Scotland joins celebration of French music and culture

SCOTLAND is joining in a worldwide celebration of French music and culture on Monday with a series of events featuring more than 90 performers.

The Fte de la Musique, which began in France in 1982, is now celebrated by Francophiles in cities around the world.

Edinburgh will also take part in the festival, with more than six hours of continuous entertainment organised by the Institut Franais d’Ecosse (IFE).

Pianists, singers, jazz musicians and flamenco dancers are among those taking part in Monday’s event, which is being held at the institute’s headquarters in Randolph Crescent, as well as the Danish Cultural Institute in Doune Terrace and the Cabaret Voltaire nightclub in Blair Street. The line-up also includes traditional Scottish music, as well as performers from Africa, Poland and Italy.

Pauline Bourdais, from the IFE, said: "This has been a major event in France for more than 20 years, but it has spread around the world.

"There will be lots of different acts to see on the day. Fte de la Musique celebrates the diversity of music, from classical music to jazz, from professional to amateur."

The public events, which begin at 5pm and continue until midnight, are also part of the wider celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the Entente Cordiale.

Events for that include an exhibition of the Scottish Colourists in Paris, and another on Charles Rennie Mackintosh in Port Vendres, the south- western town where the architect, artist and designer spent the last years of his life.

Drama projects are under way between Edinburgh’s Traverse Theatre and Lyon’s Les Subsistences venue, while Gaelic musicians will be appearing at festivals in Paris and Toulouse.