About this Event
A poetic encounter between San Francisco and France
When San Francisco's protest poetry meets French music, a unique and powerful work is born. The result of a collaboration between French musician Schvédranne and American poet Agneta Falk, this project revives the bohemian spirit of the Bay Area through a hybrid show combining poetry and sound creation.
An exceptional artistic encounter
Agneta Falk, a leading figure on the San Francisco poetry scene and widow of the famous poet Jack Hirschman, joins forces with French guitarist Schvédranne to bring to life a repertoire of texts from California's counter-culture. Their performance, enriched by the presence of Céline Frezza who provides the French translations, offers a unique immersive experience where improvised music dialogues with committed poetry.
A multi-faceted show
On stage, the project takes on its full scope: Agneta Falk powerfully embodies the texts, while Schvédranne weaves a sonic backdrop with his guitar and computer compositions. Some of the poems are read in French, to create a different rhythm and sound.
This show pays tribute to San Francisco's poetic heritage, to feminism and to the spirit of revolt that still drives artistic creation today. It revives the voices of major poets such as Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Jack Hirschman, while blending them with contemporary creations.
Join us for an enchanting evening of poetry, as we celebrate the works of Jack Hirshman, followed by a special screening of a film that brings his powerful poems to life on the big screen.
Stay for a reception after the performance, where guests will have the opportunity to meet the artists and enjoy a complimentary glass of French wine in the company of fellow Francophiles, music lovers, and poetry enthusiasts.
The artists
In 2014, A ntoine Colonna founded the electro poetic project Schvédranne and has since collaborated with both French and American poets. These meetings have resulted in two albums, a collection, and numerous video and stage creations.
C éline Frezza is a musician, singer, and artistic director of the label Jarring Effects.
A gneta Falk was born in Stockholm, Sweden in 1946. Her life as a poet and visual artist began in England, Italy, and France and continued in San Francisco, where she has lived since 1998. Her first poetry collection, Here By Choice, was published in London by Trigram Press in 1980. In 1996, she served as co-editor alongside Judy Benson of an important anthology of elegiac poetry, The Long Pale Corridor, published in England by Bloodaxe Books. Over the course of the year 2000, Italy’s Multimedia Edizioni published a bilingual edition of her largest poetry collection, It’s Not Love, It’s Love.She is actively involved in the fight against human trafficking and is a member of the Revolutionary Poets Brigade. Her work is featured in several anthologies and has been translated into numerous languages.
SEE TRAILER
About the Movie in English with French subtitles
I knew I had a brother
An old American poet suddenly passed away in obscurity. Across the Atlantic, a man composes music based on his poems. Alone in the face of loss, the musician sets out to find him. On his territory, on the fringes of capitalism, the musician and his instrument summon the spirit of the old libertarian, like an incantation.
Amidst the ruins of the American dream, shadows emerge—ghosts, men, and women who, by chance encounters, read us a poem by Jack and share their stories. Through their voices, Jack Hirschman lives on. In this otherworldly musical road trip, a portrait of a poet, a people, and a nation takes shape.
Written and directed by Arno Bitschy. Produced by Jarring Effects and JPL Productions. A co-production with Lyon Capitale TV.
Teaser:
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Alliance Française de San Francisco, 1345 Bush Street, San Francisco, United States
USD 12.51 to USD 23.18
