Poet in the City, in collaboration with Aurora Orchestra, present a unique evening of poetry, music and art, in celebration of the life and work of Paul Celan. Widely recognised as one of the most important European poets after 1945, Celan’s work touches powerfully on the personal and collective human experience of trauma and loss. He remains an important inspiration for artists across disciplines.

Edmund de Waal, award-winning artist and author of The Hare with Amber Eyes, and the forthcoming The White Road, reveals the influence of Celan on his own work, as part of his On White Festival with Aurora Orchestra. Members of Aurora present music illuminating both the artistic background to and wider impact of Celan's writing, including Psalm, a new work by Martin Suckling.  Edmund is joined by leading German translator Karen Leeder, Professor of Modern German Literature at New College Oxford. We are pleased to be joined by internationally acclaimed actor Henry Goodman, who will be reading for us on the night. Hear the podcasts here

Presenting live music including Webern, Berg and Birtwistle, art, poetry and discussion, we explore a fascinating range of perspectives on one of the world’s great poetic voices, the ‘pure poet of the intoxicating line’.

Featuring:
Edmund de Waal
Professor Karen Leeder
Aurora Orchestra
Henry Goodman

Webern Three Little Pieces for cello and piano, Op. 11
Berg Piano Sonata
Sir Harrison Birtwistle Todesfuge from Pulse Shadows
Martin Suckling New work