Fes Festival - June 19

Another day and more interesting performances at the Fes Festival under sunny skies and with warm temperatures

Reviews
Kol Cole- Synagogue

Another false start was on the cards today, as festival-goers arrived at Ibn Danan Synagogue to enjoy Kol Colé ensemble. However, the concert had been moved to the nearby Synagogue Fassiyine. As usual, none of the festival management were present to inform ticket holders of the new location.

With some determination they meandered to the new venue, which was unable to seat the number of attendees. People stood for the duration of the concert, nevertheless eager to hear music steeped in Jewish tradition in such an apt venue.

Moldovan percussionist/vocalist 

Kol Colé was founded in Cologne, Germany, but unites musicians from across countries. They frequent mostly Jewish weddings and celebrations, but have travelled to Fes today to perform somewhere quite different.

In keeping with the spirit of the festival, they draw on musical traditions from across the Abrahamic faiths- evoking the fields of rural Ukraine, the Qanun songs of Syria, the shepherd flocks of Russia and old Jewish chansons.

 German accordion player

The mixed ensemble included an Ukrainian violinist, a German accordion player, a female Moldovan percussionist/vocalist and a  German accordion player.

They entered the stage looking pleased at the packed our room before them. Greeting the audience with both Shalom and Salaam, they began with a spritely piece that mixed melancholic melodies with the energy of the accordion.

Syrian qanun (lap harp) player

It wasn't long before the audience were clapping and bouncing their feet as if we were at a Jewish wedding. Introducing an old Turkish piece, they told the audience to feel free to dance and clap whenever they pleased.

Despite the temperature rising in the venue and the audience starting to sweat beads, few left early. Despite there being fewer locals than at other performances, the concert was a crowd pleaser.


World Youth Baroque Ensemble
with the Andalusia Music Orchestra of Fes

Beginning quite a while after the adhaan had sounded for maghreb prayers, and the sun had slipped below the horizon leaving a lonely purple sky, the ensemble finally made it to the stage. Half an hour late felt like nothing to the regulars.

The World Youth Baroque Ensemble is an incubator for talent, encouraging young musicians with natural musical ability to develop and share their love for music across borders. The original ensemble was born in Rome, where students from universities, conservatories and colleges from both sides of the Mediterranean united to form an ensemble.

It has been 18 years since, and they have gone from strength to strength, with many of their former members now playing in the world’s most renowned orchestras.

Tonight on stage were eight violinists, a double bassist, a cellist and lutenist, all led by their charming and humble conductor Damiano Giuranna. Introducing the composer of their first piece, Durante from Napoli, he told the audience that now the “Napolis would be inside Fes”.

Clearly a naturally expressive and gesticulating individual, he was born to be a composer, and relished personifying the mood of each twist and turn of the composition.

The string bands played expertly and with enjoyment, but there was a surprise in the mix- suddenly a tall blonde alto emerged to sing with the accompaniment of the orchestra. Impassioned, with the right balance between freedom and control, she performed with a rather melodramatic grace.

The Baroque style is not for everyone, and a touch too dusty and nasal for myself, but the audience seemed to enjoy it, although the applause was more muted than the previous nights. A few were nodding off but perhaps given the music's calming effects. If it wasn't for the energy of the conductor the performance would have been rather static.

Reviews and photographs: Venetia Menzies

Tomorrow at the Festival

HOMAYOUN SAKHI – AFGHANISTAN - 16:30
Venue: Jardin Jnan Sbil

KOL COLÉ – GERMANY - 18:00
Venue: Synagogue

HOW FAR IS IT FROM THE SUN TO THE EARTH? - 19:00
Venue: Palais Glaoui

YOUSSOU NDOUR 21:00
Venue: Bab Al Makina

RABEH MARIWARI – SAID SENHAJI - 22:00
Venue: Place Boujloud

LA TARIQA RISSOUNYA : ENSEMBLE DIAMANT BLEU DU MADIH ET SAMAE DIRIGÉ PAR YOUSSEF TAZI-CHEFCHAOUEN - 23:00
Venue: salle de la préfecture Fès Médina

LE BALLAKE ORKESTRA -16:30
Venue: Jardin Jnan Sbil

Weather: Partly cloudy and 32 Celsius

SHARE THIS!