Leylat Amal
Leylat Amal seeks to instill hope through music to the people of Lebanon who have endured multiple crises in recent years. Featuring surprise guest artists, the virtual world premiere brings together three of Lebanon’s most renowned musicians for an evening set to bring life back to the country and birthplace of some of the region’s most celebrated musical icons.
Acclaimed Lebanese singer, actress and director Hiba Tawaji is joined by talented French-Lebanese jazz trumpeter and composer Ibrahim Maalouf— the only musician who plays Arab music on a quarter-tone trumpet— for the unforgettable concert composed by the visionary avant-garde composer and producer Oussama Rahbani.
Abu Dhabi Festival co-production
World premiere – Abroad event
Lebanon
May 22, 2022
Oussama Rahbani
Son of the iconic Mansour Rahbani, Oussama Rahbani is a prominent Lebanese avant-garde musician, composer, and producer. Trained in the musical arts from a very young age, he made a name for himself during his formative years when he developed unique musical styles influenced by classical Arabic and Western music as well as jazz and the blues. A former student of the Berklee College of Music, Rahbani has composed music for several popular TV series and theatre performances, establishing himself as one of the most renowned and acclaimed names in the Arab music industry.
Hiba Tawaji
Lebanese singer, actress and director Hiba Tawaji has firmly established herself in the Lebanese music scene and the Arab world as a major artist recognised for her incredible vocal skills, performances, and career achievements. Trained at an early age in opera and classical singing— and later in contemporary—with coaches from around the world, the music star also has formal training in acting and directing. The Rope, a short film written and directed by her, won many prizes in numerous Film Festivals all over the Arab world. With the impressive ability to sing in French, English and Arabic, she was noticed early on by one of the most influential producers and composers in the Middle East, Oussama Rahbani, and has since collaborated with him on multiple projects.
Ibrahim Maalouf
Lebanese-born Ibrahim Maalouf is one of the most popular instrumentalists on the French music scene. Renowned for blending musical genres, his career has taken him to more than 40 countries around the world and to some of the most prestigious venues including the Lincoln Jazz Center in New York. In 2016, he made history by becoming the first jazzman to fill the largest concert hall in France. Trained in classical, baroque, modern, and contemporary repertoires, as well as classical Arabic music and improvisation, he has sold out many shows and won numerous awards.
The New York Times-proclaimed virtuoso has produced and composed movie soundtracks and several pieces for choirs and symphonic orchestras and has worked with notable artists like Sting, Salif Keita, Amadou & Mariam, Lhasa de Sela, Marcel Khalife, Vanessa Paradis, Juliette Gréco, and Archie Shepp.
