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Gulf Daily News, Bahrain
Oct 6 2012
Festival ends on a high note
Saturday, October 06, 2012
THE curtains came down on the 21st Bahrain International Music
Festival last night, after daily performances by six world-class
artists from Egypt, Jordan, Armenia, Sudan, Tunisia and Spain.
It was organised by the Culture Ministry as part of events to
celebrate October as the month of music, marking Manama being named
this year's Capital of Arab Culture.
The festival ended with an ensemble of prominent musicians, who got
their name from Queen Sofia of Spain.
Orquesta De Camara Reina Sofia, a Madrid-based orchestra, brought to
life the works of legends such as Bach, Mozart and Tchaikovsky.
Egyptian mezzo-soprano opera singer Nouresta Elmarghany and Georgian
pianist Maya Gvineira launched the festival on Sunday with a memorable
night of opera at the Cultural Hall, next to the Bahrain National
Museum.
The theme of the opera was 'Love Recital', where the duo presented a
ride through the ages with a selection of some of the most legendary
operas and musicals from Europe and America.
The opera was followed by Armenia's Queen of Qanun Hasmik Leyloyan on
Monday, who performed her groundbreaking blend of folk and classical
compositions.
Ms Leyloyan is known for her talent with the Armenian Qanun and
guiding it from its traditional folk music and blending it with
intricate classical compositions, pioneering a new sound for her
country's national string instrument and the Armenian school of Qanun.
Billboard chart-topping Jordanian pianist Zade, who has been dubbed
Jordan's cultural ambassador, took to the stage on Tuesday to combine
Arabic music with Latin, classical and pop flavours.
Thirty-year-old Zade began his musical journey when he started playing
at the age of 13 after he was attracted to the sonic quality of the
instrument, he told the GDN.
He attended Berkeley College of Music, Boston, Massachusetts, the US,
and began touring solo and shortly after toured with different
orchestras.
Sudanese singer-songwriter Mohammed Al Amin showcased his raw vocal
abilities with his fluid oud music.
The oud has had a rich history in the Middle East and Bahrain and is a
significant part of the culture.
Tunisian violinist Amina Srarfi performed last night, effortlessly
blending compositions from traditional Eastern influences with Western
classics.
http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/NewsDetails.aspx?storyid=339141
Oct 6 2012
Festival ends on a high note
Saturday, October 06, 2012
THE curtains came down on the 21st Bahrain International Music
Festival last night, after daily performances by six world-class
artists from Egypt, Jordan, Armenia, Sudan, Tunisia and Spain.
It was organised by the Culture Ministry as part of events to
celebrate October as the month of music, marking Manama being named
this year's Capital of Arab Culture.
The festival ended with an ensemble of prominent musicians, who got
their name from Queen Sofia of Spain.
Orquesta De Camara Reina Sofia, a Madrid-based orchestra, brought to
life the works of legends such as Bach, Mozart and Tchaikovsky.
Egyptian mezzo-soprano opera singer Nouresta Elmarghany and Georgian
pianist Maya Gvineira launched the festival on Sunday with a memorable
night of opera at the Cultural Hall, next to the Bahrain National
Museum.
The theme of the opera was 'Love Recital', where the duo presented a
ride through the ages with a selection of some of the most legendary
operas and musicals from Europe and America.
The opera was followed by Armenia's Queen of Qanun Hasmik Leyloyan on
Monday, who performed her groundbreaking blend of folk and classical
compositions.
Ms Leyloyan is known for her talent with the Armenian Qanun and
guiding it from its traditional folk music and blending it with
intricate classical compositions, pioneering a new sound for her
country's national string instrument and the Armenian school of Qanun.
Billboard chart-topping Jordanian pianist Zade, who has been dubbed
Jordan's cultural ambassador, took to the stage on Tuesday to combine
Arabic music with Latin, classical and pop flavours.
Thirty-year-old Zade began his musical journey when he started playing
at the age of 13 after he was attracted to the sonic quality of the
instrument, he told the GDN.
He attended Berkeley College of Music, Boston, Massachusetts, the US,
and began touring solo and shortly after toured with different
orchestras.
Sudanese singer-songwriter Mohammed Al Amin showcased his raw vocal
abilities with his fluid oud music.
The oud has had a rich history in the Middle East and Bahrain and is a
significant part of the culture.
Tunisian violinist Amina Srarfi performed last night, effortlessly
blending compositions from traditional Eastern influences with Western
classics.
http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/NewsDetails.aspx?storyid=339141