Canadian performer to take part in Francophonie celebrations in Delhi

New Delhi, Mar.7 : Canada's contributions to this year's Francophonie Week celebrations in New Delhi will include a performance by an outstanding artist from Quebec. Yann Perreau, a self-educated poet, composer and performer will give a concert at the Alliance fran§aise on March 13, 2008.

Yann Perreau took his first professional steps in music when he was only 18, leading a band. In the year 2000, he initiated a collaboration with renowned bassist and director Gilles Brisebois, which lead to Perreau's first solo album, "Western Romance," acclaimed by the critics. Three years later, he produced his second album, " Nucleaire," directed by Eric Goulet.

Critics were once again unanimous and Yann Perreau's unique place on Quebec's music scene was now clearly established. His show, "Perreau et la lune" (Perreau and the moon), has been running successfully throughout 2007. An intimate show, which received rave reviews, already allowed a look at the hidden face of an extraordinary artist. Perreau's recent book, "Perreau et la plume" (Perreau and the pen) hints that there are still many facets of this young artist left to uncover.

Perreau's concert in New Delhi will be held at M.L. Bhartia Auditorium, Alliance fran§aise de Delhi, 72, Lodhi Estate, New Delhi. It starts at 7pm.

The concert is sponsored by the governments of Canada and Quebec, the Alliance fran§aise and the Goethe Institute.

The Canadian High Commission's participation in Francophonie Week celebrations in New Delhi and around the world reflects Canada's linguistic duality. French is one of the two official languages of Canada, and the first official language of 7.3 million Canadians.

Every year, Francophones and Francophiles the world over celebrate the Journee internationale de la Francophonie on March 20. The day is an opportunity for Canada to celebrate its attachment not only to the French language and the rich and diverse Francophone culture, but also to the values of peace, democracy and respect for human rights. These are all elements that unite the members of the International Organization of La Francophonie.

The vast majority (86 percent) of Francophones in Canada live in Quebec. Close to one million are spread throughout Canada's other provinces and territories, mainly in New Brunswick.

Canada was an active participant in the founding of La Francophonie on March 20, 1970, in Niger. It remains very active and has notably hosted on its soil the following meetings of the OIF: the Francophonie Summit in Quebec City (1987) and in Moncton (1999); the Francophonie Games in Ottawa-Hull (2001); and the Francophonie Ministerial Conference on Conflict Prevention and Human Security in St. Boniface, Manitoba, in 2006.

ANI