France celebrates Music Festival
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From Strasbourg, Paris in the north to Lyon and Marseilles in the south, France is celebrating its 29th edition of the "Fete de la Musique " (Music Festival) on Monday evening, with hero musicians of jazz, rock, opera and etc. prevailing all major cities across the country. With the theme of "Feminine Music," this year's festival started on Monday afternoon and will last till hours after midnight, honoring all sorts of music and instruments, including classic, opera, reggae, electro, pop rock and ethnic music, songs and different kinds of dancing.
Even the Elysee Palace, where French President is living and working, opened doors to the public, with a small but delicate concert greeting audience in the court.
Though the cold weather and hot Football World Cup binded many people at home, there were also batches of musical fans, grouped with friends, lovers or family, abounding metros, parks and corners of streets, enjoying the gala of music.
In Paris, jazz night and four renowned feminine bands welcome residents and tourists in the 1st arrondissement; fans of Latin and Caribbean music staged their performance in early afternoon in the Luxembourg Garden; by the riverside of the Seine in the 13th arrondissement, an open-air concert of electronic music is amusing the Parisians.
Melodious sounds and joyful dancers scattered in the city welcomed pedestrians almost at every crossing of streets. People of all ages, French or foreigners are out there enjoying the music atmosphere.
A recent survey showed that over 82 percent of the French people would participate to this year's music festival.
Children are the festival VIP guests, who are invited to attend the concert at Cite de la Musique in the 19th arrondissement. A show dedicated to children earlier in the afternoon at Theatre du Chatelet in central Paris, with pianist Jean-Francois Zygel and four singers presenting "Opera explained to kids."
Initiated by French ex-Culture Minister Jack Lang in 1982, the national music festival was aimed at promoting free concerts to all those with a passion with music on the first summer day of each year.
With years' development, the fete has become a popular worldwide event, with 450 cities of 110 countries participating this year. It's worth to note that for the first time Shanghai of China, Marrakech of Morroco and Erfurt of Germany have joined this year's event.
In 2009 there were over 18,000 concerts held in France on the same night.
