Maraini, Baricco, and Magris: An Exceptional Meeting at Buchmesse
(by correspondent Mauretta Capuano)
An exceptional event is set to take place at the Buchmesse in Frankfurt in 2024, as Dacia Maraini, Claudio Magris, and Alessandro Baricco will be taking the stage together. This will mark Italy’s return as the guest of honor at the fair after 36 years. The event will take place from October 16th to 20th, and the extraordinary government commissioner, Mauro Mazza, revealed this news to ANSA while attending the Children’s Book Fair in Bologna. This fair is a crucial step towards the Destination Frankfurt project. Mazza also announced that Carlo Rovelli, Susanna Tamaro, and Stefano Zecchi will serve as ambassadors for the event.
There will be a hundred Italian writers invited to participate in over 150 meetings at the Buchmesse. Mazza explained that the Italian Publishers Association has provided a wide range of authors, resulting in a final selection of 100 writers representing various genres. Each author will have the opportunity to showcase their specific expertise. For example, Magris will discuss the topic of Mitteleuropa. Additionally, authors will engage in literary comparisons in four different arenas: two in the pavilion designed by Stefano Boeri and two in the AIE space. Mazza emphasized that there will also be specific discussions on children’s publishing and numerous cultural exchanges unrelated to literature.
The theme chosen for Italy’s role as guest of honor at the Frankfurt Book Fair revolves around Europe. Mazza believes that culture should create debate and convergence in areas where politics often divide and oppose. He hopes that by focusing on European topics, they can contribute to these discussions.
In addition to literature, music will also play a significant role in Italy’s presence at the Frankfurt Fair. The organizers have secured a concert by Il Volo, which will take place on the evening of Saturday, October 19th, in the Festhalle in the Buchmesse district. Frida Bollani Magoni, daughter of Stefano Bollani, will play the national anthems on the piano and sing a piece with her angelic voice. Furthermore, a performance of Verdi’s Rigoletto is planned, as well as a tribute to the centenary of Giacomo Puccini’s death. Music will be incorporated throughout the five days of the Buchmesse, including pop music.
The official program for the event will be unveiled on May 28th during a conference in Frankfurt. Prior to that, on May 9th, the Destination Frankfurt project will make a stop at the Turin Book Fair, where Mauro Mazza will meet with his counterpart from 1988, Stefano Rolando. Rolando was in charge of organizing Italy’s previous participation as a guest of honor at the Frankfurt Book Fair when he served as the Head of the Department of Publishing at Palazzo Chigi. The purpose of this meeting is to reflect on how things have changed since then. A photographic panel will display images from that time, including those of Foreign Minister Andreotti and Minister of Cultural Heritage Bono Parrino. Mazza highlighted that in 1988, when Italy was designated as the guest of honor, it was the first time the Buchmesse had such a distinction. That same year also marked the birth of the Turin Book Fair.
Other pre-event activities include a concert by the Scarlatti orchestra in Dortmund on June 12th, conducted by Beatrice Venezi, just three days before Italy’s debut in the European football championship final. This choice is not coincidental, as both Italians and Germans share a love for football. The Destination Frankfurt project aims to combine and mix various elements, such as the best of Scarlatti’s music and a successful performance by the Italian national team. Furthermore, on August 29th, the Orchestra della Filarmonica della Scala from Milan will perform in Berlin.
Another significant event in the Destination Frankfurt project is the conference on Narratives, Characters, and Illustrations: Italian Publishing for Children Abroad, which will take place on April 9th at the BBPlus Theatre during the Bologna Children’s Book Fair. Mazza considers this fair to be one of the most important steps towards the Frankfurt Book Fair in 2024. He stressed the importance of engaging young readers and finding a way to maintain their interest in books as they grow older. Mazza believes that while books are initially captivating for children, their appeal diminishes as they become teenagers and young adults due to various factors such as shorter attention spans and the influence of social media.
Mauro Mazza, who recently joined the jury of the Amici della Domenica for the Strega Prize, considers it a gift and a privilege. He approaches this world, which he is not very familiar with, with great humility. However, he treasures books and considers them a precious asset. He has thousands of books at home and engages with them by rearranging shelves and savoring their scent. For Mazza, books are a passion.
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