On the occasion of Music Day, This is Beirut adorns itself with the hues of eloquence, paying a radiant homage to the brilliant musical icons who illuminated Europe and Lebanon with their talent. Like sparkling stars in the Olympian vault, the names of Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893), and Éric Tanguy (born in 1968) ascend in majestic splendor, bearing the resounding echoes of their timeless compositions. In the realm of Lebanese music, alongside these European luminaries, the illustrious names of Assi (1923-1986) and Mansour (1925-2009) Rahbani, Zaki Nassif (1918-2004), Bassam Saba (1958-2020), and Naji Hakim (born in 1955) shine brightly, etching their indelible mark on the musical pantheon.
During this week-long celebration, an extraordinary ensemble of artists, musicologists, and composers, driven by unwavering passion, will converge to amplify the voices and melodies of these music demiurges. Marcel Khalifé, Oussama Rahbani, Nidal al-Achkar, Naji Hakim, and a multitude of others will grace this grand occasion, infusing it with the luminous chords that resonate with our most cherished memories.
Within this tribute, a gathering of eminent scholars and luminaries embellishes the occasion. Distinguished musicologists Gilles Cantagrel, an esteemed authority on the cantor of Leipzig, and André Lischke, a specialist in Russian music and the works of Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, join composer Éric Tanguy, twice honored as “Composer of the Year” at the Victoires de la Musique Classique. Together, they bestow a harmonious equilibrium, honoring both heritage and creation, tradition and innovation.
Embarking on a captivating odyssey through the depths of musical recollections, we shall be led to the everlasting threshold of the abode where Zaki Nassif first drew breath. Within this historic haven resides a legendary piano, tenderly touched in the past by the virtuosic hands of Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868), and subsequently embraced by Zaki Nassif on his own musical voyage. Join us each morning at 10 o’clock during the upcoming week, as we gather to pay tribute to those who have bestowed everlasting grandeur upon the art of music.