French Spring in Riga

Festival "French Spring 2007" in Lat-.L via embraces main fields of bilateral relations between Latvia and France - economy, culture, art and tourism. Up to now Latvians used to know France by novels of Zola and by songs of Edith Piaf. France for Latvians means Catherine Deneuve and the fashion of Carl La-gerfeld. Latvians would seek for Matiss and Tulouse - Lautrec in Louvre. Having ascended the Eiffel Tower Latvians remember a fairy-tale about Riga, being the Little Paris told by grandmother, and then realize that they have not had even a smattering of France - just a beautiful and fictional reality which explodes in Riga showing its real essence, turning legends into specific real experience in life and art, allowing to be touched by anyone through pictorial circus performances, as well as the French Film Week, concerts and TV programs.

Riga invited guests from the partnership city of Bordeaux in France to the Conference "Riga - Bordeaux: City Projects" and exhibition "World of Vineyards in Bordeaux Colours, World's Vineyards". The "Fauve Perspective. French Painting at the Beginning of the 20th Century" exhibition from the Bordeaux Art Museum at Latvian National Museum of Art offers an insight into the world of the early 20^th century French paintings. At the Centre of Culture and National Art "Small Guild" the concerts of "French Spring" are continued by Christian Vieus-sens and Valdis Muktupavels, together with Benat Achiary. Brilliant dancing technique and bright emotional message - "French Spring" falls in Riga with a shining poetic message fascinating visitors and allowing immediate approach to French culture.

Culture takes its routes in the secrets of theatre, art, literature, life style and gastronomy, which Latvia finds out this spring also within the frames of the legendary French Cuisine Festival, envisaged to be a magnificent cookery adventure for Riga's citizens and visitors of the city as well. Cookery Showwith participation of several restaurants offering various French dishes and giving insight into winery traditions of the Bordeaux Region and the world philosophy of wine. Students and lecturers from the Paris Grégoire Ferrandi School participate in the Festival. Involving Association of Latvian Restaurants, French students demonstrate their skills at several restaurants in Riga and Jurmala, working together with Latvian cooks and offering traditional French dishes from genuine products.

"French Spring" allows to experience the truth of lightness of the French existence which is not just a myth any more in the consciousness of Riga's citizens and which makes the long cherished tale of France making this country closer.