Salamanca plans cultural feast

Rodin's The Kiss: Sculpture exhibition planned

The Spanish city of Salamanca is planning a host of cultural activities to mark its role as Europe's joint culture capital for 2002.

Events include 123 plays, dance and opera productions, 100 concerts and 52 exhibitions.

Situated in the province of Castile and Leon, the city is one of medieval Europe's principal academic centres.

It shares the 2002 honour with the Belgian city of Bruges and is the third Spanish city to receive the accolade after Madrid and Santiago de Compostela.

Spain takes over the rotating presidency of the 15-member European Union from Belgium on 1 January.

History

On the menu are classical and modern concerts, plays and contemporary art, and an exhibition of Rodin sculpture.

Salamanca's history will act as the theme for many of the events, said Alberto Martin, project coordinator for the city.

"The whole programme has been built around two themes - Salamanca, City of Knowledge and Meetings, as well as a city of reflection," Martin said.

"Tradition and innovation, as well as classicism and modernity will balance each other out," he added.

A highlight will be a performance of the opera Orpheus by Italian composer Claudio Monteverdi, conducted by Jordi Savall.

Savall will also present a recital based on musical theatre in Spain's Golden Age.

Other classical works will include a series of baroque operas, and the première of Lindsay Kemp's version of The Fairy Queen by Henry Purcell.

In the area of modern art, an exhibition entitled, To Eat or Not to Eat will explore the relationship between art and food over the last four centuries.

Twp photography exhibitions will focus on American Helen Levitt and Frenchman Henri Cartier-Bresson.