Good evening and welcome.

I’m delighted to return to the Fes Festival and be with you here in this enchanted city. These days and nights are magical, aren’t they? The music here truly lights up the world.

I want to thank Mr. Abd al Rafi Zouitane and the Fes Foundation for all their efforts in making this beautiful vision a reality.

The theme this year is the Quest for Al-Andalus and I couldn’t be happier to join that quest. 

The passionate sound of flamenco holds a very special place in my heart. 

You’re going to hear it throughout our evening together as it weaves in and around Moroccan and Central Asian melodies and rhythms. 

You just heard my composition titled ‘Ven Mi Alma’. Now I’d like to introduce you to the extraordinary musicians who are joining me on stage.

On percussion, the heartbeat of the music, we are joined by Mohammad Jaberi, from the UK and Eren Bayram, from Türkiye.

And we’re so fortunate to have more amazing musicians from Türkiye with us:

on oud, Bayramcan Boy; on qanun, Emin Bayram; and on ney, Tolga Saracoglu. 

And from this beautiful country Morocco, birthplace of arts and spirituality, we are so blessed to have with us an enormously talented vocalist: Nabyla Maan.

Also from Morocco, gracing us with his presence on stage, is a very special vocalist who always goes straight to the heart of a piece and immerses his listeners in its beauty: Ismail Boujia. Sidi Ismail brought with him the talented vocalists of his group who are adding such richness to all the pieces tonight. Their names are as follows:

Mostafa El Lachkar
Elouafi Mohammed
Soufyane Jabrane
Mahmoud Ketami
Hamza Idrissi
Kamal Nejjar

and the brilliant Mohammad El Wafi.

Huge thanks to them.

Next, from Spain, I’d like you to meet the illustrious flamenco singer, 

Israel Moro. He brings all the passion and nuance of his much-loved tradition to share with us tonight. And he does so brilliantly. Israel Moro, everybody.

Also from Spain, please welcome the talented artist José Manuel Léon on flamenco guitar. He brings with him the rhythms and melodies of Andalusia in a masterful performance.

From his home country of Morocco, we’re delighted to have with us the versatile guitarist Tarik Hilal, a master of the instrument in its many expressions. Welcome, Tarik.

A special guest from France is with us tonight. The award-winning classical guitarist Antoine Morinière joins us for his first performance at the Fes Festival.

Completing the ensemble who are with us, are three remarkable musicians who come from different countries, but whose dedication and art are at home anywhere:

On santur, maestro Mostafa Momenianrizi has traveled from Iran.

On balaban, Magsad Azizov is joining us from Azerbaijan.

And on baglama, please welcome Eren Turan from Türkiye.

The pieces you’ll hear now are all new arrangements that weave together strands from the flamenco tradition to Azerbaijani mugham to Sufi music of Morocco and mawwals of Andalusia. Lyrics from mystical Spanish and Arabic poetry converse across time and space.

To each of the musicians present, my deepest thanks. Your immense talent and generosity of spirit are a delight.

And to each of you in the audience, who have made this journey to Fes, thank you for being here and for listening with an open heart.

Enjoy!