Commissioned by Manchester International Festival and the Imperial
War Museum to respond to the conflict in Iraq, Steve McQueen wanted to find a way to bring these people into our everyday lives, our homes and workplaces as a reminder of our country’s participation in the war. This project is both a tribute to the deceased and a reflection upon the validity of war, the structure of power and notions of national identity.

The work is a collaboration with the families of the deceased, to whom the artist acknowledges a huge debt of gratitude. They each chose the photograph of their lost child, spouse or partner that is reproduced on the stamp. A few families have preferred not to participate – a decision that has been fully respected.

At the start of the project, 115 families were asked to participate, of whom 98 agreed. Unfortunately, this is a work in progress; since then more soldiers have died. Their families will all be asked if they wish to partake in the project.

These stamps are not official. Talks with Royal Mail are ongoing with hope that, given the blessing of the families, an official set of stamps might be issued.

This work is dedicated to all victims of the Iraq war, including an estimated six hundred thousand Iraqi men, women and children. This is the first presentation of Queen and Country. The project will travel to London in July.

The project was produced in collaboration with Thomas Dane Gallery, London.

With Darius Khondji and Peter Saville

Co-curated by Hans Ulrich Obrist and Philippe Parreno

Directed by Philippe Parreno
Assisted by Ann-Christin Rommen

Featuring musicians from the Royal Northern College of Music and the RNCM Symphony Orchestra

Leading contemporary artists swapped the gallery for the stage in an audacious event that redefined the very meaning of the word ‘exhibition’. They delivered original works of art that existed purely for the duration of their performance in the Opera House, leaving audiences moved, bewildered and thrilled.

‘A historic occasion… The ambitions of the curators were perfectly matched by the quality of the art’ The Daily Telegraph

‘Contemporary surrealism at its bizarre best’ The Independent

‘Contortionists, bulls and dog-headed men – now that’s a show’
The Guardian

The attic at the Museum of Science & Industry’s 1830 Warehouse emerged out of semi-retirement for this extraordinary piece, based on the World War II memoirs that inspired the Oscar-winning film of the same name. Captivated audiences left nightly in near-silence, haunted by the ghosts of Szpilman’s story, the delicacy of the music and the evocative beauty of the building itself.

‘When Rudy plays Chopin, it is as if a window has been opened, revealing a beautiful world beyond the destruction‘ -
The Independent on Sunday

‘It’s theatrical magic’ – Lancashire Evening Post

The launch event of the first Manchester International Festival is a circus opera for the 21st century, based on an ancient Chinese legend but reworked as a dazzling spectacle involving more than 40 Chinese circus acrobats, vocalists and performing martial artists.

For centuries, the epic tale of the Monkey King’s journey of enlightenment has been an omnipresent part of Chinese culture, delighting young and old with its heady mix of adventure, mystery and magic. Now, East meets West in Monkey: Journey to the West, a new production that reinvents the legend with a thrilling combination of music and action.

The show has been adapted and directed by Chen Shi-Zheng, whose credits range from Chinese opera and theatre to the Hollywood movie Dark Matter,
starring Meryl Streep. The music has been composed by Damon Albarn and the design and animation is by Jamie Hewlett, the artists behind award-winning virtual band Gorillaz.

Designed and created by the Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris in co-production with Manchester International Festival and the State Opera House, Berlin (Staatsoper Unter den Linden).

Click here to visit the gallery of photographs of this year’s events. More images are being added frequently.

Some of the Festival’s commissions are still open for visitors. Click here to view our programme and to read about our events, both continuing and finished.

What the press had to say about the 2009 Manchester International Festival:

‘18 utterly exhilarating days’ Manchester Evening News ‘Beguiling match-ups galore’ The Times ‘A terrific festival’ The Independent

‘A bumper package of daring new work’ Financial Times ‘A month-long programme of spellbinding events’ Manchester Metro News ‘An ambitious and exciting programme’ The Telegraph

‘A jewel in Britain’s cultural crown’ Classic FM – The Magazine ‘Exciting and electrifying’ Sunday Express ‘Manchester International Festival upsets the status quo by exclusively staging original work — and only letting in the very coolest of cool kids’ The New York Times

‘Perfect union of sound and space’
The Independent

Click here to view images from this event.

The solo works of Johann Sebastian Bach are beautiful and audacious, striking and sensual. The same can be said for the remarkable creations of Zaha Hadid, one of the most artistic and forward-thinking architects of her generation. In response to Bach’s music, Zaha Hadid Architects has created an extraordinary new chamber music hall, which has been installed within Manchester Art Gallery and is accessible until 1 September.

Across a series of nine concerts, three internationally acclaimed musicians performed Bach’s solo instrumental works in this unique, intimate space. The aim: to create a near-perfect environment for the audience to experience some of the world’s most beautiful chamber music. A union of two true originals, three centuries apart.

Zaha Hadid Architects Zaha Hadid and Patrik Schumacher – watch them talk about their project

Piotr Anderszewski – Piano
Partita No. 2 in C minor
Partita No. 6 in E minor
Interval
English Suite No. 6 in D minor

Jean-Guihen Queyras – Cello
Cello Suite No. 1 in G major
Cello Suite No. 4 in E-flat major
Interval
Cello Suite No. 2 in D minor
Cello Suite No. 3 in C major

Alina Ibragimova – Violin
Sonata No.2 in A minor
Partita No.2 in D minor
Interval
Sonata No.3 in C major
Partita No.3 in E major

FREE
Daytime entry to the installation is free. It is open for viewing 4 July – 31 Aug, Tue – Sun (and Bank Holiday Mon) 10am – 5pm.

Commissioned by Manchester International Festival, Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation and Holland Festival.
Produced by Manchester International Festival and Manchester Art Gallery.

Image: © Zaha Hadid Architects

Manchester Procession online
Procession also has its own website full of information about the event and its exhibition. Click here to explore.

Photo © Tim Sinclair

‘A love song to opera’ The Times, 4-stars
‘Disarmingly beautiful’ New York Times
‘Thrilling’ Manchester Evening News
‘Breathtaking design’ The Guardian

Watch an interview with Rufus Wainwright at the premiere of Prima Donna

View pictures of the show here

(Video clip below.)

Paris. Bastille Day. 1970. Régine Saint Laurent, once the world’s most revered operatic soprano, is preparing for her return to the stage after six years of silence. But in doing so, Régine is forced to confront the ghosts of her past. Can she defeat the demons that destroyed her career, and emerge triumphantly once more into the spotlight?

Prima Donna is composed by the acclaimed singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright and realised with award-winning director Daniel Kramer, British designer Antony McDonald, leading French conductor Pierre-André Valade, celebrated soprano Janis Kelly and the combined talents of Opera North.

Performed by the Orchestra of Opera North

Watch more clips of Rufus Wainwright on Prima Donna here – clip 2 clip 3

Commissioned by Manchester International Festival and Luminato, Toronto.
Produced by Manchester International Festival and Opera North.
With thanks to Alistair Spalding for his collaboration and support. Developed with the support of Sound and Music.

Image: Janis Kelly / soprano © Antony Crook

‘I have never seen a more ambitious, elaborate example of site-specific work’
Benedict Nightingale – The Times

Click here to view images from this event.

Imagine walking into a disused building. You find yourself inside a film. It is a ghost story where unexpected forces, veiled by the American Dream, come out from the dark to haunt you…

It Felt Like a Kiss tells the story of America’s rise to power in the golden age of pop, and the unforeseen consequences it had on the world and in our minds. Beginning in 1959, the show spotlights the dreams and desires that America inspired during the ’60s, when the world began to embrace the country and its culture as never before. But as this daring production unfolds across five floors, blending music with documentary and the disorientating whirl of a fairground ghost train, the audience is forced to face the dark forces that were veiled by the American dream – a dream that ultimately returns to haunt us all.

Created by Adam Curtis and Felix Barrett with Punchdrunk
Original music composed by Damon Albarn
Recorded performance by Kronos Quartet and Damon Albarn
Directed by Felix Barrett
Film by Adam Curtis
Recording produced by Damon Albarn and David Harrington

Please Note
The audience will be admitted in groups of 9, every 10 minutes.
This is a promenade, walk-through production, the duration of which is variable – please see information box to the right.
Please wear suitable footwear.
This show is suitable for 16+ years.
The show is not suitable for people of a nervous disposition.
Production contains strobe lighting and theatrical smoke.

New: short trail for It Felt Like a Kiss:

Thanks to Allied London for the use of their venue in Spinningfields.

Commissioned by Manchester International Festival and the BBC. Produced by Manchester International Festival and Punchdrunk.

An Audience with… offers an opportunity to get up close and personal with Elbow’s Guy Garvey, actor/comedian John Thomson, and writers Jackie Kay and Lemn Sissay, all of whom will talk about their personal and professional lives with series curator Dave Haslam.

Semi-Plugged, meanwhile, showcases some of the best new bands in Manchester, performing their own material and one-off covers alongside a number of special guests. This is a celebration of the best of the city, perhaps providing a glimpse of the artists who may be headlining the Festival in future years.
 

True Faith after-parties
Everyone is welcome at the True Faith after-parties in the Festival Pavilion bar next door. DJs such as Ashley Beedle, Don Letts and Fujiya & Miyagi will be playing from 9.30pm until late. Admission is free. See the full list of DJs at the Festival Pavilion here.

Series curated by Dave Haslam