September 30, Manama (BNA): This year marks the return of the 34th Bahrain International Music Festival, which offers its listeners a fusion of musical expressions that connect tradition and modernity. The festival is organized by the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA) and takes place at some of Bahrain’s most notable cultural landmarks, such as the Bahrain National Theatre, the Cultural Hall, and the houses of traditional music in Muharraq and Riffa. It begins on October 2 and lasts for two weeks, offering evenings that cover a wide range of musical forms, from orchestral and operatic works to jazz, Fan al Sawt, and folk traditions.
34th Bahrain International Music Festival returns with fusion of heritage
Opera artists Nehad Fathy and Ghada Adam will perform a special tribute to the iconic Umm Kulthum on the opening night of the Bahrain National Theatre, presented by the Cairo Opera House under the direction of Maestro Ihab Abdel Hamid. Arab music is deeply ingrained in the hearts of audiences, and the evening will bring back the timeless classical mood that characterized the songs of the greatest diva in the Arab world.
The Cultural Hall, which will host many of the festival’s highlights, will take center stage on the evening of October 3. At a concert called Jazz Muharraqi, Bahraini musician Abdulla Haji will perform with the Rouh collective. His original works, which draw inspiration from his album Moraba’at, will be braided with folk rhythms.
Beginning with the Qalali Folk Band on October 4 at Dar Al Muharraq, commemorating Fjiri, which is listed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural history of Humanity, Bahraini musical history will have a prominent place in the program. At its residence in Muharraq, the Dar Bin Harban Folk Band will perform Ardha, Liwa, Khamari, and other customs on October 6. On October 11, the Dar Shabab Al Riffa Folk Band will perform an evening that showcases Bahrain’s folk arts’ range and depth by highlighting Marboo’a, Mjailisi, and Darza.
Additionally, the festival fosters cross-cultural musical interactions. Italian musician Eugenio Bennato will showcase his project, Music from the World, which combines Italian origins with international rhythms, at the Cultural Hall on October 7 in partnership with the Italian Embassy in Bahrain. The Renaud Garcia-Fons Quartet will present Silk Moon, a project influenced by flamenco and Ottoman musical traditions, the next evening, October 8, in association with the French Embassy in Bahrain. On October 14, the Prague Cello Quartet travels from the center of Europe to perform a creative blend of classical, pop, and rock. On October 15, Japanese musician Yosuke Irie, in association with the Japanese Embassy in Bahrain, provides a spiritual experience through the meditative sounds of the shakuhachi bamboo flute.
The festival honors the memory of the late Bahraini artist Ali Bahar with a moving evening on October 10. At the Bahrain National Theatre, the Bahrain Philharmonic Orchestra, under the direction of Maestro Mubarak Najem, will perform a symphonic rendition of his most well-known tunes. An evening of Fan al-Sawt, one of the most illustrious vocal traditions in the Gulf, will take place in the Cultural Hall on October 11. It combines ancient instruments and sea rhythms with Nabati poetry.
With Choral Night by the Bahrain Music Band, a collection of up-and-coming Bahraini voices who represent intergenerational communication via the language of singing, the festival comes to a close on October 16 at the Bahrain National Theatre.
Platinumlist offers tickets for events at the Bahrain National Theatre at https://www.platinumlist.net.
Please visit the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities’ website at www.culture.gov.bh or follow @CultureBah on social media for further information and updates regarding the Bahrain International Music Festival.
