Le French May – The Festival of Art & Culture
~ 1 May till 4 June 2005 By Irene Lau

The Year of France in China
2005 is a special year for the Sino-France exchange in China, as it falls within The Year of France, the second part of the “France-China Exchange” born of the initiative of both countries’ presidents to strengthen the partnership and to intensify the dialogue between France and China.

The Year of France in China started on 10th October 2004, to coincide with French President Jacques Chirac’s state visit during 8th – 12th Oct. This is the later half of the whole Exchange program, where its first counterpart – Chinese Cultural Year in France – took place during October 2003 – July 2004, staging 370 activities including exhibitions, performance and concerts across the whole countries of Fance.

Le French May – an introduction
Since its beginning in 1993, Le French May has presented more than 300 events of the highest international standard ranging across a wide spectrum of disciplines that has included exhibitions, concerts, performing arts and the cinema. Organized by the Consulate General of France in collaboration with the Alliance Française for the past twelve years, Le French May has now grown to be the largest rench Arts Festival in the Asia-Pacific region.

Receiving support and associating with the Leisure & Cultural Services Department, the Hong Kong Art Centre, the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, the Hong Kong Sinfoietta, the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra and many other companies and individual this year, Le French May has been able to present and perform throughout the city, including French performance as well as programs with the collaboration of French and Hong Kong artists, offering audience in Hong Kong a glimpse of both the traditional and contemporary French culture, heritage, creativity and lifestyle.

Program Highlights
This year, the 13th Edition of Le French May will be in line with previous editions and will feature an important and exciting programme of events. Many styles of shows and artists will be featured this year in addition to some newcomers: the modern flying trapeze company ‘Les Arts Sauts’ would make Ola Kala a thrilling and entertaining show, you can judge it for yourself if you attended as this should have been already presented by the time you read this article. Another first time ever event is the pop music concert by the famous singer, Patricia Kaas, acting as an ambassador of the French chanson.

Regarding musical performances, the world acclaimed virtuoso violinist Tedi Papavrami will play the Symphonie Espagnole by the French composer Edouard Lalo, with the Hong Kong Sinfonietta.. French Conductor François-Xavier Roth has been invited to lead the Academy Symphony Orchestra for the brilliant Concerto for two pianos in D minor by Francis Poulenc. The Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra will perform a world premiere of famous French scores adapted for Chinese instruments and compositions inspired by Parisian life. Les Six, the most prestigious chamber ensemble in Hong Kong, is proud to present this year’s French May concert, “Les Six and Friends”, with the renowned French clarinettist, Yves Sévère.

For House music lovers, DJ Jack de Marseille will be hosted in a specially decorated venue in the heart of Wanchai offering a booming dance floor.

This year’s dance programme features pure spectacle: the famous French choreographer, Philippe Decouflé, working with the National Ballet of Lyon, creates a magical universe in Tricodex, the third part of a trilogy of his work.

This year offers an impressive range of paintings and photography exhibitions for art lovers with 12 exhibitions of French artists in Hong Kong galleries and museums.
“Un Air de Paris”, by the famous French cartoonist Sempé includes drawings, sometimes cynical, sometimes tender, moving or absurd – but always funny.
Paris will be the subject of honour with “Paris Reflection” organized by the Museum of History in collaboration with the Pompidou Museum, an exhibition of the greatest photographs of Paris from the last century featuring Man Ray, Eli Lotard and Doineau’s works which still inspire today.
“Decoding Hair” is a special exhibition presented by the Science Museum showing how hair sends messages and is interpreted in various cultural contexts.
In a more classical style, Chauderlot will exhibit his paintings of monuments unknown to most foreigners and Chinese, and which can be seen as a link between the traditions of Chinese culture and French painting.
In the same spirit of partnership between French and Chinese artists, Encre/Chine, ink paintings is an exhibition with a “East-West” theme featuring two French-Chinese artists, T’ang Haywen, Gao Xingjian, and the French artist, Jean Degottex.

French movie lovers will be delighted with a retrospective of the famous French actor Alain Delon: “A Heroic Romance” offers the most representative of Delon’s works with the purpose of showing some of the best of French cinema.

For the first time in Le French May, theatre will take a place of honour, featuring Phaedra, a chef-d’oeuvre of French classicism by Jean Racine; and The Sofa, by Mon Café Theatre, a series of short plays in French with English subtitles performed at the Gecko Bar.
Information courtesy & further source of information for the Le French May: http://www.frenchmay.com
-Irene Lau