May 12, 2011
Latvian poet Mara Zalite to visit UW
Mara Zalite, a leading poet and playwright from Latvia, will visit the UW campus Tuesday and Wednesday May 17 and 18, and give a reading of her poetry.
In 1988, Zalite’s libretto for the rock opera, Bearslayer captured the spirit of the “Singing Revolution,” Latvia’s nonviolent mass movement for independence. Over the past 30 years, Zalite has written 15 blockbuster plays and numerous books of poetry. Today she is president of the Latvian Authors Association.
On May, 17, Zalite will speak to a class on Baltic cultures taught by Guntis Smidchens in the morning. In the afternoon shell meet with UW Chamber Singers, who will perform a song with words Zalite wrote during the Singing Revolution. The Chamber Singers and the UW Chorale performed traveled to Latvia for performances in 2000, 2005 and 2010.
The poet will meet later with Latvian language students, and will visit classes again on May 18.
Zalite will give a reading of her poetry — in Latvian — at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 17, in the Petersen Room, on the fourth floor of Allen Library, sponsored by UW Libraries. Admission is free.
“Zalite’s visit reflects the prominence of UW as a center for international studies, said Smidchens. “The UW is the only university in the USA to teach Latvian language.”
Read a biography of Zalite online.
