- Title: Trumpeter Ibrahim Maalouf performs at Baalbek Festival
- Date: 23rd July 2017
- Summary: BAALBEK, LEBANON (JULY 22, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF BACCHUS TEMPLE IN BAALBEK VARIOUS OF PEOPLE BEFORE THE SHOW (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) FRENCH-LEBANESE TRUMPET PLAYER AND COMPOSER, IBRAHIM MAALOUF, SAYING: "Lebanese people don't really know my music, I am trying to use this opportunity that I have here in Lebanon, in Baalbek, that is the most beautiful place for such an event, for people to hear my music more. Usually people here in Lebanon listen more to singers and songs with lyrics, but instrumental music is not well known, so I hope that this gives us a chance for people to hear us more." MORE OF PEOPLE BEFORE THE SHOW (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) FRENCH-LEBANESE TRUMPET PLAYER AND COMPOSER, IBRAHIM MAALOUF, SAYING: "For me to be here, especially because I come with a big band from Europe, so I don't come alone, I come with people that usually don't come to Lebanon and the Middle East, to be here altogether and make music is more than a concert, I cannot say it in Arabic, you know I lived all my life outside of Lebanon, I would like to say in English that it's like being resisting against something, a challenge or act of resistance, and that is very important to me, to be here today, especially if there are problems just near us (referring to Arsal), the concert becomes more important to us."
- Embargoed: 6th August 2017 13:12
- Keywords: Ibrahim Maalouf Baalbeck Festival Jazz performance Lebanese music events
- Location: BAALBEK, LEBANON
- City: BAALBEK, LEBANON
- Country: Lebanon
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA0016QXS0UT
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Renowned trumpeter Ibrahim Maalouf attracted hundreds of devotees to the Baalbek Festival on Saturday (July 22) for a magical evening of acoustic bliss.
Switching between trumpet and keyboard, Maalouf blended music from his Arab heritage with Western sounds, saying he was thrilled to be performing in Lebanon.
"Lebanese people don't really know my music, I am trying to use this opportunity that I have here in Lebanon, in Baalbek, that is the most beautiful place for such an event, for people to hear my music more," Maalouf said.
Famous for his award-winning film soundtracks and jazz-inspired music, Maalouf played pieces from his 2015 album "Red & Black Light", encouraging the audience to interact with the performance.
Born in Beirut to musician parents, Maalouf switched effortlessly between instruments.
Having grown up in Paris after the family fled Lebanon during a civil war, Maalouf said he was acutely aware of the political tensions in his home country.
Nearby in Arsal, clashes on the Lebanese Syrian Border between Lebanon's Shi'ite militia Hezbollah and the Syrian army against Sunni militants continued, a second day of an assault to drive them from their last foothold along the Syria-Lebanon border, pro-Damascus media reported.
Maalouf noted the significance of the concert going ahead, calling it "an act of resistance".
Despite the volatility, fans remained determined to attend the coveted event.
"In the end there is nothing but art and music that can bring Lebanon out of the current security situation that is very hard, we are in a war zone and it is very hard, concerts and people like this can bring us out of this atmosphere," said one audience member, Maha Maalouf.
Baalbek is the longest running cultural festival in Lebanon.
Founded in 1956 by then-President Camille Chamoun, it is considered the most prestigious of the country's annual festivals, having welcomed the Arab world's musical legends such as Um Kulthoum and Fairouz. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2017. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
