Una Trieste per due: Saba attraverso gli occhi di Covacich

Abstract

This paper draws inspiration by the monologue Saba, produced by Teatro Stabile del Friuli Venezia Giulia and premiered in 2023, on the 140th anniversary of the poet’s birth. The performance serves as the final act of a trilogy dedicated to major figures of twentieth-century literature from Trieste, written and performed by Mauro Covacich. Covacich’s choice of performative medium aims to break
down barriers and engage in a more direct, authentic, almost physical communication with his third numen, following Svevo and Joyce. In a vivid portrayal, Covacich emphasizes not only the power of Saba’s poetic language but also his human dimension. The backdrop is Trieste itself, a city intrinsically linked to both Covacich and Saba by an intense yet controversial relationship, though
each in a different way. Covacich captures this emotional duality by referencing Saba’s most renowned works, as well as private letters and biographical anecdotes, and intertwining the poet’s personal experience with his own, thus turning the entire monologue into a shared journey.