Today we’re turning the spotlight on the South, because this weekend, January 12th and 13th, 2013, the city of Marseille will celebrate its entry into the European Year of Culture in grand style!
The launch will kick off at nightfall on Saturday, January 12th, with a Parade of Lights, a massive urban sound event, 1 minute of total darkness for the city, and will conclude with a grand finale featuring spectacular fireworks launched from five points across the city.
In the city center, where 400,000 m2 will be reserved for pedestrians, visitors will be able to discover ice sculptures, confetti cannons, a 150-musician marching band, a baroque ball, an electro orchestra, or Venetian music as they wander through the neighborhoods…
The stakes and expectations surrounding this Marseille cultural year are high, and 2013 will certainly be the perfect time to pay a visit to the Phocaean city.
As part of Marseille-Provence 2013, European Capital of Culture, Lieux publics, the national creative center dedicated to art in public spaces, is offering an original program organized around multidisciplinary artistic projects throughout the city, from iconic Marseille landmarks like the Canebière or the calanques to more unexpected locations.
On the program: performances, monumental installations, shows, open-air exhibitions, urban games… will punctuate the year 2013, designed with artists from all over Europe and inviting thousands of Marseille residents to participate.
In September and October 2013, Métamorphoses will be the major event of the season for Marseille-Provence 2013, European Capital of Culture.
The event will invite European artists from all artistic fields to play with the city in three acts spread across three locations in Marseille’s city center: the Grand Ensemble around the Canebière, the Contemporary Fairground through the Saint-Charles station, and the Ephemeral City at Place Bargemon.
- A major urban parade, live music/video on facades on Friday, September 20th and Saturday, September 21st at 8:30 PM (duration: 1h15)
- 20 Marseille companies and artists invite the public to their table, set up on the Canebière on Sunday, September 22nd from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM
- On 20/20, you’ll be treated to 20 shows of 20 minutes each
- Vertical suspension dance theater with Rodrigo Pardo, on Thursday 26, Friday 27, Saturday 28 at 8:30 PM and 10:00 PM (duration: 30 minutes)
- An urban musical journey to the rhythm of Haitian Rara on Friday 27 and Saturday 28 at 8:00 PM (duration: 4h00)
- The installation of an ephemeral city at Place Bargemon from October 1st to 6th
I wish you all a wonderful year of Provençal culture! And to find all the information on Marseille-Provence 2013, visit the website: http://www.mp2013.fr
Find all my articles on Marseille below:
⇒ All my articles on Marseille
⇒ All my articles on the PACA region
MY ARTICLES ON MARSEILLE
⇒ Getaway to Marseille (2017)
⇒ Stay at the Nhow Marseille (2018)
