Amid a remarkable attendance, the Abu Dhabi Festival, as part of its program abroad, organized a concert on the 18th of this month on the occasion of International Arabic Language Day, in cooperation with the United Nations Chamber Music Society, in the prestigious “Will Recital” Hall in “Carnegie Hall.”
The event aimed to celebrate the International Day of the Arabic Language and consolidate the status of this language and its ancient historical role in advancing the arts, sciences and literature. The concert program included a group of traditional and classical musical compositions from various parts of the Arab world.
The founder of the Abu Dhabi Group for Culture and Arts, founder and artistic director of the Abu Dhabi Festival, Hoda Ibrahim Al-Khamis, stressed the importance of the group’s celebration, in partnership with the United Nations and the Chamber Music Society, of World Arabic Language Day at Carnegie Hall, the most important American arts hall, to enhance the global presence and appreciation of the Arabic language and highlight its cultural value. Knowledge and work to spread the values of coexistence and world peace through the language of music.
She added: “Through the masterpieces of poetry and singing texts and pieces of authentic Arabic music, performed by eight Arab and international musicians led by Brenda Vongova, the well-known artistic director and pianist, Arabic vocabulary and its musical rhythms resonate in the ears of international and Western audiences, with the creations of great artists such as Kazem Al Saher, Abdul Majeed Abdullah and Kanan.” Greatness, the masterpieces (Give Me the Flute and Sing) by Gibran Khalil Gibran, the anthem (My Homeland) by Ibrahim Tuqan, and others.”
The musical program began with the “National Anthem of the Arab Countries” event, which was organized by Ghia Rashidat, commissioned by the United Nations Chamber Music Association, and inspired by the national anthem of the Arab countries, which was played during the opening ceremonies of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The program witnessed the participation of a group of composers of classical and contemporary Arabic music, including the Syrian composer Kenan Al-Azma, who presented a piece dedicated to the late Palestinian-American thinker Edward Said, along with the Tunisian composer Karim Al-Zend with his masterpiece called “Bagatelle.”
The musicians also presented the sung poem “When He Seemed to Be Twisted” from Andalusian poetry, which is an ancient poem about beauty and love dating back to Andalusia, along with “Desert Nights,” which was created by the classic Kuwaiti author Amer Jaafar.
The audience had the opportunity to enjoy a program of popular music during the second half of the concert, as it included the presentation of a collection of compositions by two of the most famous artists in the Middle East, namely the poem sung from the poetry of Gibran Khalil Gibran, “Give Me the Flute,” famous for the voice of the Lebanese artist Fairouz, and “Lovers’ Day” by the artist. Kazem Al-saher.
The concert concluded its activities with the song “Hold Your Fire,” which reflects the commitment to supporting feelings of peace, human brotherhood and solidarity, created by the artist Kazem El Saher, in cooperation with the United Nations Chamber Music Association.
• The ceremony coincided with the International Arabic Language Day, which falls on the 18th of this month.
Remarkable turnout
The concert witnessed a large turnout from members of the international missions at the United Nations and the American community in New York, as the seats were filled in the “Will Recital Hall” in “Carnegie Hall”, so that the audience could enjoy a captivating evening amid rhythms that touched their hearts and incited feelings of nostalgia, appreciation and pride towards the ancient heritage of Arabic music. .
