Princess Lalla Salma chairs opening ceremony of Fez Festival of world sacred music

Fez - Princess Lalla Salma, spouse of king Mohammed VI, on Friday night chaired the opening ceremony of the 14th Fez Festival of world sacred music, held on June 6-15, under the theme "Paths to Creation".
 
    The princess followed the opening concert given by the legend Jessye Norman (USA). In the heart of the magnificent Bab Makina palace courtyard, the great operatic sang with the French Avignon Lyric Orchestra conducted by the American Rachael Worby. Jessye Norman has sung all the major soprano roles and is especially acclaimed for her performances of Verdi's Aida.

    Visitors to this USD 1.5Mn festival can expect a magical experience, because 2008 looks set to be outstanding, as the city celebrates the 1,200th anniversary of its founding.

    Devised by Artistic Director Gerard Kurdjian, the festival will feature a spectacular international line-up, which aims to reflect diverse forms of musical creativity - from grassroots folk music to popular entertainment to the formal European classical traditions.

    The wonderful historic sites of Bab Makina palace, Batha Museum, Dar Tazi gardens and Boujloud Square will host world-renown artists coming from the four corners of the world to celebrate peace and harmony.

    Names such as Mari Boine (Norway), Huong Thanh (Vietnam), Madhup Mudgal (India), Bernice Johnson Reagon with “the Sacred Sound Ensemble” band (USA), Ismaël Lô, Majda Erroumi, Mohamed Abdou, Fadhel Jaziri (Tunisia), Ghada Shbéïr (Lebanon) and Cantus Colln (Germany) will make their appearances on Fez stages, in addition to dazzling dance performances.

    This year, the Fez Rencontre forum brings academics, philosophers, politicians and priests together to examine the role of the sacred in modern life. Mohammed Sarwar, the UK’s first Muslim MP, will be among the speakers.

    Last year U2 spent time in Fez during the festival, writing and rehearsing their new album, set to be released this October. They have since spoken passionately about the transformational experience they discovered at the festival. “Fez is a holy place for musicians,” says Bono, humanitarian activist and singer with the group, “we came to pay tribute and learn. We are on a pilgrimage”.

    Bono’s perspective is shared by Sir Nicholas Pearson, Chairman of The Temenos Academy: “Fez and its sacred music festival have a unique opportunity to become the place where Islam meets the West in open and fair-minded dialogue,” he says. “It is for this reason I believe Fez should become a place of pilgrimage for people of goodwill from all religions. We should come to Fez to resolve our differences and celebrate our common humanity.”

MAP