At first glance, this year's Fes Festival of World Sacred Music's programme didn't seem all that exciting. But in fact it turned out to be one of the more successful festivals in recent years.
The Fes Meetings were reported to be informative and inspiring and the Festival in the City drew the crowds. The opening concert at Bab Makina by Marcel Khalife, while criticised by some as being 'not spiritual', was a huge success and a much more festive event than many in the past.
Our pick of the highlights include the Corsican group I Muvrini, Keyvan Chemirani's fusion of music from Morocco, Spain and Greece and the Razbar Group from Iranian Kurdistan.
Perhaps the most important innovation was the addition of side screens at Bab Makina to benefit not only those sitting further back, but also wonderful for close-ups of the artists. The video producer did a good job. Common features at large concert venues around the world, these screens are a most welcome addition. We also had a new Arabic/English announcer at the evening concerts, whose English was markedly better, though she could still do with a better-written script.
Artistic Director Gerard Kurdjian and announcer Nadia Lazrak
Audience behaviour was markedly better, with fewer people speaking on their cellphones during concerts, though the phones were still on for taking photos and sending text messages. We only spotted one altercation between an audience-goer and a photographer.
Marked by cold, blustery evenings, this festival saw its share of peculiar behaviour with one woman having a manic episode during a concert, a German man with his dog in a specially-designed backpack, and if you weren't wearing silver, you just didn't make the grade. Organisers had some headaches with three changes to the programme - two of them last-minute when gospel singer Marwa Wright had a heart-attack and was replaced by cousin Patricia Wright, and when Loreena McKennitt had to cancel. She was replaced by Toumani Diabate of Mali, which made for a rousing final concert. Organisers and locals were rewarded by an extra, free concert from Sami Yusuf given to the people of Fez in Boujloud Square on the last night.
All in all, then, a successful Festival. The View from Fez team thanks the organisers for the opportunity to report on the Festival and is looking forward to next year.
The dates of the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music next year have been announced:The Fes Meetings were reported to be informative and inspiring and the Festival in the City drew the crowds. The opening concert at Bab Makina by Marcel Khalife, while criticised by some as being 'not spiritual', was a huge success and a much more festive event than many in the past.
Our pick of the highlights include the Corsican group I Muvrini, Keyvan Chemirani's fusion of music from Morocco, Spain and Greece and the Razbar Group from Iranian Kurdistan.
Perhaps the most important innovation was the addition of side screens at Bab Makina to benefit not only those sitting further back, but also wonderful for close-ups of the artists. The video producer did a good job. Common features at large concert venues around the world, these screens are a most welcome addition. We also had a new Arabic/English announcer at the evening concerts, whose English was markedly better, though she could still do with a better-written script.
Artistic Director Gerard Kurdjian and announcer Nadia LazrakAudience behaviour was markedly better, with fewer people speaking on their cellphones during concerts, though the phones were still on for taking photos and sending text messages. We only spotted one altercation between an audience-goer and a photographer.
Marked by cold, blustery evenings, this festival saw its share of peculiar behaviour with one woman having a manic episode during a concert, a German man with his dog in a specially-designed backpack, and if you weren't wearing silver, you just didn't make the grade. Organisers had some headaches with three changes to the programme - two of them last-minute when gospel singer Marwa Wright had a heart-attack and was replaced by cousin Patricia Wright, and when Loreena McKennitt had to cancel. She was replaced by Toumani Diabate of Mali, which made for a rousing final concert. Organisers and locals were rewarded by an extra, free concert from Sami Yusuf given to the people of Fez in Boujloud Square on the last night.
All in all, then, a successful Festival. The View from Fez team thanks the organisers for the opportunity to report on the Festival and is looking forward to next year.
4-12 June 2010
We apologise for the lack of photographs: our favourite photographer had to leave Fez and missed the last two concerts. Photos will follow as soon as possible.
Tags: Moroccan Morocco Fes, Maghreb news
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