Weekend devoted to French music, culture coming to Phoenix museum

Special to Independent Newsmedia

A weekend full of French music, culture, and hands-on activities is coming to the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix.

Experience France will take place Friday, July 11 through Sunday, July 13. Just ahead of Bastille Day, guests of all ages can enjoy live performances, curator talks, interactive workshops, and creative activities all included with paid museum admission and free for members.

Enjoy the melodic sounds of French music and learn how it shaped the culture through live performances.

All activities happen on Friday, Saturday and Sunday:

9 a.m.-4 p.m.: Craft, Violin

Design and decorate your very own violin-inspired masterpiece with colorful details, embellishments, and personal touches.

9:15–9:30 a.m., 10:15–10:30 a.m.: Accordion Pop-Up Performance, Tony Putrino

Stroll El Río with local accordionist Tony Putrino as he performs notable French songs.

10:30-11 a.m.: Curator Talk, Violin Business

Join Matthew Zeller, MIM’s curator for Europe, to explore the life of the violin’s greatest businessman, Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume, a larger-than-life personality who shaped violin making from the 19th century onward.

11:30 a.m.-noon: Classical String Quartet Performance, Phoenix Symphony

Enjoy French chamber music performed by Symphony members.

12:30-12:45 p.m.: French Arias Pop-Up Performance, Arizona Opera

Hear a beautiful medley of French arias from the Arizona Opera.

1:30–2 p.m.: Renaissance Music Performance, Bartholomew Faire

Be transported to Renaissance France and listen to “street music” historically associated with the period.

2:30-3 p.m.: French Sing-Along Workshop, Helene Bergeon

Learn French words and sing along to popular French tunes.

3:15-4 p.m.: Jazz Manouche Performance, ZAZU West

Experience the music of 1930s Paris with local jazz manouche ensemble ZAZU West.

4:15-4:30 p.m.: Robjohn Organ Demonstration, Valerie Harris

Hear professional organist Valerie Harris play French hymns on MIM’s Robjohn pipe organ.

Experience France is supported by Alliance Française of Greater Phoenix and Phoenix Sister Cities Grenoble Committee. Programming is supported in part by the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture and Arizona Commission on the Arts.