PARIS - "Fete de la Musique," the French national music festival, will make its China debut at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo on Sunday, its initiator said on Thursday.
Jack Lang, a former French cultural minister who founded the festival, told Xinhua it will be the first time for the renowned music festival to land in China.
Both professional and amateur rockers, DJs, jazzmen and chorists will join concerts, outdoor shows and various performances in 17 places throughout Shanghai on Sunday and next Monday, said Lang, who will leave for the Chinese city Friday night.
Since the musical festival coincides with France's national day event at the Shanghai Expo, musical celebrations will be held within and outside the French Pavilion, he added.
Among musicians joining the festival from various parts of the world, there is pianist Marisa Bruni, mother of French first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy. She will perform at a Sino-French charity concert on Sunday in Shanghai Oriental Art Center.
Founded in Paris in 1982, the French national music festival has involved into an international gala, having presented indoor and outdoor performances in more than 350 cities across the world, laying emphasis on celebrating music with the public.
Chinese people are active and creative while open to new things, Lang said. He said he believes the festival's debut will be well-received in China.
Since the very beginning, one of the festival's themes is to provide a platform to build friendship between musicians and the public. Thus, Lang said the festival will reinforce friendship between France and China.
