At the invitation of the President of the Higher Institute of Music, dr. Heba Al-Qawas and the Director of Baabda Governmental University Hospital, Farid Al-Sabbagh, a press conference was held on the hospital campus to announce the celebration of Music Heals to be held at Baabda Hospital on a stage specially set up for the occasion, and his proceeds will go to Baabda Hospital to cover hospitalization costs for all employees of the National Conservatory.
In addition to El Kawas and El Sabbagh, the artists and musicians who participated in the opera included: Antoine Wadih El Safi, director of the Lebanese National Orchestra for Oriental Arabian Music, Maestro Andre El Hajj, Joseph Issa, Karen Ramia and Maher Sabbagh.
The conference was attended by numerous representatives of Lebanese and Arab media, audiovisual, written and electronic and cultural personalities.
In his speech, Al-Qawas explained the noble objectives for which he launched this initiative, in order to dedicate the humanitarian, patriotic and cultural message, which is performed by the musical building and the hospital of Baabda. Al-Qawas spoke about the idea of the celebration and its human dimension to help improve the state of conservatory workers, including musicians, professors and health care administrators to ensure their admission through one of the most important government hospitals, which increases the pride of the project. President Al-Qawas touched on the path she is taking in the management of the crisis at the Conservatory through the continuous and relentless effort to guarantee all the professional and life needs that have been exacerbated in the light of the difficulties encountered by the Lebanese, through the signing of many collaborations and exchange agreements with which he began since he assumed the functions of President of the Institute.
Al-Qawas stressed the importance of cultural diplomacy and its effectiveness in promoting the institutions, especially the National Conservatory, which Lebanon is promoting. He praised the great humanitarian role played by Baabda Hospital and the need to highlight its presence as a government hospital providing the best medical and hospital services under existing conditions under the supervision of its Director General, Farid Al-Sabbagh.
And of the extraordinary collaboration with the Baabda Hospital, Al-Qawas spoke of this initiative, the first of its kind, which deserves to be emulated by the world and which embodies the message of Lebanon’s image. By integrating music with hospitalization and the health sector. This initiative will turn into a sustainable project by organizing periodic concerts. Al-Qawas announced the opening of the music therapy department at Baabda hospital, as part of a cooperation agreement between the two institutions.
In turn, the director general of Baabda Hospital, Farid Al-Sabbagh, praised the cooperation “between two government institutions that have joined forces to play a constructive national role in the light of the unprecedented economic crisis”. Al-Sabbagh expressed his great appreciation for this cooperation initiated by Al-Qawas, “and we have started working from today to strengthen, complement and invest it for the benefit of the two institutions and their employees.” Al-Sabbagh spoke about the first fruits of this collaboration through the concert that the hospital will host on Friday 4 November, in support of the hospital and the staff of the conservatory. He announced the continuation of this cooperation by holding more concerts to be announced at that time.
Al-Sabbagh referred to his work as a musician and how this aspect has been invested in the cooperation between the two institutions. Added to this is the role of hospital director, who played a leading humanitarian role in the difficult period in which the sector suffered from the pandemic and the economic crisis. He stressed the importance of government hospitals, which play an important role, in addition to the high level of hospitalization and services, such as those provided by Baabda University Hospital.
Al-Sabbagh invited the Lebanese to support the project by participating in the musical celebration and supporting any project that would be an economic, social and cultural lever.
Interventions and questions from journalists and media professionals focused on the cooperation and musical event on Friday 4 November at 9:00 pm at the Baabda Governmental University Hospital, in which he participates:
The Lebanon Philharmonic Orchestra, directed by M ° Lebano Baalbaki, the National Orchestra of Oriental Arab Music, directed by M ° Andre El Hajj. With guests: Antoine Wadih El Safi, Youssef El Khal, Joseph Issa and Karen Ramia The program includes a special tribute to the works of the Sabbagh brothers.
