Moroccan ancient town holds music spring

Essaouira, a Moroccan ancient city on the Atlantic ocean, will hold the second edition of its music spring, Music Spring of Aliz?s, April 18-21.

The festival, whose first edition won a frank success, seeks to make of culture a vector for the development of the town of Essaouira, says Andr? Azoulay, Royal Advisor and head of the Aliz?s Foundation.

"Essaouira made the choice to develop through culture (É) this is not a sheer aesthetic procedure, but rather a machine of development," Azoulay told the press in Rabat.

"The festivals held in Essaouira create wealth," he insisted.

Essaouira, or Mogador, is also famed for its Gnawa music festival, which drains hundreds of visitors from Morocco and from abroad.

The second edition of the Music Spring of Aliz?s will be held at a budget of 800,000 Moroccan Dirhams (1 $US is 11.6 Dirhams).

World-famed artists, including US composer Hartway and Marie-Christie Barrault will participate in the festival. Hartway will present a premiere of his work "Image of Mogador."