07 October 2015
Stage Set for the 24th Bahrain Music Festival
Over the course of its history, the Bahrain International Music Festival has been transformed into a key channel of expression for musical talents from home and abroad as well as a primary conduit for cross-cultural dialogue and innovation. Acclaimed Arab and international artists will perform during the 2015 Bahrain International Music Festival, which starts today and continues until October 19. The 24th edition of the annual event is being organized by the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA) and features a diverse line-up of acclaimed musical innovators from Bahrain and around the world.
H.E. Shaikha Mai bint Mohammad Al-Khalifa, BACA president, said, “The continuity of the festival nourishes and breathes new life into the music scene in Bahrain and enriches the experience of citizens and residents of Bahrain.” H.E. added that, “Music is an open window from which to view the world and get to know the essence of so many cultures and the heritage behind them – and this is what we hope to achieve through the festival. This is especially relevant at this time as we celebrate ‘Our Year of Heritage’ year-long campaign.”
The festival will showcase renowned Arab and international artists, orchestral compositions and operas, traditional Bahraini and Arabic music, as well as ballet and musicals. The Bahrain International Music Festival, is an annual landmark event that occurs every fall season and brings together acclaimed musical innovators from around world and attracts music and art aficionados from Bahrain and abroad. The prominent musical acts headlining this year’s festival present a rich tapestry of diverse cultures and musical genres from the Arab world and beyond. Over the course of the festival, Bahrain will be treated to an outstanding and diverse musical showcase, including classic orchestral compositions, ballet and opera productions, Arabic tarab music, family-oriented theatrical shows, and so much more.
The festival starts 8th of October at 8pm with an adaptation of Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina by the Eifman Ballet of St Petersburg led by its artistic director Boris Eifman. It will be held at Bahrain National Theatre with another performance tomorrow. Eifman’s Anna Karenina is a story of passion, rejection, self-destruction, and a work of raw emotions. Having cut out the counterplot lines of Leo Tolstoy’s novel, choreographer Boris Eifman focuses on the Anna-Karenin-Vronsky love triangle. Psychological twists and turns of Tolstoy’s novel are perfectly rendered by the dancers’ technical maestria and Eifman’s sublime choreography. Offering classical romance and modern technique, this Russian ballet will captivate with its magnificence.
The festival continues on Saturday with a performance by the National Music Ensemble of Tunis at the Cultural Hall from 8pm. Entitled Wasla, the ensemble will showcase the rich heritage of traditional Tunisian music with a delightful artistic journey of compositions and songs which showcase the numerous eclectic styles and genres that collectively comprise the vast and rich heritage of traditional Tunisian music.
A trio of Mexican artists, mezzo soprano Encarnación Vazquez, tenor Jose Luis Ordóñez and pianist Rodolfo Ritter, will perform Mexico Sings to the World on Sunday from 8pm. Get immersed in the splendor of Mexico’s culture and art, expressed through opera arias and authentic Mexican songs beautifully performed by a trio of internationally-acclaimed artists.
The interactive family-friendly show Fantastic Creatures, by composer and musician Alsadair Malloy from the UK, will be held on Monday from 6pm, featuring a medley of children’s classics ranging from Disney to Harry Potter. Bring your wizards robes and hat, hop onto your broomstick and attend this extraordinary family-friendly class in “Magizoology” by Hogwarts Academy’s visiting professor Alasdair Malloy, joined on stage by the fantastical Sinfonia Viva and featuring magical beasts and music from much-loved family favorites and an exciting Disney music quiz.
On October 15, prominent Tunisian singer Dorsaf Hamadani and French composer and musician Daniel Mille will take the stage for their show Barbara and Fairuz starting 8pm. The concert is a meeting of contrasting yet similar worlds; a conversation between enduring classics by two legends who never met; French singer ‘Barbara’ Monique Andrée Serf and Lebanese diva Fairuz.
The festival ends on October 19 with the talented artists of the Bahrain Music Band presenting a special concert at 8pm showcasing the deep-rooted heritage of traditional Arabic music. Since its establishment in 1996, the Bahrain Music Band has been the kingdom’s music ambassador in celebrations and events locally and abroad, in addition to serving as a platform for Bahraini composers and musicians.
The festival is sponsored by the Economic Development Board, French Embassy, Tunisian Embassy, and Mexican Embassy. All other concerts will take place at the Cultural Hall and are free and open to the public.
