Spring of Culture Festival kicks off

A spectacular entertainment with star-studded acts from across the globe will light up Bahrain as part of the Spring of Culture Festival that opened last night. The festival kicked off last night at the Bahrain National Museum with a tribute performance to Arab world's legendary singer Umm Kulthum. Organisers have promised a rich and diverse programme with more than 35 events, one-third of which are aimed at families. The two-month festival is being held under the slogan 'Embrace the Experience' and coincides with Manama being named Capital of Arab Culture for 2012. The line-up of events includes shows by top Latin singer Julio Iglesias, who will perform in Bahrain for the first time tomorrow night, and a debut performance by legendary opera singer Andrea Bocelli to a sold-out crowd on March 8.