Paco de Lucía, Björk, Patti Smith, Tomatito or Carlos Núñez are some of the names that have performed in Espiritu de Fez
On this occasion, the theme chosen to structure the program is architecture
Since 2019, the cultural event that, annually, unites ties between Morocco and Spain. It is known as the Spirit of Fez, for being the city of the Alaouite kingdom in which it is celebrated every spring. Now, after overcoming the toughest times of the pandemic, this spirit returns with renewed strength. For the first time, moreover, it has been presented in Madrid. All previous editions had their starting signal in Barcelona, which is the city most linked to the entities that are part of the organization. Thus, the launch party took place in Puerta del Hierro, in the courtyard of the residence of the Moroccan ambassador to Spain Karima Benyaich.
The Sacred Music Festival is one of the artistic events of the year in Morocco. This has been the case since 1994, when it was founded by Mohammed Kabbaj i Faouzi Skali, whose objective was to bring together a representative sample of the so-called “sacred music of the world”, or what is the same, folk from different parts of the worldespecially if they have some kind of historical link with Morocco.
Paco de Lucia
At the Festival of Sacred Music they always have a large Spanish expedition. First swords of the folklore of our country have paraded through the stages of Fez. Paco de Lucia, Jose Merce, Jordi Savall, Tomatito o Carlos Nunez They have been some of the artists who have represented us in said event. Also other names of international relevance, such as Björk o Patti Smith.
The event, which this time will be held in Fez between June 9 and 12, will feature this time a Spanish group that is not dedicated to music. Is about Delrevésa Barcelona vertical dance company that will star in the opening ceremony in the Bab El Makina enclave, the central stage of the four that are enabled.
The program for this edition will feature the presence of artistic companies from more than 15 countries, highlighting musicians from Oman, Kazakhstan, India, France, Italia, Senegal o Tibet. And this year’s theme will be architecture. Because, although it is a music festival, each year it becomes a monograph of a common element among the participating countries.
The last edition held, that of 2019, had water as its protagonist. This time it is the turn of the buildings. Something with obvious local connotations, since the city of Fez has the largest and oldest medina in the world, which is in turn one of the main tourist attractions of the city.
“From the Gothic cathedral to the Hebrew synagogue, from the immaculate marble of Mongolian India to the zelliges clay from the imperial mosques of Morocco. This time we will analyze how men of all religions have expressed their search for the sacred through architecture. The exploration of some of the most emblematic religious buildings in the world will transport us to this long and rich dialogue between man and the divine”, they say from the organization.
Atletico Madrid
The presentation ceremony, which took place on May 19, was attended by personalities such as the minister Ana Pastor or the president of Atlético de Madrid, Enrique Cerezo. The president of the festival joked with him, Abderrafia Zouitene, who explained to the audience an anecdote with his son: “I was having dinner one day with Florentino Pérez and I phoned my son, who is a big football fan, to talk to him. When he told him, he refused, telling me that he was a fan of Atlético de Madrid”.
The presentation of the festival at the residence of the Moroccan ambassador featured a performance by the Cádiz-born singer Jesus Mendez and his flamenco group, who shared the stage and songs with the Moroccan folk singer Marouane; an artist who is precisely born and raised in Fez.
From the organization they underlined the difficulties that the cultural panorama has gone through in times of pandemic. Circumstances that even caused fear for the continuity of the event. But, once the toughest restrictions have been overcome, Morocco has opted for its continuity. A festival that, they say, comes to strengthen the emotional ties between Spain and our neighbors to the south.
Related news