Manchester International Festival has unveiled its full 2019 programme, running from Thursday 4-to Sunday 21 July across various venues. The festival produces original work, and this year presents 20 UK and world premieres. Following the departure of festival founder, Alex Poots in 2015, this is the second bianniel festival under the artistic direction of John McGrath. Highlights of the just-announced line up include Yoko Ono‘s mass-participation project, Bells for Peace and a residency for iconic filmmaker David Lynch who takes over Home for the duration of the Festival with his largest UK exhibition of visual art to date. Idris Elba and Kwame Kwei-Armah collaborate for the first time on Tree, a journey into the soul and spirit of contemporary South Africa through music, drama and dance, while the legacy of Nico (Velvet Underground singer and muse), is celebrated in The Nico Project, by actress and writer, Maxine Peake, and former RX artistic director, Sarah Frankcom. Grime artist Skepta presents DYSTOPIA987, a futuristic take on the history of rave culture at a secret Manchester location while contemporary composer Philip Glass and opera director Phelim McDermott team up for Tao of Glass, a meditation on life, death and wisdom. There will also be the world premiere of a major two-part commission to mark the 200th anniversary of Peterloo including a new work by composer Emily Howard and poet Michael Symmons Roberts, performed by, among others, the BBC Philharmonic and BBC6 Music presenter, Mary Ann Hobbs, has curated an all-female electronic music programme which includes Janelle Monáe, Abida Parveen and Chrysta Bell, MIF19 also sees a new look for the popular Festival Square take over of Albert Square, featuring a large new stage showcasing free live acts, DJs, talks and performances. The square will also host the MIF Supper Clubs, featuring a series of Michelin-starred chefs (watch this space for more).
Thu 4 – Sun 21 Jul, various venues, times and price, www.mif.co.uk
- Words:
- Ruth Allan
- Published on:
- Thu 7 Mar 2019
