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London 2012 Festival kicks off around the UK London 2012 Festival kicks off around the UK
(about 2 hours later)
  
A fireworks display, an inflatable Stonehenge and Jude Law will help launch the London 2012 Festival later.A fireworks display, an inflatable Stonehenge and Jude Law will help launch the London 2012 Festival later.
A 50ft replica of a ship, which has been built in Birmingham, will also be unveiled as part of the celebrations.A 50ft replica of a ship, which has been built in Birmingham, will also be unveiled as part of the celebrations.
The 12-week nationwide festival of culture will feature opening performances from pop star Pixie Lott and conductor Gustavo Dudamel.The 12-week nationwide festival of culture will feature opening performances from pop star Pixie Lott and conductor Gustavo Dudamel.
The headline events also include artist Jeremy Deller's inflatable Stonehenge, which comes to Carmarthen, Wales.The headline events also include artist Jeremy Deller's inflatable Stonehenge, which comes to Carmarthen, Wales.
It will then travel around the UK for the rest of the festival.It will then travel around the UK for the rest of the festival.
Among the other first night highlights are:Among the other first night highlights are:
  • A pyrotechnics show, entitled Lakes Alive: On the Night Shift, which will light up the Cumbrian skies at Windermere. It coincides with the arrival of the Olympic Torch Relay and marks the world premiere of the production by French street arts company Les Commandos Percu.
  • In Northern Ireland, The Peace One Day Global Truce Countdown Concert takes place in Londonderry, where actor Jude Law will host performances from the likes of Pixie Lott, Imelda May and Newton Faulkner. It will be streamed live on YouTube.
  • The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra will perform the UK premiere of Jonathan Harvey's choral work Weltethos. Conducted by Edward Gardner, the work is based on texts from six of the world's largest religions: Confucianism, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity.
  • The Big Concert, in which The Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela performs at an open air concert against the backdrop of Scotland's Stirling Castle.
  • A pyrotechnics show, entitled Lakes Alive: On the Night Shift, which will light up the Cumbrian skies at Windermere. It coincides with the arrival of the Olympic Torch Relay and marks the world premiere of the production by French street arts company Les Commandos Percu.
  • In Northern Ireland, The Peace One Day Global Truce Countdown Concert takes place in Londonderry, where actor Jude Law will host performances from the likes of Pixie Lott, Imelda May and Newton Faulkner. It will be streamed live on YouTube.
  • The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra will perform the UK premiere of Jonathan Harvey's choral work Weltethos. Conducted by Edward Gardner, the work is based on texts from six of the world's largest religions: Confucianism, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity.
  • The Big Concert, in which The Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela performs at an open air concert against the backdrop of Scotland's Stirling Castle.
The Big Concert will be led by one of the world's most renowned conductors, Gustavo Dudamel, who will be joined by 450 children from the notoriously troubled estate of Raploch in Stirling.The Big Concert will be led by one of the world's most renowned conductors, Gustavo Dudamel, who will be joined by 450 children from the notoriously troubled estate of Raploch in Stirling.
The children are part of The Big Noise - a classical music project based on Venezuela's inspirational El Sistema ­movement, that has helped street children from slum areas.The children are part of The Big Noise - a classical music project based on Venezuela's inspirational El Sistema ­movement, that has helped street children from slum areas.
"This is beautiful," said Dudamel. "How music has changed this community, with the commitment of the children, the passion that they have, the discipline?"This is beautiful," said Dudamel. "How music has changed this community, with the commitment of the children, the passion that they have, the discipline?
"We are so proud to be here, so happy and so honoured. It's really something big"."We are so proud to be here, so happy and so honoured. It's really something big".
Fans can watch the concert live on BBC Four from 2100 BST.Fans can watch the concert live on BBC Four from 2100 BST.
More than 130 events take place in the festival's opening weekend alone, including the Radio 1 Hackney Weekend, headlined by Jay-Z and Rihanna.More than 130 events take place in the festival's opening weekend alone, including the Radio 1 Hackney Weekend, headlined by Jay-Z and Rihanna.
Around 100,000 people are expected at the free London gig, which takes place over Saturday and Sunday.Around 100,000 people are expected at the free London gig, which takes place over Saturday and Sunday.
'Value for money''Value for money'
The London 2012 Festival will see more than 25,000 artists from all 204 Olympic nations take part in events across the UK.The London 2012 Festival will see more than 25,000 artists from all 204 Olympic nations take part in events across the UK.
But the current economic climate means the event's £55m price tag has attracted plenty of criticism. Festival director Ruth Mackenzie maintains it is "pretty good value for money", calling it "a once-in-a-lifetime event".But the current economic climate means the event's £55m price tag has attracted plenty of criticism. Festival director Ruth Mackenzie maintains it is "pretty good value for money", calling it "a once-in-a-lifetime event".
"I assure you, for a 12-week festival over the entire United Kingdom, compared to the budget for just three weeks in Edinburgh or the two weeks in Manchester, frankly it's a pretty small investment," she said."I assure you, for a 12-week festival over the entire United Kingdom, compared to the budget for just three weeks in Edinburgh or the two weeks in Manchester, frankly it's a pretty small investment," she said.
Other highlights include comedian and musician Tim Minchin performing at The Eden Project in Cornwall and an exhibition of Olympic and Paralympic posters at London's Tate Britain in London.Other highlights include comedian and musician Tim Minchin performing at The Eden Project in Cornwall and an exhibition of Olympic and Paralympic posters at London's Tate Britain in London.
Artist Martin Creed will mark the opening day of the Games on 27 July by asking people across the UK to ring a bell for three minutes from 8am. Artist Martin Creed will mark the opening day of the Games on 27 July by asking people across the UK to ring a bell for three minutes from 08:12 am.
The "large-scale artwork" will be led by the Royal Navy and bellringers, but everyone will be encouraged to get involved with anything from doorbells to bicycle bells.The "large-scale artwork" will be led by the Royal Navy and bellringers, but everyone will be encouraged to get involved with anything from doorbells to bicycle bells.
'Uniting the country''Uniting the country'
Yorkshire poet Ian McMillan and composer Tim Sutton have written Cycle Song, a brand new opera celebrating Scunthorpe's rich cycling history.Yorkshire poet Ian McMillan and composer Tim Sutton have written Cycle Song, a brand new opera celebrating Scunthorpe's rich cycling history.
Next month's show will feature a community cast of 1,700 performing alongside professional opera singers and aerial artists.Next month's show will feature a community cast of 1,700 performing alongside professional opera singers and aerial artists.
McMillan admits he is gripped by Olympic fever and even has tickets for the basketball and hockey, but he says it is hard for people around the UK not to write the event off as a "London thing".McMillan admits he is gripped by Olympic fever and even has tickets for the basketball and hockey, but he says it is hard for people around the UK not to write the event off as a "London thing".
"We know it is a London thing but I think the whole country's involved in the cultural bit of it and that should be the excitement," said McMillan."We know it is a London thing but I think the whole country's involved in the cultural bit of it and that should be the excitement," said McMillan.
"But isn't it a shame that they call it the London 2012 Festival?" he added."But isn't it a shame that they call it the London 2012 Festival?" he added.
"Surely it would be better to call it the 2012 Festival? We don't need the word London, we know where it is!""Surely it would be better to call it the 2012 Festival? We don't need the word London, we know where it is!"
However, Festival director Mackenzie said one of the key aims of the London 2012 Festival is to unite the country and make them all feel part of the Olympic celebrations.However, Festival director Mackenzie said one of the key aims of the London 2012 Festival is to unite the country and make them all feel part of the Olympic celebrations.
She told the BBC: "It is really important that Northern Ireland, which doesn't have any of the sporting events, has the opening event for the London 2012 Festival, along with Stirling in Scotland, and our friends in Birmingham and in Wales."She told the BBC: "It is really important that Northern Ireland, which doesn't have any of the sporting events, has the opening event for the London 2012 Festival, along with Stirling in Scotland, and our friends in Birmingham and in Wales."