MarioAzzopardi

1.

Biography

Mario Azzopardi is one of the most famous poets, art critics and theatre directors. He was one of the founders of Moviment Qawmien Letterarju (Movement for the Promotion of Literature) in 1967, and was the pioneer of new wave literature in Malta. A writer of little inhibition, he produced work for stage, radio, television, as well as being a columnist for various newspapers.

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Azzopardi was born in 1944, in Ħamrun. He studied at the Teachers College and then went on to graduate at the Community Theatre. At the start of his career he taught art, drama and Maltese literature, and later modern theatre at the University of Malta. He was always an influential member of the Malta Drama Centre. Azzopardi was also the editor of leftist literary review Neo, and cultural supplements Spektrum and Fokus.

Azzopardi first published poems in collaborative collections, Antenni (Antenna, 1968), Analiżi ’70 (Analysis ’70, 1970), Mas-Sejħa tat-Tnabar: poeżiji (With the Call of the Drums: poems, 1971) and Dwal fil-Persjani (Light in the Louvers, 1972). He experimented with style, introducing projective verse, even touching upon prohibited themes, such as sexuality, authority, religion and hypocrisy. Much of his poetry is quasi-confessional – inspired by T.S. Eliot and the Beat poets – as he relates his own experiences of indoctrination, as well as his hermetic travels in search of his identity.

Important works are Demgħat tas-Silġ (Tears of Ice, 1976), Passiflora (Floral footsteps, 1977), Tabernakli (Tabernacles, 1979), Monokordi (Monochords, 1984), Noti mis-Sanatorju tal-Mistiċi (Notes from the Sanatorium of Mystics, 1995), and Alicia Titkellem mill-Imwiet u stejjer oħra (Alicia’s spirit talks and other stories, 2007). In his poetry there is always a social message, something to ruminate upon as he forms a bond and a dialogue with the reader. In Demgħat tas-Silġ and Monokordi there is a search for truth and authenticity. The reader feels and is even pulled away from the usual nostalgic Maltese verse, towards the present and the possibility of depth in experiencing truthfully and fruitfully the moment as it is, as well as the possibilities that lie beyond. He plays with what we know to be traditional and gives us something unexpected, something modern but mostly personal. In Azzopardi’s poetry there is so much going on, being said, being transmitted yet perhaps it is also worth appreciating the stillness in such poetry, along with that which is left unsaid. In recent work Azzopardi explores dark and uncomfortable scenarios. Alicia Titkellem mill-Imwiet, is an anthology about pedophelia, alienation, manipulation, drug use, racism and prejudice. These are disquieting stories, they are not only different but ask for a different reader, a different mind.

Azzopardi’s penmanship-markers have to be his sense of irony, protest, ambiguity, drama, social responsibility and a fascination with the macabre. Fine attention is paid to details yet he is also vague; there being an acute sense of pain and loss, which connects everything together yet leaves something wanting.

Something curiously contradictory is Azzopardi’s search for identity; his search seems to be in his unravelling mind yet his rebellious spirit goes against any form of definition. In such ways Azzopardi has elevated and brought much life to Maltese language and thought. His call to action? To listen to those internal voices, to those innermost rhythms … and exploit every corner.

Written by Ruth Bezzina

2.

Bibliography

Baħar il-mewt u reċti oħra għall-istudenti

Theatre script
Maltese
Author
Illustrator
Luca Azzopardi
Publisher
Merlin Publishers & National Literacy Agency, Malta

Ix-Xitan b’Denbu Aħmar u ħrejjef oħra għat-tfal u l-adolexxenti

Prose
Maltese
Author
Illustrator
Luca Azzopardi
Publisher
Horizons, Malta

Epistoli mid-Deżert: Poeżiji u Poesaġġi

Epistles from the Desert
Poetry
Maltese
Author
Publisher
BDL, Malta

Kitarri, Tombli u Teatrin: Id-divertiment tal-Maltin fl-Awstralja

Prose
Maltese
Author
Publisher
Horizons, Malta

Verġni Sagri, Demonji u Boloh għal Alla: kitbiet dwar it-teatrikalità reliġjuża

Prose
Maltese
Author
Publisher
Horizons, Malta

“Our Petard God” & “Time Scandal”

in “Transcript 38”
Poetry
English
Author
Translator
Patricia Gatt
Publisher
Transcript, Wales

Il-Fabbrikant tal-Marjunetti: Poeżiji u Poesaġġi

The Puppeteer: poems and poem-passages
Poetry
Maltese
Author
Publisher
Horizons, Malta

M’hemmx bżonn siparju: kitbiet dwar it-teatru kontemporanju f’Malta

Prose
Maltese
Editor
Mario Azzopardi
Publisher
Ċentru tad-Drama M.A.Borg, Malta

Skizzi tal-Karnival: Poesaġġi

Carnival Sketches
Poetry
Maltese
Author
Publisher
BDL, Malta

Vampir u rakkonti oħra

Prose
Maltese
Author
Publisher
Horizons, Malta

"Il-Kunsill tal-45"

Prose
Maltese
Author
Publisher
Merlin Publishers

L-aħħar ġranet ta' Ciorni u rakkonti oħra

Ciorni’s last days and other stories
Prose
Maltese
Author
Publisher
Merlin Publishers, Malta

Alicia titkellem mill-Imwiet u stejjer oħra

Alicia’s Spirit talks and other stories
Prose
Maltese
Author
Publisher
Merlin Publishers, Malta

Is-Sultana s-Sewda

The Black Queen
Prose
Maltese
Author
Illustrator
Nicole Diacono
Publisher
Merlin Publishers, Malta

It-Teatru f’Malta

Theatre in Malta
Prose
Maltese
Author
Publisher
PIN, Malta

Naked as Water

Poetry
English
Author
Translator
Grazio Falzon
Illustrator
Thomas Cassidy
Publisher
Xenos Books, USA

Noti mis-Sanatorju tal-Mistiċi

Notes from the Sanatorium of Mystics
Poetry
Maltese
Author
Publisher
Independent Publishers, Malta
Related titles

An Asylum for Mystics

Poetry
English
Author
Translator
Rowna Baldacchino
Publisher
Horizons, Malta

L-Antoloġija tan-Natura: Poeżija u Proża

Nature Anthology: Poetry & Prose
Anthology
Maltese
Editor
Mario AzzopardiOliver Friggieri
Publisher
Secretariat for the Environment, Malta

Monokordi: Poeżiji

Monochords: Poems
Poetry
Maltese
Author
Publisher
PEG, Malta

Tabernakli

Tabernacles
Poetry
Maltese
Author
Publisher
Aquilina, Malta

Passiflora: poeżiji

Floral Footsteps: poems
Poetry
Maltese
Author
Publisher
The Author

Demgħat tas-Silġ: poeżiji 1971-1976

Tears of Ice: poetry 1971-1976
Poetry
Maltese
Author
Publisher
Lux Press, Malta

Dwal fil-Persjani

Light in the Louvres
Poetry
Maltese
Author
Publisher
Lux Press, Malta

Mas-Sejħa tat-Tnabar

With the Call of the Drums
Poetry
Maltese
Author
Publisher
Lux Press, Malta

Malta: The New Poetry - An Anthology of Modern Maltese Verse

Poetry
Maltese
Editor
Mario Azzopardi
Publisher
Klabb Kotba Maltin, Malta

Analiżi ’70

Analysis ’70
Poetry
Maltese
Author
Publisher
The Authors

Antenni

Poetry
Maltese
Author
Publisher
The Authors
Supported by

Arts Council Malta

Creative Industries Platform

Project co-ordinator: Clare Azzopardi

With the help of: Kirsty Azzopardi, Leanne Ellul and Albert Gatt

Proofreader: Dwayne Ellul

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