If you plan on visiting Malaysia next month, make time for a trip to Penang State which will celebrate its 4th George Town Festival in commemoration of George Town’s inscription to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites on July 7, 2008.
The celebrations will kick off on June 7, 2013 and culminate on the anniversary of the UNESCO inscription itself.
This month-long event will feature a blend of local creative talents and world-class performers while showcasing Penang’s rich heritage and blossoming cultural scene.
There will be plenty of ticketed and free admission events, but here are the top 5 much-anticipated ticketed performances you may want to consider.
1) I Musici
If you have always pined for chamber music, a night with I Musici will not disappoint. You will be soothed with I Musici’s cover of Italian composers or uplifted particularly by Vivaldi’s evocative “Four Seasons.” At the very least, an audience with this musical group will inspire you to start a love affair with classical music or perhaps even move you to take up an instrument yourself. The event will be held on June 7 at 8:30 in the evening in Dewan Sri Pinang. Admission is available at RM60, RM80, and RM100. Students can avail tickets for only RM20 while senior citizens get a 50% discount on their tickets.
2) Sutra
Chinese martial arts have always looked fluid as if the repertory of hand-and-feet-movements is made for theater and not for defense. Who better to demonstrate that martial arts can just be plain art itself than 17 monks from the original Shaolin Temple? Sutra, choreographed by Flemish-Moroccan Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, is a physically intense dance performance deeply rooted in Buddhist spirituality. The dance involves the use of 21 wooden boxes, created in collaboration with Antony Gormley, which reflects a changing stage and upon which the dancers stand on. This event will run from June 29 to 30 at 8:30 in the evening at Dewan Sri Pinang. The same rates as the I Musici apply, including the discounted rate for senior citizens.
3) Pro Musica Mini Concert
The Pro Musica Mini Concert features four opera stars namely Julie Mossay, a soprano; Ines Madeira, a mezzo soprano; Enrico Casari, a tenor; and Laurent Kubla, a bass/baritone. They will be accompanied by Master Class students of voice and music in the region who will be performing solo recitals and repertoires. Slated on July 4 at 8:30 P.M. at the MPPP Town Hall, admission fee is only RM30 for general audience and RM10 for students. Senior citizens will also enjoy a 50% discount.
4) A Night of Comedy with Kumar
Stand-up comedy is getting mainstream reputation as an art, thanks to quick-witted, no-holds-barred comedians who make people fall off their seats laughing. Kumar, a stand-up comedian, actor, host and drag queen who climbed the ranks from performing in nightclubs will put the audience in stitches as he dishes his best on June 20 at 8:30 PM at the E&O Hotel Grand Ballroom. The event is sponsored by CausewayExchange.
5) Pro Musica Gala Concert
The transcendental music of Handel, Mozart, Bellini, Donizetti, Bizet, Delibes, and Rossini will fill the air as opera singers Julie Mossay (soprano), Ines Madeira (mezzo soprano), Enrico Casari (tenor) and Laurent Kubla (bass/baritone) render a repertoire from the old masters. The Pro Musica Gala Concert will be held on July 6 at 8:30 in the evening in Dewan Sri Pinang. Tickets are available at RM40, RM60, and RM 80. Students pay only RM20 and senior citizens get a 50% discount.
Get your tickets this early. Log on to http://georgetownfestival.com/, click events, choose ticketed events and follow the link to buying the tickets. There are also plenty of free events to delight in, so clear your calendar and book your seats.
