Art exchange promises 'magnifique' entertainment

Le Concert Royal De La Nuit, the first show of the 2017 Festival Croisements in South China, will open at the Mozart Concert Hall of the Huafa & CPAA Grand Theater in Shizimen Central Business District at 8 pm on May 9.

Le Concert Royal De La Nuit [Photo provided by Huafa & CPAA Grand Theater]

Sebastien Dauce, artistic director and conductor of Ensemble Correspondances, commissioned French video artist Etienne Guiol to create a light projection on the screen behind the orchestra. It consists of the iconography of costumes, patterns and designs (marquetry), and works of art from the 17th century and today. This is said to enable spectators to travel back in time to one of the most marvelous spectacles of King Louis XIV's reign.

During the past 12 years, Festival Croisements has grown into the largest foreign cultural festival in China and also has become the biggest French cultural festival beyond that country's borders. Each spring, the event showcases French creations and mutual art exchanges in China in terms of drama, dance, music, visual arts, new media, films, and books. It attracted more than 4 million audiences from 29 cities last year.

Orchestre des Champs-Elysées [Photo courtesy southcn.com]

The mature event reflects good relationships with Chinese museums, music halls, theaters, and cultural centers. Top-level performances will be given by dancer Carolyn Carlson, Orchestre des Champs-Elysées, eight Marcel Duchamp Prize winners, theater director Ludovic Lagarde, and choreographer Pierre Rigal. Meanwhile, festival ambassadors will be rock singer Cui Jian, film director Jia Zhangke, sculptor Sui Jianguo, choreographer Wang Yabin, and cartoonist Lu Ming. 

Festival Croisements audience last year [Photo courtesy southcn.com]