The performance drew inspiration from Arab-Andalusian music, influenced by ancient philosophers such as Al-Firdusi and Al-Kindi.
Princess Lalla Hasnaa led the opening ceremony of the 27th edition of the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music in Fez on Friday evening, running from May 24 to June 1.
The 10-day festival, held under the patronage of King Mohammed VI, has the theme “The Quest for the Al-Andalus Spirit” as a way to celebrate Morocco’s historical ties with Spain – this year’s guest of honor.
Princess Lalla Hasnaa and the attendees were treated to an immersive experience during the festival’s opening performance by Alain Weber.
Titled “Zyriab or the Fifth String,” the lavish opening performance was a joint performance by various international and local artists who brought music from the heart of Andalusia.
Veteran Moroccan actor Rabie Katti took the stage, an imposing figure in a black and gold kaftan, narrating a journey as the audience was taken through different regions in Asia, Europe, and Africa, blending musical traditions from each, Spanish choral songs with Moroccan hand drums, oud with Indian percussion.
Artists from Uzbekistan, Iran, Syria, India, Spain, Egypt, Italy, Armenia, France, and Morocco took the audience through time and diverse landscapes, culminating in the Umayyad court of Emir Abd Al-Rahman II of Cordoba.
The star-studded cast included renowned names representing diverse traditions and cultures, including Rabie Katti, Sanaa Marahati, Smadj, Loup Barrow, the Juan Carmona quartet, and the all-female choir Madalena. The performance drew inspiration from Arab-Andalusian music, influenced by ancient philosophers such as Al-Firdusi and Al-Kindi, who in turn were inspired by the teachings of Pythagoras and Plato.
It paid special homage to the heritage of Abou Al-Hassan Ali Ibn Nafi, known as “Zyriab,” a Kurdish poet, singer, and musician. As the evening sun cast its dying light on Bab Makina (Makina Gate), scenographic lights transformed the gate’s stone walls into a vibrant display of swirling landscapes and traditional art.
Both the attendees and the performers seemed enchanted by the divine performance as the stage lights dimmed and an ominous, spiritual silence descended over the heavenly garden that the stage of Bab Makina seemed to become after the magical opening of the festival.
Morocco World News
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