On 13th of May, Friday, Faculty of History, Languages and Literature, Belinsky Pedagogical Institute, Penza State University, hosted XVII International Festival of French Song which has already become a tradition demonstrating close relations in different spheres of cooperation.

Virginie Tellier, attache of France in Russia for cooperation in the field of the French language, emphasized the importance of this festival, which is “a nice continuation in the number of events of 2016, organized all over Russia within the framework of cooperation between Russia and France in the sphere of tourism”. It is to be recalled that 2016 is announced Year of France and Russia in the spheres of tourism and culture.

This year the festival is conducted under the Days of Francophonie. Francophonie means countries where French is the official language or where most part of the population speak it. Such countries are France, Belgium, Switzerland, Canada, Monaco, Luxemburg and most part of African countries. According to the information from the international organization Francophonie, French is used in the daily life on the five continents by more than 274 million people. French has been the most popular language after English for a long time. More and more schoolchildren choose it as the second foreign language. The importance of the French language in Penza is proved by different cultural events conducted by French Resource Centre of the Faculty of History, Languages and Literature, PSU. The growing number of the festival participants also indicates the interest of Penza citizens in learning “Moliere language”.

The organizers of the Festival of French Song 2016 are the Faculty of History, Languages and Literature, French Resource Centre, the Department of “Foreign Languages and Methods of Teaching Foreign Languages”, PSU, and also “CAP CULTURES” Association (France).

Pierre-Michel Werber, a French composer, producer and arranger, is an honorable guest of the Festival. For many years he has been the dedicated inspiratory and one of organizers of the Festival of French Song.

In his opening speech he spoke about high professionalism of the participants, both in music and in French skills. 27 musicians of all ages, from different parts of the Penza Region, presented their talent in front of the audience. The youngest participant was only four years old; he was from Kuznetsk. His performance didn’t leave anyone indifferent. Representatives of such faraway countries as Morocco and Ghana took part in the Festival for the first time and are planning to perform again.

The repertory was very varied: from folk French songs to modern compositions, from sad romances to driving hits. The Festival viewers and participants – schoolchildren, students, graduates, teachers and mere admirers of the French language – were able to spend time in a festive, romantic atmosphere, to get positive emotions and to share their love of French culture and language.

The Festival of French Song has bright perspectives for further development. A day earlier, in Moscow Pierre-Michel Werber met Mireille Cheval, a coordinator of French alliances’ work in Russia, attache for culture in Russia. On the results of the meeting it was decided to officially support the Penza Festival by the French Embassy in Russia and Alliances Francaises. In particular, famous French performers are planned to take part in the Festival with their support in 2017.