25 February 2018
A truly epic performance, Capacity crowd attends inaugural event of 2018 Spring of Culture Festival at Bahrain National Theatre
The 2018 Spring of Culture’s inaugural event, a live performance of prominent French-Syrian musician Abed Azrié’s The Epic of Gilgamesh, took place at a sold-out Bahrain National Theatre on Sunday (Feb 25 2018).
Azrié, who wrote the libretto and composed the music, performed in front of the capacity crowd along with French conductor Alain Joutard and a trio of musical ensembles: Lebanon’s Notre Dame University Choir led by Father Khalil Rahmeh, France’s String Ensemble of Paris, and Bahrain’s own Mohammed bin Faris Band.
Her Excellency Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, President of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, said in a comment, "We are proud to celebrate Arab Tourism Day, an occasion we launched in 2013 when Manama was the Capital of Arab Tourism to commemorate the anniversary of the birth of the Arab traveler Ibn Battuta. It not only underscores the importance of culture as a vehicle for sustainable cultural tourism, but also highlights its vital role in fostering a civilized dialogue, in the form of international artistic works and shows which combine various cultural elements into a singular distinctive showcase."
"I believe that this evening's performance of The Epic of Gilgamesh by world-famous musician Abed Azrie perfectly illustrates that point, and sets the tone for what it is to come in this year's Spring of Culture program, "she added, wishing the festival's audience an enjoyable two months of cultural events and activities.
This year’s inaugural event, held each year on the anniversary of the famous Arab traveler Ibn Battuta, is widely considered one of Azrié’s signature masterpieces. It inspired by the celebrated ancient Mesopotamian work of the same name which consisted of a many epic poems written over a couple of millennia some 4,000 – 5,000 years ago that chronicle the history of the world according to the traditions and beliefs of that region.
The next event on slate is “The Sound & Light Show” at the Bahrain Fort, a site which is intimately connected with the ancient Mesopotamian civilizations that produced the epic. Held every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday for the duration of the festival, the event consists of an interactive audio-visual experience through which visitors can discover the history of Bahrain from ancient times to modern day. The shows will be held in both Arabic and English, with the English version starting at 6:00 pm and the Arabic version at 7:00 pm.
Organized by the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, the Economic Development Board and the Shaikh Ebrahim bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Centre for Culture and Research, in cooperation with the Albareh Art Gallery and the La Fontaine Centre for Contemporary Art, the Spring of Culture Festival’s 13th edition brings a full and varied slate of cultural events and activities that continue to build bridges of cultural communication between Bahrain and the rest of the whole world.
Full details on all the Spring of Culture shows, events, and activities are available on (www.springofculture.org) and on (@springofculture) on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
