The voice of Lebanese tenor Amin Hashem steals your breath, even if he speaks on the phone. In America, where he lives, he takes music from various styles to unconventional operatic horizons. He recently took an unprecedented artistic step with the song “Ghanak Al-Qalb”, which he performed in Arabic, after composing it, with words from his mother Fadia Skaf. His remarkable talent in singing and playing since childhood pushed him to achieve his dreams far and wide.
He tells us about his new work: “The song does not represent one culture, but rather it flies over the deserts of Saudi Arabia and Jordan, and brings us into the paths of ancient civilizations. From Lebanon, the Maghreb, and Andalusia, to be characterized by oriental music from the Hijaz maqam and elsewhere.”
Amin Hashem mixes Eastern and Western tones in his songs (his personal account)
Hashem is currently recording “Ghanak Al-Qalb” in his operatic voice with the Philharmonic Orchestra in Ukraine: “They are among the musicians who understand our oriental music the most. “They were introduced to it more than 200 years ago when they adopted its notes into their classical sound.”
Upon completion of registration, the location of filming the video clip will be determined, which is not limited to a location, but rather includes more than one country and perhaps Saudi Arabia. He explains: “I want to see ancient places between East and West. I thought of the Al-Ula region in the Kingdom to emulate the idea of the tradition that I sing about.”
Influenced by the artistic atmosphere in which he was raised, he entered the field of music. He told Asharq Al-Awsat: “My father played the piano and the accordion, and I looked at him with admiration. I entered the National Conservatory of Music at the age of seven. I moved to countries between America and Europe, and Lebanon as well. I have currently lived in America for 13 years, where the artist has the opportunity to cross over from one music to another. It is what we call (crossover), which I intend to develop in my style. With him, I sing a mixture of experiences I lived in my country and countries that were influenced by it.
He was seventeen when he sang on Lebanese stages, and then he set out to follow his dream: “I was influenced by the operatic trio Domingo, Carreras, and Pavarotti. At the same time, I admired Elvis Presley, all the way to Britney Spears. These patterns mixed in my memory with my abundant Eastern culture. Everything I sing takes me back to my roots. Our culture is very rich, but it is neglected and I want to spread it far.”
“Ghanak Al-Qalb” is an opera song composed by him and written by his mother (his personal account)
Does he consider himself an ambassador for Lebanese music abroad? He replies: “I am not like that, as much as I cling to my true identity.” At the same time, I add different musical touches to my works because they stem from my experiences.”
In 2019, Hashem won the Best Music Video Award at the New York International Film Festival. His brother Andrew Kleib signed his song “Abalati Abalati” in Lebanon. It is from Italian folklore, and he revived it after infusing it with oriental music.
His passion for operatic song knew no bounds. He was inspired by the music of Hollywood movie masterpieces and old Broadway shows. He also introduced modern artistic cultures of rock and roll, jazz, and popular songs. Since his beginnings, he expanded the scope of operatic singing, taking it far beyond the ordinary, influenced by the operatic melodies of Verdi and Puccini. He was a main tenor in many operas and musical plays. Among them are “La Traviata”, “Tosca”, “La Buemme” and “Carmen”. He also visited famous theatres, including Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, and Carnegie Hall in America, to the Palais des Congrès in Montreal, and the Roman Theater in the Red Sea.
Amin Hashem canceled a concert in Lebanon due to the Gaza War (his personal account)
As for his last concert in Lebanon, he performed it in 2018 at the Casino Theater: “I was supposed to perform another concert in 2019 at the same theater, but crises continue, the most recent of which is the Gaza War, which led to me canceling Christmas concerts between Lebanon and Jordan in December. First) next.
His relationship with Beirut, the cradle of his talent, is deep and solid, he says. He always returns to it from abroad.
He also entered the field of “voice over,” putting his voice in Arabic on popular television programs and games, such as “Dr. T” in the game “Boom Beach,” to the programs “Love and Opera” and “Dead Rangers.”
Regarding his projects, he answers: “I will continue with this musical mixture between East and West. I look forward to the echoes of my opera song in Arabic (Ghanak Al-Qalb). I would like to go this way if I get the desired result. Opera singing has its flavour, but few interact with it. Therefore, I want to bring it closer to a wider audience, and I hope to achieve my goal through mixing the tunes that I follow.”
