LEBANON-MUSIC FESTIVALS PREPS Lebanon prepares for a summer of music

Record ID: 151303

  • Title: LEBANON-MUSIC FESTIVALS PREPS Lebanon prepares for a summer of music
  • Date: 14th June 2015
  • Summary: BEIRUT, LEBANON (FILE) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PERFORMERS AT BAALBECK INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL (relocated to Beirut due to security concerns)
  • Embargoed: 29th June 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Lebanon
  • Country: Lebanon
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA7EM2TRNN80KXM97PZIFO1MU5Y
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Lebanon is gearing up for its annual international music festivals, a mainstay of the summer season and an attraction for both Lebanese and foreign music fans.
    For many Lebanese, the fact that the music concerts are being held is a sign of hope amid uncertainty. For the past few years, Lebanon has been gripped by its own security and political crises as well that of the region's.
    ''We want to keep up the cultural face of Lebanon as a whole. Holding the festivals is a risk. For a long time we have been working in a very challenging economic environment in the region but we cannot abandon it. That is why we try to overcome all the financial and political obstacles and the difficulties in securing the artists' participation,'' said Latifa Lakkees, president of the Byblos International Festival.
    The festival is set against the backdrop of the ancient fort of Byblos where famous singers like John Legend and Irish rock band The Script are among the artists performing here in July.
    The political uncertainty the country has been facing did not deter visitors last year, Lakkees, has been head of the Byblos International Festival since 2004.
    Some 45,000 tickets were sold last year during the 12 days that the festival ran, Byblos Festival organizers told Reuters TV.
    One of the oldest festivals in Lebanon is the one held in the mountain town of Beiteddine.
    Its first festival was held 30 years ago. Noura Jumblatt, the festival's president and wife of Druze leader Walid Jumblatt said ticket sales this year have been promising. Beiteddine is set to begin its first show on July 29 with world-renowned tenor Juan Diego Florez.
    ''We have sold almost 30 percent of the tickets and this is very good expectations. But of course, we cannot ignore the regional situation which is very difficult. In Lebanon, it is sort of stable and hopefully it will be a good summer. We have learned from the beginning of the festivals' launch to face several challenges and we have faced several difficult security situations and an Israeli aggression and a shifting economic situation. And unfortunately, foreign and Arab tourists in Lebanon have been non-existent. We hope it will change this year,'' Jumblatt said.
    On July 31, the Baalbeck festival is due to begin, with the venue set among its ancient Roman ruins.
    Baalbeck festival organizers had to move its venue to Beirut due to security reasons. Nayla De Freij says she is hoping this does not happen this year. Although she cannot be sure with war raging on in Syria and some of it spilling into eastern Lebanon where Baalbeck is located.
    But Freij remains hopeful.
    ''I think that in a month time, people will be confident again in the security situation, I think this is possible if the conditions continue as stable as they are. We hope there will be an influx of people coming back to the festival and encouraging the Baalbek festival to continue and to come back to visiting the city. But we want the security to be everywhere,'' she said.
    Baalbeck Festival is hosting famed Syrian singer Mayada al Hennawi on August 29. Last year, organizers said they hosted 3,000 concert goers each night of the festival, giving off the impression that a change in venue didn't deter music fans from attending the shows.
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