The diarygame 07/27/2025: A memorable evening at the Bizerte International Festival

_{A selfie taken amidst emotion and music, eyes filled with memories.}

On Saturday, July 27, 2025, my wife and I went to the eagerly anticipated performance of Lebanese singer Wael Jassar in the prestigious setting of the 42nd edition of the Bizerte International Festival, an artistic event that has become a must in the Tunisian cultural landscape, these evenings are much more than just a simple cultural event and they become a true sensory and emotional experience, capable of vibrating the most sensitive strings of memory and heart.

_{Our entry tickets to the Wael Jassar concert, engraved as a precious souvenir.}

We had organized this evening with great enthusiasm and care, as this concert represented for us a return to our roots, a dive into a time when the deep and emotional voice of Wael Jassar accompanied the beginnings of our love story, a time when each word sung seemed to address us directly, to our budding complicity, to our shared silences and to our promises whispered in the darkness.

In the early evening, as the golden light of dusk caressed the white facades of the old port of Bizerte, we took the time to stop in one of these charming seaside cafes, where navy blue parasols line up wisely above modest but welcoming tables, and where the smell of grilled fish mingles with that of iodine and childhood memories, there, sitting facing the sea and the boats gently rocked by the swell, we shared a simple but delicious meal, in a calm and friendly atmosphere, far from the daily hustle and bustle.

_{A romantic moment in the old port of Bizerte, just before heading to the theater.}

As though the city itself understood how important this evening was to us, the streets of the city seemed to lead us instinctively to the theater after dinner, the atmosphere, the crowd, and the excitement all increased as we got closer to the amphitheater, whole families, couples, and groups of friends were all gathered in one place, having a good time and being receptive to the power of music.

_{Waiting outside the gates of Fort de l’Andalous, in a feverish atmosphere.}

Longer lines were forming at the Fort de l'Andalous entrance, circling the century-old walls, amid a friendly ambiance broken up by animated chatter, impatient laughter, and the flashes of light from the strong projectors positioned throughout the property and even though there was a large crowd, everything ran smoothly, and we had no trouble finding our seats in the stands in time to sense the eagerly anticipated moment was drawing near. As though the city itself understood how important this evening was to us, the streets of the city seemed to lead us instinctively to the theater after dinner. The atmosphere, the crowd, and the excitement all increased as we got closer to the amphitheater. Whole families, couples, and groups of friends were all gathered in one place, having a good time and being receptive to the power of music.

_{Entrance to the Bizerte amphitheater, shortly before the start of the show.}
Once seated in the stands overlooking the stage, we were struck by the beauty of the place, the Bizerte amphitheater, vast and majestic, offered a breathtaking panoramic view of the illuminated city, and remarkable natural acoustics, the stage decor, bathed in changing lights, evoked a subtle blend of technical modernity and oriental references, with visual projections enveloping the musicians in an almost dreamlike atmosphere.

_{A striking panorama of the packed amphitheater, witness to this magical evening.}

At exactly ten o'clock in the evening, in a sudden clamor from the entire assembly, Wael Jassar appeared on stage, dressed with the sober elegance for which he is known, greeting the audience with the modesty of a sincere artist, from the first notes of his interpretation of "Kelmet Wada3", a collective shudder spread throughout the amphitheater, as if a wave of memories had been triggered simultaneously in every heart present.

It was a series of carefully chosen pieces, a poignant selection of his most emblematic titles, the very ones that marked an entire generation and which, that evening, took on a particular resonance. Next to me, my wife, visibly moved, hummed softly, her bright eyes reflecting both the light of the stage and the more discreet but deeper light of our shared past.

_{The stage was illuminated and the audience captivated by the voice of Wael Jassar.}
The large and attentive crowd oscillated between respectful silence and improvised choruses, lit by thousands of phone screens raised to the sky like so many modern fireflies trying to capture the magic of the moment. Every song in this special context served as a link between the past and the present, between the feelings of the past and the present, and between the closeness of a couple and the unity of a crowd.

A profound sense of thankfulness and satisfaction swept over us as the concert came to an end and Wael Jassar expressed his sincere gratitude to the Tunisian audience for their enthusiastic and devoted reception. A moment of life, a covert celebration of our journey, our love, and all these years intertwined with music, memories, and tenderness, it was much more than a concert.

We knew we had just experienced a priceless evening, one that we will remember long after the last notes have faded, as we made our way back down the amphitheater's stairs hand in hand while the lights of Bizerte flickered softly in the background.