Fez — The legendary voices of Arab music will return to the stage in Rabat and Casablanca as Tunisian conductor and violinist Amal Guermazi brings Mazzika Orchestra to Morocco for two performances on October 22 and 23.

Organized by Top Event Production, the concerts will take place at the Mohammed V National Theater in Rabat on Thursday, October 22, followed by the Studio des Arts Vivants in Casablanca on Friday, October 23.

The performances will celebrate the musical legacies of Oum Kalthoum, Fairouz, Warda, and Abdel Halim Hafez through contemporary orchestral arrangements that preserve the original melodies while introducing new musical interpretations.

Arab classics through a contemporary orchestra

The program features some of the most recognizable songs in Arab music history, including “Enta Omri,” “Alf Leila w Leila,” “Fakkarouni,” “Batwaness Bik,” and “Kalimat.”

Through these compositions, Mazzika Orchestra revisits songs that have accompanied generations of listeners across the Arab world, bringing their melodies to life through a contemporary orchestral approach.

At the center of the performances stands Guermazi, who moves between conducting the orchestra and playing the violin.

This dual role has become one of the ensemble’s defining characteristics, allowing her to combine orchestral direction with instrumental expression throughout the performances.

Rather than replacing the original arrangements, Mazzika seeks to preserve their musical identities while expanding their sound through contemporary instrumentation and orchestral interpretation.

A conductor dedicated to Arab musical heritage

Guermazi combines an international performing career with academic research into Arab musical traditions.

The Tunisian musician holds a doctorate in music and musicology from Sorbonne University in Paris, where she developed her expertise in the study, preservation, and transmission of Arab musical heritage.

Her work explores the relationship between traditional musical forms and contemporary performance, drawing on research, transcription, and reinterpretation to introduce historical compositions to new audiences.

She currently serves as artistic director of the Paris-based Mazzika Orchestra, which specializes in reinterpreting classical and popular Arab music.

Founded in 2017 by Chady Hakmé, the orchestra expanded its international activities after Guermazi joined as artistic director in 2019.

Over the years, the ensemble has collaborated with more than 25 artists from the Middle East and North Africa, including Ramy Ayach, Sofia Sadek, and Hamidou.

Its productions include “Arab Legends,” “Arab Divas,” and “Nuits d’Orient,” alongside dedicated tributes to Oum Kalthoum, Fairouz, and Warda.

Two Moroccan stops on an international tour

The Moroccan performances form part of Mazzika Orchestra’s international touring program, which includes appearances in London, Boston, Los Angeles, and New York, followed by European dates in Brussels, Lille, Nice, Amsterdam, Düsseldorf, and Paris.

In Rabat, the concert will begin at 8 p.m. on October 22 at the Mohammed V National Theater, with doors opening at 7:30 p.m.

The Casablanca performance will take place the following evening at the Studio des Arts Vivants, beginning at 8:30 p.m., with doors opening at 8 p.m.

Tickets start at MAD 200 ($20.4) for both performances. Audiences can reserve seats for Rabat or book tickets for Casablanca through Ticket.ma.