LEBANON: Baalbeck International Festival returns to the ancient Roman ruins of the eastern city after it was forced to relocate to Beirut last year due to security concerts

Record ID: 432727

  • Title: LEBANON: Baalbeck International Festival returns to the ancient Roman ruins of the eastern city after it was forced to relocate to Beirut last year due to security concerts
  • Date: 31st July 2014
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) BAALBECK RESIDENT, CHIRINE NASSER, SAYING: "The festival came at a time when the people of Baalbeck-El Hermel needed such an occasion. It comes after the shaky security situation that we suffered from, and the fear we lived in. We came today to say that we will surely keep on coming to Baalbeck despite all the security circumstances. This event proves that all the threats that Baalbeck faced did not influence the people, it rather motivated us to come back to revive Baalbeck's festival and its ruins."
  • Embargoed: 15th August 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Lebanon
  • Country: Lebanon
  • Topics: Arts
  • Reuters ID: LVA8G8WV3E9J53MEFRCTCADV2QL8
  • Story Text: Thousands of music fans flocked to the stadium of the Roman Temple of Bacchus in Lebanon's eastern city to welcome the return of Baalbeck International Festival to its original place.
    Since 1956, Lebanon's Baalbeck International Festival has hosted global and local singers in the historical Roman ruins in the Bekaa Valley. But last year, due to growing security concerns in the area close to the Syrian border, the festival was relocated to Jdeideh, near Beirut.
    Speaking ahead of the official opening, the chairwoman of the Baalbeck international festival committee, Nayla De Freij said that security measures were well planned ahead of this year's festival.
    "We proceeded with the security plan after meeting with politicians, the minister of tourism, the minister of culture, the interior minister, the army chief and all the people involved in the security. They all encouraged us to continue and be present in Baalbeck this year," De Freij told Reuters.
    "Many people are surely thinking (twice about going to Baalbeck), but as you can see, the concert tonight is full, we do not even have one seat that is not occupied. People noticed how full yesterday's municipality concert was and will see how busy our concert is tonight, and hopefully the crowd on Friday will be as big as today. We must help the Lebanese people to overcome the obstacle they have in mind (about the security situation) because the country must live," De Freij added.
    In March, at least three people were killed and six wounded when a suicide car bomber struck a petrol station in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley near the border with Syria.
    Two of the dead were believed to be members of Hezbollah who had approached the vehicle in the town of Nabi Osmane, a bastion of the Shi'ite Muslim militant group, which has been the target of attacks over its involvement in Syria's civil war next door.
    Hezbollah is fighting alongside Syrian government forces against a Sunni Muslim-led insurgency seeking to topple President Bashar al-Assad, whose minority Alawite sect is an offshoot of Shi'ite Islam.
    Hezbollah has been subjected to car bombings and rocket fire over the past year in the Bekaa Valley and in the heavily residential areas of south Beirut where it maintains a strong presence and support base.
    The festival was opened by a special performance entitled 'Assi: Al Helm' (Arabic for 'Assi: The Dream') by Lebanese singer Assi El Hallani.
    Last year, Hallani was expected to hold a performance during the festival. But due to its relocation, he preferred to postpone his show until the festival returns back to the ruins of Baalbeck.
    Speaking to Reuters ahead of the show, El Hallani, son of the Bekaa, expressed his joy in returning to Baalbeck.
    "Thank God, the festival is secure, Baalbeck is welcoming people again just as it has always been. Here are the people of Lebanon, like I said before, they shake but they never fall. We, the Lebanese people, are just like Baalbeck ruins, we will remain resistant despite all the risks and challenges. No matter how many explosions or missiles strike Lebanon, they may kill (people) martyrs, but it is impossible to kill the will of a people, the culture of a people and the future of a people that seeks to be better in the future," he said.
    Accompanied by an orchestra and a troupe of renowned dancers, El Hallani sang live in a show directed by Joe Moukarzel, and the choreography of Francois Rahm� on the steps of Bacchus temple.
    Chirine Nasser, a resident of Baalbeck, said the festival came at a much-needed time.
    "The festival came at a time when the people of Baalbeck-El Hermel needed such an occasion. It comes after the shaky security situation that we suffered from, and the fear we lived in. We came today to say that we will surely keep on coming to Baalbeck despite all the security circumstances. This event proves that all the threats that Baalbeck faced did not influence the people, it rather motivated us to come back to revive Baalbeck's festival and its ruins," she said.
    Another member of audience, Fatma Hammoud, came all the way from Sidon in South Lebanon to watch the show.
    "We were very terrified about making it to here, we came all the way from Sidon, but as soon as the festival started, our fears were no longer felt, thanks to the nice atmosphere that Assi makes, he makes you forget everything. For the first time, I feel that I was lucky to know what it is like to watch Baalbeck festivals," she said.
    Baalbeck International Festival is considered among the most prestigious of Lebanon's festivals, hosting at one time Arab music masters like Egyptian singer Um Koulsoum and Lebanese singer Fairouz.
    Baalbeck International Festival 2014on August 31 with G�ard Depardieu and Fanny Ardant in a play by Marguerite Duras 'La Musica Deuxi�e'.
    The festival will also host Tunisian musician Dhafer Youssef, Lebanese Indie alternative artist Tania Saleh in Baalbeck and Romanian soprano Angela Gheorghiu in Casino du Liban Theatre in Jounieh.
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