Kenneth Branagh's MACBETH and More Set for Machester International Festival, Opening Today

Manchester International Festival begins today, 4 July at venues around the city.

Over the opening two days audiences will see several world premieres: Kenneth Branagh's Macbeth, the explosive combination of gig and film in Massive Attack v Adam Curtis featuring Elizabeth Fraser and Horace Andy, Peter Sellars' Michelangelo Sonnets with Eric Owens and Cameron Carpenter and Willem Dafoe and Mikhail Baryshnikov in Robert Wilson's The Old Woman.

The xx begin a sold out run of 18 dates for audiences of just 60 in a specially designed secret space this Saturday. Due to overwhelming demand, the band have added a one-off show at Manchester's Ritz for 1500 people on Tuesday 9 July. Tickets go on sale via www.mif.co.uk at 4pm today.

Visual art commissions begin with the electrifying do it 20 13 featuring the work of 150 International Artists including Gilbert & George, Theaster Gates, Tracey Emin and Ai Wei Wei, and Nikhil Chopra's epic Coal on Cotton, which sees the Indian artist performing day and night for 65 hours, beginning at sunrise on Friday and ending at sunset on Sunday.

The first weekend also features Neneh Cherry performing her new album for the first time; Sufi superstar Abida Parveen in her first UK date in a decade; and an evening celebrating the work of John Tavener with the BBC Philharmonic, including the premiere of If Ye Love Me, written for a 75-strong women's voice choir formed specially from local faith groups.

On Saturday, The Biospheric Project throws open its doors and invites the wider world to become part of its groundbreaking urban farm experiment on the banks of the River Irwell. Economist and broadcaster Evan Davis leads a distinguished panel for Are We Powerless? a debate on the global financial crisis and the power of protest.

From noon on Friday 5 July, Albert Square becomes Festival Square, the heart of MIF13. Improved and expanded for this year's Festival, audiences can expect good food, Thwaites Festival Ale, free music twice a day on the outdoor stage, free DJs in the Pavilion until late and an extended programme of music, theatre and in conversation in the Festival's own Pavilion Theatre. Late night events kick off with Drunk at Vogue on Friday; Saturday sees Rob da Bank presenting a musical A-Z of Manchester with photographer Kevin Cummins supplying some of his iconic images of the city.

Over the full 18 days of the Festival featured artists and events include Matt Charman'snew play The Machine, directed by the Donmar Warehouse's Josie Rourke and starring Hadley Fraser and Francesca Annis; Tino Sehgal's Turner-nominated workThis variation; Maxine Peake in Shelley's The Masque of Anarchy; a preview ofMatthew Barney's new film River of Fundament; first outings for albums fromGoldfrapp and MONEY; Despacio - the world's greatest soundsystem as designed byJames Murphy and team; Mogwai perform their original soundtrack to Zidane, a 21stCentury Portrait for the first time, alongside a screening of the film; a specially curated strand of music and comedy from SB.TV's Jamal Edwards; new shows for children and families from Inne Goris; a rare performance from pianist Martha Argerich and much more.

Manchester International Festival is the world's first festival of original, new work and special events and takes place biennially in Manchester, UK. The Festival launched in 2007 as an artist-led, commissioning festival presenting new works from across the spectrum of performing arts, visual arts and popular culture. Highlights of previous Festivals include Damon Albarn, Jamie Hewlett and Chen Shi-Zheng's Chinese operaMonkey, Zaha Hadid Architects' new space for the music of Bach, Björk's ambitious three week Biophilia residency and The Life and Death of Marina Abramovi, starring Abramovi, Willem Dafoe and Antony (Antony & The Johnsons).

Box Office: www.mif.co.uk / Quaytickets +44 (0)844 375 2013

Download the full MIF13 brochure at www.mif.co.uk/MIF13brochure.

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