| Hakim Hayat |
THE week-long French-Bruneian Arts Festival concluded last evening with an all-white themed mocktail and dinner, that saw guests being entertained with a variety of musical performances.
Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah binti Pengiran Haji Salleh Ab Rahaman graced the dinner at The Empire Hotel & Country Club, along with her children Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Muda ‘Abdul Muntaqim ibni Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Muda Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah and Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Anak Muneerah Madhul Bolkiah binti Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Muda Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah.
The festival, which aimed to promote French-Brunei cultural ties, saw art exhibitions and film screenings throughout the week, and last evening’s grand-finale featured local students and teachers from Yippy Tune Music School performing solo and group instrumentals and singing of a range of popular and traditional French, Malay and English songs reflecting Brunei-France ties.
Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Anak Muneerah Madhul Bolkiah performed a piano solo and also joined other students singing several songs.
Loan Forgeron, French Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam, in her speech conveyed her deepest gratitude to those involved in the success of the week-long event that she said “is testament to the strong and faithful support to French cultural events”, thus reflecting the strong ties between France and Brunei Darussalam.
She said the wonderful performances last evening mirrored the true language of friendship, tolerance and peace.
Yann Carpentier, Director of Alliance Française de Brunei, in his speech said he hopes that such events will provide opportunities and a wider market to boost creative and cultural talent here which will in turn help economic diversification efforts in Brunei’s economy and also promote tourism here.
Guests were treated to a three-course French dinner, in the backdrop of live musical performances.
Also attending the dinner were Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong, the Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism, and his spouse.
Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah binti Pengiran Haji Salleh Ab Rahaman and Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Muda ‘Abdul Muntaqim ibni Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Muda Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah at the all-white themed mocktail and dinner concluding the week-long French-Bruneian Arts Festival. – PHOTOS: BAHYIAH BAKIR
Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Anak Muneerah Madhul Bolkiah binti Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Muda Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, performing a piano solo.
Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Anak Muneerah Madhul Bolkiah, Siena Hoon and Shayna Goh performing a French children song, ‘Promenons-nous dans le bois’.
Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong, the Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism at the event.
Children performing a song from the musical, ‘Matilda’.
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