The Les Cordes Pincées festival in Rabat is one of Morocco’s leading international music events. Dedicated to plucked-string instruments, it celebrates the diversity of sounds from classical guitar, flamenco, oud, mandolin, and traditional African lutes. Since its creation, the festival has turned Rabat into a cultural hub and shown how the guitar unites different traditions.
Every edition of Les Cordes Pincées highlights a mix of established masters and young performers. The festival gives audiences a chance to explore wide-ranging repertoires, from timeless classics to bold new interpretations.
In 2008, during its 13th edition, Romanian prodigies Mircea Stefan Gogoncea and Catalin Constantin Vlad amazed the public with a vibrant classical program. Their performance confirmed the festival’s role in supporting fresh talent.
Ten years later, in 2018, French guitarist Ingrid Riollot opened the 23rd edition with an expressive performance. Her program featured the well-known Sakura Variations, which added an international flavor to the event.
The following year, in 2019, the 24th edition closed with a memorable collaboration. French musician Arnaud Dumond and Spanish guitarist Pedro Sierra created an acoustic dialogue that blended classical works with flamenco. This exchange reflected the festival’s mission: building bridges between cultures through music.