Manama: 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 organised 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.
The festival will showcase renowned Arab and international artists, orchestral compositions and operas, traditional Bahraini and Arabic music, ballet and musicals.
“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,” said BACA president Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa.
“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 starts today 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 the Bahrain National Theatre with another show tomorrow.
All other concerts will take place at the Cultural Hall and are free and open to the public.
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.
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.
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.
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.
It will feature a performance of some of the most famous works of 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.
The festival is sponsored by the Economic Development Board, French Embassy, Tunisian Embassy and Mexican Embassy.
For details, visit www.culture.gov.bh or call 80008089.
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