Lebanon’s Baalbek festival back, despite economic collapse
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BAALBEK, Lebanon (AP) — Lebanon’s renowned Baalbek competition is back again, held in front of a are living viewers for the to start with time because 2019, irrespective of the country’s economic meltdown and the coronavirus pandemic.
French pianist Simon Ghraichy carried out in front of a entire dwelling on Sunday evening in what organizers described as a night time of hope for Lebanon’s revival. The once-a-year pageant in the historical northeastern city of soaring Roman columns has prolonged attracted celebs from around the world.
It had taken a major strike as a consequence of Lebanon’s ongoing, approximately 3-yr financial crisis and the pandemic, which experienced forced organizers to broadcast dwell from the internet site devoid of an audience in 2020 and 2021.
Within the city’s mesmerizing acropolis, French-Iranian oriental dancer Rana Gorgani twirled to Ghraichy’s piano playing.
“I’m so proud to be right here in this area comprehensive of record and elegance,” Ghraichy, who is of Lebanese and Mexican heritage, advised The Linked Push.
Due to the fact 1956, the Baalbek Worldwide Competition has hosted icons from Lebanon and the relaxation of the globe, together with globe-renowned artists like French singer Charles Aznavour in 1999, English musician Sting in 2001, France’s Johnny Hallyday in 2003 and tenor Placido Domingo a 12 months afterwards. It was also home to live shows by Lebanon’s diva Fayrouz and Egypt’s Umm Kulthum.
The competition experienced a 23-calendar year hiatus all through Lebanon’s civil war and resumed in 1997. Each people and tourists attended in huge figures each and every summer months. This calendar year, the festival comes at a hard time as Lebanon struggled with an unprecedented economic disaster, explained by the World Lender as 1 of the worst in modern-day record.
For numerous amongst the audience — which also integrated Lebanese officials and foreign dignitaries — the night was a welcome escape.
“Baalbek is again, and we want Lebanon to return to the way we applied to know it, which is the Lebanon of art, culture, openness, and moderation,” reported former lawmaker Henri Helou.
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