riches of southern French poetry and culture to the American public. The symposium gathers international and local poets, artists, scholars, and performers to share the fascinating history of the region and bring to life the songs of troubadours past and present in the endangered lenga d’òc (Occitan language). Chef and foodie favorite Ariane Daguin, owner of gourmet purveyor D’Artagnan, will host a reservation-only Gascon Buffet with a short historic overview of Occitan cuisine and cooking demonstration. The evening will culminate in a music and poetry performance featuring accomplished bicontinental artists Joan Francés Tisnèr (project director), Jakes Aymonino, Domenja Lekuona, Pierre Joris, and Nicole Peyrafitte. Other presenters include New York University scholars Deborah KapchanSarah Kay and Richard Sieburth, and director of Fondacion Occitània Alem Surre-Garcia.

Symposium Schedule
Opening Remarks: Richard Sieburth
2:00–3:30 PM: Topologies of Occitan Language & Culture
-Languages & their Territories with Nicole Peyrafitte, Domenja Lekuona, Alem Surre-Garcia
-Occitan & the Orient with Deborah Kapchan
-Participatory Introduction to Occitan Language & Songs with Joan Francés Tisnèr

4:00–5:30 PM Occitan Literature Through the Ages:
-Occitan Literature: The Middle Ages with Sarah Kay; Occitan Poetry
-Troubadour Poetry: The Classical Moment with Richard Sieburth
-The 20th Century & Beyond with Pierre Joris & Alem Surre-Garcia

5:30–7:00 PM: Gascon Dinner with Ariane Daguin and D’Artagnan (Space is limited: Reservations Required see info below)
Buffet Gascon offered by gourmet purveyor D’Artagnan, with short historic overview of Occitan food and cooking demonstration by Ariane Daguin and Nicole Peyrafitte. Gascony is a region in Occitania known for its “sweetness of life” and is home to foie gras and Armagnac brandy.

7:00–9:00 PM: NY’OC Trobadors Multimedia Performance
Journey through a millennium of Occitan culture in music, images, and bilingual poetry. With Joan Francés Tisnèr, Jakes Aymonino, Domenja Lekuona, Pierre Joris, and Nicole Peyrafitte.
 Trobadors Symposium Press Release

Buffet Reservations REQUIRED! 
please contact Joe Fritsch ASAP at (212) 431-7920 x 2832 or joe@poetshouse.org.
Dinner admission (complementary wine) & Performance: $25 per person.
NY’OC TROBADORS still need funding: Please consider a (tax deductible) generous donations accepted here by City Lore. THANK YOU!

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1 Response

  1. Poo says:

    Gee, I will miss another great evening and a rare one too! I promise, one night I’m going to surprise you both and show up. Have a great afternoon and evening.

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