May 1-June 30
LE FRENCH MAY
The annual celebration of all things French has grown so much in the 27 years it has been staged that it now fills June as well. This year, more than 120 programmes spread over dozens of venues highlight French heritage, from cinema and circus to art and gastronomy and just about everything in between. Themed Voyage, the extravaganza promises to take audiences on a journey in spectacular dance, music, photography, design and theatre performances, transporting the public through time and space from East to West in a cultural carnival of unabashed Frenchifying. Highlights include From Paris to Venice — a Photographic Journey by Willy Ronis; a comic performance by virtuoso clown and mime Julien Cottereau, Carte Blanche; an exhibition by Niki de Saint Phalle, one of the most significant female artists of the 20th century, including some of her monumental outdoor installations; a Massala Dance Company performance that melds North African dance with hip hop, Näss (People); a 10-feature exploration of French cinema titled Love, Passion and Glamour with films by the likes of Jean Cocteau and François Truffaut; and a concert by the gifted kora (21-string harp) player Ballaké Sissoko. And for a less cerebral experience, the gourmet food and wine of the Loire Valley are profiled in partner restaurants, as well as grocery and wine shops across Hong Kong and Macau, in Le French GourMay. More than enough cultural cruising to gain your “I’ve been Gallicised” gong.