C. P. Cavafy at Sorbonne University

The atmosphere was overwhelming in the Richelieu Amphitheater of the historic Sorbonne University, on the evening of Thursday, April 18, during the event dedicated to the life & work of Constantinos Cavafy, organized by the Hellenic Foundation for Culture in Paris, in collaboration with the Department of Greek Studies of the historical French university and the cultural organization Delphys. The event was attended by the famous Israeli director Amos Gitai, the musician Katerina Foteinaki and the representative of the aforementioned Hellenic Foundation in Paris, writer and creator of radio and television shows of art and culture George Archimandritis, who was, among others, the orchestrator of this special evening.

France, Paris, Sorbonne University, 2024-04-18. Katerina Fotinakis, musicien and singer, and Yorgos Archimandritis, author and literary critic in the evening in honor to the Greek poet Constantin Cavafis. Photograph by Polyvios Anemoyannis / Hans Lucas.

The evening began with a lecture by Giorgos Archimandrites on the life and work of the great Alexandrian poet, followed by a discussion with Amos Gitai, who underlined, among other things, the timeless and universal character of Cavafy’s poetry, while, subsequently, he recited in Hebrew the poems “Ithaca” and “Waiting for the Barbarians”. Surprise of the evening, the appearance of Irène Jacob, the unforgettable protagonist of Kieslowski’s films The double life of Veronica and Three colors: the red film, who in turn read these two poems in French. In the second part of the event, Giorgos Archimandrites read, with great interiority, solidity and aesthetic emotion, selected poems by Constantinos Cavafy in Greek and French (“Apoleipein o Theos Antonion”, “Ionicon”, “Voices” and many others), accompanied sonically by the musician Katerina Foteinaki, who, unfolding her interpretive talent, sang with impressive poignancy and sensitivity poems by Konstantinos Cavafy set to music by Greek composers.

The event of high intellectual and artistic level, which took place with the support of Andreas and Alexandra Martinou, as well as the Jan Michalski and Arditi Genève Foundations, was attended by many personalities from the academic, artistic and intellectual world of the French capital.

France, Paris, Sorbonne University, 2024-04-18. Film director Amos Gitai and actress Irene Jacob recite Constantine Cavafy’s poems at Richelieu amphitheater during the evening of tribute to the Greek poet. Photograph by Polyvios Anemoyannis / Hans Lucas.

Film director Amow Gitai and Yorgos Archimandritis, author and literary critic.

France, Paris, Sorbonne University, 2024-04-18. The musicien and singer Katerina Fotinakis performing on the eveninf in tribute to Greek poet Constantin Cavafis. Photograph by Polyvios Anemoyannis / Hans Lucas.

yorgos Archimandritis reciting Constantine Cavafy’s poems in Greek and French at Richelieu amphitheater during the evening of tribute to the Greek poet.

Photos: Polyvios Anemoyannis / Hans Lucas