« This Universal wheel, this merry-go-round In our imagination we have found The sun a flame, in the Cosmic lantern bound We are mere ghosts, revolving, the flame surround. »
Omar Khayyam
Since time immemorial, poets, singers, musicians, storytellers, acrobats, magicians and dancers have always known how to reveal the fragility of our emotions, to awaken the depths of our spirituality and to celebrate the festive joy lies dormant in each of us
To re-enchant the world is what our invited artists will do at this Festival, whatever their muscial language, be it Arab-Andalus, Judeo-Arab, Baroque, Sufi, Gospel or Byzantine, folk or avant-garde pop, whether it is through the sama'a of the founding brotherhoods of Morocco, or through the bhajan, the praise-song of India, the blues of Black America or Cathar and Berber laments, the virtuosity of gipsy music, great Arab song or the monotone chants of Africa ...
The approach is not to lock the spectacle of a musical performance into one simple act of cultural consumption but to allow it to be guided with inspired voices that rise ever more sinuously and intensely to reveal the extraordinary creativity of man in his desire for eternity, freedom and love.
During the Festival, this attempt to re-enchant our souls will often be the preserve of women, enchantresses of East and West like Joan Baez, always full of grace and determination; Björk, a fairy-like visionary of nature; Sanam Marvi and the Vahdat Sisters who bring us the Sufi poetry of Pakistan and Iran; Ihsan Rmiki, singer of Andalus music, and Chérifa, whose voice is intense.
With the contribution of Haim Louk and the Rodolphe Burger concert of the Song of Songs as a tribute to Mahmoud Darwich, the poetry will be in Hebrew as well as in contemporary Arabic.
The opening concert of this Festival takes the form of a hymn to life. The poetry of the great Omar Khayyam, an embodiment of the quest for bliss, is celebrated with a multitude of artists from Central Asia, Iran, the Arab world both of the Maghreb and Europe. Directed by Tony Gatlif, whose films also celebrate music and life, this concert pitches us into an ancient saga that has great relevance today.
Alain Weber
Artistic Director
