Every year, the Consulate General of France supports a series of events up and down China to celebrate the wonders of French culture. Now celebrating its 10th edition, the Festival Croisements is bigger and more diverse than ever, with everything from sultry chanteuses and classical virtuosos to film retrospectives and even an exhibition on architectural great Le Corbusier. Here, we’ve rounded up some of the most interesting or unusual events taking place around the Pearl River Delta.
Xavier de Maistre
Recognized as a “new star in the world of classical music” by Swiss radio station DRS, Xavier de Maistre is the creme de la creme of solo harpists on this planet. Before he took up his angelic instrument full time, he studied politics in London, which has no doubt come in handy at his teaching pot at Juilliard. // May 9, 8pm, RMB80-280. Xinghai Concert Hall.
Roland Barthes
Who would have thought that sex capital Dongguan would play host to a centenary celebration for one of the greatest literary theorists of modern times? Three French experts on the influential thinker will be discussing Barthes’ works and ideas, which greatly influenced the fields of structuralism and semiotics. This is definitely not one for dilettante readers, but should be of great interest to those who are interested in the philosophy of literature. // May 12, 3-5pm, free. West Hall, People’s Square, Guancheng Subdistrict, Dongguan 东莞市莞城街道市民广场西正厅
Véronique Gens
French, opera, Baroque, Mozart, soprano. Combine them together and you get Véronique Gens. Gens started singing in her teens before plunging into the Baroque repertoire, winning over critics and the public alike. However, it was with her portrayal of the Countess in Mozart's Marriage of Figaro that she was launched into international stardom. The lady herself has stated that she personally prefers Mozart, whom she considered a perfect bridge for the Baroque and French music. She has worked with many important European conductors and made over 70 recordings. // May 16, 8pm, RMB80-280, Xinghai Concert Hall.
Tarek Atoui
Born in Beirut in 1980, Atoui studied contemporary and electronic music in Reims. He is a wizard when it comes to sound-generating equipment – just check out his Metastable Circuit, an instrument that he designed and built for a contemporary art event in Germany. New Museum (New York), the Sharjah Biennial (UAE) and La Maison Rouge (Paris), to name but a few, have all witnessed his talents. // May 17, 8pm, RMB50. B10 Live.
Brigitte
Consisting of Sylvie Hoarau and Aurélie Saada, this folk music duo named their act for the sultry sex bomb and actress Brigitte Bardot. Their debut album, Et vous, tu m'aimes? (And you, you love me?), was released in 2011 and went platinum in France. Having toured in Italy, Turkey, Israel, Singapore – you name it – they are now coming to China. Oh la la! Their most recent album, A bouche que veux-tu, is filled with retro disco stylings and recalls Minnie Ripperton, Diana Ross, Donna Summer, Roy Ayers and Mulatu Astatke. Many people have fallen head over heels for Brigitte. And you, you love them? // May 22, 8pm, RMB80-280, Xinghai Concert Hall.
Identity
Brimming with all the madness of contemporary French theater, La Compagnie en Déliaison is a small indie troupe that has created several bizarre performances that defy easy understanding. Their brand-new show was dreamt up specifically for their China tour and is an adaptation of Gérard Watkins’ play Identity, which won the Prix de Littérature Dramatique in 2010. The plot centers on a couple who are trying to re-inject meaning into their lives. To that end, they decide to take part in a competition that has just one question: “Are your parents really your parents?” Confused yet? It’s also being performed in Mandarin by French actors. Whatever else one can say about this drama, it should at least be an experience. // May 22, time and price TBD. Shenzhen Public Art Center.
Magma
Still full of the same fire that ignited the band more than 40 years ago, French group Magma were on the forefront of progressive rock when they erupted onto the scene in 1969. Exploring fresh ways to realize his vision for musical expression, founder and drummer Christian Vander even created his own language to compose most of the song lyrics. These lyrics tell the tale of Kobaia, an alien planet with its own mythology and history. Magma’s music was off the wall in the 70s and, rather incredibly, it sounds even more off the wall today, now that the rock and roll insanity of yesteryear has been replaced with largely homogenous pop and electro. // May 29, 8pm, RM90 early bird, RMB120 presale, RMB150 at the door. B10 Live.
Le Corbusier, Modern Architect Giant
One of the most visionary architects of the 20th century, Le Corbusier (real name Charles-Edouard Jeanneret-Gris) theorized extensively on urban planning while creating striking new structures. Committed to modernity, he conceived of blocks of skyscrapers in city centers where airplanes could land, and advocated for demolishing a sizable chunk of historic downtown Paris to make way for his more contemporary concepts of how a city should look and function. This exhibition on his ideas and projects is a fascinating insight into the good and the mad sides of genius. // June 14-July 31. Shenzhen OCT Art & Design Gallery.
// For the full schedule of Festival Croisements events or to see the latest information, visit croisements.faguowenhua.com
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