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French Moroccan singer, author, actress and novelist Sapho will sing Um Kalthum on May 21 at a dinner concert at the Golden Tulip Hotel.
The event is co-organised by The French Bahraini Business Club, Redscarf BPIC and the Alliance Francaise de Bahrein.
From punk rock to Andaluc’a music, Sapho has never ceased to explore with talent different music horizons. In parallel, she has always been a strong defender of her own cultural roots: she helped promote in France the Gnawas, a mystical and musical brotherhood from Morocco and later, the Sheikhates, traditional women singers from North Africa, who perform at weddings and parties.
Profoundly moved by the powerful voice of Egyptian icon Um Kalthum, she started to sing her songs as early as the mid 80s.
She has decided to work with Bahraini musicians to perform amongst other pieces, Um Kalthum's legendary Al Atlal.
On her previous visit to Bahrain, Sapho performed French poet and singer LŽo FerrŽ's famous repertoire.
She told GulfWeekly: "This is my second time to the island and I'm very excited. It is a trip initiated by Bahrainis and other nationalities and I'm very curious to experiment with this new configuration.
"Um Kalthum is special. She is a huge artist, very demanding in her musical and poetry choices. She wouldn't sing a piece that she didn't feel for. She also had great artistic ambitions. She had great taste and would prefer a little difficult piece to a popular easy one. She is more than a singer, she's a diva, a figure of the Arab world and her life was like a fairy tale. She was always bold enough to sing love and passion in a very puritanical society without ever being vulgar because she had this mystical dimension that was almost transcendental that made her sing like a goddess.
"I would like to share the joy of this music through my interpretation and, as one must know, concerts are performed by the artists WITH the audience and I cherish Arabic crowds because they adore music and are sensitive to emotions and able to express themselves spontaneously."
Sapho initially started out writing poems. When she was 10-years-old she sent them to a children's radio show in Morocco and they liked them and asked her to come and read them on the radio. She recited the 'fable de La Fontaine', a famous French poet and the station employed her as an actress for dramatic radio shows.
She said: "I continued my studies but I knew I would become an artist.
"Writing was very important to me but circumstances led me to leave acting to start playing guitar and writing songs and I felt more independent this way, a song could exist on its own.
"I was born in Morocco, studied in France and have Oriental and African influences and hence I am covering lots of languages on my way. I try to combine all those influences in the music I compose and the lyrics I write.
"I have done 16 records and two of them pay homage to Um Kalthum and LŽo FerrŽ.
"I have never quit writing, though. I published six books and I am preparing an exhibition of paintings and the release of my third book of poetry for next September.
"My father used to sing Fayrouz, she was his favourite and he sang beautifully the Andaluc’a Moroccan music."
Of her plans for the future Sapho said that as well as an exhibition in September she is also looking forward to the release of her poetry book 'guerre words y plato' followed by concerts in France and London and later a new CD combining techno sounds with spoken words.
And prior to her performance she has a message for all fans and aspiring artists on the island. "Being an artist is tough but it is a pure joy and gift. Listen to your heart and never resign your deep desire."
Doors to the show open at 7pm and tickets are available at Virgin Megastore, Bahrain City Centre and Cafe Lilou in Adliya and Seef. For details contact 36318893.
