Pop music sensation Patricia Kaas performs at Le French May for the first time

Hong Kong's annual French festival of the arts, Le French May, returns in splendid form this month presenting the highest international standard of events across a wide spectrum of disciplines.

As the largest French arts festival in the Asia-Pacific, Le French May 2005 (May 1 - June 4) brings to Hong Kong a rich tapestry of world-class exhibitions, concerts, performing arts and cinema. Hailed as one of the major events of the year, it is an exciting window to the culture, heritage and creativity of contemporary French lifestyle.

The event has grown every year since its inception in 1993, constantly reinventing itself to remain trendy, sophisticated and popular. This 13th edition of Le French May presents a wider than ever choice, including some new shows and artists never seen before.

Newcomers include the modern flying trapeze company Les Arts Sauts, which entertains in an atmosphere of surreal and poetic elegance in its thrilling show, Ola Kala. For the first time ever in Le French May, a pop music concert by famous singer Patricia Kaas is another event not to be missed.

Musical brilliance

The guitar recital of Le Duo de Paris blends jazz, classical, Spanish and Latin music

World acclaimed virtuoso violinist Tedi Papavrami will play the Symphonie Espagnole by French composer Edouard Lalo, with the Hong Kong Sinfonietta.. French conductor Francois-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 charm and musical virtuosity of Le Duo de Paris is presented in an extraordinary guitar recital at the crossroads of jazz, classical, Spanish and Latin music.

This year's dance programme features pure spectacle: the famous French choreographer, Philippe Decoufle, working with the National Ballet of Lyon, creates a magical universe in Tricodex, the third part of a trilogy of his work. In another style, the French hip-hop dance company Melting Spot will offer an original marriage of urban dance and Chinese dance opera in an amazing performance called Soul Dragon.

For art lovers, an impressive range of paintings and photography is featured in 12 exhibitions of French artists in Hong Kong galleries and museums. These include Un Air de Paris by famous French cartoonist Sempe, and the Paris Reflection exhibition showing the greatest photographs of Paris from the last century.

Art, theatre and more

Hip-hop French dance company Melting Spot will amaze with its performance of Soul Dragon

In a more classical style, Chauderlot will exhibit his paintings of monuments which can be seen as a link between the traditions of Chinese culture and French painting. French movie lovers will also be delighted with a retrospective of the famous French actor Alain Delon in A Heroic Romance.

For the first time in Le French May, theatre will take a place of honour. Three plays will be featured: Phaedra, a chef-d'oeuvre of French classicism by Jean Racine; Solitudes Multiples, an adaptation of the play by Bernard Marie Koltes In the Solitudes of Cotton Fields, and The Sofa, by Mon Cafe Theatre, a series of short plays in French with English subtitles.

There is so much more to discover in this new vintage of Le French May, so check the web site for details.

Related link
Le French May