Born towards the end of WWII in October 1944, in the village of Scuol, the Engadin valley (the canton of Graubünden). She finished primary school in Scuol, continued her education at High Alpine Institute Ftan, and passed the Matura in 1964 in Chur, the canton’s capital. After she had received a degree in pedagogy from the University of Zürich, she studied languages in Quito, Ecuador, and Perugia, Italy. Until 2005, she had been a teacher of Italian and an external contributor for Swiss Television, formerly called SF DRS (Swiss television of German and Romansh Switzerland). She writes mostly poetry in Romansh and German and often translates her own work into other languages. Since 2009, she has served on the management committee of Swiss Writers’ Association and is a member of the Union of Romansh Literature (Uniun per la litteratura rumantscha). She lives in Lavin in the Engadin valley, surrounded by high mountains.
Bibliography: Poems and short stories in anthologies, magazines and newspapers. Poems scheduled to be read on the 2nd July, 2014, at 12:00, Atrium ZRC SAZU, Ljubljana, are chosen from the following books:
„Modern and Contemporary Swiss Poetry – An Anthology“, Dalkey Archive Press 2012 – 4 Gedichte in englischer Übersetzung. 4 poems in English translation.
„Gluscht“, Antologija sodobne švicarske književnosti. Ed. dr. Vesna Kondrič Horvat, Vilenica 2013. Gluscht – Anthology of contemporary Swiss literature – 5 poems in Slovenian translation by A. Maček.
„Moderne Poesie in der Schweiz“, Migros Kulturprozent / publisher Limmatverlag 2013. Contemporary Poetry in Switzerland – Anthology of Roger Perret, 3 poems in Romansh and German version.
„Das verborgene Licht der Jahreszeiten“, Poesie der Nachbarn, publisher Wunderhorn, 2007. The Hidden Light of the Seasons – Poetry of neighbours, poets translating poets, Swiss poetry.
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– „Orte“, Literaturzeitschrift, 2007, Gedichte. Poems.
– „Ich bin vielleicht du“, Lyrische Selbstportraits, Anthologie, 1975
– fox produktionen, Rastatt. Perhaps I am you – Lyrical self-portraits.
– „Rumantscheia“, Rätoromanisch-deutsche Anthologie, 1979. Romansh-German anthology.
– Artemis Verlag, Zürich und München. Poems.
– „Turicum“, Schweizer Kultur und Wirtschaft,1992. 2 short stories.
– „Carte Blanche“, Litteratura 2000, Poesias.
– „Orte“, Literaturzeitschrift, 2003, Gedichte. Poems.
– „Flus leterares“, Lois Craffonara, Anthologie 2004, Gedichte. Poems.
– „Sbrinzlas-Funken-Scintille“, Gegenwartslyrik aus Graubünden, Anthologie, 2005 Pro Lyrica, Schweizerische Lyrische Gesellschaft. Contemporary poetry from Graubünden.
– “Amurellas”, Chasa Paterna Nr. 125, 2006, „Üna maisa sco üna butia“, Kurzgeschichte. Short story.
– „Da las funtanas“, Romansh Anthology, 2006, Verlag für die Literatur der Wenigerheiten, Landeck, Gedichte. Poems from anthology.
– „Selbst die Schatten liegen heute günstig“, Poesie aus der Schweiz, 2006, edition bergelmühle, SchwarzHandPresse, Gedicht. Poem.
– Chalender Ladin 2007, poesias
– Poezijos pavasaris 2008, Almanach des Poesiefrühlings in Vilnius, Gedichte, ins Litauische übertragen von Vladas Braziunas.The almanac of the spring of poetry in Vilnius, poems translated into Lithuanian by Vladas Braziunas.
– „Stechäpfel“, herausgegeben von Ulla Hahn, 2009, Reclam Bibliothek. Poem: Das Haus meines Vaters hat goldene Türen – My Father’s House has Golden Doors.
– „Randulinas“, Lyrik-Anthologie, Gedichte Rätoromanisch-Litauisch, herausgegeben von Markus Roduner und Vladas Braziunas, 2009. Romansh-Lithuanian poems, published by Markus Roduer and Vladas Braziunas.
– „Die kühnste Bahn der Welt“, Die rhätische Bahn in Literatur und Kunst, edited by Hans Peter Häberli, hier+jetzt Verlag, Baden 2010.The World’s Boldest Railway – Rhaetian Railway in Art and Literature.
– „Souvislosti, Revue pro literaturu a kulturu, 1 / 2010. Poems in Czech translation by Michaela Jacobsen.
– „Weihnachten in den Alpen“, anthology of short prose, Insel Taschenbuch, September, 2013. „Are You Lonesome Tonight?“, short story.
Artistic collaborations:
RAZ – Texte: Romansh and German poetry of Leta Semadeni, photography by Paul Lussi, published by Verlag Martin Wallimann Alpnach, October, 2011.
„Fila, fila! Spinne, spinne!“, bilingual poems – photography by PeterVernon Quenter and music CD „Sun da l’Engiadina”, published by Verlag Desertina, Chur, 2012.
Single author publications:
– „Chamin“, picture book illustrated by Erich Gruber, 1982 Lia Rumantscha, Chur.
– „Monolog per / für Anastasia“, bilingual, Romansh/German poetry collection, Nimrod Literaturverlag, Zürich, 2001.
– „Poesias da chadafö / Küchengedichte“, Ediziun da l’Uniun dals Grischs, bilingual poetry collection, 2006. – „Tigrin“, picture book illustrated by Erich Gruber, Ediziun da l’Uniun dals Grischs, October, 2007.
– „-Audio CD „Poesias – Gedichte“, bilingual poems, poets Joachim Jung (German) and Leta Semadeni (Romansch) with Pius Baumgartner on soprano saxophone, published by Leta Semadeni, Lavin, 2008.
– „In mia vita da vuolp – In meinem Leben als Fuchs“, bilingual, Romansh-German poetry collection, published by Chasa Editura Rumantscha, Cuoira, 2010. In my Life as a Fox.
Translations:
– Poetische Schweiz, Suisse poétique, Svizzera poetica, Svizra poetica:
Anthology of Swiss poetry in all four languages of Switzerland and Icelandic (Iceland as the guest of honour at Frankfurt Book Fair), translation of all poems in Romansh in cooperation with Dumenico Andry.
Prizes:
– 2001, Pro Helvetia grant
– 2005, Visarte Graubünden residency fellowship for Atelier Paris
– 2007, Pro Helvetia grant
– 2007, the canton of Graubünden prize
– 2007/8, Landis+Gyr residency fellowship for Zug
– 2008/9 Berlin grant
– 2009 the 2nd prize in poetry competition at Festival Rilke (won by Eugen Gomringer) for the poetry collection „Poesias da chadafö – Küchengedichte“ Poems from the Kitchen.
– 2009 three-week residency at Frans Masereel Centre for graphic arts, Kasterlee, Belgium – with Enna Salis
– 2011 the canton of Graubünden literary prize (Literaturpreis des Kantons Graubünden), Swiss Schiller Fund prize (Preis der schweizerischen Schillerstiftung)
– 2012 two-week residency in Casa Zia Lina, Elba
Leta Semadeni’s poetry set to music:
– Martin Derungs, „Giarsun“, five Romansh songs with lyrics by Leta Semadeni, Grammont Portrait CTS-P 51 – 1994
– Dodo Hug and Efisio Contini, „Marchà da pülschs“, song with lyrics by Leta Semadeni, kaleidophone, published by Zytglogge Verlag – 2001
– Gion Antoni Derungs, „La chanzun da la duonna Potifar“, pop song with lyrics by Leta Semadeni, 2006
– „Gaudium“ – quatrilingual lyrics for Ode of Joy – for Swiss choir of aphasia patients, conducted by R. Zempa, composed by J. Röösli
– Martin Derungs, „Gaudium“, Leta Semadeni’s poem in four languages, for youth a capella choir, Opus 125, 2013
– Martin Derungs, „In mia vita da vuolp“, 9 Romansh poems by Leta Semadeni, for soprano, block flute and accordion
