Grammy award-winning Canadian jazz pianist and singer, Diana Krall, will be one of the major attractions alongside Saudi singing sensation Mohammed Abdo, popularly known as 'The Artist of the Arabs', at the fifth Spring of Culture festival that opens with a workshop tomorrow.
The festival is set to run throughout March and promises an exciting range of diverse events from music, theatre and dance to films, art and book exhibitions and lectures. Young Bahraini talent will also be showcased through a new initiative that sees musicians, artists and performers present their creativity alongside international and well-established artistes.
Among other 'must see' performances will be the modern version of Mozart's opera classic, The Magic Flute, brought to life by Orchestra di Piazza Vittorio from Italy who will combine the talents of a 20-nation orchestra to blend musical styles from reggae to jazz.
Your calendar of events
February 25
Tarek Atoui
Empty Cans: Workshop and game
Date: February 25 to March 6
Time: Afternoons and weekends
Venue: Al Riwaq Gallery
Type: Educational workshops
Minimum age: 12 to 18 years
March 1
Trio Tomb
Time: 8pm
Venue: Culture Hall
Type: Song
Minimum age: 8 years
March 2
As the land expands the world gets closer
November Paynter
Time: 7pm
Venue: Al Riwaq Art Space
Type: Exhibition
My experience at The Baalbeck Festival
May Arida
Time: 8pm
Venue: Shaikh Ebrahim Centre
Type: Lecture
March 6
My Dream
China Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe
Time: 8pm
Venue: Culture Hall
Type: Dance Theatre
Minimum age: 8 years
Film screening for children and adults
Dates: 6, 13, 20, 27
Time: 11am and 5pm (Children), 7pm (Adults)
Venue: Al Riwaq Art Space
Type: Film Screening
March 7
Distorted Reality
Faisal Samra
Dates: 7 to 28
Time: 7pm
Venue: Albareh Art Gallery
Type: Exhibition
March 8
In honour of Turfa bin Alabed
Mohammed Moncef Ouhaibi
Time: 8pm
Venue: House of Poetry
Type: Poetry
March 9 And 10
The Human Jungle Gym
Galumpha
Time: 3.30pm and 5:30pm
Venue: Culture Hall
Type: Theatre
Minimum age: 5 years
March 11
Amirat Attarab, Arab Divas
Dorsaf Hamdani
Time: 8pm
Venue: Shaikh Ebrahim Centre
Type: Song
Minimum age: 8 years
Dikakeen
Waheeda Malullah
Dates: 11 to 13
Time: 10am and 4pm
Venue: Manama Souq
Type: Exhibition
Galumpha
A workshop in acrobatic partnerships
Time: 4pm to 5pm, 6pm to 7pm
Venue: Salman Cultural Centre
Type: Educational workshops
Minimum age: 7 years
March 12
Diana Krall
Time: 8.30pm
Venue: Arad Fort
Type: Song
Minimum age: 8 years
Tickets: BD15, 20 and 30
March 14
Oud around the world
Omar Bashir and his Band
Time: 8pm
Venue: Culture Hall
Type: Music
Minimum age: 8 years
Collective Design
Dates: 14 to 31
Time: 7pm
Venue: Albareh CafŽ
Type: Exhibition
March 15
Fluidity and design
Zaha Hadid Exhibition
Date: 15 to April 30
Time: 6pm
Venue: Memory of the Place - Bin Matar House
Type: Exhibition
Philippe Aractingi
Time: 8pm
Venue: Shaikh Ebrahim Centre
Type: Lecture
March 16
Farida Mohammed Ali
and The Iraqi Maqam Ensemble with special guest Omar Bashir
Time: 8pm
Venue: Culture Hall
Type: Song
Minimum age: 8 years
March 17
BalŽ De Rua
Dates: 17 and 18
Time: 8.30pm
Venue: Arad Fort
Type: Dance and Percussion
Minimum age: 8 years
Tickets: BD10, 15 and 20
Bahrain 14th International Book Fair
Dates: 17 to March 27
Time: Daily 9am to 1pm and 4.30pm to 10.30 pm
Friday 4.30pm to 10.30pm
Venue: Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre
Type: Exhibition
March 18
Animalia
Learn the Ancient Art of Shadow Puppetry
Time: 5pm to 6pm
Venue: Bahrain Fort Museum
Type: Educational workshops
Minimum Age: 7 years
March 19
Animalia
Hobey Ford
Dates: 19 and 20
Time: 11am and 3:30pm
Venue: Culture Hall
Type: Theatre
Minimum age: 2 years
BalŽ De Rua
A Vibrant Brazilian Dance Fusion
Time: 4pm to 6pm
Venue: Salman Cultural Centre
Type: Educational workshops
Minimum age: 14 years
Afro Moses
Everyone has Rhythm, Everyone Can Play the Drums
Time: 5pm to 6pm
Venue: Bahrain Fort Museum
Type: Educational workshops
Minimum age: 13 to 18 years
March 20
Afro Moses
Time: 5pm
Venue: Arad Fort
Type: Music
Minimum age: 1 year
Tickets: BD7
March 22
Opening of the extension of Abdulla al Zayed house
for Bahraini Press Heritage
Time: 7pm
Venue: Al Zayed House Extension
Type: Opening
The importance of a solid foundation for culture
Gisele Khoury
Time: 8pm
Venue: Al Zayed House
Type: Lecture
March 23
Amazing Thailand
Sbun-nga Dance Company
Time: 8pm
Venue: Culture Hall
Type: Dance
Minimum age: 8 years
March 24
An evening of song with Ahmad Kaabour
Time: 8pm
Venue: Shaikh Ebrahim Centre
Type: Song / Encounter
Minimum age: 8 years
March 25
The Magic Flute
Orchestra di Piazza Vittorio
Time: 8:30 pm
Venue: Arad Fort
Type: Song
Minimum age: 8 years
Tickets: BD10, 15 and 20
The Italian Garden
Children's Cheering Carpet
Dates: 25 to 27
Time: 11am and 5pm
Venue: Salman Culture Centre
Type: Theatre
Minimum age: 4 years
Entry: Registration required
March 26
Jungle Book
City Dance
Dates: 26 to 27
Time: 5pm
Venue: Culture Hall
Type: Theatre
Minimum age: 5 years
March 29
New Vision: Arab Contemporary Art in the 21st Century
Salwa Mikdadi
Time: 8pm
Venue: Shaikh Ebrahim Centre
Type: Lecture
March 30
Mohammed Abdo
Time: 8.30pm
Venue: Arad Fort
Type: Song
Minimum age: 8 years
Tickets: BD30, 40 and 50
Samaia
A Georgian Dance Lesson
Time: 5pm to 6pm
Venue: Arad Fort
Type: Educational workshops
Minimum age: 7 years
March 31
Let it be Jewellery
Dates: 31 to April 5
Time: Daily 9am to 1pm and 4pm to 8pm
Venue: Bahrain National Museum-Hall 1
Type: Exhibition
Samaia
Georgian Legend
Time: 8pm
Venue: Culture Hall
Type: Dance
Minimum age: 8 years
Convex: A new perspective
Rashid Al Khalifa
Date: April to May
Venue: Bahrain National Museum
Type: Art Exhibition
l For more information on events call 39900630; for workshops call 39230848 or visit www.springofculture.org
Tickets for Arad Fort events are available at Seef Mall West Extension and Al Osra supermarket in Saar.