The Adelaide French Festival is on this weekend from Friday 12 to Sunday 14 January. Here are 10 ticketed events we recommend at the festival.
FRIDAY: SO FRENCHY SO CHIC
The first So Frenchy So Chic in the Park in Adelaide and the first So Frenchy So Chic in the Park held in the evening. All the details are here. Buy your tickets for the 2nd release price of $81.50 instead of the gate price of $91.
SATURDAY
For all AGES: RABBIT IN THE MOON
French theatre troupe, Vélo Théâtre, will tell us a nocturnal story in “There is a rabbit in the moon”. The show will be on at 11 and 2pm. Tickets $25 for adults and $15 for children.
POL ROGER CHAMPAGNE MASTERCLASS
At the Pol Roger champagne masterclass instructed by Trevor Maskell, sommelier at the Cordon Bleu, you will learn about how champagne is made and how it differs from sparkling wine as well as the differences between vintage and non-vintage champagnes, This class will take place at the Bistro at 3pm Saturday and costs $50.
PERFUME MASTERCLASS
In the French perfume masterclass, you will learn not only about the history of and how perfume is made, but you will get to make your own personal perfume. The masterclass will be taught by Samantha of The Powder Room and costs $50. It is on at 11:30am and 2pm and lasts an hour.
LA SOIREE CLICHE
At 7:30pm, The Adelaide Festival Centre Banquet Room will be transformed into a French Salon for La Soirée Cliché. The evening will feature a meal prepared by the restaurant Cliché, live art by Emma Hack and music from the wonderful Baby et Lulu, who sing both French covers and their own original French inspired songs. Maeve O’Mara from SBS’ Food Safari will be the MC for the night. Tickets for La Soirée Cliché cost $110.
SUNDAY
CHAMPAGNE AND CHEESE MASTERCLASS
If you like to have cheese with your champagne – there will be a masterclass on the Sunday taught by Valerie Henbest of The Smelly Cheese Shop and Trevor Maskell, sommelier at the Cordon Bleu, who is leading the Champagne Masterclass on Saturday. The masterclass is given in English at 11:30am or in French at 1:30pm Tickets cost $50.
ART STORIES
At 3pm, at the Space Theatre, “Art Stories : An exchange with Zephyr Quartet & Guests” will be an hour-long talk about the voyage of French explorer Nicolas Baudin and his mission to exchange music and art as a tool of peaceful communication. It will be bookended by the music of the Zephyr Quartet. The discussion will be led by people from the South Australian Maritime Museum as well as people from the community. Tickets cost $10.
A TRIP TO THE MOON
At 5pm, at the Nexus Arts Centre, a special event A Trip to the Moon is a tribute to the films of one of the pioneers of cinema, Georges Méliès. His silent films will be played while three ensembles will put their own soundtracks to them. Tickets cost $15.
FREDERIC VAYSSE-KNITTER
Also at 5pm, but at the Dunstan Playhouse, French pianist, Frédéric Vaysse-Knitter, will play French composer, Claude Debussy’s arrangements in “Frédéric Vaysse-Knitter plays Debussy” Tickets cost $40.
SERAPHIM TRIO
At 7pm at the Space Theatre, the Seraphim Trio will play Maurice Ravel’s songs in “Seraphim Trio Plays Ravel”. This is a rare chance to see the trio play not just as a trio but separately with a piano solo, a violin and cello duo and then again as the piano, violin and cello trio. Tickets cost $40.
SONGS AND STORIES OF THE PARIS LIDO
« Songs and Stories of the Paris Lido » will transport you to the Lido in Paris where French singer, Caroline Nin will take us on a journey with Lola Lola, lead singer. She will sing songs by the greats including Marlene Dietrich, Edith Piaf, Shirley Maclaine, Liza Minnelli and Noel Coward. She is known for her smoky voice with jazz influences. See her on Saturday at 5pm and Sunday at 7:30pm at the Dunstan Playhouse. Tickets are $45.
Have you bought your tickets for the Adelaide French Festival? Which shows are you going to?
