On Wednesday, March 28th, at 2.30 pm, the press conference of Le French May 2012 was held to launch the 20th edition at The Peninsula hotel. On this occasion Mr Arnaud Barthelemy, Consul general of France in Hong Kong and Macau reminded us about the importance of the festival, which has become one of the emblematic festivals of Hong Kong art scene.
Press Conference
On Wednesday March 28th, at 14.30, the press conference of the French May was held to launch the 20th edition. On this occasion, a mythical place was chosen, the Peninsula Hotel, one of the oldest hotel in Hong Kong, opened in 1928 on Kowloon’s shore. The current design of the restaurant was developed by the talented French Philippe Starck during the Hotel Expansion in 1994.
Arnaud Barthelemy, Consul general of France in Hong Kong and Macau, Raymond Young, Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs, Anthony Chow, steward member of the Hong Kong Jockey Club which is this year’s most important sponsor of the festival, Wendy Siu, Vice President of the Alliance Française in Hong Kong and Andrew S. Yuen, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the French May, were gathered to introduce this year’s edition in the presence of the sponsors and the press.
This year is exceptional as it marks the 20th edition of the festival!
“I would like to express our warmest congratulations on the 20th anniversary of Le French May, which, with the untiring efforts of the Consulate General of France, has grown into one of the most important and well-established arts festivals in Hong Kong and in the region. The Home Affairs Bureau and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) have always been long-time partners of Le French May with venue sponsorship for the many magnificent cultural performances and exhibitions of the festival throughout these years.”
Le French May is organized each year by the Consulate General of France in Hong Kong and Macau in collaboration with the Alliance Française and with the support of Hong Kong LCSD. It has become a well-known festival, awaited each year by all the lovers of culture at large.
With more than 3 million participants and spectators since its creation in 1993, Le French May aims to promote French artistic creations to improve cultural exchanges between Hong Kong and France and fill the curiosity of Hong Kong residents. As the Consul general of France in Hong Kong and Macao, Arnaud Barthélémy explained:
“Initially, a relatively small event, Le French May has gained credibility and recognition over the years and has now become a cultural institution in Hong Kong”
Taking advantage of the closure of the Picasso museum for renovations, a special exhibition, held at Hong Kong Heritage Museum offers from May 19th to July 22nd, 55 of the great master’s paintings and sculptures.
The artist, Nathalie Decoster, presents in open public spaces inf Hong Kong and Macau monumental sculptures, full of humour and philosophy.
From May 10th to 13th, Carmen will thunder at Hong Kong Cultural Centre with an international casting, according to the staging, sets and costums specialy made by the french Philippe Arlaud, with the Shanghai Opera House orchestra.
As this year the Bordeaux region was chosen to celebrate Le French Gourmay, we have the immense pleasure to introduce to Hong Kong, Le Ballet de l’Opera National de Bordeaux. Marius Petipa’s fans will not miss his tribute In The Steps Of Petipa.
The originality and openness of the festival will be at their peak with the performance of Bartabas & Ko Murobushi Le Centaure et L’animal which combine equestrian art, music, dance and acting.
For more details, please visit the website: http://www.frenchmay.com/
For Mr Arnaud Barthélémy’s speech, Consul general of France in Hong Kong and Macau, click here.
For Mr Raymond Young’s speech, JP, Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs, HKSAR, click here
For Mr Anthony Chow’s speech, SBS JP, Steward of the Hong Kong Jockey Club., click here
For Mrs Wendy Siu, Vice Presidente of the Alliance Française, click here
For Andrew S. Yuen’s speech, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Le French May 2012, click here
More photos on the press conference are available on the Consulate’s Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...
