| Beiteddine
Festivals 2001 Program
FAIROUZ
Fairouz
mesmerizes at Beiteddine
"Fairouz,
Lebanon’s “neighbour of the moon” mesmerized the
audience at Sahrat Fairouz wa Ziad al Rahbany, at the
Beiteddine Festival. When Fairouz entered the stone
courtyard of Beiteddine palace, the entire audience
gave her a standing ovation. Her beautiful singing
left many with tears in their eyes, and at the end
they just would not let her leave. Looking more
modern than usual in a fire engine red wraparound
dress, her auburn cut hair bluntly above her shoulders
and simply coiffed Lebanon’s living legend stood on
stage in her characteristic stiff-backed pose and,
occasionally moving her left hand for emphasis,
delivered a selection of old new songs, channeling all
her emotions into her instantly recognizable voice.
The show featured a few of the nostalgic, nationalist
anthems of the war years but even the new compositions
weren’t unfamiliar to the receptive audience. Most
of the songs were either composed by Ziad or taken
from the hugely popular Rahbany brothers musicals that
hurtled Fairouz fame in pre-war Lebanon.”
Chosen by her son Ziad, who produced the concert, the
songs and orchestral pieces were received with almost
religious fervor. Fairouz was accompanied by her son
on the piano, and a 50 piece orchestra conducted by
Karen Dugarayan.
Courtesy
of LBP UPDATE
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