Blur star Albarn premieres opera in Oasis's backyard

It has been interpreted by some as an Essex boy's ultimate act of revenge on his old Mancunian rivals. Damon Albarn, whose feuding with Manchester's Oasis was legendary back in the 1990s, takes centre stage in the Gallagher brothers' own back yard tomorrow night when the premiere of his first opera launches the inaugural Manchester International Festival.

But Albarn's opera, which is based on the Chinese legend of the Monkey King's enlightenment and premieres at the city's Palace Theatre, has been inspired by something far bigger than settling old scores. It is the centrepiece of a biennial festival featuring only original and new work which, for pure modernity and pizzazz, has given the Edinburgh International Festival's new director, Jonathan Mills, much to think about even before the first curtain goes up.

Manchester's own festival director, Alex Poots, knows a bit about innovation, having taken the English National Opera to sing Wagner at Glastonbury in his last job but getting Albarn to write Monkey: Journey to the West was audacious. Albarn has been to only one opera in his life - Monteverdi's L'Orfeo, directed by Shi-Zheng, the director and original conceiver of the new work.

But Monkey: Journey to the West promises to be one of the great cultural spectaculars of the year, building on a story made famous by the 1980s cult television show Monkey. Although it will travel to a number of international cities, Manchester will be its only UK venue.

Other offerings in a festival which promises at times to be as bizarre as it is dazzling include the Hallé Orchestra premiering an oratorio based on a Salman Rushdie novel incorporating a silent film by Mike Figgis.

There is also the dancer Carlos Acosta presenting the world premiere of his Tocororo Suite with a live Cuban band; and a club night at which the dancefloor will pound to sounds delivered by Fatboy Slim, Carl Cox and others while a silent film of Manchester's textile industry plays on the world's largest indoor screen. A provincial imitation of Edinburgh, this most definitely is not.

The itinerary was also well beyond the wildest imaginations of Manchester city councillors a few years back when they first came up with the idea of hosting an international cultural festival that would build on the profile delivered by the Commonwealth Games in 2002. Mr Poots told them he did not want to settle for "shopping" - buying in pre-existing works simply to "ape another festival".

Instead, he wanted original pieces. It was an expensive proposition - Manchester's budget is £9m - but the city pumped in £2m and the private sector has added £3.5m, with expected box office receipts for the 18-day festival of £2.5m.

The result includes some extraordinary multi-sensory experiences, including the chance to tuck into Heston Blumenthal's festival creations in a pavilion designed by the award-winning Stephenson Bell while watching previously unseen footage of the Sex Pistols and Buzzcocks at their historic 1976 Free Trade Hall gig.

None of this has been entirely encouraging for neighbouring Liverpool which, despite expending a mass of energy on its preparations to be 2008 European Capital of Culture, continues to toil under the challenge.

Cultural organisations in Liverpool were forced to issue a statement of support for 2008 last week after Liverpool City Council's Labour leader Joe Anderson quit, citing too many elitist events and too many individuals "wasting money on a bloated corporate entertainment budget".

Liverpool's plans range from Sir Simon Rattle's return to his native city to conduct the Berlin Philharmonic, to a footballers' wives fashion show. But with no mention yet of Paul McCartney, Willy Russell or Alan Bleasdale, Liverpudlians can be forgiven for gazing up the M62 with a little envy.

Manchester's success has led a number of that city's most celebrated artistic talents to indicate their frustrations at the prejudice southerners have for the North-west. Damon Gough of Badly Drawn Boy and Craig Cash, writer and star of The Royle Family, are among several to have collaborated on a new DVD, coinciding with the festival, which aims to put the record straight, as part of a North West Development Agency campaign "The Beautiful North".

The DVD features Gough accompanying the Manchester Camerata and may be the start of further orchestral collaborations for the singer. "There is so much more character up here," Cash told The Independent during filming for the DVD. "I could never imagine myself sitting down writing something set in London."

Another comic, Johnny Vegas, will have his first work for theatre, Interiors, shown at a house in a secret location in Manchester.

The festival highlights

Monkey: Journey to the West: Featuring more than 40 Chinese circus acrobats, vocalists and performing martial artists, Damon Albarn's interpretation of Chen Shi-Zheng's The Monkey King will open the first night of the festival.

Ground Beneath Her Feet: Adapted from the book, the composer Victoria Borisova-Ollas has turned Salman Rushdie's epic novel of love, celebrity and tragic desire into a full-length concert piece featuring the Hallé orchestra and Alan Rickman as the narrator.

Smokey Robinson: Described by Bob Dylan as America's "greatest living poet", Robinson is making a rare appearance at the Bridgewater Hall on 30 June. Known for his high tenor voice, impeccable timing and profound lyrics, Robinson's career has spanned more than 40 years.

Kanye West: The multi-platinum, critically acclaimed rap star and the brains behind John Legend, Jay-Z and Ludacris, West will play the Manchester Apollo on 2 July, bringing a dose of bling and Hollywood glitz to the festival.

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