Fez Festival of World Sacred Music - Medina Nights

The 2012 Fez Festival of World Sacred Music is only a couple of weeks away. This is a timely reminder to make sure you have purchased your tickets. (See full programme here: Programme du Festival de Fès des Musiques Sacrées du Monde 2012)

« Cette roue sous laquelle nous tournons est pareille à une lanterne magique. Le soleil est la lampe ; le monde l'écran ; Nous sommes les images qui passent. »
"This wheel in which we turn is like a magic lantern. The sun is the lamp, the world a screen, and we are the images that pass. " - Omar Khayyam

Between June 8 and 16, in the riads and narrow streets of the Fez Medina,  Morocco's former imperial capital, the chants of Egyptian mystics and Pakistani Sufis will mix with orchestras from Hungary and Italy, Berber rappers, gypsy and Occitan music, soul as well as  blues from Archie Shepp and folk music from Joan Baez. There will also be some  big names from the world of Arab music such as Wadi El Safi and Lotfi Bouchnak.

The festival's inspiration this year is drawn from the writings of Omar Khayyam (1048-1131), a Persian astronomer, mathematician, poet and philosopher to whom the Festival will pay tribute in its 18th edition. The words of Omar Khayyam will resound in an event directed by the Frenchman Tony Gatlif and performed by a troop of actors from around the world". The events staged during the Fez Festival of World Sacred Music include a number of exhibitions in the most evocative parts of the city and the Fes Forum (June 9-12); a talk-fest for comparison and reflection on the profound causes of ideological, political and social change in the world.

THE MEDINA NIGHTS

A special part of the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music is the journey into the heart of the medina over three successive evenings. Amidst the architectural heritage of Arab-Andalusian culture the concerts are held deep in the labyrinthine alleyways of the Fez Medina.

Mahsa and Marjan Vahdat

On Monday 11, Tuesday 12 and Wednesday 13 June you'll find the Following artists at the Batha Museum, and Dar Dar Adiyel Mokri: Mahsa Vahdat & Marjun (Iran) & the Amana Rmiki Ihsan Al Wasi Ensemble (Morocco); Mory Kouyaté Djely and Jean-Philippe Rykiel (France-Guinea), Rabbi Haim Louk and the Arab-Andalusian Ensemble of Fez directed by Abderrahim Souiri; Chérifa (Morocco); Nour Ensemble (Iran-France), Ibn Arabi Ensemble (Morocco); Terra Maire (France), The Song of Songs and a Tribute to Mahmoud Darwish by Rodolph Burger.

SHARE THIS!