During an evening, organized at the sumptuous Jnan Sbil garden on the sidelines of the concert of the Swiss group “Scuola Cantorum Basilensis”, Mr. Scheurer underlined the importance of this flagship event for intercultural and interreligious dialogue.
He added that this 27th edition of the Festival is once again an opportunity to celebrate the rich Moroccan-Swiss cultural ties with the participation of two renowned Swiss musical groups, namely, “Treibhorn” and “Scuola Cantorum Basilensis”.
“This extraordinary event provides a unique opportunity for our embassy to engage in this cultural exchange,” said the Swiss diplomat, saying he was “honored to be part of such a prestigious festival that embodies the principles of tolerance and mutual respect .”
Mr. Scheurer hailed the historic setting of the Fez Gardens as a “perfect backdrop” to celebrate music and culture, recalling that the Kingdom is the cradle of a rich centuries-old tradition. “It is a place where history whispers through the leaves where each path tells its centuries-old story,” he emphasized.
For him, the Fez Festival of Sacred World Music illustrates the harmonious coexistence of different religions, recalling, in this regard, the cultural and societal achievements enabled by tolerance and mutual understanding.
“More than a simple artistic event, this meeting serves as a beacon of peace, a value dear to Switzerland,” he maintained.
In this context, Mr. Scheurer spoke of his country’s commitment to promoting peace, a value anchored in the Swiss Federal Constitution. “Peace is cultivated through understanding, and understanding is deepened through cultural exchanges,” he further stressed.
The diplomat expressed Switzerland’s pride in presenting at the Festival the talents of “Schola Cantorum Basiliensis”, a world-renowned institution specializing in ancient and medieval music.
With its 200 students from all over the world, this “leading” school embodies excellence in education and the arts.
“This festival is an invaluable opportunity to honor our common heritage, learn from each other and promote understanding through music,” concluded Mr. Scheurer, looking forward to the meaningful connections made in Fez.
For his part, the president of the Esprit de Fès Foundation, Abderrafie Zouiten, highlighted the opportunity offered by Swiss participation to discover a facet of the rich Swiss culture.
He particularly highlighted the exceptional performance of the ensemble who came to present traditional and medieval music, testimony to ancestral musical history.
Mr. Zouiten expressed the hope of seeing “Swiss friends invited again during the next editions”, stressing that the Fez Festival is now ranked as the first in the world in the field of sacred music.