Tonight we honor a living legend: Fairuz. For more than sixty years, her voice has been the musical heart of the Arab world. A voice that rings out at dawn in the streets and homes from Beirut to Cairo. Generations have grown up with her songs of love, longing, loss, and hope. With her timeless repertoire and emotional expressiveness, Fairuz has become a cultural icon who transcends borders, languages, and generations. In this special tribute, Nai Barghouti, Wasim Arslan, and Amsterdam Sinfonietta bring her music to life in a rich encounter of traditions and soundscapes.
Nai Barghouti, Wasim Arslan, and Amsterdam Sinfonietta The evening is headlined by the internationally acclaimed Palestinian singer and flutist Nai Barghouti, celebrated worldwide for her virtuoso voice and her unique style, which blends classical Arabic singing, improvisation, and jazz. Accompanying her is the warm, poetic voice of Syrian singer Wasim Arslan, hailing from Aleppo, who, with his expressive singing, brings the centuries-old Arab singing tradition into the present and bridges the gap between classical poetry, folklore, and contemporary sounds. Together with Amsterdam Sinfonietta, the internationally renowned string orchestra known for its adventurous collaborations with exceptional soloists, an evening is created in which East and West, past and future, meet. One of the greatest voices in music history For Concertgebouw curator Orville Breeveld, this concert marks the third chapter in a long musical dialogue with the music of Fairuz. In 2010, he organized the first “Tribute to Fairuz” in the Netherlands at De Meervaart in Amsterdam. In 2019, a second tribute followed in the Recital Hall of The Concertgebouw, where Palestinian singer Nai Barghouti made her debut with an intimate rendition of Fairuz’s repertoire. Tonight’s tribute builds on this and brings together musicians, styles, and generations in a new ode to one of the greatest voices in music history.
