This July, Evan Rogister makes his highly anticipated debut at the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, conducting the 40th Anniversary concerts of the Mediterranean Youth Orchestra, both in Aix and on tour.

The program begins with Leonard Bernstein’s lively Candide Overture, setting an energetic tone for the evening. Next, Hector Berlioz’s symphonic poem Cléopâtre vividly portrays the legendary Egyptian queen. Florence Price’s Adoration follows, offering a moment of introspective beauty. The program concludes with Antonín Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 in E minor, From the New World, a masterpiece filled with the spirit of the American frontier, promising a powerful and evocative finale.

Additionally, the concert features a new piece composed by the orchestra members, showcasing a quintet with Sarra Douik (voice and oud, Tunisia), Colin Heller (violin, nyckelharpa, mandolin, France), Matteo Nicolin (acoustic guitar, Italy), Marouane Mzough (various instruments and voice, Morocco), and Hacene Zemrani (tenor saxophone, Algeria).

For 40 years, the Orchestre des Jeunes de la Méditerranée (OJM) has supported young Mediterranean artists, fostering intercultural dialogue and cultural unity. The OJM symphonic session, aimed at aspiring professional musicians from the Mediterranean, offers a unique experience of performing in a symphony orchestra at the Aix-en-Provence Festival. To learn more about this year’s symphonic session, please visit Festival d’Aix-en-Provence’s website here.

July 19 – Le Silo, Marseille Concerts
July 20 – Grand Théâtre de Provence, Festival d’Aix-en-Provence
July 26 – Outreach activities, Bold Tendencies, London, United Kingdom
July 27 – Bold Tendencies, London, United Kingdom

Photo: © Chris Gonz