Fairuz - Baalbeck International Festival 1998

After 25 years of absence, Fairuz returned to the International Festival of Baalbeck in 1998. She presented over 6 nights, in collaboration with Mansour Rahbani, different parts of three great musicals that were first performed in the 60s and 70s: Jisr El Amar (Bridge of the Moon), Jbal El Sawwan (Sawwan Mountains) and Naturet El Mafateeh (The Guardian of the Keys). In 2006, the Show was broadcasted on LBC, und fortunately someone recorded and uploaded most of it. Here you'll find some excerpts, in addition to some TV-reports and press articles.

You can download the videos in better quality from 4shared by clicking on the title.

                                              1. A Song for Baalbeck

 

Excerpts from the Play: Jisr El Amar

1. Ossa Ana - Kan Ya Ma Kan                                        2.Am Yebghdou Ba'adon

                                                 3.Badna Na'aref Ya Sabbye                                 

 

4.Sene An Sene                                                             5. Habibi A'al Ntorini

 

    

6. Massikon Bel Khaye                                                  7. Dabke (Dayetna Bi Bali)

    

Excerpts from the Play: Jbal El Sawwan

1. Ana Gherbe                                                               2. Khalli El Farah Yerja'a - Gherbe and Fatek 

3. Balbale Balbale                                                          4. Badna Nkammel Belli Be'yiou 

                                                5. Baddi Ehki Ma'akon

                                                ( This video has been broadcasted on New-TV

                                                                  during the July War 2006 )  

 

Excerpt from the Play: Naturet El Mafateeh
                                                 Waynon

 

 
Extras:
1. Tallayt A'a Baalbeck                                                   2. Lawah Mandeelek 
                                       

TV Reports:

1. LBC Report                                                                2.CNN Report

 

Press Articles:

Fairouz moves Lebanon to tears (BBC)

Link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/151481.stm

Fairouz, one of the Arab world's most famous singers, has played a concert at the international Baalbek festival in her native Lebanon for the first time in more than 20 years.

She played to an audience of more than 3,000 on the steps of a vast ruined Roman temple in the eastern city of Baalbek.

The famous diva, who is seen as a symbol of the country's survival through its years of turmoil and unrest during the 15-year civil war, last sang there in 1974, the year before the war began.

In an emotionally-charged evening, Fairouz and her troupe of 70 dancers sang and acted out folk tales of village love, conflict and reconciliation.

The performance drew spontaneous outbursts of applause, and many in the audience were moved to tears.

Enduring symbol

Throughout Lebanon's civil war, Fairouz stood out as one of the few true symbols of nationalism, widely respected for refusing to perform in any part of the then divided country.

Many Lebanese say they find it hard to listen to her music without remembering the dark days of the war and reflecting on their own personal losses.

Her music is still hugely popular.

Every morning at seven many of the country's Arabic radio stations begin their programmes with up to an hour of Fairouz recordings.

The festival at Baalbek was attended by President Elias Hrawi and several Cabinet ministers and members of Parliament.

After the concert the president hugged Fairouz.

"You are the opera of Baalbek. Festivals should start with you because you have become a part of Lebanon's history," he said. 

Roman Amphitheatre of Bosra, Syria - 1985

In August 1985, Fairuz gave her last recital – till now - in Syria. According to the Timeline of Fairuz on Wikipedia, it was then the biggest venue ever held in the Middle East; entrance was free and there were no tickets. A crowd of about 100.000 fans wanted to attend her.

In 2008, she performed at the Opera House in Damascus a remake of the play “Sah Ennawm”, causing a large controversy. Some anti-Syrian politicians in Lebanon had criticized her for going to Damascus, describing it as enemy territory in the grip of a brutal secret police force..  

Here some pictures and videos of the Concert in Bosra that I found on the Internet.

You can download the videos in better quality from 4shared by clicking on the title.

 

Videos:

1. Ya Trab El Janoub

 
2. Ya Amar Mashgara - Trab Antoura

     
3. Andalusian Songs - Part 1

4. Andalusian Songs - Part 2

5. Ya Ana Ya Ana (Mozart 40. Symphonie)

6. Khedny 

 

7. Be'olo Sghayr Baladi

8. Al Bosta

 

Fairuz - On Stage in Lebanon

During Lebanon's bloody civil war, when Beirut split in two in the 1970s, Fairuz refused to take sides. She decided not to perform in Lebanon at all, instead touring exclusively overseas.

But after the end of the war in 1990, she held a number of large-scale concerts, most notably the historic concert held at Beirut’s Martyrs' Square in September, 1994 to launch the rebirth of the downtown district that was ravaged by the civil war. She also appeared at the Baalbeck International Festival in 1998 after 25 years of self imposed absence where she performed the highlights of three very successful plays that were presented in the 1960s and 1970s. Ever since, Fairuz has held sold out concerts at the Beiteddine International Festival from 2000 to 2003, BIEL 2006 (Remake of the Play: Sah Ennawm) and 2010 (Eh Fi Amal Concert). 

These are some excerpts from these appearances in Lebanon, that had been broadcasted on TV. 

Fairuz - On Stage in Lebanon (Part 1) فيروز - مقتطفات من عروض مختلفة في لبنان

 

1. Ya Horriye - Martyrs' Square in Beirut 1994 يا حرية - ساحة الشهداء ببيروت

2.  Badna Nkammel Belli Be'iou (Sawann Mountains) - Baalbeck International Festival 1998 بدنا نكمل باللي بقيوا - مهرجانات بعلبك

3. Sabah w Massa' - Beiteddine International Festival 2000 صباح ومسا - بيت الدين

Fairuz - On Stage in Lebanon (Part 2) فيروز - مقتطفات من عروض مختلفة في لبنان

1. Nehna Wel Amar Jiran - Beiteddine International Festival 2000 نحنا والقمر جيران - بيت الدين

2. Al Bint Eshalabiya - Beiteddine International Festival 2001 البنت الشلبية - بيت الدين

3. Sah El Nom – Biel 2006  صح النوم – البيال

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128431817

http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=128431817&m=128470483

The New Album - Extracts

Fairuz' New Album : Eh Fi Amal - 2010

We have been waiting 8 years for it!! Since Wala Kif in 2002 Fairuz hadn't released any new songs. I fell in love with this Album from the beginning, and I've made this 12-minutes compilation of extracts from it, just to listen to it every morning...

  

I was really so frustrated that I couldn't fly to Lebanon to attend one of the Concerts at Biel in 7. and 8. October. I had some exams to pass! So I had to be satisfied with these few minutes that have been shown in TV-reports! I hope to see it soon on DVD... Eh Fi Amal...