Fes Festival of World Sacred Music Inspires Forces for Change through Cultural Expression

Fes Festival of World Sacred Music Inspires Forces for Change through Cultural Expression

The festival is featuring a line-up of 43 musical performances and four panel discussions with dozens of famous artists and renowned speakers from a total of 29 countries.

Full Fes Festival Line-up: http://www.fesfestival.com/2013/indexen.php







FES, Morocco, June 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Mahatma Gandhi said, "Love is the strongest force the world possesses and yet it is the humblest imaginable." This resonated with the Director General of the Spirit of Fes Foundation, Faouzi Skali, when announcing the theme, Reflection of Andalusia, at the 19(th) rendition of Fes Festival of World Sacred Music in Morocco. Seeking to inspire forces for change this year, visitors are gathering in Morocco's cultural, spiritual and intellectual capital for musical offerings and insightful panel discussions.

The 2013 theme explores the cultural and spiritual relationship between Fes and Moorish Andalusia, which flourished for 800 years until the late 15th century. Skali, who founded the festival in 1994, believes "music is the common language of humanity, it has the ability to move us all and this year the festival speaks to valuing change and acceptance."

At opening night in the Bab Al Makina, over four thousand viewers, including King Mohamed VI's wife, Princess Lalla Salma, crowded the beautifully lit main stage. Love is My Religion was introduced with a specially commissioned dance, poetry and musical extravaganza directed by flamenco dance maestro Andres Marin. More than 60 Arab-Andalusian, Sufi, Amazigh and Spanish flamenco artists took part in the spectacle.

American singer-poet Patti Smith and Spanish flamenco guitarist Paco da Lucia will be headlining beneath the stars at the Bab Al Makina main stage - a parade ground attached to the Royal Palace that according to one festival visitor is "like walking into the Arabian nights."

New to the festival this year is the venue Jnan Sbil Gardens where Shems'y National Circus Schools programs will be featured. The acrobatic circus has grown out of a desire to improve quality of life for street kids in Morocco and uses performing arts as a tool for change and inspiration. More information is available at http://www.ecoleshemsy.org/.

The Fes Forum will be centered on the theme of A New Andalusia: local solutions for global disorder over the course of four mornings in the Batha Museum. Discussion topics may be found at http://www.fesfestival.com/2013/indexen.php.

FESTIVAL VENUES
Batha Museum | Bab Al Makina | Dar Adiyel | Dar Mokri | Dar Tazi | Place Boujloud

TO FOLLOW FES FESTIVAL ON SOCIAL MEDIA/UPDATES:

Facebook | Twitter #fesfestival | www.fesfestival.com
http://www.fesfestival.com/
Programs, artists and speakers are subject to change.

Visit the multimedia page on the festival's website at this link for footage from the event.

Media Contacts

Zeyba Rahman
Z.Rahman@espritdefes.com

Eziza Sid'Ahmed (Morocco)
supports.communication@espritdefes.com
+212.661.225.647

SOURCE Fes Festival of World Sacred Music

Fes Festival of World Sacred Music

Web Site: http://www.fesfestival.com/2013


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