Le Colosse de Mahdia

The work revolves around the values shared by the texts of Le Colosse de Mahdia and Le Nouveau Colosse, namely the themes of immigration, dreams of another world, a welcoming land, peace and freedom, and finally, music as hope during the crossing.

Olivier Calmel’s creation comprises 4 movements. The first three movements are based on a text by Pierre-Henri Loÿs: Le Colosse de Mahdia. The final text is based on Le Nouveau Colosse, the famous sonnet written by American Emma Lazarus in 1883, engraved on a plaque mounted on the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty, of which it has become a symbol.