The show opened with a clip from the series "El Maestro," tracing Fehri’s artistic journey from 1993 to 1999, with the resonant line, “Only music can change the world.” Fehri’s oud notes, followed by percussion, strings, and ney, set a festive tone. Sadri Ben Azouz and his daughter Feriel performed Johnny Cash’s “Wayfaring Stranger,” a soulful ballad of exile, followed by a modernized take on the Tunisian folk song “Sidi Mansour” by Najmeddine Ben Jazzar, infused with Western notes.
In the second half, fifty musicians and choristers, led by Italian conductor Marcello Biondolillo, took the stage. Voices like Chiara Minaldi, Floriana Ferro, and Roberta Sava shone with songs like the Sicilian “E vui dormiti ancora.” Wissem Karoui led a musical voyage to Seville with “Mahla layali chbilia” and Spanish songs. The “Playtoy Orchestra” delighted the audience, playing children’s toys as instruments, covering hits like “Sarà perché ti amo” and “Bella ciao” with theatrical flair.
A poignant moment honored Palestine with Israa Ben Slimane’s “Israa Dreams of Palestine,” as Tunisian and Palestinian flags waved on giant screens, evoking resilience and hope. The two-hour show closed with captivating solos on violin, guitar, and trumpet, culminating in a rhythmic finale by the trumpet ensemble.
Building on 2009’s “Red Carpet,” this performance celebrated musical diversity, bridging cultures through rhythms, languages, and traditions. The stage became a space for dialogue, leaving the audience with anticipation for a future “Red Carpet 3.”
