4th George Town Festival

                    4th George Town Festival Commemoration in Month-long Celebration

On July 7, 2013, George Town, the capital of Penang State in Malaysia, will be commemorating its 4th year of being included in the UNESCO World Heritage Listing. Through the month-long George Town Festival (GTF) which began in 2010, people from all walks of life throughout the world will be coming together to this place to witness amazing performances in the fields of arts, music, dance, theatre, and opera. The GTF is also attended by international media giants like CNNgo, The New York Times, and Wall Street Journal who cover it for the world to see.

This year, a lot activities and exhibits have been prepared for everyone to witness. The following are the highlights and the dates that they will be featured:

Bambu at the MPPP Town Hall (June 7 to July 7). The Joko Avianto installation will be unveiled on June 7, is expected to attract photography and arts enthusiasts from all over the world.

I Musici at Dewan Sri Pinang (June 7). I Musici is Italy’s oldest and most renowned chamber music group who will be presenting excerpts from classical compositions of Italian musicians. It will also feature an interpretation of the Four Seasons of Antonio Vivaldi.

Taking Off at Esplanade (June 8). To add color to the opening ceremony of the Penang George Town festival is Taking Off where master kite flyers will be showing off their kites to onlookers. Expected participants are the representatives from the ASEAN Kite Council. Don’t miss to get one of the free kites to be distributed later in the evening.

Obscura at various venues(June 20-30). Photography works of amateurs and professionals, including those of Maggie Steber and Ian Teh, will be publicly exhibited in Obscura. Talks and forums, workshops, as well as portfolio reviews, will also be held to enhance the skills of the participants.

Sutra at Dewan Sri Pinang (June 29-30). A brand new dance work will be presented by Flemish/Moroccan choreographer, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui. Inspired by the strength, skill, and spirituality of the Buddhist Shaolin monks, the dance involves 21 wooden boxes on which the dancers display their moves.

Pro Musica Gala Concert at Dewan Sri Pinang (July 6). Having performed during last year’s George Town Festival, Pro Musica features four international opera singers namely Julie Mossay, Ines Madeira, Enrico Casari, and Laurant Kubla.

Secret Gardens of Earthly Delights at George Town, Penang, and other venues (June 7 to July 7). Considered as a unique feature of the George Town Festival this year, the Secret Gardens of Earthly Delights features 10 gardens, 10 sites, and 10 artists. This project captures and reflects the heritage of both George Town and Penang.

Though not all of the events are ticketed, interested audience may get their tickets online or visit the George Town Festival website for more information