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The Musicales du Liban, a Lebanese classical music festival co-founded by Zeina Saleh Kayali and Georges Daccache, begins its sixth season with three free concerts honoring poet Said Akl, who passed away ten years ago. This edition supports APEG, the Association for the Protection of Children of War, with donations collected to help children affected by conflict.
The Musicales du Liban is embarking on its sixth season, a testament to Lebanon’s cultural resilience in these challenging times. The first concert will take place on November 17 at 4 p.m., marking the 10th anniversary of Said Akl’s passing, with the cantata Fakhreddin II by Iyad Kanaan. This piece will be performed by Marie-Josée Matar, Georges Daccache, and the Festival Choir under the direction of Fadi Khalil. The program will also feature works by Wadia Sabra, Rita Ghosn, and Wajdi Abou Diab. The second concert will be held on November 24 and the third on December 1, both at the Notre-Dame du Liban Cathedral in Paris.
This is Beirut spoke with Zeina Saleh Kayali, musicologist and co-founder of The Musicales du Liban, who discussed the origins of the festival and her vision of Lebanese culture in these trying times.
How did this Lebanese music festival come about?
The idea for The Musicales du Liban emerged many years ago. In 2011, I published my first book dedicated to Lebanese composers, followed by several other works on Lebanese music and lesser-known artists I helped introduce to the public. Georges Daccache, with whom I co-founded the festival, has been a valuable ally since the beginning of this journey. While I was writing about the composers, he, an excellent pianist, was performing their works. I also founded an archive center at Notre-Dame de Jamhour College, dedicated to preserving and promoting the legacy of Lebanese composers. Later, we organized Lebanese music concerts at UNESCO in Paris in collaboration with the Lebanese delegation. Given the success of these concerts, we decided in 2019 to create this festival to promote Lebanese classical music and to facilitate a dialogue with other repertoires. We are now in our sixth edition.
What can we expect from this sixth edition?
The first concert, Fakhreddin II, is a tribute to Said Akl on the 10th anniversary of his passing. The second concert will bring together brothers Sary and Ayad Khalifé, who will present an original program for cello and piano. The third, titled Sacred Voices of Lebanon, will be a sacred music concert featuring Georges Daccache and two singers.
Why is music essential in these challenging times?
The more the situation deteriorates, the more essential it becomes to maintain a cultural presence. If one day we were to disappear from the world stage, our culture would remain as a testament to our existence.
What can the audience expect?
The audience will have the opportunity to attend three one-hour concerts on three consecutive Sundays at 4 p.m. Admission is free, but those who wish to may make a donation at the end of the concerts. This year, we are supporting APEG, the Association for the Protection of Children of War, founded by Ms. Mirna Ghannagé in 1996. This association helps children traumatized by war through the intervention of psychiatrists, psychologists, and educators. We are proud to support this noble cause.
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