Sapardi to read his poems

JAKARTA (JP): The works of noted poet Sapardi Djoko Damono will be read at a special event called Hujan Bulan Juni (June Rain) at the Graha Bhakti Budaya building in the Taman Ismail Marzuki Arts Center on June 27.

The reading, which is scheduled to start at 8 p.m., will feature local artists, including Maudy Koesnaedi (star in the local TV series Si Doel Anak Sekolahan), Dindon WS (play director), Ags. Arya Dipayana (play director and poet) and Tri Fajar Marhaeni Dewi (champion poetry reader).

Sapardi's poems will be put to music, with Umar Muslim, Ags. Arya Dipayana and Ari Malibu arranging the score. The works will also be interpreted into dance by choreographer Frank Rorimpandey.

The poems will come from Sapardi's old collections including Dukamu Abadi, 1969, and Mata Pisau, 1974. They will also come from his unpublished works.

Sapardi is now dean of the faculty of letters of the University of Indonesia. His Hujan Bulan Juni is expected to attract 1,000 visitors. (sur)