- Title: SYRIA: 400-strong Syrian al-Farah choir kicks off holiday season in Damascus
- Date: 17th December 2009
- Summary: DAMASCUS, SYRIA (DECEMBER 16, 2009) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF AL-FARAH CHOIR PERFORMING
- Embargoed: 1st January 2010 12:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz,Religion
- Reuters ID: LVAAGZTQLU2KVX0HD3UC4BI6RIPF
- Story Text: The 400-strong Syrian al-Farah choir performs in the Damascus Opera House in celebration of the holiday season.
Syria's famous al-Farah choir took to the stage this week to give a festive performance to a packed auditorium in Syria's capital Damascus.
Hundreds of Syrians from different parts of the country came to see the choir's christmas performance at the Damascus Opera House.
Al-Farah means happiness in Arabic and they hoped their performance and message -- to spread love and kindness amongst people -- would portray that.
"The birth of Jesus Christ is a call for peace and love for the whole world. It is not meant for the rich people and not the poor, the strong not the weak, it is for all. It invites the strong and the rich to give up their arrogance and their money to achieve a better world," said Father Elias Zahlawi, the head of the choir.
Al-Farah perform every year around Christmas time. A large orchestra accompanies the 400-strong choir.
Najwa Farr who came to the Opera House to see the choir perform, said the performers' hard work and interaction with each other on stage make them a joy to watch.
"I like to watch them as a group because they work very hard and there is something else, they have this special bonding and warm relationship that exists between them. I enjoy their performance and I consider them very good ambassadors for Syria," she said.
Syria's population is estimated to be over 20 million people, about 10 percent of whom are Christian. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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