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Resonating once again within the walls of the Beirut museum, the Bacchus Social Club orchestrates a unique musical event titled “Dolce Affetto” on Monday, August 7, at 8:30 PM. This commendable initiative is attributable to the dynamism and enthusiasm of Chloé Fakhoury Kazan, the club’s founder.
Conceived in the aftermath of the August 4 explosion as a reaction to the devastation inflicted upon the city and its residents, the Bacchus Social Club has an ambitious mission. It seeks to provide a palliative for the heart and soul of a wounded people, pay homage to Lebanon’s historic homes, revive charming spaces, infuse them with culture and music, and establish literary salons and conference venues for concerts and performances. Its aim is to reconnect with the universe’s beauty through art, reconcile with the world, and thereby achieve catharsis.
Inspired by the “poetics of space” posited by the French philosopher Gaston Bachelard, who advocates for “always leaving open a reverie of elsewhere,” this philosophy invites us, through art, to explore the imaginary dimension of our environmental relationship. It encourages us to break free from the ruts of ordinary spatiality to cultivate, through daydream, the joy of poetically inhabiting the world and thus encountering our true humanity in a quest for fulfillment.
To enact this magic, accomplished musicians trained in Paris and performing internationally, all recipients of various awards and accolades, take center stage amidst the museum’s sarcophagi, under the watchful eyes of marble statues. Two operatic vocalists, Marie-José Matar, soprano, and Bruno Khoury, baritone-bass, along with pianist Élie Sawma’s melodious notes, transcend through their lyrical flights, enchant our souls, and stimulate our senses.
Everything is poised to enchant the audience and illuminate historically laden sites filled with ancient remnants such as antique statues, mosaics, Phoenician and Roman tombs. The performance is an intricate interaction between an extraordinary and solemn space, rich in content and cultural heritage, and a high-level artistic execution by Lebanese musicians and singers. Drawing strength, talent, and energy from their roots, they affirm their unbreakable bond with their homeland and convey a message of hope: a portrayal of an indomitable people, vibrant in culture and resilience, capable of rebirth, nourished by knowledge, creativity, and talent, to once again halo the motherland with light and glory.
Furthermore, famous opera excerpts from Gounod, Mozart, Verdi, Bizet, Puccini, and Fauré wonderfully harmonize with the theme of love, weaving the backdrop to the amorous tribulations of Gisèle, who eventually unites with her beloved, Antoine. This love story, gracefully narrated by Parisian actress Isabelle Zighondi, leads to a felicitous combination of lyrical singing and storytelling, thus contributing to the delight of an audience craving beauty and harmony.
This event represents a profound moment of timelessness and weightlessness, where existence seems to regain meaning through opera airs of suave notes, solemn or allegro tones, that soar high to touch hearts and evoke joy and emotion. It is an inviting experience, suggesting a desire for renewal, to rediscover humanity fortified by its cultural, spiritual, and artistic dimensions, and to attempt, through the festive celebration of life, to rekindle the stars.
Jocelyne Ghannagé
Website: www.joganne.com
Instagram:@jogannepaintings
