What does Hong Kong’s French May arts festival have in store?
The annual celebration serves up a slice of Gallic goodness with its bounty of gourmet food and performing arts feasts
It’s la vie en rose as Le French May returns this month. Established in 1993, the 32nd edition of this annual celebration of all things Gallic continues its long-standing tradition of visual arts, music, dance, theatre and gastronomy, in its mission to better connect Hong Kong with France.
Contemporary dance enthusiasts would do well to book tickets for Corps extrêmes (May 30 and 31, and June 1), to see its gravity-defying performances that combine dance, acrobatics and even bouldering. Striking a more pensive pose, stage drama Souvenirs, a production by the Alliance Française de Hong Kong, follows a man’s reminiscences about his life and love with delicately choreographed dance routines.
Meanwhile, French singer-pianist Sarah Lancman will team up with local piano virtuoso Joyce Cheung for Jazz Female Duo – Paris Rendezvous on June 6, fusing jazz and French chanson. Then there’s the dynamic jazz trumpeter Erik Truffaz, who is bringing his energetic Rollin’ & Clap! performance to Hong Kong on June 7, when he will imbue the greatest film scores of the 20th century with his spirited trumpeting.
The French GourMay Food & Wine Festival, an essential part of events for the past 15 editions, returns this year and will run throughout the month, at more than 150 venues across Hong Kong and Macau.