The rooms of Davíðshús are filled with poetry, tunes and people at the Little Poetry Festival in Davíðshús, which is held for the fourth time in Davíðshús, home of the poet Davíð Stefánsson from Fagraskógi. The program is as varied as before with nationally known artists who will take to the living room floor from Thursday to Sunday, November 14-17. NB in icelandic!
The program starts on Thursday evening at 20 when the brothers Þórarinn and Elfar Logi Hannessyn perform a poetry play from Jón's book from Vör, Þorpið. The book caused a revolution in Icelandic poetry when it was published in 1946. It was the first book of poetry that contained only unbound poems and was quite a sensation. Over time, it has earned a place among the most significant books of poetry in the country.
In the poetry play Thorpið, the artist brothers from Bíldudal, Elfar Logi and Þórarinn Hannessynir, tell about the author of the work and perform poems from Thorpið in speech and tones.
On Friday evening, at 20, Gerður Kristný reads from his latest book, Jarðlós, which has received excellent reviews from critics and an even better reception from readers. Gerði Kristnýja hardly needs to be introduced as he has long been nationally known and is admired far beyond the country for his wit. She has received many awards for her writing, including the Icelandic Literature Prize. Jarðlós is a book of 10 poems by Gerðar Kristnýjar, and no doubt some poems from previous books will be included on Friday evening.
On Saturday afternoon, the birthday boy Jónas Hallgrímsson gets a space in Davíð's living room from Fagraskóg. Jónas, ég og Davíð is a program on a personal note where Vilhjálmur B. Bragason performs poems and reflections on the great poets who have followed him throughout his life. Vilhjálmur performs the poems of Jónas and Dávíð, which are close to his heart, along with his own works. The program, which starts at 15, is both in speech and tone as expected from Vilhjálmi.
The small poetry festival ends on the piano keyboard in Dávíðshús when pianist Alexander Smári Edelstein performs works by Bach, Schubert, Chopin and Rachmaninoff.
Alexander graduated from the Music Academy in Akureyri and a bachelor's degree from the Iceland Academy of the Arts in 2021. He completed a master's degree from the Conservatorium Maastricht in the Netherlands in 2023 under the supervision of professor Katia Veekmans.
Alexander has performed at numerous concerts both as a soloist and with actors. He is now a freelance musician and piano teacher at the Music School in Akureyri.
Needless to say, the householder Davíð participates by reading, although not from beyond but from a record.
The program in a nutshell:
Thursday, November 14 at 20. The village - poetry play in speech and tones from Jón's book from Vör
- Þórarin and Elfar Logi Hannessynir
Friday, November 15 at 20: Earth poem.
Gerður Kristný reads from his latest book of poems and older works.
Saturday, November 16 at 15. Jonas, me and David.
– Program in speech and music with Vilhjálm B. Bragason
Sunday, November 17 at 16. Lounge concerts
- Alexander Smári Edelstein, pianist.
Entrance ticket 1500 ISK – for all days!
also applies to the Museum of Art, Nonnahus and the Industrial Museum throughout the year.
If you already have a ticket, it is of course valid for the Little Poetry Festival.
The doors open half an hour before the program starts.