Feting the French tie

Last Monday at Thailand Cultural Centre's main hall, HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn graciously presided over the opening concert of Bangkok's annual French cultural festival, "La Fete".

The month-long celebration of French and Thai arts began when the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Michael Cousteau, performed the first notes of Maurice Ravel's "Pavane pour une infante defunte" (Pavane for a Dead Princess), a tribute to the memory of HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana, who was a keen supporter of the arts and a distinguished cultural ambassador for the two nations.

Toward the end of the concert's first part, world-renowned soprano Sophie Marin-Degor delightfully crooned Jacque Offenbach's "J'ai deux amants" (Tipsy song) - playfully and, of course, seemingly tipsily, walking around the spaces among the musicians and toying with them. These moments, perhaps, reflect the true nature of this multi-disciplinary citywide display of dance, music, theatre, visual arts and gastronomy.

As Thai artists are playing a significant part in many events, "La Fete" is gradually becoming a French-Thai cultural festival.

In an exclusive talk with The Nation, Embassy of France's Cultural Attache Stephane Negrin said, "Personally, I'm interested in modern arts, and back in Paris, I read many publications to learn about upcoming modern-arts activities. Since I arrived here seven months ago, I read about performances that already ended. In terms of performing arts here, it is quite classical, while the visual arts are a little more modern. When you go around the city, you see many modern designs, so I don't quite understand the gap. I don't know where Thai people go to watch modern performing arts.

"It's strange that here there is more than one jazz festival taking place at almost the same time and more than one dance festival, too, but no multi-disciplinary festivals. So, for modern art lovers, it is good you can see modern dance, theatre, music and visual arts in one month and one programme. Of course, for us organisers, it's a difficult job.  

"My job is to show the Thai audience what the French are watching. And today, when we go to the theatre, we can see 'new circus', modern puppetry and, of course, classical ballet and music. In France, there is this mix [of art genres]."

This interdisciplinary characteristic of contemporary arts will be evident in, for example, the new-circus show "Peut-etre" [June 14 and 15] and the modern ballet "Rameau's Bossa Fataka" [the festival's closing act on Thursday and Friday].

"We have more new local partners now. For example, this year, we approached ZEN Department Store with a project. They said it was interesting, but they also had another project planned ['Earth from Above: An Aerial Portrait of Our Planet Toward a Sustainable Development' by photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand, running until September 9], which is a big hit worldwide. They asked if we wanted to include it in 'La Fete' and, of course, we said 'yes'."

Negrin, who was a member of a French puppet company performing at About Cafe years ago, hopes to see an intercultural collaboration between traditional Thai puppet troupes and their modern French counterparts.

Considering the present state of artistic, administrative and financial collaboration between the two countries, we are certain this project will come to actuality soon - well, next year's "La Fete" at the latest.

'La Fete' continues to entertain and enthrall Bangkok until June 27. More details at www.Lafete-Bangkok.com.