Oliver Friggieri talks to Andrej Voznesenskij

Abstract

To anyone acquainted with contemporary poetry, the name of Andrej Andreevic Voznesenskij immediately comes to mind as one of the most outstanding figure. Architect by profession, Voznesenskij is the author of numerous works, most of which have been translated into various languages. When I met him at Struga, Yugoslavia, in August 1986, he gave me the impression of being a man full of life and determination, totally aware of being a poet all the time, and of having a very strong personality which is hardly separable from the fact that he has dedicated his life to poetry. He is able to speak about it at length with passion and even to recite it in the masterly manner of a first class actor. Of course, he is Russian, and perhaps that sums it all.