A multifaceted bilateral collaboration between France and South Africa – the French Season – was formalised last year by the French and South African heads of states. It was launched this July, and in November the Eastern Cape makes its unique contribution to this exciting cultural project.
The France-South Africa Season 2012 & 2013 is an initiative conceived and facilitated by both governments to give the people of both countries an opportunity to understand each other better through cultural, scientific, sport, education and business engagement. The Seasons comprise more than 100 exhibitions, performances, film screenings, literary events, workshops, conferences and round tables.
“We are proud to be the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to participate in such a wide-ranging collaboration with France,” said South African Minister of Arts and Culture Paul Mashatile.
As part of the French Season in South Africa 2012, Keiskamma Arts presents a series of concerts between November 17 and 24 under the banner French Carnival: a multi-disciplinary production including music by Ravel and Saint-Saens.
The internationally renowned Keiskamma Art Project has exhibited the influence of French art on its own projects such as the Keiskamma Tapestry and the Keiskamma Guernica. In French Carnival, artists from the Keiskamma Art Project depict the fantastic world of animals and nature from Camille Saint-Saëns’ Carnival of the Animals.
In their appealing synthesis of classical and African sounds, young musicians of the Keiskamma Music Academy will perform selections from this work on recorders, orchestral and indigenous instruments. Works by other French composers will feature, including arrangements of Maurice Ravel’s Ma Mère l’Oye as heard in Keiskamma Music Academy’s award winning 2012 National Arts Festival production.
Performance Dates:
East London: 17 November 2012
Miriam Makeba Centre for Performing Arts: 19h30
Tickets: R50 at the door
Port Alfred: 18 November 2012
Port Alfred Presbyterian Church: 15h00
Tickets: R50 at the door or in advance at Kowie News Agency
Hamburg: 23 November 2012
Historic Old Hall: 16h00
Tickets: by donation at the door
Port Elizabeth: 24 November 2012
Main Auditorium, South Campus NMMU: 19h30
Tickets: R50 at the door
For information or tickets: www. keiskamma.org
music@keiskamma.org
082 664 1190 / 073 914 5227
Tickets for the Port Alfred concert will be available at Kowie News Agency, Port Alfred in advance. (Tel Anna 046-624 2036)
Events organised as part of the France-South Africa Seasons 2012 & 2013 www.france-southafrica.com
Visit: www.france-southafrica.com
The French Season will be followed by a South African Season in France between May and December 2013.
