International Festival of Symphonic Music kicks off in Algiers

The 5th International Festival of Symphonic Music kicked off Thursday night in Algiers by a show performed by the National Symphony Orchestra and the Czech Republic’s “Suk Chamber Orchestra,” led by Algerian maestro Hacene Larbi. The festival’s first evening was held at the esplanade of Moufdi Zakaria Culture Palace, where the organizers of this edition which will run until September 19, installed a transparent tent overlooking the Bay of Algiers containing over 1,200 seats. The programme of this opening ceremony, which included Georges Bizet, Louis Hector Berlioz, Léo Delibes, Jacques Offenbach, Sid Ahmed Belli, Antonin Dvorak and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, was in two parts. The storytellers Ines Belet (mezzo-soprano) and Ami Nakamura (soprano) alongside Yann Toussaint gave a performance which highlighted their register in an outstanding vocal prowess. Many other orchestras are in this festival’s programme such as Syria’s Symphony Orchestra, led by Missak Baghboudarian, Iraq’s Symphony Orchestra, led by Mohamed Amin Izaat and Tunisia’s Symphony Orchestra led by Hafedh Hakni.