Under the patronage of H E Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari, the Minister of Culture, Arts, and Heritage, the Embassies of Belgium, Canada, Chad, France, Greece, Lebanon, Macedonia, Senegal, and Switzerland, in partnership with the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage, are celebrating Francophonie Week 2015 in Qatar.
Francophonie Week 2015’s principal themes are music and movies, which offer the public an opportunity to celebrate the French language. These activities will provide opportunities to meet Francophone musicians, directors, and actors who all come from different walks of life. “They will also allow us to show that French, in its diversity of expression, creates a common cultural space among the 900 million citizens of Francophone countries as well as 200 million other French speakers among the 80 countries and governments who are members, associated members, and observers of l’Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie,” a statement from ambassadors of the participating countries said.
Organised in cooperation with the Doha Film Institute, Katara Cultural Village, the Qatar National Theatre, and the Qatar Music Academy, Francophonie Week 2015 begin on March 21 and goes on till Friday, March 27.
The French Embassy and the French Institute in Qatar is presenting three concerts and a range of French movies that will be held at Katara.
On Sunday, the singer Mario Stasi performed some great French classics, including songs of Reggiani, Jonasz, Brel, Christophe, Nougaro and Barbara. A concert by National Barbes Orchestra was also held the same day at the Opera House Katara.
On Saturday March 27, from 4 pm to 5 pm, at the Qatar Music Academy (Katara, building 8), kids will be able to enjoy the magnificent music of Francis Poulenc at a family concert entitled “the Story of Babar, the Baby Elephant”. The pianist Deborah Armstrong will be the star playing at the concert, where some original drawings of Jean de Brunhoff will be screened.
Cinema aficionados will be able to watch many movies during the francophone week at the Katara Drama Theater, building 16, including Jack and the clock heart by Mathias Malzieu and Stéphane Berla (March 27, at 2:30 pm) and Samba by Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano (March 27, at 9 pm), among many other films.
Talking about the Francophonie Week Eric Chevallier, Ambassador of France in Qatar, said: “We invite everyone to join us and enjoy listening to the most beautiful French classic songs. And we haven’t forgotten about the kids, as we invite them to attend the family concert the Story of Babar, the Baby Elephant”.
All the events are free. A detailed program can be viewed on the French Institute website: www.institutfrancais-qatar.com.The Peninsula
Doha Film Institute, with the support of the French Embassy and the Institut Français du Qatar, will celebrate Francophone Week in Qatar with a special, free-of-charge showcase of French-language cinema at the Katara Drama Theatre till March27.
Thur, March 26, 06:30 PM
Serial (Bad) Weddings
Directed By: Philippe de Chauveron
Claude and Marie Verneuil, from the provincial, Catholic upper-middle class, are rather conservative parents. But they have always forced themselves to be open-minded. However, their tolerance has been sorely tested, as their first daughter married a Muslim, the second a Jew, and the third a Chinese man. Their hopes to at last see one of their daughters married in church hence focus on their youngest, who has, Halleluiah, just met a good Catholic...
Fri, March 27, 03:30 PM
Jack and the Cuckoo-Clock Heart
Directed By: Stéphane Berla, Mathias Malzieu
Born on the coldest day in history, Jack lives with a clockwork heart that he must never touch, or use for anger or love. The situation dictates that he should avoid feeling strong emotions – especially love – but he just can’t keep his feelings under wraps.
Fri, March 27, 06:30 PM
Two Days, One Night
Directed By: Jean-Pierre Dardenne,
Luc Dardenne
Sandra has only one weekend to visit her colleagues and convince them to sacrifice their pay increases so she can keep her job.
Fri, March 27, 09:00 PM
Samba
Directed By: Olivier Nakache,
Éric Toledano
Samba, a migrant from Senegal to France, works as a hotel dishwasher. Things get worse for him when, because of a bureaucratic slip-up, he lands in detention and is ordered to leave France. With the help of an immigration officer, he fights to stay in France.
MARCH 25
20:30, National Theater
Free Admission
GEORGE MARTINOS (Lebanon)
George Martinos, a countertenor from Lebanon and music producer, has participated in many concerts in Switzerland in the Arab world. He is known by his classical singing style in French, English, Arabic, Spanish, Italian, and Russian.
He is accompanied by Michel el Murr, the leader of the Lebanese Orchestra and member of the Committee of Lebanese Artists and Musicians. George Martinos has collaborated with many famous Lebanese artists.
This concert will be an opportunity to rediscover artists who have made their mark on Francophone music, such as: Michel Legrand, Salvatore Adamo, Joe Dassin, Edith Piaf, Serge Lama, Jean Jacques Goldamn, Celine Dion, Lara Fabian, Dalida, Daniel Balavoine, etc.
MARCH 26
20:30, National Theater
Free Admission
CÉLINA RAMSAUER (Suisse)
From her tours on five continents, Célina Ramsauer (vocals and accordion) has been enriched by her encounters. In homage to l’Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), Célina Ramsauer has developed the concept of “Ensemble” (www.ensemble-francophonie.org) that is dedicated to encouraging young Francophones everywhere to defend and value the diversity. This concept has been replicated of all five continents.
Célina Ramsauer has summed up 30 years of artistic work in her sixth album, in the following line that she keeps close to her heart: “Together, cognizant and respectful of the richness of our differences.”
MARCH 27
16:00, Qatar Music Academy (Katara, Building 8)
Free Admission
L’HISTOIRE DE BABAR LE PETIT ÉLÉPHANT (Qatar-France)
Qatar Music Academy and the Embassy of France to Qatar presents the work of celebrated French composer Francis Poulenc, Babar the Elephant, which was inspired by the first adventures of Babar by Jean de Brunhoff. This work, played by pianist Debbie Armstrong and narrated by Jeanne Peloquin, will be accompanied by a projection of original illustrations by Jean de Brunhoff. During a trip to Provence, children placed a copy of Babar le Petit Élephant on the piano of Francis Poulenc and asked him to play the story. He improvised a few melodies inspired by the pictures and the text of the author, Jean de Brunhoff. A few years later, Poulenc completed Babar the Elephant, which became one of his most famous works.
20:30, National Theater
Free Admission
FOLTIN (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia))
The music of FOLTIN is unreal, passionate, and malicious. It is characterized by a frenetic dance atmosphere. In their musical universe, East and West come together with passion. Their language, completely imaginary, imitates and mixes several diverse languages, like Spanish, French, Romanian, and Portuguese – they invent their own Esperanto. FOLTIN describes themselves as pseudo-emigrants who play in a cabaret. They have also composed many operatic pieces.
