In a unique encounter between music and humanity, and in a civil scene that gives hope for the resurrection of Lebanon, of culture and civilization, the courtyard of the Baabda Governmental University Hospital hosted last night, on a stage specially set up for the occasion, the Music Heals celebration under the auspices of the Minister of Culture in the provisional government, Judge Muhammad Wissam Al-Murtada and the Minister of Health, Dr. Firas Al-Abyad, and in collaboration with the Baabda hospital, in the person of its Director General , Farid Al-Sabbagh. An integrated project, the idea of which was launched by the President of the National Higher Institute of Music, Dr. Heba Al-Qawas, as part of the new strategy for the revival of the National Conservatory, with which he started since taking up his functions presidential elections for the Institute, and which it is working to implement within an integrated project that requires the restoration of the prosperity of the national music building and its active presence through its orchestras, musicians, staff and administrators. The high-level musical celebration was to complete the current revival plan and be the launch of a series of concerts that will be presented periodically with noble humanitarian goals, in particular covering the hospitalization of all Conservatory workers through the proceeds of the celebration at the hospital.
In a very intimate and reserved scene, the celebration succeeded in bringing into the thirsty souls the high-level music that resounded in the specially built theater in the hospital courtyard, through which the healing space was transformed into a unique environment for the healing music. This expressive atmosphere confirmed the music’s capacity for spiritual fluidity and the ability to interact with the audience, who expressed their interaction and happiness by restoring the purposeful cultural musical activities that spread an atmosphere of hope and joy in Lebanon, as they were. get used to the Lebanese. This was demonstrated by the new musical celebration program of its kind in terms of integrating the music of the Philharmonic orchestra and the music of the Oriental orchestra, which excelled in playing, conducting and singing with the opera participants. The theater décor and distinctive lighting gave the work a high artistic and patriotic dimension, with Lebanon’s natural, artistic and cultural scenes being broadcast on a giant screen. What transformed the place into a world other than what it is, transported the participants into worlds of wonder, achieving the desired goal of the musical work, which is healing through music.
It is not new for Lebanese creators to launch cultural and humanitarian initiatives of this kind, which have proved to be the most capable of contributing to the exit from the tunnel, especially if they receive internal and Arab support, as happened with the Music Heals project, which has received support from many white hands, and received it with love and tender support. The main focus of this initiative is the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Lebanon represented by His Excellency Ambassador Walid Al-Bukhari.
The celebration was attended by an audience of supporters, intellectuals, creators, media professionals, diplomats and politicians: Minister of Culture Muhammad Wissam Al-Mortada, Minister of Health Dr. Firas Al-Abyad, Representatives Fadi Alama Alain Aoun and Melhem Riachi, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Minister Plenipotentiary Walid Al-Bukhari, Tunisian Ambassador Boraoui Al-Imam, President Fouad Siniora, Governor of Mount Lebanon Judge Muhammad Makkawi, Chief of Central Inspection Judge George Attieh, Prosecutor of the Office Audit Judge Fawzi Khamis, the mayor of the municipality of Baabda, the lawyer Antoine Helou, the judge Wassim Abi Saad and other political and cultural personalities and personalities.
The ceremony, broadcast live on the screen of the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International, supporter and media partner of the project, was inaugurated by Dr. Hiba Al-Qawas, who welcomed the participants and explained the objectives of the humanitarian project with a keynote, in which she stated: “Since music is one of the secrets of training, I believe that music is our salvation ..
In this country that needs all our creative energies at a time when dependence on the state alone has become a burden on our human journey and the path of our homeland alike, we come together to present the world with a image that reflects the reality of Lebanon and the reality of the Lebanese despite all the images that are transmitted beyond our control of images that do not represent us.
I believe that music is the salvation of man, even if the National Superior Conservatory of Music strives for this salvation, which made me astounded when His Excellency the Minister of Culture issued a decision assigning me to the direction of the Conservatory, and at the same time, this assignment has become a national task for me at a time when we have been struggling to preserve our Lebanese identity and civic role from time immemorial. That is why today we, the Conservatory and the Governmental Baabda University Hospital, have come together to present to the world a story of creative union. At a time when all solutions were difficult for our government institutions, two government institutions unite for our institution to provide the proceeds through concerts, and this former university hospital offers care to all employees of the conservatory.
Al-Qawas added: “Today is the first time that musicians from two orchestras have come together to form an orchestra targeted for the type of music played tonight. We, with all our passion for Lebanese and Arabic musical heritage and the international classical repertoire, which we will continue to present permanently during the annual orchestra season, we will work to pay attention to serious contemporary Lebanese and Arabic music in all its forms. ”Al-Qawas thanked all shareholders and supporters, guided by the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Walid Al-Bukhari, Excellencies Mohammed and Hoda Kanoo, of the United Arab Emirates, by the Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Dr. Yasser Alaoui, Ambassador of the Republic of Tunisia, Boraoui Limam, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation, Sheikh Pierre Daher.
In his speech, the Minister of Health, dr. Firas Al-Abyad, the two sides who joined to celebrate the celebration, greeted government hospitals in Lebanon, in particular the Baabda Governmental Hospital, for the national role it plays. He praised the efforts made by Al-Qawas and the National Conservatory, with the support and briefing of the Minister of Culture, for the distinguished work they have done. He said: “We deserve to move away from the crisis atmosphere of the country, especially cholera, to move to another atmosphere, even for a short time, an atmosphere away from disease and psychologically and physically healing ourselves on this special evening, Music Heals. “
The Minister of Culture, Judge Muhammad Wissam Al-Murtada, gave a speech which stated: “Culture is neither a luxury nor a luxury, but rather it is life in all its happy and sad manifestations. There is no proof of the correctness of what I say about a high-end cultural party in a crisis-ridden country, its institutions engulfed in emptiness and discord, and its young people conversing on screens with fists and throats. Here a cultural movement develops and literature, fine arts, music, films, theaters and other areas of high creativity grow. This glorious image of the culture should have had a beautiful frame to hang on the nation’s wall. It was necessary for Heba al-Qawas and all the members of the orchestra to create a complete structure, like a marching band that includes many instruments to achieve the splendor of harmony and harmony, so they chose the national social structure that concerns the poor and the health of the poor. And if they decide that the purpose of this ceremony is to heal pain and try to heal a sick person ”.
Then the musical celebration began with the National Oriental Arab Music Orchestra, led by Maestro Andre El Hajj, with a musical piece “Qamar 14” composed by Antoine Farah, and singing with the artist Antoine Wadih El-Safi, with a refined musical reprise of the great late repertoire, Wadih El-Safi, and the songs: “Lebanon Ya Piece Sama (Poetry of Younes). Al-Ibn, composed by Wadih Al-Safi) Rah Al-Halfak Al-Ghosn (Poetry by Michel Tohme, composed by the Rahbani brothers) La Oyouni Gharib (Poem by Salim Mukarzel, composed by Wadih Al-Safi). Then two songs, with the voice of the artist Joseph Issa: Baqa Want You Forget Me (Poem by Abdel Aziz Salam , composed by Farid Al-Atrash) Ya Musafir Wahdak (Poem by Hussein Al-Sayed, composed by Mohamed Abdel Wahab).
In the second part of the celebration, the National Philharmonic Orchestra, led by Maestro Lebanon Baalbaki, took the stage in a special tribute to the opera house of the Sabbagh brothers, with the participation of composer Farid Sabbagh at the piano. taken from the plays of the Sabbagh brothers, namely: Helmy Shoufak Watan (from the opera “From the lyrical comedy” The days of Salah al-Din “) We found (from the musical” May 6 Movement “) if my life is a comedy (from the musical “Al Taifa 19”).
The artist Youssef Al-Khal also presented songs from the works of Al-Sabbagh, some of them solo and some accompanied by Ramia, which are: Actor in Bahiat (from the comedy “The movement of May 6”) Sleep and rest, my friend – rebellion, sleep well and we want to break the decision (from the musical “Sect 19”).
