Event

The impressive ruins of the largest coliseum in North Africa, a huge amphitheatre which could hold up to 35,000 spectators, are found in the small town of El Jem. This 3rd-century monument illustrates the power and extent of Imperial Rome. 10 days between July and August, The International Festival of Symphonic Music of El Jem is taking place. It is about one or two shows a week between a variety of symphony and Jazz. I had the opportunity to attend the opening show with the orchestra opera ball of Vienna. The show is supposed to start at 21:30. This is the first time I attend this event. The main reason which pushed me to come is how much I wanted to see the coliseum at night. Its a beautiful summer evening, soft breeze. Outside the monument, I can see that he coliseum seem all lightened inside. When I get inside, I just take a sit, gaze at the enchanted place decorated with candles. Eyes toward them as they are placed on the ruins, the candles twinkle brightly like Diamonds that light up the night. I watched people a few minutes before the show start. I can see that some regulars, the same people who flock to the Tunisian symphony orchestra as usual each year. My left neighbors are the curious who wanted to see what it was like this festival much talked about. Just on my right side, some young boys who do not stop call their friends asking them if they are getting close. Just in front of me there is a group of young adults discussing internship and job interviews, a book by Paulo Coelho on the knees as well caught my eyes. I can hear all my neighbors. There are also, some musicians with fuzzy hair, came for inspiration in this timeless place while some children, upset, were dragged there by parents who hope to have some fun. This time I think the 26th edition of the festival might welcome all people who seek either relaxation or enjoying high quality music. It is obvious that the music lovers and lovers of the great classics will be happy to see on stage the famous Symphony Orchestra of Vienna.

All roads lead to El Jem I guess. After ten minutes, the show begins. Actually, since it was the opening, we have to listen first to a short speech. We have to wait till the music start. There was little crowd when we already hear the musicians tune their instruments. The first notes rise into the sky of this beautiful night decorated with stars. They are billions on the sky, well-designed and ordered. Thirty musicians and a huge talent delight assistance for a little over two hours, including the music of the Strauss family. The public is not very expert, for the most part, but we appreciate the tenor and soprano who invade the stage of their exceptional voices and two pairs of dancers who enslave romantic waltzes and polkas. The audience particularly applauded the young virtuoso British-Tunisian Yasmine Azaiez who performed a piece noted, the romance of Beethoven No. 2, where the sweet notes rise like a bird's song of the violin in contrast to the serious music threatening played by the orchestra. The young Tunisian artist closed her performance by a very moving moment where she performed solo Samra Samra ago, played this folklore by the orchestra and the public was hanging in the air. The music from elsewhere, rising in the midst of small lights that illuminate the lodges of the ancient coliseum still standing, giving a mystic look to this place risen from the mists of time and one cannot help think of the bloody fighting that made the glory of this arena. It is funny to witness a soft event of classic music between orchestra and audience instead of bloody battles between a brave man and a lion. It's already the end of the program, but the conductor offers us an unexpected gift by his musicians to interpret a graceful song. The audience sings the words delighted. It was an marvelous night. After this journey through time and space, the quiet little town of El Jem find the voice of the muezzin who usually take over its rights at a time when the early morning. The visitors came back home till the following year. ( I included Some pictures of this event )

These are 2 pictures I took myself :

A vi

of t

Orchestra

The young girl I tal ed about in the article

The ballet dancers with the orchestra