The Ancient Theatre of Carthage hosted a prestigious gala celebrating Tunisia's National Army Day, bringing together four of the country's most acclaimed artists—Raouf Maher, Olfa Ben Romdhane, Lotfi Bouchnak, and Saber Rebai—in an evening that paid tribute to the nation while celebrating the richness and diversity of Tunisian music on one of the Arab world's most iconic stages.
The concert drew a large audience, with spectators responding enthusiastically to the patriotic repertoire and traditional Tunisian classics that shaped the evening's programme. Veteran performers Lotfi Bouchnak and Saber Rebai once again demonstrated their artistic excellence through polished and confident performances, while Olfa Ben Romdhane impressed with her vocal ability despite technical difficulties beyond her control.
Yet the evening was also marked by a series of technical issues, particularly related to sound quality, which affected the continuity and overall artistic experience during several performances.
Among the artists most impacted was Raouf Maher. During his performance, the audio unexpectedly dropped while the zokra, a traditional Tunisian wind instrument central to the musical arrangement, was being played. The interruption disrupted one of the performance's defining moments, reducing its emotional impact and preventing it from reaching the level of intensity anticipated by the audience.
For this national celebration, Maher performed with the National Orchestra, led by Maestro Youssef Belhani, one of Tunisia's leading orchestral ensembles composed of highly accomplished musicians. However, audiences have long associated the singer with his own orchestra, conducted by Maestro Haykel Ben Hammouda, whose years of collaboration have become an integral part of Maher's distinctive musical signature.
From a musical standpoint, the change in orchestral line-up appeared to influence the level of cohesion during certain passages, particularly those requiring close coordination between the vocalist and the accompanying musicians. Such differences are not unusual when an artist performs outside a long-established creative partnership.
Olfa Ben Romdhane also encountered intermittent sound instability that affected vocal clarity at several points during her performance. Nevertheless, she maintained her composure and professionalism throughout, reinforcing the impression that the evening's shortcomings were technical rather than artistic.
Despite these challenges, the concert successfully fulfilled its symbolic mission by honouring Tunisia's National Army Day while showcasing the remarkable depth and diversity of the country's musical heritage. However, events of such national importance demand technical standards that match their artistic ambitions. Sound quality is not simply a production detail; it is a fundamental element in delivering the immersive experience audiences expect, especially at the Ancient Theatre of Carthage, a venue renowned for hosting performances of the highest calibre.
In the end, the participating artists more than lived up to the significance of the occasion. The technical observations made throughout the evening should be viewed as a constructive reminder of the importance of meticulous production planning, ensuring that the Carthage International Festival continues to uphold its international reputation and delivers performances worthy of both its historic stage and the national celebrations it hosts.
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