- Title: LEBANON-BEITEDDINE FESTIVAL Operatic opening for Lebanon festival
- Date: 30th July 2015
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) LEBANESE CITIZEN ATTENDING BEITEDDINE FESTIVAL OPENING NIGHT, ANWAR ALAMEH, SAYING: "The festival tonight was great with a special presence and an opera in this historic place was really nice."
- Embargoed: 14th August 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Lebanon
- Country: Lebanon
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA8OP9YMMXHNX0VMFUHCWB19AQL
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Opera sensation Juan Diego Florez took to the Lebanese stage on Wednesday (July 29) delighting the audience with his musical talents, kicking off the Beiteddine Art Festival.
The Peruvian star was performing at one of the country's oldest music festivals, now into its 30th year.
The tenor was joined on stage by Lebanese soprano Joyce El Khoury, accompanied by the Filarmonica Gioachino Rossini Orchestra conducted by Christopher Franklin.
This festival is among several taking place in Lebanon over the summer, with some fans saying due to the various events on offer, they're spoilt for choice.
"The plurality of festivals and especially Beiteddine festival, that opened tonight with the most important tenor world-wide, shows the love of Lebanon for peace, art and creation. We really have a dilemma choosing what festival to attend,'' said audience member Ibrahim Traboulsi.
The Beiteddine Festival is considered one of the biggest and most popular in Lebanon, along with Baalbeck and Byblos.
Lebanese journalist and novelist May Mnassa, who attended the performance, spoke of Lebanon's cultural importance in times of conflict and uncertainty.
"Every time we feel depressed, important people from all around the world come to our festivals reassuring us that Lebanon is staying, Lebanon is very important, and telling us 'don't be afraid, we are with you,'' she said.
The festival is set in the area's historic palace, with the opera stars performing 'Principe piu non sei', 'Au mon Ida', 'Nuit d'Hyménée' and 'Torna a surriento' among other pieces of music.
For those attending the spectacle, they said they were captivated by the performance.
"The festival tonight was great with a special presence and an opera in this historic place was really nice,'' said Lebanese audience member Anwar Alameh.
"We all consider doing arts and culture is an act of resistance, since we don't have but the culture anymore to fight with and show the people that we are civilized people who love fine art, and love artists visiting this country to enjoy their time and have a cultural exchange between us and the whole world. So this is a night that I really enjoyed,'' added audience member Randa Asmar.
The Beiteddine Art Festival runs to September 5, with upcoming shows from English indie-rock singer David Gray, Lebanon's Marcel Khalife and the Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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