FRENCH MAY : Theatre, Opera & Musical
Gaby Deslys: The Fabulous Destiny of The First Music Hall Star
French May Arts Festival 2024:
Gaby Deslys: The Fabulous Destiny of the First Music Hall Star (Musical)
For his new show, Jean-Christophe Born has chosen to tell the story of Marseille’s own Gaby Deslys: the most famous Music Hall performer
from the beginning of the 20th century.
As a singer, dancer, and actress with a dazzling personality and unique talent, Marie-Elise Gabrielle Claire pursued a career as a stage
artist over a bourgeois marriage to achieve freedom and financial independence. From her early days at Parisian venues like Parisiana,
Alhambra, Cigale, Folies Bergère, and Moulin Rouge, she swiftly ascended the ladder of fame, captivating audiences in Paris, London,
Vienna, and New York. The influence of originality and magnetism can be seen in the careers of subsequent artists like Mae West,
Mistinguett, Josephine Baker, Line Renaud, and Lady Gaga.
Born in 1881, in Marseille, she debuted in Paris around 1900 and later expanded her success to London and New York, forming a romantic and professional partnership with American dancer Harry Pilcer. They triumphed in New York with the revue Stop! Look! Listen! in 1910, introducing jazz to France in 1917 with the iconic ‘descent of the stairs’ at the Casino de Paris.
During World War I in 1918, Gaby and Harry sought refuge in Marseille's famous Villa Gaby. Gaby also ventured into films like Her Triumph and Le Dieu du hasard. Sadly, she succumbed to pneumonia on 11 February 1920, at the age of 39, resting at the Saint-Pierre Cemetery in Marseille. Despite her wish to donate part of her vast fortune and the villa to the city for a children's hospital, this dream remained unfulfilled
Theater, laughter, emotion, singing, music, dancing, pearls, feathers, and sequins ! Immerse yourself in this period which goes from the
Belle Epoque to the Roaring Twenties with Louise Larret (Gaby Deslys) and Jean-Christophe Born (Manuel de Bragance and Harry Pilcer),
and on the piano by the amazing Mark Nadler, straight from Broadway, in the role of the pianist Eugène
For more information, please visit French May Arts Festival's website here.
Tickets are available at URBTIX
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Louise Chérie – GABY DESLYS
Louise Larret aka Louise Chérie was born into a family of artists, therefore it was only natural that she entered the Conservatory of Paris of Musical Comedy and Lyric Singing after graduating from high school. In 2018, she played Jennifer in the musical L'arche and went on tour with the troupe of Une Étoile au Soleil. At the start of the 2020, she joined the Classe Libre of the Cours Florent Musical at the Mogador theater, in partnership with Stage Entertainment. She recently performed at Disneyland as part of the Disney Junior Dream Factory; playing Belle, in Beauty in the beast; Eleven in the Stranger Things Experience…
Jean-Christophe Born -
HARRY PILCER/ MANUEL II – Ténor
At the age of 16, after a year's introduction to Operas and Musicals in the United States, Jean-Christophe Born moved to Marseille, where he enrolled at the Conservatoire while studying Art History. In 2007, he won the First Prize of the European Ravel-Granados Concourse and the Fondation Leopold Bellan. In 2009, he was selected by world-renowned tenor José Cura for a master-class. He has performed in some fifty countries around the world, playing Monostatos in Peter Brook's “The Magic Flute”. He also sang the lead role in Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp. Finally, he was Marius in the famous international tour Les Misérables le concert.
Mark Nadler - Eugène – Piano
Mark Nadler is a celebrated American cabaret artist who has written and performed in dozens of touring productions on and off Broadway. He received numerous awards for his incredible performances, including the 2003 Bistro Award for "continuing to raise the standards of cabaret performance". He performed in the United States, as well as around the world, particularly in Europe. Not surprisingly, he has won several MAC awards for his talent as a musical interpreter. He has become an internationally renowned singer, pianist, tap dancer and comedian, winning the 2015 Broadway World Editor's Choice Award for Entertainer of the Year.
Presented by:
In collaboration with
Sponsored by:
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昔日經典，當代主角 Icônes passées, héros modernes
Pour la 53 e édition du festival du film français à Hong Kong, l’Alliance Française de Hong Kong présente un nouveau panorama du septième
art français. La sélection propose une trentaine de films inédits, sortis cet été ou prévus pour l’automne ou l’hiver 2024/25.
在第53屆香港法國電影節舉行期間，香港法國文化協會將為大家揭示法國電影藝術的全新面貌。三十多部全新精選電影部分已在本年夏天上映，或將在2024/25年秋冬季上映。
These films from this year's HKFFF will keep you on the edge of your seat...
Within this year's selection, discover movies that are real shots of adrenaline!
Forever Truffaut : 3 iconic films from this year's retrospective
Within this year's retrospective, here are three emblematic films, overshadowed by Truffaut's most famous works but certainly worth a look.
Art exhibition about Asian chocolate opens in Hong Kong
Tang Contemporary Art proudly presents In Stranger Lands: Cocoa’s Journeys To Asia – an exhibition curated by Caroline Ha Thuc, featuring 20 newly commissioned artworks by established artists working across Asia.
DJ FAKEAR, a reflection of French electro music
French DJ Fakear will perform a DJ set in Hong Kong on the evening of 18th October at Popinjays (Central). The event is organized by Banger Event Asia, a collective of 5 French friends living in Vietnam who aim to bring together various art forms. Fakear is considered one of the greatest talents in the electro scene, representing the innovation and diversity of French electro music. He will showcase this new heritage in what promises to be an unforgettable evening.
體育與生活藝術 JO Paris : (nouveaux sports) et arts de vivre
Présentation de (nouveaux) sports au JO de Paris 2024
PSG Academy HK & DSA HK x Alliance Francaise Summer Camps
10% Discount for signing up on or before Apr 30th
5% Discount for signing up on between May 1st – 24th
33 King Lam St, Cheung Sha Wan
Seize the opportunity to participate in Hong Kong’s highly anticipated Summer Sports & Educational Camps!
L'escrime dans la culture française
Les Jeux olympiques de Paris 2024 approchent : parlons culture et sport. Pour ce premier article, l'escrime !
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5 Must-Watch Movies From French May Cinema Programme 2024
5 Must-Watch Movies From French May Cinema Programme 2024
Hong Kong Design On Stage At Maison&Objet 2024 - Press Release
6 May 2024
This is the annoucement of the winning projects for the international call for proposals to DesignOnStage At Maison&Objet
in Sept. 2024 in Paris!
Learner's Story: Marvin To
Recently, we had the pleasure of speaking with Edmund, the proud father of our little learner, Marvin. He shared with us some positive feedback about our course and why he chose to enroll young Marvin in French classes at such a tender age. Curious to know what he had to say? Check out our interview!
Learner's Story: Angela
Meet Angela, our French language prodigy! She's been a part of our community for a while now and we've been lucky enough to witness her incredible progression in mastering the language. From watching her grow up with us to now publishing her own poetry book in French, she's truly a shining example of dedication and passion.
Qui est Spirou ? Who is Spirou ?
Revenons sur ce personnage très célèbre de la BD francophone !
Francokids…Quésaco?
L'Alliance Française diversifie son offre jeune public en développant un programme de Français Langue Maternelle (FLAM) : Les Francokids
Retour sur les Tribulations
Retour sur les conditions de tournage d'un film tourné en 1964 à Hong Kong
Luc Roux, le cinéma au coeur
Exposition de photographies sur le cinéma français par Luc Roux, le photographe officiel de Studio Magazine
![[Library] New Acquisitions Autumn 2023](/media/website_posts/1134/lepetitvvv.png)
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Les grands matches France Nouvelle-Zélande en Coupe du Monde de Rugby
Les oppositions mythiques entre la France et la NZ en Rugby World Cup
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![[Library] Highlights & New Acquisitions : Summer 2023](/media/website_posts/1087/Blog-Banner-2023-(1).png)
[Library] Highlights & New Acquisitions : Summer 2023
For the coming summer, we present you a special selection of the iconic novel of French and youth literature - The Little Prince, who celebrates his 80th anniversary this year, as well as some new additions to the AF Library collection.
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Learner's Story: Peter Kok
This time, we invited Peter Kok to share with us his French learning journey. Peter started learning French long time ago because of work, and he believed that you have to set an objective in order to realize your long-term goals.
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Learner's Story: Jeffrey
"How long does it take to learn French?" Many students inquire with their teachers about how much time does it take to learn French. This time, we asked a student, Jeffrey Choy, to tell us about his experience in learning French.
Hip-Hop In France
The hip-hop movement in France has been growing and thriving since the 1980s, with artists and fans alike playing a significant role in shaping the culture into what it is today.
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Street Art In France
Pioneers of French street art - Blek le Rat
The street art movement in France can be traced back to the 1970s, when a new form of expression emerged in response to the political and social turmoil of the time. .
First steps : faire du monde, une scène
La dernière création du studio Tamanoir : danse et et arts numériques
Phoenix à Hong Kong : interview
Entretien avec Thomas Mars, le chanteur du groupe qui vient jouer à Hong Kong vendredi 3 mars
Clockenflap 2023 avec Phoenix et FKJ
3 - 5 March 2023
Clockenflap
Le retour du plus grand festival de musique de la ville : Phoenix et FKJ sont à l'affiche.
![[Library] New Acquisitions : Winter 2023](/media/website_posts/1086/Blog-Banner-2023.png)
[Library] New Acquisitions : Winter 2023
Here are some new arrivals in the AF Library. Highlights include a stunning novel of the winner of the Nobel Prize of Literature, Annie Ernaux, a controversial Palme d'Or winning film, an intriguing comic series about time travel, and chefs d'oeuvres of Chinese-Hong Kong literature.
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Diverse landscapes of French tourism that you might not know
When we talk about travelling to France, what tourist attractions you have in mind? The Eiffel Tower, Palace of Versailles, Arc de Triomphe or the Louvre Museum?
Annie Ernaux, son œuvre à l'AF
A la médiathèque du centre de Jordan et au festival HKFFF, 2022 : les livres et les films adaptés de l'oeuvre d'Annie Ernaux, prix Nobel de Littérature
5 Destinations for French Cinema Lovers
France is a remarkable country for cinema. In addition to its talented directors, actors and actresses, it is also a famous territory for shooting. Its famous monuments and beautiful landscapes make the happiness of filmmakers from all over the world happy. Today we have prepared a list of 5 places in France that you might have seen on the big screen, and now it's your turn to visit the stunning places in France. Light, camera… Action !!!
Claire Denis, les choix de Paroles
Le magazine Paroles 265 revient sur les choix des curateurs de la rétrospective Claire Denis pour le festival HKFFF.
Olivier Cong - Performing to the beat of his own drum under French culture’s influence
Olivier Cong, one of the performers at the 5th edition of Make Music, Hong Kong! in 2022, is a Hong Kong musician and composer. Apart from his love for music, he also shares with us how French culture has impacted his work and the influence of his French-speaking father.
![[Language Learning with Netflix] 6 recommendations for French learners](/media/website_posts/917/blog-banner-(10).png)
[Language Learning with Netflix] 6 recommendations for French learners
What Netflix movies have you been watching recently? What are the best Netflix series you have watched? Do you know that watching Netflix is not only a great way to relax, but also an effortless language learning process? Language learning with Netflix is considerably one of the most enjoyable ways to acquire a new language!
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Georges Méliès and Alice Guy: French pioneers of early cinema
AFHK shares you the stories of the French pioneers of early cinema: Georges Méliès (1861-1938), one of the early pioneers of cinema and father of special effects, and Alice Guy (1873-1968), who was the very first female director. Click to know more!
Digital French learning gadgets and widgets at Alliance Française de Hong Kong
Alliance Française de Hong Kong has recently added several interactive digital tools to help you with your French learning journey. Let’s take a look!
![[French Art Culture] A Virtual Trip to Giverny, where Monet’s water lilies blossom](/media/website_posts/887/blog-banner.png)
[French Art Culture] A Virtual Trip to Giverny, where Monet’s water lilies blossom
Let Alliance Française de Hong Kong brings you a virtual tour to the home of the famous French painter and cultural icon Claude Monet, offered by the Claude Monet Foundation.
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DELF/DALF as stipulated official language examination for Category C in HKDSE
Starting from the 2025 HKDSE, the Category C subjects will change the practice to stipulated official language examinations. The stipulated official language examination of French is DELF and DALF, provided by Alliance Française de Hong Kong, issued by the French Ministry of Education.
Hebe Tien’s, It is the Hour presenting Baudelaire
Taiwanese singer Hebe Tien has published her latest song « It is the Hour » in February 2022, but what is the relationship between her song and French culture?
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Des nouvelles des enseignants
Les différentes actions de formation pour les enseignants de l'AFHK et d'ailleurs !
Let's get to know Marc Collin at the 2022 French May Arts Festival!
Marc Collin is a French musician, composer and producer. He co-created the acclaimed band Nouvelle Vague that came several times to Hong Kong in the last 20 years.
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Focus sur Serge Gainsbourg
Le cycle Serge Gainsbourg est l’occasion de découvrir pour certains et de redécouvrir pour d’autres un pilier de la culture française.
How do the French celebrate Easter? Learn French Easter traditions with Alliance Francaise!
Easter is coming! Easter as a religious festival is important in France. In Hong Kong, we might see Easter bunnies and egg hunts during the Easter holidays. But how is Easter celebrated in France? Let’s learn more about French Easter traditions with Alliance Francaise, and enjoy a happy Easter!
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Learner's Story: Alson
Learning a language is never an easy task, but it is an essential part of understanding another culture. The Alliance Française acts as a gateway for all those who wish not only to master the language of Molière, but also to discover the cultural codes of France and its people. Let's meet more AF students and learn about their learning journey! In this blog, let's take a look at Alson's journey.
Appreciating Molière and French theatre: Webinar by Tang Shu-wing and Christophe Tong Yui
On the 400th anniversary of the birth of Molière, the Consulat Général de France à Hong Kong et à Macao and Alliance Française de Hong Kong organised a webinar with Mr Tang Shu-wing and Dr Tong Yui Christophe. Know more!
8 Online Learning Tools For Teachers and Students in Learning French Language
AFHK has adapted pedagogy strategies with new techniques, in order to maintain a high-quality online learning experience. We summarise 8 online teaching and learning tools. Let’s learn French better together!
La langue de Molière, par Matthieu Motte
In 2022, we celebrate playwright Molière's 400th anniversary! Here is a piece written by poet, literature teacher, and frequent Paroles contributor Matthieu Motte.
6 Female Icons of New Wave cinema
International Women’s Day is coming! What to celebrate? Why don’t Alliance Française de Hong Kong share your the stories of the female icons of New Wave cinema?
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[International Women’s Day] 6 Female Icons of New Wave cinema- more than the directors…
International Women’s Day is coming! What to celebrate? Why don’t Alliance Française de Hong Kong share your the stories of the female icons of New Wave cinema?
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French Cinéma x Emily in Paris
Emily in Paris is back for season 2! Did you notice that some of their posters are paying tribute to La Nouvelle Vague (The French New Wave)?
5 Gaspard Ulliel films featured on Hong Kong French Film Festival
Many of Gaspard Ulliel's films have appeared in the editions of HKFFF: Les égarés, Un long dimanche de fiançailles, Paris je t’aime, Juste la fin du monde, and Saint-Laurent.
Interview with Grégory Koenig
Have you ever wondered why Grégory Koenig, the coach of Hong Kong's fencing team, chose fencing as his career? Do you know the difference between fleuret (foil), épée and sabre? Grégory Koenig's interview is out now!