6. Bembo Fest – «Dreams of Stone»

In Bale’s historic centre, among the stone streets and beside the old cistern, poetry finds its place through voice and music. On Friday, 28 August at 8:00 PM, Josip Ledina and Diego Vitasović bring their poetry evening “Dreams of Stone” to Bale as part of the Bembo Fest programme. At the cistern beside the Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to St Elizabeth, the audience will hear a selection of poetry by different authors and from different poetic traditions, ranging from Croatian poetry of the 20th century to French poetry and 20th-century chansons. The evening is created and performed by Josip Ledina and Diego Vitasović, with poems by A. B. Šimić, Josip Pupačić, Mak Dizdar, Tin Ujević, Petar Gudelj and Vesna Parun, alongside French poetry and 20th-century chansons. The different poetic voices bring their own themes and rhythms. Šimić’s concise, stripped-down language, Pupačić’s lyrical clarity, Dizdar’s connection with history and stone, Ujević’s restless and musical expression, together with Gudelj’s Mediterranean imagery and Vesna Parun’s intimate tones, create an evening shaped around attentive listening and interpretation. French poetry and 20th-century chansons broaden the programme further, bringing words, rhythm and music together. “Dreams of Stone” is therefore more than a poetry reading; it is an evening in which different poetic worlds meet through voice, music and performance. Poetry by the Cistern in Bale’s Historic Centre The performance will take place at the cistern beside the Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to St Elizabeth, in the heart of Bale’s historic centre. The stone setting and close proximity to the audience suit a programme centred on voice, poetry and listening. Dreams of Stone Josip Ledina and Diego Vitasović Date: Friday, 28 August 2026 at 8:00 PM Location: Cistern beside the Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to St Elizabeth, Bale Programme: Croatian and French poetry and 20th-century chansons Part of: Bembo Fest Admission: Free