Letterature Festival Internazionale di Roma 2024 - Questa è la Storia. Omaggio a Elsa Morante

Letterature Festival Internazionale di Roma, the historic event of the Estate Romana promoted by the Department of Culture of Roma Capitale with the organization of Zètema Progetto Cultura, celebrates its 23rd edition paying tribute to Elsa Morante, undisputed protagonist of the Italian literary twentieth century, fifty years after the publication of her novel La Storia (History: A Novel).

Five evenings of great international literature in the extraordinary setting of the Palatine Stadium, inside the Colosseum Archaeological Park. The texts of the guest writers of the event all freely recall the same theme, that of History, which for Elsa Morante was an eternal cycle of overpowering the strong over the weak and in which, however, the real protagonists are the “Happy Few”, the only witnesses of reality.

Elsa Morante and her book are remembered with the reading of two highly engaging passages from her novel by two extraordinary protagonists of the contemporary theater scene, Carlo Cecchi and Iaia Forte. Other guest authors include Alicia Giménez Bartlett, Peter Cameron, Paul Lynch, Ascanio Celestini and Alessandro Piperno.

The five evenings are all accompanied by music composed and performed live by composers and performers Ginevra Nervi and Rita Marcotulli, two great musical experimenters, pioneers of musical research who both interpret the spirit of the times and the feminine strength embodied by Elsa Morante, although coming from completely different backgrounds.

All events are free admission subject to availability.

The full program is at www.culture.roma.it/festivaldelleletterature and on the event’s socials.