The 9th edition of Beirut Chants Festival was launched on Saturday November 5th in a press conference at the Beirut Yacht Club, attended by HE Minister of Tourism Michel Pharaon, MP Bahia Hariri representing the Hariri Foundation for Sustainable Human Development, Beirut Mayor Mr. Jamal Itani, along with partners and participating artists.
Mr. Pharaon emphasized the “importance of Beirut Chants and all cultural activities in promoting Lebanon on the international touristic scene”. He also revealed bits of the ministry’s plan for Religious tourism, stressing on the prominent role of Beirut Chants in this project.
MP Bahia Hariri said: “year after year Beirut Chants is lighting more candles in each and every corner of the city”. She added “we are delighted that the Festival this year is coinciding with the positive atmosphere and good will of all Lebanese following the presidential election”.
The festival will open on December 1st until the 23rd, with 29 concerts celebrating Christmas and the holidays’ season. Throughout the years, the open doors festival has become a tradition that allows a large audience to enjoy music and Christmas spirit in Beirut.
The festival’s founder Micheline Abi Samra highlighted her visit to his holiness Pope Francis in September, “this year Beirut Chants is enlightened and proud by the blessing of His Holiness who addressed the Lebanese people to “Stay simple, humble and away from vanity”. The Vatican is highly valuing Beirut Chants mission of “spreading peace” and will be sending Monseigneur Carlos Azevedo as a special envoye from the cultural consular of the Vatican Cardinal Ravasi, to deliver a message from Pope Francis to the Lebanese people during the opening night on December 1st.
This year’s festival will feature renowned international and local musicians, artists and choirs, as presented by the Beirut Chants’ artistic director father Toufic Maatouk.
The opening concert will feature the Messa di Gloria of Rossini. The festival’s line-up includes the renowned Cellist Boris Andrianov (First Prize Rostropovich competition) and the Pianist Alexander Ghindin (First Prize Tchaikovsky Competition), two of the most prestigious and renowned quartets Modigliani and Kodaly, and the Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Faycal Karaoui. In addition to prominent artists and performers such as the pianist Rami Khalife, Ensemble Asil for Contemporary Arab Music, Ghada Shbeir, Abeer Nehme and a number of local talents.
He added “the festival is proud to feature the Korean Pianist Seong Jin Cho winner of Chopin International Competition 2016”.
Father Maatouk added “we hope that this season will lay the ground for our tenth edition, one that I promise will reflect even more Beirut’s heritage and culture”.
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