Romaeuropa Festival 2018: Between Worlds Opens with Kirina

The 33rd edition of the Romaeuropa Festival begins September 19, 2018, and runs until November 25 across multiple venues in Rome. Titled 'Between Worlds,' the festival emphasizes artists from non-European countries, including Africa, China, Argentina, Lebanon, Israel, Iran, Japan, and Vietnam. Artistic director Fabrizio Grifasi describes the festival as a space for mediation and reconciliation between opposites. The opening performance is 'Kirina' by Serge-Aimè Coulibaly, featuring music by Rokia Traorè and text by Felwine Sarr, a Senegalese economist and philosopher who advocates for autonomous regional development outside the Western paradigm. The festival includes sections for children (REfKids) with works dedicated to Berio and Ligeti, and a new focus on technology and performance called Digitalive, curated by Federica Patti. Other curated sections include Anni Luce (theater) by Maura Teofili, Dancing Days (dance) by Francesca Manica, and REfKids+Family by Stefania Lo Giudice. The festival also features works by artists such as Omar Rajeh, Caroline Guiela Nguyen, Wen Hui, Cecilia Bengolea, Lola Arias, Sharon Eyal, and Peter Brook. Grifasi highlights the importance of public support and the challenge of operating in Rome's less continuous cultural scene compared to other European cities.