ALGIERS, September 10, 2025 – A spectacular music concert honoring the guests of IATF 2025 took place on Tuesday evening in Algiers. The event featured excerpts from symphonic masterpieces, Andalusian songs, Algerian variety, and popular African chants, presented by the Symphony Orchestra and the Polyphonic Choir of the Algiers Opera, which attracted a large audience.
Among those in attendance were the Minister of Culture and Arts, Zouhir Ballalou; the Executive Director of the African World Heritage Fund (AWHF), Dr. Albino Jopela; and world heritage expert Rim Kelouaze. Held at the Boualem-Bessaïh Opera House, this concert was part of the cultural program “CANEX” accompanying the fourth Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF 2025).
For nearly two hours, this grand event showcased numerous young talents supported by the Symphony Orchestra of the Algiers Opera and the Polyphonic Choir of Algiers, under the direction of maestro Lotfi Saïdi.
Young soprano Dina Sirine Khiari, tenor Billel Sahraoui, Andalusian singer Sabrina Lounis Khodja, virtuoso violinist Fakhr-eddine Mahala, Algerian vocalist Djamila Mansouri, and chaâbi singer Zouhir Mazari brilliantly celebrated this Algerian evening with both African and global dimensions.
The program offered a dreamy journey through ten musical stations that delighted the audience on the eve of IATF 2025’s conclusion. Soprano Dina Sirine Khiari and tenor Billel Sahraoui performed excerpts from masterpieces of universal classical music, paying homage to the creative genius of Gioacchino Rossini (1792-1868), Francesco Sartori (1957), Georges Bizet (1838-1875), Eduardo Di Capua (1865-1917), and Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901).
Sabrina Lounis Khodja presented cherished classics of Andalusian music, while Fakhr-eddine Mahala’s violin evoked the melodious tones reminiscent of Ahmed Wahbi (1921-1993). Djamila Mansouri, with her crystal-clear voice, conjured memories of the late Othmane Bali (1953-2005), and Zouhir Mazari momentarily switched from his role as choir leader to chaâbi singer, performing iconic pieces and paying tribute to Cheikh El Yamine Haïmoune (1947-2019).
The show concluded on an exuberant note with “Carmina Burana,” composed by German composer Karl Orff (1895-1982). This powerful work had previously been paired with text by the late Professor Rabah Kadem (1948-2021), echoing patriotic sentiments and forcefully invoking the resilience of the Algerian people against the atrocities and barbarity of French colonialism.
Throughout the evening, the audience responded with enthusiasm, savoring every moment of the concert dedicated to Africa’s guests during IATF 2025. They interacted with the Symphony Orchestra and the Polyphonic Choir of the Algiers Opera during the final segment, which featured performances of songs by South African singer Miriam Makeba (1932-2008).
At the conclusion of the event, trophies and honorary awards were presented to the performers of the evening.
