2009 Festival
The 2009 edition of the festival took place from 2–19 July 2009; in October 2008, a press release announced the first three commissions for 2009. These are Prima Donna, Rufus Wainwright's debut opera, Everybody Loves a Winner, a "new theatrical experience" by director Neil Bartlett, and a "unique environment within Manchester Art Gallery" for solo piano, violin and cello JS Bach works, created by Zaha Hadid Architects.
The entire festival programme featuring more than 20 commissions was announced in March 2009. It includes Kraftwerk and a Steve Reich commission being performed at the Manchester Velodrome, performance art by Marina Abramović at the Whitworth Art Gallery, a procession along Deansgate organised by Jeremy Deller and a collaboration between Elbow and The Hallé orchestra. Manchester alternative rock band Epiphany are also appearing as part of the procession. The festival will also feature It Felt Like A Kiss, a multimedia production created by documentary-maker Adam Curtis, Damon Albarn and Punchdrunk theatre company.
Other performers included De La Soul, Lou Reed and Laurie Anderson, Antony and the Johnsons with the Manchester Camerata, Carlos Acosta and The Durutti Column, performing a tribute to the late Tony Wilson.
Read more about this topic: Manchester International Festival
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—Laurence Stallings (1894–1968)