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“Poetry is a journey to (un)mask mysteries”

World Poetry Day celebrated with reception in Palace of Belém

In a reception organized with the theme “Poetry is a journey to (un)mask mysteries”, authors, actors, musicians and singers performed on the stage set up in the Palace of Belém, celebrating the World Poetry Day, in a programme organized by Mrs. Cavaco Silva.

The Poetry performance held in the Hall of Fountains, with the presence of the President of the Republic and many individuals from the cultural world, included impromptu sketches by several guests, who read their own and others’ texts.

Performers in this World Poetry Day included Ana Lains, António Machado, Celeste Rodrigues, Diogo Lopes, Elsa Noronha, Filipe Vargas and Alex d’Alva Teixeira, José Luis Barreto Guimarães, José Pedro Paço d’Arcos, Mafalda Ribeiro, Mané Ribeiro, Maria José Maya, Mariana Gray de Castro, Mariana Montez, Nuno Júdice, Paula Lobo Antunes, Teresa Landeiro, Trio Major 7 e Maria João.

Since this was also the World Day of the Down syndrome, Mrs. Cavaco Silva made a reference to the occasion of the anniversary of this deficiency.

An expression of this celebration was the recitation by António Machado, himself a bearer of the Down syndrome, of a poem written by his father, António Maria Machado.

All the performers on stage accepted to take part with no charge.

Such as in prior years, the 2013 Palace of Belém World Poetry Day was recorded on a CD, presented on this occasion, and the net results of its sale will revert in total to the Association of Our Lady of the Relief of the Distressed, in Lisbon.