Roman Holiday, a European-style funfair, will open on the Pudong
waterfront in Shanghai on September 10.
The six-week carnival, which has proven extremely popular with
Italians for the past eight years, will celebrate Italian culture
with performances, food and drink, and fashion and lifestyle
product shows.
"Roman Holiday marks the first large-scale Sino-Italian cultural
exchange program since the establishment of a comprehensive
cooperative relationship between the two countries," said Alex Jan,
deputy director of the event's organizing committee.
A five-year contract has been signed to stage Roman Holiday in
Shanghai annually to introduce more Chinese people to Italy and
Europe, according to Jan.
He revealed that the Shanghai SHL Art Event Co. Ltd., one of the
sponsors, is investing 60 million yuan (US$7.2 million) in the
event. "Street Performances of Italy" is one of its main
attractions.
Dating back to the 12th century, street performances featuring
music, acrobatics, fireworks, magic shows and dramas have seen a
revival all over Europe in recent years.
"It will definitely be a crowd pleaser," Jan said.
Michele Soranzo, a PR manager from Roma Concerti Srl, an Italian
partner, pointed out that traditional street performances revolve
around audience participation. "It will be an experience that will
be totally new to Shanghai."
Shanghai's Roman Holiday will also welcome a number of major
bands that are veterans of lively European festa.
"The Latin spirit of festa has been kept in many ways, but we
have added a more international flavor, which can better represent
Shanghai and the many cultures of the city," said Soranzo.
A number of stars from Asia will also join in the song and dance
performances to add a touch of homegrown flavor, according to
Jan.
At the specially built Disco Hall, some of the world's top 20
DJs will spin their sounds.
All Roman Holiday activities will take place in an Italian
village built along a stretch of the Pudong waterfront in the
bustling Lujiazui area.
A number of famous Italian architectural landmarks will be
recreated, including a 24-meter-high Leaning Tower of Pisa, the
Coliseum, Spanish Square, the Arch of Constantine, the Bocca della
Verita (Mouth of Truth), Venetian canals and gondolas, and the
Bologna Church.
Soranzo promised that the architecture would be one of the most
exciting features of the event.
A major stage musical written for Shanghai's Roman Holiday will
make its world premiere.
When it was last staged in Rome, the event attracted 1.5 million
visitors, a figure that organizers are certain will be beaten this
year in Shanghai.
(China Daily September 7, 2004)