‘Bread, Cheese, Wine, Romance.’ Those are probably the words that enter your mind when you think about France and its culture. As much as these are true, there is also much more than what meets the eye.
This year’s Voilah! Festival is back, and it is bigger than ever. Renamed as Voilah! French-Singapore Festival.
The festival not only intends to bring a taste of France to Singaporeans but to encourage a sense of belonging amongst Singaporeans to let them know that they too can take ownership of the French culture in Singapore.
Beyond immersing visitors in the multi-faceted aspects of the French culture, the re-imagined festival now serves a wider mandate to bring French and Singaporean partnerships, across different domains, to the fore, bridge the two communities and spark greater collaboration opportunities.
The 50 programmes will welcome everyone in Singapore as well as visitors around the region. It will also span across various fields from culture, education, science, lifestyle, tourism, and even sports.
There is certainly something for everyone.
Here is a list of things you should definitely not miss during this month-long festival.
1. The Opening Programme, SSO Gala: Vladimir Ashkenazy & Gautier Capuçon
French renowned superstar cellist Gautier Capuçon, will be making his debut in Singapore and will be joined by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, the Singapore’s national orchestra.
Playing under the baton of internationally celebrated master conductor Vladimir Ashkenazy, they will stage performances by Schumann and Tchaikovsky: Schumann’s Manfred Overture, the impassioned Schumann Cello Concerto and Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony.
If you love music, this is for you! Gautier Capuçon will also conduct a master class for all music enthusiast a day before the performance. More details can be found on the Voilah! website.
Details:
Venue: Esplanade Concert Hall
Date: 3 October 2019 | 7.30pm
Admission: $25, $38, $58, $78, $98
Ticketing information: http://www.sso.org.sg
2. The Bear’s Mouth
What is better than spending your evening amongst lights and music? This visual spectacle will surely capture your attention with extravagant dancing and illuminated bears.
This is a free for all performance at Gardens by The Bay by French performance group, Cie Remue-Ménage.
This visual spectacle will surely capture your attention with extravagant dancing and illuminated bears.
More details:
Dates: 19, 20 October 2019 | 7pm and 9pm
Venue: Gardens by the Bay, Supertree Grove
Admission: Free
More details: https://www.voilah.sg/voilah-events/the-bears-mouth-october-1/
3. Urban Mutations
Urban Mutations is the latest permanent exhibition at the Science Centre and it showcases the movements of buildings and infrastructure throughout the years.
Contrary to popular belief, cities are not static by nature. They are constantly mutating and evolving due to natural degration and shifts. This exhibition serves as a platform for us to find out how.
This collaboration will be done in partnership with Universcience (Paris), the official science center in Paris and the exhibition will be set up in Paris as well.
There is also a workshop and round-table happening which strives to question the promises of the digital economy on urban mobility in Singapore, France, Europe and North America.
The round table will be about vertical cities’ open spaces and question the cultural differences of urban verticality and open spaces.
Details:
Dates: 25 October onwards | 10am to 6pm
Venue: Science Centre Singapore
Admission: Science Centre Admission applies
More details: http://www.science.edu.sg/visit-us/ticket-prices
4. NO TASTE FOR BAD TASTE
Architects and designers, you are in for a treat. NO TASTE FOR BAD TASTE is an exhibition that highlights the very best of French design. 40 masterpieces will be curated to represent the last 10 years of French Design production to share the spirit of French design.
This exhibition will bring the taste of France to Singapore. The exhibition was inaugurated at the Salone del Mobile, at the French Institute of Milian. It featured original scenography designed by Jean-Charles de Castelbajac and will present some forty design masterpieces from renowned design maestros like Philippe Starck and Jean-Paul Gaultier.
It will be travelling to more than 20 countries, and Singapore is one of the pit-stop.
NO TASTE FOR BAD TASTE will be held at the National Design Centre on the 12 Oct - 16 Nov A screening of a documentary on Matali crasset followed by a Q&A session with the French designer is self on 17 Oct.
A panel discussion on the links and bridges between Singapore and France design scenes is held on 18. This exhibition will also invite you to join in the conversation about design thinking.
More details:
Dates: 12 Oct - 16 Nov
Venue: National Design Centre
Exhibition fees: Admission to National Design Center Applies
More Details: https://www.designsingapore.org/modules/events/no%20taste%20for%20bad%20taste
5. Life Underground
Life Underground exhibits different subways from all over the world.
This multimedia exhibition was shot in over 18 cities around the world such as Paris, Tokyo, and London, the project captures the pulse of these vibrant environments and the millions of people who pass through them every day.
By documenting passengers’ stories of love, dreams, family, migration, and much more.
Date: 9 to 31 October | 10am to 5pm
Venue: National Museum of Singapore
Price: Free
More Info: https://www.nationalmuseum.sg/our-exhibitions/exhibition-list/life-underground
On top of these exciting events. Voilah! is taking the annual French Film Festival under its wings for the first time.
This year, The Singapore French Film Festival will be back from 4 to 17 November.
More details on the French Film Festival will be posted on a later date, but it will feature an exciting lineup comprising of 25+ recently released movies in many genres.
Do check out https://www.voilah.sg for more information.
All images courtesy of Voilah SG
