Musical extravaganza for International Music Day
 The
Alliance Française de Kotte, Sri Lanka’s newest French language and
cultural centre, celebrates “Fête de la Musique” (International Music
Day) with a gala concert at the Galle Face Hotel on Sunday 20 June,
commencing at 3pm and going well into the night.
This musical event is entrance free and features a varied and
interesting line-up representing different forms and genres of music.
Billed to perform at this grand event are students from the University
of Kelaniya as well as from the Colombo French International School and
a number of young Sri Lankan artists such as Slipping Chairs, Triloka
and maestro drummer Ravibandhu Vidyapathi.
Also performing will be Jean-Claude Meurisse’s “Minimal Trio” from
France, the local rock group “French Connection” and Sri Lanka’s popular
music outfit ‘Anno Domini’ This popular event began in 1982 when the
French Minister of Culture Jack Lang declared June 21 as ‘Fête de la
Musique’.
The significance of June 21 lies in the fact that it is also the
first day of summer in France, the day of the Summer Solstice and the
‘longest day of the year’ when the sun sets well after 9pm.
In keeping with the spirit of Fête de la Musique, the whole of France
literally explodes into one big musical extravaganza on this day with
both amateur and professional performances taking place at every
conceivable venue all across the country – village squares, railway
stations, churches, hospitals, town squares, the banks of the river
Seine in Paris etc.
Since then Fête de la Musique has spread its popularity beyond the
geographical boundaries of France and is now a worldwide musical
festival. Sri Lanka too has been celebrating Fête de la Musique for many
years. Since 21 June is a Monday, celebrations in Colombo will take
place the day prior for greater convenience.
As the ONLY recognised French language teaching centre in Colombo and
Greater Colombo affiliated to the Fondation Alliance Française in Paris
and recognized by the Embassy of France in Sri Lanka, the Alliance
Française de Kotte is proud to take the lead this year and celebrate
with its Sri Lankan partners a joyful ‘Fête de la Musique’. |
