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Morocco: Festival sets tune for world harmony |
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As world top spiritual musicians share the stage of the 12th Fez Festival of World Sacred Music, political figures and thinkers debate ways of bringing spiritual harmony to the globalized world so as to resolve the conflicts that plague various parts of the globe.
In the context of the Fez Festival of World Sacred Music and the Fez Forum "Giving Soul to Globalisation", we wish to make use of this musical paradigm in order to ask ourselves about the harmonisation of spiritual laws, as well as political, economic and social laws. In this way we may be able to improve society and relationships between people," notes Mohammed Kabbaj, President of the Festival in a message addressed to the festival-goers.
"Sacred Music concerns the audible interpretation of the celestial symphony. It reminds us that in order to survive, our planet has to be in harmony with its environment, both far and near," he stresses.
Kicked off on Friday evening by the French-American conductor William Christie with a performance by his orchestra of works by composers including Mozart and Jean-Philippe Rameau, the festival will run until June 10, climaxing with a concert by Malian musician Salif Keita.
Recognized in 2001 by the UNO as an important contributor to dialogue between civilisations, the festival has included, since 2000, a forum called “Fez Encounters,” in which politicians, academics, religious readers and social activists sit together to discuss many issues.
This year’s forum is expected to tackle matters such as poverty, spirituality, economics as well as Islam and globalisation.
The annual festival also reflects the civilisation and cultural richness of Fez, which claims a history of harmony between various cultures, as Muslims, Christians and Jews have lived side by side in the city since its foundation in 789.MAP
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