Let the music play

ACCLAIMED Arab and international artists are set to serenade audiences at a musical extravaganza next month.

The 33rd Bahrain International Music Festival, organised by Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (Baca), will be held from October 1 to 24. It will feature acts from around the globe and local talents, with 11 performances taking place in venues across the kingdom.

Egyptian soprano Fatima Said will kickstart the musical celebration with her divine vocals.

The creative talent has mesmerised audiences at the world’s top venues, including London’s Royal Albert Hall, and shared the stage with Elton John, Ed Sheeran and other global artists at Paris’s Global Citizen Live in 2021.

“The Bahrain International Music Festival returns in its 33rd edition, continuing its legacy since 1992,” a Baca spokesperson said, in a statement.

“It transforms various cultural spaces around Bahrain into windows that open onto art, culture, and melodies from around the world, reaffirming the beauty of diversity and musical expression created by this exceptional artistic gathering.

“Echoes of Bahraini, Gulf, Arab and international contributions will resound throughout the kingdom, inviting audiences to explore different musical styles and worlds, blending modernity and heritage.”

Italian artists Luca Velotti and Silvia Manco will perform jazzy melodies on October 2, with Luca on the saxophone and clarinet, and Silvia on the piano. The concert is being organised in collaboration with the Italian Embassy and will be followed by more jazzy tunes on October 3 by Matti Klein Soul Trio.

Maestro Mubarak Najem’s Bahrain Philharmonic Orchestra will cast a spell on music lovers with Songs of the Gulf on October 4. Launched in 2022 by Mubarak, General Director of the Bahrain Police Band and founder of the Bahrain Music Institute, the orchestra comprises more than 100 talented musicians and choir members.

On October 5, enjoy a traditional folklore night with Qalali Folk Band. Since its establishment more than a century ago, the band has been preserving and promoting rhythmic songs and dances associated with Bahrain’s rich culture connected to the pearl-diving industry and marine history.

On October 6, Bahraini pianist Noor Al Qassim, alongside the Orchestra Filarmonica del Mediterraneo, will perform Waves from the Mediterranean to the Arabian Gulf. It will be directed by maestro Giuseppe Monopoli.

Noor has performed in musical events internationally and received several honours. In 2022, she was chosen to represent Bahrain at the International Council for Traditional Music.

Dar Bin Harban Band will enthrall Muharraq with their tunes on October 7. Set up by Mohammed bin Harban, the band will take the audience on a journey through a myriad of local traditional music forms, including Al Ardhah, Al La’abouni, Al Khammari and Al Fjiri.

A vibrant performance of Nongak, a traditional Korean art, will take place on October 8 in collaboration with the Korean Embassy.

Silk Road Melodies will be performed by Abdulla Abdurehim on October 11. The national first-class performer from the Xinjiang Art Theatre Opera Troupe is renowned for his dance, vocal and instrumental performances.

Renowned Bahraini creative Mohamed Abdulrahim, whose artistic journey dates back to the 1980s, will share the stage with Bahrain Music Band for Ya Najmat Suhail (Arabic for Oh Suhail Star), conducted by maestro Zeyad Zaiman, on October 12.

The festival concludes on October 24 with The Little Singers of Paris. Founded in 1907, the renowned choir focuses on religious repertoire while including contemporary music and popular genres. The concert will be held in collaboration with the French Embassy and the King Hamad Global Centre for Peaceful Coexistence.

For more information visit culture.gov.bh or follow @culturebah on Instagram.