INTERNATIONAL music talent invaded Bahrain last week with their hypnotising and innovative sounds that echoed throughout the country.
The 21st Bahrain International Music Festival, which ends tonight, featured 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.
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 diverse ride through the ages with a selection of some of the most legendary operas and musicals from Europe and America, from the classical school to famous Broadway musicals.
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 musical talent with the Armenian Qanun by 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.
“The Qanun in Armenia is a very loved instrument, because of that many parents send children to learn it,” said Ms Leyloyan, who is a professor at the Yerevan State Conservatory in Armenia.
“Nobody in the world has played compositions such as these (ones she has played) on the Qanun because it is very difficult to play them on the Qanun.
“I love the Qanun and feel like I have something to say with it.”
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 when he was attracted to the sonic quality of the instrument, he told the GDN.
He attended Berkeley College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, the US, for a year and a half and began touring solo and shortly after toured with different orchestras.
“I feel so inspired especially when I’m back in this part of the world, because I believe that our Arab youth have so much potential,” he said.
“With the right encouragement, with the right support and the right funding they can take off.”
History
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.
“There are efforts in Arab countries to keep the instrument alive,” he said.
“Although electronic instruments have taken a larger role in music these days, for those who do play it know that it is a much deeper instrument.”
Tunisian violinist Amina Srarfi performed last night, where she effortlessly blended compositions from traditional Eastern influences with Western classics.
The festival ends today with an ensemble of prominent musicians, who got their name from Queen Sofia of Spain.