A Tribute to C.P. Cavafy

With André Aciman, Michael Cunningham, Mark Doty, Olympia Dukakis, Craig Dykers (of Snøhetta), Edmund Keeley, Daniel Mendelsohn, Orhan Pamuk, Dimitris Papaioannou, Kathleen Turner In celebration of the 150th Anniversary of his birth, PEN brought together a stellar line-up of writers, actors, performers, translators and artists to celebrate one of the most original and influential Greek poets, his work, and his legacy. Described by E. M. Forster as "standing at a slight angle to the universe," Cavafy has been widely admired for his contemporary use of language, charged with irony, homoeroticism, longing, and deep reflections on history and philosophy. The highly theatrical evening will combine performances, personal and scholarly reflections, onstage interviews, "live translations," musical numbers, and a live dance performance and video works by Greek choreographer/stage director Dimitris Papaioannou, based on Cavafy's signature poems. The event is made possible through a sponsorship from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, in conjunction with the Onassis Foundation and PEN American Center.