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A performance-lecture by Paula Saffire, Ph.D. Saffire appears dressed in ancient costume and sings Sappho's songs in English and Greek. The English songs are special "singing translations." Why do this?
STUDENT COMMENTS:"I was really amazed by the power of the songs."
"This was the nicest hour I spent at my old college."
"In her own translations, Saffire maintains Sappho's poignant sensitivity in speaking of love, desire, desperation, jealousy and contentment. ... Sappho's poetry is surrounded by sensuality, tenderness and humor. Saffire was very successful in passing these qualities on to the audience as she brought her repertoire of Sappho's poetry to life."
"When you are presented with a person dressed in mythological clothing playing and singing, learning doesn't seem like learning any more." --
Betha Rush, student at FACULTY COMMENTS: "This is a show that deserves the widest possible audience. Your translations and music are exquisite, and the whole performance is brilliantly conceived. I cannot imagine a more effective way both to present the poems and to suggest their context than what you have put together. You have approached the soul of Sappho with the artistry of a fine teacher and communicator, and I am certainly going to recommend the performance to everyone I know." --Thomas
M. Falkner, "Students were drawn into Sappho's world,
and they were certainly entertained, but even more, they went away thinking
and asking questions about what they had heard. It strikes me that Dr.
Saffire has an uncommon ability to make knowledge entertainining but at the
same time rich and complex and seductive. Most of my students singled out
this experience on their course evaluations as a -- Liffey
Thorpe, "Saffire is a delightful performer. She makes Sappho rise from the printed page and sing to the audience. Dr. Saffire's translations of Sappho are both scholarly and passionate--good poetry in their own right." --
"Bringing ancient poetry alive, making it dynamic, personal, meaningful and moving for modern audiences is a rare art. Paula Saffire, elegantly dressed to evoke the time, enlivens the ancient poetry of Sappho. She skillfully brings across the sensuality , imagery, humor, and love of Sappho's great verse, passionately sharing her renditions of the ancient poetic rhythms. Educational and entertaining, this performance is a delightful treat, not to be missed." --
Bella (Zweig) Vivante, "Although it was paper-grading time, all the Humanities professors sought me out to say how wonderful it was to have you inspire us with the spirit of Sappho. You already know how enthusiastic the students were. You especially captivated one young man, who said in class next day, 'It was beautiful ... beautiful.' I asked him what in particular--the songs, your voice (which a number of people praised), the spectacle? He kept saying, 'All of it --it was beautiful.'" --
Jim Morrison, LISTEN TO SONGS OF SAPPHO"Phainetai Moi" (That Man)
- in Greek "Come to Me" (Nectar) - in English PUBLICATIONS ON SAPPHO (published under the name Paula Reiner or Paula Saffire)Singing Greek Poetry, a
professional videotape (28 minutes) made by the Review of Joan De Jean's Fictions of Sappho by Paula Reiner, Classical World, pp. 493-4, 1991. Review of Joan de Jean's Fictions of Sappho, Women's Classical Caucus Newsletter, pp. 39-40, 1992. "Deduke men a Selanna: The Pleiades in Mid-Heaven," by Paula Reiner and David Kovacs, Mnemosyne, pp. 145-159, 1993 Sappho's Undying Smile, by Paula Saffire,
a one hour videotape, produced Sappho, Veiled, a book on Sappho, creativity and translation, completed 2007 TALKS AND PERFORMANCES "Singing Greek
Poetry," talk given at at Singing Greek Poetry, a
professional videotape (28 minutes) made by the of "Singing Ancient Greek Poetry,"
talk given at the meeting of CANE (the Classical Association of the South), southern section,
1990 "Poetic Magic: Sappho 2 and 94," talk for faculty at
Franklin & Marshall College, Pennsylvania, 1991 1. "Sappho's Songs: A Performance with Commentary,"
performance-talk, given at the meeting of the ICC (Indiana Classical
Conference) at 2. "Songs of Sappho,"
performance/talk given at 3. "Songs of Sappho," performance/talk given at the College of
Wooster, Ohio, 1994 4. "Songs of Sappho,"
performance/talk, 5. "Songs of Sappho," performance/talk given at 6. "Songs of Sappho," (repeat)
performance/talk at 7. "Sappho of Lesbos: Love and Song,: performance-talk at Woman's
National Music Festival, "Learning by
Performance: Sappho 31," talk
given at meeting of APA (American Philological Association), 1995 8. "Songs of Sappho,"
performance/talk given at 9. "Songs of Sappho,"
performance/talk given at 10. "Songs of Sappho,"
performance/lecture at "Themes in Sappho,"
talk given for Change and Tradition Faculty, 11. "Songs of Sappho,"
performance/talk given at 12. "Songs of Sappho,"
performance/talk given at 13. "Songs of Sappho,"
performance/talk given at 14. “Songs of Sappho,”
performance/talk given at 15. “Songs of Sappho,”
performance/talk given at Two Songs of Sappho on the
Internet, 1999 (supported by a grant from CAMWS) 16. “Songs of Sappho,”
performance/talk given at meeting of the LCA (Louisiana Classical Association),
17. “Songs of Sappho,”
performance/talk given at the 18. “Songs of Sappho,”
performance/talk given at Sappho's Undying Smile, by Paula Saffire, a one-hour videotape,
produced by Derringer Studios, 2000 19. “Songs of Sappho,”
performance/talk given at the 20. “Songs of Sappho,”
performance/talk given at “Singing Sappho,”
talk given at Ohio State Classical Conference, 21.
“Songs of Sappho,” 22.
“Songs of Sappho,” performance/talk given at 23.
“Songs of
Sappho,” performance/talk given at Marian College, Indiana, 2007
24.
“Songs of
Sappho,” performance/talk given at
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Updated: 04/16/2001 |
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