Micheline Abi Samra

FOUNDER OF BEIRUT CHANTS FESTIVAL

Family of Beirut Chants,

Let us start from where we ended our opening speech last year:

“People of Lebanon, Unite! Unite for the love of music and unite to make our country beautiful again…

We stand united as never before to claim what is rightfully ours.

We are joined in beauty. The beauty of transforming our public spaces into theaters for arts and cultural performances.

The beauty in chanting coexistence while peacefully claiming your rights... Our rights as citizens.

This unity we have experienced has brought back hope to realize our dream of a better Lebanon which now is so close of becoming reality.

The Beirut Chants raison d’etre is “music for everyone in the historical churches and venues in Beirut”.

We invite all people to join us this year to chant for change and to stand together for our values.

Together we will overcome and together we will be victorious.

God bless our Lebanon and God bless you all. 12 Years of Beirut Chants

NOTE: As the situation in the country remains uncertain, venues & concerts are subject to change. Please always refer to beirutchants.com for updates. GRAND OPENING Mass in C Major L.V. Beethoven

ILANAH LOBEL TORES, SOPRANO ILANAH LOBEL-TORRES, SOPRANO RAMYA ROY, MEZZO-SOPRANO TOBIAS WESTMAN, TENOR From New-York City, Ilanah Lobel-Torres MATEUSZ HOEDT, BASS began her musical education with the EDWARD LIDALL, VOCAL COACH Brooklyn Youth Chorus (singing and piano). ANTONINE UNIVERSITY CHOIR After graduating, she joined Carole Haber's LEBANESE PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA class at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. She then attended Arthur TOUFIC MAATOUK, BEIRUT CHANTS Levy's classes at the Mannes School of Music FESTIVAL ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, where she obtained her master's degree. In CONDUCTOR 2018, at the National Opera Center (OPERA America) in New York, she sang Gretel in IN COLLABORATION WITH THE Hänsel and Gretel and Fiordiligi in Così fan ACADÉMIE DE L’OPÉRA DE PARIS AND tutte. In 2019, she was Rose Maurrant in THE ITALIAN CULTURAL INSTITUTE. Street Scene. Ilanah Lobel-Torres joined the Paris Opera Academy in September 2019.

DEC 1 / 8:30 PM RAMYA ROY, MEZZO-SOPRANO ST. JOSEPH Born in India, Ramya Roy studied economics CHURCH, MONOT at the University of New Delhi. She began classical singing in Delhi before entering Valérie Millot's class at the W. A. Mozart​​ Local Conservatory in Paris in September 2014. In 2016, she entered the Regional Conservatory (CRR) of Paris. In 2018, she won the Special Jury Prize at the International Singing Competition in Marseille and was a finalist at the Avignon Raymond Duffaut – Young Talents contest. Ramya Roy joined the Paris Opera Academy in September 2019.

TOBIAS WESTMAN, TENOR

MAIN PARTNER Born in Sweden, Tobias Westman is graduated from the University of Stockholm in singing. He debuts on main Scandinavian stages singing Gennaro from Lucrezia Borgia by Donizetti at Malmö Opera House and as Albert in Die tote Stadt at Wermland Opera. After interpreting B.F. Pinkerton in a concert version of Madama Butterfly by Puccini, he takes the role of Gastone in the staging In 2014, he he joined the Academia Operowa by Olivier Py of La Traviata at Malmö of the Grand Theater of warsaw, under the Opera. Last summer, he was Tamino in Die tutelage of Eytan Pessen. He joined the Paris Zauberflöte at Opera pa Skäret Festival. Opera Academy in September 2016. He took Tobias Westman joined Paris Opera Academy part to the concerts at the Amphitheater and in September 2019. on the stage of the Palais Garnier. Mateusz Mateusz Hoedt, Bass baritone Hoedt has today a worldwide career and can Mateusz Hoedt was born in Wroclaw, Poland, be seen on the stages of the Teatro Madrid, and graduated from the local University of the Wielki Theatre of Warsaw and the music where he studied with Bogdan Makal. Semperoper of Dresden.

EDWARD LIDDALL ANTONINE UNIVERSITY CHOIR

Edward Liddall was born in London and The choir has contributed since the eighties began his musical training at the Royal in the cultural enrichment of the Lebanese College of Music in 2001. He earned a musical life with its repertory, by focusing on Bachelor’s degree in Music at King’s College, the Antonine musical tradition and by being Cambridge in 2011 under the guidance of faithful to the monastic tradition of the Thalia Myers. In 2014, he graduated from the Antonine Maronite Order. Its repertory is very Guildhall School of Music and Drama under rich in classical and contemporary music. the guidance of Caroline Palmer. In 2015, he The Choir performed with several orchestras won first prize for accompanying pianist at such as the Lebanese Philharmonic the Maureen Lehane Awards and, in 2017, Orchestra, Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra, Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, Opera he was a finalist in the Young Classical Romania Timisoara (Qatar), Orchestra of Artists Trust at Wigmore Hall. In July 2018, Teatro di San Carlo (Naples), New England he participated in The Art of Recital summer symphonic ensemble (New York), Tbilisi residency at the Aix Festival where he Symphony Orchestra (Georgia), Musica accompanied the soprano Louise Kemény Sinfonia de Los Angeles, The State Youth under the direction of Stéphane Degout and Orchestra of Armenia, Orchestra dei Alain Planès. Edward Liddall joined the Paris pomeriggi Musicali (Milano), Orchestra Opera Academy in September 2018. Giovanile Mediterranea (Palermo) United of the Antonine University Choir, in August Strings of Europe Orchestra, Romanian Radio 2005 and Head of the vocal department in Chamber Orchestra (Bucharest) and Novi Sad the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory Opera house Orchestra (Serbia). of Music since October 2015. He holds a PhD in Musicology from the Istituto Pontificio TOUFIC MAATOUK, CONDUCTOR di Musica sacra (Pims) in Rome where he conducted and published different studies Born in Lebanon, Toufic Maatouk, is one on the syro-maronite chants. of the most compelling conductors of his generation. In the 2012 season, Maatouk He collaborated with several orchestras and began his tenure as Artistic Director of Beirut festivals including Orchestra di San Carlo Chants Festival in Lebanon. He is also Guest (Napoli), Orchestra Giovanile Mediterranea Conductor of the Lebanese Philharmonic (Palermo), Orchestra Roma sinfonietta Orchestra since 2013 and Guest Conductor (Rome), New England symphonic ensemble of the Romanian Radio Chamber Orchestra (New York), Orchestra Los Angeles sinfonietta Orchestra since 2017. Maatouk was (Los Angeles), Saint Petersburg Symphony appointed Artistic Director and Choir Master Orchestra (Russia), Kiev symphony orchestra

TOUFIC MAATOUK, BEIRUT CHANTS FESTIVAL ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

(Ukraine)…Al-Bustan International Festival, Baalbeck International Festival, Byblos International Festival (Lebanon), Festival d’ile de France (Paris), Carnegie hall (New York), Teatro dell’Opera di Roma (Roma), Teatro di San Carlo (Napoli), Académie de l'Opéra de Paris, Festival d’Aix en provence (France), Romanian Radio (Bucharest), Al-Ain International music festival (UEA), Bahrain International Music Festival (Bahrain). St. Stephanos the Melode Choir BACHIR OSTA, CONDUCTOR

The Saint Stephanos Choir was founded in DEC 2 / 8:00 PM 2009 by Subdeacon Bachir Osta, head of the Saint Stephanos Patriarchal School of ST. SAUVEUR Byzantine Music. CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL Subdeacon Bachir Osta is also the first chanter of the See of Antioch. He gathered a large number of skilled chanters in the Eparchy of Beirut and that of Jbeil, then expanded towards the South and ultimately reached all the Lebanese Eparchies. Moreover, Subdeacon Bachir Osta founded the Saint Stephanos Female Choir in 2012, which is currently under the direction of Miss Josiane El Hindi. The Choir presented many recitals, and served many masses and prayers (parochial masses and prayers, ordination of priests and bishops, joint recitals with other choirs…) All members of the Choir are experienced Full biographies at beirutchants.com chanters of Byzantine music, and students of the Saint Stephanos Patriarchal School as well, who gradually join the Choir upon acquiring all required skills and knowledge. Jahida DEC 3 / 8:00 PM ST. MARON CHURCH Wehbe GEMMAYZEH

'When poetry is wrapped in the melody's own melodies with delicate arduousness boudoir, when voice spins the keys of ecstasy and highly professional music along with and passion, when the voice becomes the her band comprising top-notch musicians breathes of the soul's nay...comes into from around the world, overlooking great being Jahida Wehbe's performance: A Arab and international poets and Writers... rite for wonderment, a life experience of With her voice coming from the depth of awareness and excellence'.The Lebanese emotion embroidered with a new singing Diva Jahida Wehbe is considered one of dimension. In 2013, She was selected as the most prominent singers in the Arab one of the "2000 Outstanding Intellectuals world. She has a unique style that sets of the 21st Century" by The International her apart from other contemporary Arab Biographical Center in Cambridge. Her music singers; as her performances represent a style is wide-ranging, including everything skillful combination of both authenticity from classical and sufi music to Arab fusion. and innovation. She has earned herself She has headlined at the most prestigious many titles such as; "Priestess of Sound", venues across the globe and has worked "Enchanting Voice", "Silken Voice" and with prominent Arab artists. "Diva de l'Orient". A full-rounded artist, she not only enchants audiences with her outstanding voice,but also composes her

Full biographies at beirutchants.com Armenian

MEMBERS OF THE LEBANESE Classics PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA HAROUT FAZLIAN CONDUCTOR

DEC 4 / 8:00 PM ARMENIAN CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL

HAROUT FAZILIAN Harout Fazlian started his musical education Lebanese singer Julia Boutros. Since 2010, at an early age in Beirut, studying the piano. he has been the conductor to the Lebanese In 1976 along with his family, he immigrated Diva Fairouz. to Montreal, Canada and continued his Fazlian has been awarded with an Honorary musical studies there. In 1983 he travelled Doctor’s Degree from The International to Yerevan, Armenia to continue his formal Academy of Sciences of Nature and Society education in Classical music. He received his of Armenia and has also been awarded with Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees both with a Certificate of Honors from the Ministry of Honors in Symphony and Opera Conducting. Culture of the Republic of Armenia. Maestro Fazlian has Ph.D degree in Music In September 2015, the French Government Education. honored and made Harout Fazlian “Officer of Upon his return to Montreal in 1990, the Order of Arts and Letters”. Maestro Fazlian started his journey in shaping his conducting career, conducting numerous concerts in Canada. Since the year 2000, Harout Fazlian has been the Principal Conductor for the great BARKEV TESLAKIAN Fayha CONDUCTOR DEC 5 / 8:00 PM ASSEMBLY HALL Choir AUB

The choir conducted by Maestro Barkev Fayha Choir has represented Lebanon in Taslakian, is composed of 100 members from many festivals around the world, namely in different social background. Poland Krakow, Lodz and Warsaw, Poland, The choir’s repertoire mainly focuses on Abu Dhabi, Armenia, France, Canada, China, Arabic music (mostly arranged by Edward Qatar (2010 & 2011), Cyprus, Bahrain, Torikian) and covers Lebanese, Syrian, Kuwait, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Sharjah, Egyptian, Palestinian, Iraqi, Bedouin, and Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden and Andalusian music in addition to Latin, Dubai. Armenian, French, and English. The choir’s mission is to develop and Fayha Choir is a member the “International promote Arabic Music richness and Federation for Choral Music” (IFCM) and authenticity. "European Choral Associations-Europa Cantat". Reem Deeb AND THE BALAMAND CHOIR

DEC 6 / 8:00 PM ASSEMBLY HALL AUB

Dr. Reem Deeb holds two Doctorates of the Middle East and Europe. Music with a specialization in Her repertoire includes several recitals, Voice Performance, History and Literature, oratorio, opera and musical theatre roles, as and minors in Music Education and Choral well as productions. Conducting from the prestigious Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, Local and international performances Bloomington, USA. She also holds a Music include collaborations with well- Therapy certificate from Roehampton renowned organist Naji Hakim, conductor University, London, UK. In 2019, Dr. Deeb Robert Wickham, soprano completed a business diploma in Strategic Deborah Roberts, alto Caroline Trevor, tenor Business and Leadership. She currently is Tom Philips and conductor doing post doctoral studies in Paris with Peter Phillips of Tallis Scholars amongst Rima Tawil. others. She is also a member of American honour society for music She is Academy Director of Keys’n Cords professionals: Pi Kappa Lambda. Music Academy, Verdun and Lecturer of music at the Lebanese American University. She is associate organist at the National Evangelical Church of Beirut. Deeb is also an acclaimed voice teacher who coaches in Lebanon and abroad. Dr. Deeb has performed extensively in the United States, Full biographies at beirutchants.com

Ghada Shbeir & Sheikh Ahmad Hawili DEC 7 / 8:00 PM ST. JOSEPH CHURCH MONOT

GHADA SHBEIR SHEIKH AHMAD HAWILI

Ghada Shbeir is a graduate of the Holy Ahmad Hawili, also known as Sheikh Spirit University- Kaslik. She holds a PHD in Ahmad Hawili, is a Lebanese Sufi singer Musical Sciences. Today, she teaches oriental who has gained recognition for his Sufi singing at the same university, and she is the vocal performances during the past few director of the Oriental choir at Holy Spirit years. Sheikh Ahmad has attained popularity University- Kaslik. after he was noted to have a unique voice She released several traditional Arabic CDs blended with deep passion in his songs entitled “Moushahat”, “Qawaleb”, “Al Qasida”, which combine elements of modern and “Andalusia”, and numerous Syriac Chants traditional music, as well as, Sufi poetry. CDs; “« Syriac Chants », « Passion » and « Chants Syriaques- Noel », which were the result of a a research concerning a version of more than 700 melodies of Maronite and Catholic Syriac chants. Notre Dame University Choir

KHALIL RAHME, O.M.M., CONDUCTOR DEC 9 / 8:00 PM ST. JOSEPH CHURCH MONOT

Founded in 1993 by Father Khalil Rahmeh, Founder and director of the School of Music Notre Dame University Choir has built an at Notre Dame University - Louaize since expansive repertoire and presented more 1992, He teaches musical theory, notation, than 300 concerts around the world. The and choir singing at the Lebanese National choir is formed of a number of professionals Higher Conservatory of Music. as well as students of the School of Music. The NDU Choir won the Gold Medal and the He wrote many religious chants Audience’s First Prize - Adult Category - in and hymns for various occasions as well as the Third International Choirs Competition the Children Mass. held in Laval, Quebec 2007. Full biographies at beirutchants.com Father Rahmeh, the choir’s director is also a composer, he studied philosophy and theology at the Pontifical University of Laterano in Rome. He pursued composition studies with Maestro Valentino Miserachs. Full biographies at beirutchants.com Simone Vebber, Organ

DEC 10 / 8:00 PM ASSEMBLY HALL AUB

Simone Vebber, was born in Trento, 1983. Prize in Alessandria - Italy, in Pistoia – Italy, 1st Grand Prize and Public Prize at the “J. S. He has studied Ancient Organ with L. Bach Organ Competition” in Saint Pierre lès Ghielmi and in the Accademia Internazionale Nemour – France in 2005, 1st Prize at the di Musica in Milan. He graduated in Organ, “J.J.Fux” international organ competition in Piano (cum laude) at the Conservatory “F. A. Graz 2010, and the “J.S. Bach Prize” at the St. Bonporti” of Trento (Italy), and he received Albans Competition 2011. the “Diplome de Concert” at the Schola Cantorum of Paris, studying with J. P. Imbert He has recorded for “Suonare Records”, and he had the First Prize with P. Pincemaille Diapason Edition, Mascioni, ORF and at the class “Organ Improvisation” at the Discantica. He played concerts in many CNR of Saint-Maur (Paris). He participated Organ Festivals (Tokyo, Riga, Paris, Milan, in the Interpretation Masterclasses with Rome, Warsaw, Rio de Janerio, etc.) He played L.Lohmann, J. C. Zehnder, Bine Bryndorf, as soloist with many orchestras like the Brett Leighton, and P. D. Peretti. He won 1st Mozart Orchestra. Fabrizio Meloni SOLO CLARINET OF TEATRO ALLA SCALA ORCHESTRA Luca Maggiarello Fausto di Benedetto

DEC 11 / 8:00 PM ASSEMBLY HALL, AUB

FABRIZIO MELONI, CLARINET he continued his studies with some of the Fabrizio Meloni, since 1984, is the first most important cellists but decisive will be solo clarinet chair of the Orchestra and the his encounter with Enrico Dindo and Enrico Philharmonic of the Teatro alla Scala in Milan. Bronzi, to whom he entrusted his artistic and In 2015, DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON musical growth. released the cd ‘VIEF ET RYTHMIQUE’ entirely devoted to the French repertoire FAUSTO DI BENEDETTO, PIANO for Clarinet and Piano (with T.Yoshikawa), Fausto Di Benedetto studied piano with and 2016 they released another CD entirely Michele Campanella at the Accademia dedicated to Mozart performed with the Chigina and with Dalton Baldwin and BASSET CLARINET. Norman Shetler at the Mozarteum in Salzburg. The artist, who teaches at LUCA MAGARIELLO, CELLO many Italian universities, has acted as an The young talented Cellist began to study accompanist for many major theatres and music at the Suzuki School in Turin, and musical institutions such as the Teatro graduated from Turin Conservatory, aged 16, Comunale di Bologna, Fondazione Teatro La with the highest grade and praises studying Fenice and Teatro Verdi di Trieste. with Antonio Mosca. After his graduation

IN COLLABORATION WITH THE ITALIAN CULTURAL INSTITUTE Le Cantique des Cantiques

HOMMAGE À MAHMOUD DARWICH SPECTACLE CRÉÉ EN MARS 2010 À LA SCÈNE NATIONALE DE SÈTE ET DU BASSIN DE THAUEN COPRODUCTION AVEC LA SCÈNE NATIONALE DE SÈTE ET DU BASSIN DE THAU, LA COMPAGNIE RODOLPHE BURGER.LA COMPAGNIE RODOLPHE BURGER EST SOUTENUE PAR LA DIRECTION RÉGIONALE DES AFFAIRES CULTURELLES DU GRAND EST.

DEC 12 / 8:00 PM ST. MARON CHURCH GEMMAYZEH

LE CANTIQUE DES CANTIQUES THE SONG OF SONGS

Rodolphe Burger set to music and recorded one of the most beautiful love poems. the Song of Songs, according to a text A sound poem by Rodolphe Burger (guitar, of the Bible translated by Olivier Cadiot, vocals), with Julien Perraudeau (bass, on the occasion of the marriage of Alain keyboard), Mehdi Haddab (oud), Yves Dormoy Bashung and Chloë Mons. It was fifteen (electro, clarinet), Ruth Rosenthal (vocals) & years ago. Today, it is with a tribute to the Rayess Bek (vocals) This piece, issue a show great Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish created in March 2010 on the set of the that he revives the project. In this concert, Molière Theater in Sète, is a double tribute created in Sète in 2010, he has this sacred text to Alain Bashung and Mahmoud Darwich, a answered in a poem by Mahmoud Darwich, mirroring of two love songs. who considered the Song of Songs to be

EN COLLABORATION AVEC L’INSTITUT FRANCAIS Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra JESSICA PRATT, SOPRANO OSCAR DELLA LIRICA, BEST SOPRANO OF THE YEAR (2016) TOUFIC MAATOUK OAM, CONDUCTOR

IN COLLABORATION WITH THE LEBANESE NATIONAL HIGHER CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC AND THE ITALIAN CULTURAL INSTITUTE

DEC 13 / 8:00 PM ST. JOSEPH CHURCH MONOT

JESSICA PRATT, SOPRANO

Hailed by the New York Times as a soprano of “gleaming sound, free and easy high notes, agile coloratura runs and lyrical grace”, Jessica Pratt is considered one of today’s foremost interpreters of some of Belcanto’s most challenging repertoire. As one of the most active singers in her field, over the last 12 years, Jessica has taken to the stage in 114 productions for 82 different organizers, in 73 cities over 13 countries. She has interpreted 40 different roles of which the most popular is Lucia Ashton from Gaetano Donizetti’s “Lucia di Lammermoor” with over 103 shows in 33 productions, followed by Amina from Vincenzo Bellini’s “La Sonnambula” and Elvira from Vincenzo Bellini’s “I Puritani”.

Full biographies at beirutchants.com St. Romanos

REV. ROMANS JOUBRAN Choir CONDUCTOR

DEC 14 / 6:00 PM THIS CONCERT IS SPONSORED ST. NICHOLAS CHURCH BY SABA FAMILY IN MEMORY OF ACHRAFIEH THE LATE GABRIEL SABA.

The choir of the Beirut Greek Orthodox The choir aims to perform well known Archdiocese was founded in 2000, and chants, namely Mitri Al Murr's, former debuted with a recital in St. George’s church protopsalti of the Antiochian patriarchate, in Souk el Gharb. and Andraos Mouaikel's, in addition to It is essentially composed of graduates new recitations. of St Romanos School, in addition to priests It presents services with Arabic and and friends of the choir, and conducted Greek recitations, and has some available by the director of the school Fr. Romanos recordings. Joubran. Its performance is based on Simon Karas' School of Music and Spyros The choir is currently composed of 35 Pavlakis' method, in addition to the current members who perform recitals and Antiochian tradition. participate in the new albums’ recordings. Abeer Nehme

DEC 14 / 8:30 PM ST. MARON CHURCH GEMMAYZEH

Abeer Nehme is a renowned international singer. Throughout the years, she acquired knowledge in musicology and the theories of Arabic, Western and Religious music (Aramaic) to reach very advanced levels. She is known for her exquisite talent in performing different music styles with great ease and professionalism. She performs Arabic Traditional Tarab, traditional Middle Eastern folks, Arabo Andalusian songs, Ancient Syriac and Maronite Chants, Opera, and Western Full biographies at beirutchants.com Music. She sings in more than fourteen different languages.

Abeer performed in prominent international festivals amongst which the Festival "les Orientales" in Paris, the "International Musical Festival and Conference at Royaumont", “Festival Evora” in Portugal, Brussels Palace "Flagey International Festival" in Belgium. She also performed at many prestigious concert halls such as Urania Theater in Berlin, Megaro Mousiki in Athens, Sodertalje Estrad Theater in Sweden, the Opera House of Cairo and Alexandria in Egypt, the Culture Palace, the Congress Palace, Opera House, as well as many other venues worldwide. Guy Manoukian FEATURING FAYHA CHOIR

DEC 15 / 8:00 PM ASSEMBLY HALL, AUB

Lebanese musician, composer and pianist, Guy Manoukian has been a key musical player both locally and internationally for the last 20 years. Not only has he worked with the biggest names in the US, but his fusion of oriental melodies with modern arrangements has taken him all over the world, selling out concerts in London, Singapore, Montreal, Cairo, Dubai Opera House, Kuwait, Mexico, Chile, Abu Dhabi, Monaco, Los Angeles, Yerevan the Sydney Opera House, The Beiteddine and Byblos International festivals, The London Palladium, The Greek National Opera in Athens, and the only artist to be invited twice to Dubai Opera which have Sold out all shows.

Guy is the recipient of many awards but Diams, Raul Di Blasio and Mario Reyes of the the ones he cherishes the most are the Gipsy Kings family. Armenian Music Award that he received 2020 looks to be Manoukian’s biggest year in Los Angeles for Best Dance Album, till date, with scheduled concerts all around and the Best Arabic Tune of the Year the world. Award for “Harem” which he earned in Lebanon in 2002 in addition to the Full biographies at beirutchants.com Best Dance Album at the Arabian Music Awards held in Dubai in 2003. Performing all over the globe, from Chile to Sydney, Manoukian still finds time to work with the biggest pop acts: he recorded "On Tour" with Wyclef Jean, worked with 50 Cent, French rapper FATHER BADIH EL HAGE, USEK CONDUCTOR DEC 16 / 8:00 PM ST. MARON CHURCH Choir GEMMAYZEH

“The Choir of the Holy Spirit University of and beyond its borders. Moreover, through Kaslik”, or more briefly “The Choir of Kaslik”, concerts and records, it revitalized an was founded, together with the construction authentic Lebanese and Arabic musical of the University, in 1950. The importance heritage. of this choir is due not only to the quality of its interpretation but to its ecclesial Father Badih El Hajj has a PhD in History and liturgical role, and to its artistic and of Music and Musicology from Sorbonne, patrimonial role in the preservation and the Paris and a degree in Theology from USEK, promotion of authentic Arabic and Lebanese Lebanon. He is the dean of the Faculty of music. Music in USEK and also a professor in the Faculty. He directs the Centre for Musical This choir was the principal execution tool and Sound Heritage, the USEK Choir, and the of liturgical and musical reforms that took Studio Services at the Faculty of Music. place within the Holy Spirit University He is also a member of the University of Kaslik and almost reached the totality Academic and Research Council. of the Maronite Church, both in Lebanon Lorenzo 2 ND PRIZE IN THE QUEEN ELISABETH COMPETITION Gatto,Violin 2009 Julien Libeer, Piano JUVENTUS AWARD 2008

LORENZO GATTO DEC 17 / 8:00 PM Lorenzo Gatto was born in Brussels in ST. ELIE CHURCH, December 1986. He started playing the violin at the age of five with Dirk van de KANTARI Moortel. At eleven years old, he enters the Brussels Royal Conservatoire of Music in the class of Veronique Bogaerts, where JULIEN LIBEER he graduates at seventeen only with the Ever since receiving the prestigious Juventus highest honour. His work and determination Award - previously awarded to e.g. Piotr are brilliantly rewarded as he won both the Anderszewski and Emmanuel Pahud - at the Second Prize and the Public’s Prize at the age of 20, Julien Libeer has been described Queen Elisabeth Competition in 2009. In his by national and international press as one spare time, Lorenzo enjoys a lifelong passion of the most remarkable musicians of the for everything that flies. Look up and see if younger generation. Since then, he has been you can spot him high in the sky, arriving the guest of the Palais des Beaux-Arts in at a concert flying a small plane or even a Brussels, London’s King’s Place Concert Hall, paraglider. the Théâtre de la Ville (Paris).

Full biographies at beirutchants.com Wissam Boustany, Flute & Aleksander Shram, Piano

DEC 18 / 8:00 PM ASSEMBLY HALL, AUB

WISSAM BOUSTANY ALEKSANDER SZRAM - PIANO

Boustany is a Lebanese/British concert Aleksander was born in Southampton to flutist. He has toured and collaborated Polish parents and has been playing the with a number of symphony and chamber piano since the age of five. Winner of the orchestras. Conductors Boustany has 2004 Vlado Perlemuter Award, Aleksander worked with include Claudio Abbado, Ivan enjoys a varied schedule of solo piano, Fischer, Bramwell Tovey, John Elliot Gardiner, concerto and chamber music performances Roger Norrington, George Solti, Peter across the world, having played in more than Szilvay, Lubnan Baalbaki, James Judd, Jordi twenty-five countries over four continents. Mora, Volodymyr Sirenko, Levon Parikian, Nicholas Cleobury, Martyn Brabbins, Michel Full biographies at beirutchants.com Brandt, Varujan Kodjan, Clark Rundell, Jerzy Maksymiuk, Evelyne Aiello, Ludwig Carrasco, Nader Abbassi, Andrew Morley and Toby Purser. He is a recipient of The Crystal Award, awarded to him in 1998 at the World Economic Forum, Davos, Switzerland Samar Salame, Soprano Matteo El Khodr, Counter-Tenor

DEC 19 / 8:00 PM ST. ELIE CHURCH MATTEO EL KHODR, COUNTERTENOR KANTARI Due to luck, coincidences, and fate, Matteo found himself at age 18 signing a huge SAMAR SALAME, SOPRANO contract with Universal Music France and moved there to learn music, to become Samar Salamé finished her Audiovisual an opera singer, to travel and sing on the studies at IESAV (Saint Joseph University), biggest stages of Europe. before embarking on her journey in the He released his first album “Matteo lyrical field. Haute-Contre”, a “Thank You” album to all Maestro Roberto De Simone invited her to the inspirations who led him to fulfill his join his company Media Aetas in Naples. destiny: Bach, Bellini, Vivaldi, Purcell, Verdi... She followed him to Italy and toured the After a big tour in Europe, singing for the Peninsula with his show "The Opera Buffa Communauté Européene de Bruxelles, to del Giovedi Santo". At the end of the tour, the Queen of Belgium, to Vienna, Moscow, Salamé moved to Rome to pursue her Saint-Petersburg, Paris, London, Verona...and studies at The Conservatory of Santa Cecilia. Lebanon (Festival de Beiteddine), and several During her five years at this prestigious masterclasses with Andreas Scholl, Robert institution, she participated in Verdi's “Il Expert and Fabrice di Falco. Trovatore”, Rossini’s “Semiramide” based on Voltaire’s tragedy, Roberto De Simone's “Requiem alla Memoria di Pier Paolo Full biographies Pasolini” in Munich. at beirutchants.com Mira Akiki, Soprano Marc Reaidy, Tenor Olga Bolun, Piano

DEC 20 / 8:00 PM MARC REAIDY ST. ELIE CHURCH Marc Reaidy studied classical singing at Ecole des Arts Ghassan Yammine, with KANTARI Russian Professor Galina Khaldeeva. Currently, he is working with Professor Arax MIRA AKIKI Chekidjian. Mark Reaidy's repertoire includes oratorio Mira Akiki was born in July 1988, in and opera music from different composers; Kfardebian-Lebanon. She entered the music mainly Italian, French, English… (Puccini, field at the age of 8. Leoncavallo, Mascagni, Cilea, Rossini, Bizet, In 2006, she discovered her passion for Gounod, Handel, Haydn etc.) Given his singing and began her operatic courses in Russian Professor and fluency in Russian the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory language, he also enjoys a rich operatic and of Music, with Mrs. Galina Khaldeeva and lied repertoire of Russian composers such as continued afterwards with her current Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, Sviridov, Glinka... teacher Toufic Maatouk. In February 2015, she earned her Diploma in Opera from the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music with honors. To reinforce her vocal skills, she took part in Master Classes with different international opera singers and maestros. La Chanterie De Beyrouth

NOHA HATEM, CONDUCTOR ISABELLE ISSAHAKIAN, PIANO DEC 21 / 4:00 PM SAINT SAUVEUR CHURCH, MONOT

Founder and Choirmaster of the Lebanese pedagogy at the Institute of Musicology in Children’s Choir, Noha Hatem established Lyon, France, and has participated in several La Chanterie de Beyrouth around fifteen internships in London, Germany and France years ago. Its mission is to promote and thus completing a degree in the training, nurture young musical talent and contribute direction and musical initiation of children’s to the Lebanese cultural scene. Between 6 choirs. and 14 of age, and hailing from different Her dedication as Choirmaster of La backgrounds, these children express their Chanterie de Beyrouth has won her the love of song and music by joining the Choir Chevalier des Palmes Académiques award and engaging in various musical events from the French Government and the Medal throughout Lebanon. of Order of Isabel the Catholic from the Noha Hatem studied musicology and Spanish Government, as well. Orchestre et Chorale du College Notre-Dame de Jamhour

DEC 21 / 7:00 PM NOTRE DAME DES DONS (AL ATAYA) CHURCH

The Jamhour Choir was initially founded in In 2011, a year after the first concert 2010, to perform Taizé prayers and chants was held, the College Notre Dame de every Friday during Lent. It was formed of a Jamhour founded its Music School with the small group of secondary school students; accreditation of the Lebanese Government. that is, 25 singers and 5 musicians. The school rector Father Bruno Sion Sj, the At first, the founders were not expecting spiritual leader Father Denis Meyer sj, and their Choir to take off the way it did! the supervisor of sports and artistic activities The initiators of the project were Father Miss Alice Keyrouz fully supported M. Denis Meyer S.J, who is currently the spiritual Haytham Azzi, who initiated the project and leader of the School and is today, the Music School’s director. Mr. Haytham Azzi, composer and music One objective of this project was to provide instructor who graduated from Kaslik students with music lessons, in order University with a Master’s degree in to eventually enlarge the Choir and the Musicology. Following the success of the Orchestra. weekly Taizé prayer sessions, the Jamhour Choir decided to perform during the annual By 2011, the number of Choir members college fair. And so the journey began! increased to 70 singers and 10 musicians. Bertrand Chamayou,

VICTOIRES DE Piano LA MUSIQUE 2011

DEC 21 / 8:00 PM ST. JOSEPH CHURCH MONOT

One of France’s foremost pianists, Bertrand Chamayou has garnered international recognition for his virtuoso technique, insightful musicianship and striking originality across a vast repertoire.

Chamayou appears with the world’s finest orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, Cleveland Orchestra, Leipzig’s Gewandhausorchester, the London Philharmonic, Philharmonia Orchestra, the Staatskapelle Berlin, Wiener Symphoniker, Choice. His Schubert recital album Tonhalle Orchestre Zurich, the Orchestra (2014), also for Erato, was praised by BBC dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Music Magazine for ‘impressive reserves and NHK Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo, among of articulation and firepower [and] his many others. He has had the privilege of expressive touch.’ Liszt’s complete Années sharing the stage with maestros Pierre de pèlerinage, recorded for Naïve, received Boulez and Sir Neville Marriner, and counts a Choc (Classica), a Diapason d’Or de among his regular partners at the podium l année and Best Album at the Victoires Semyon Bychkov, Charles Dutoit, Mikko de la Musique Classique. Franck, Philippe Herreweghe, Philippe Jordan, Andris Nelsons, François-Xavier Roth, Tugan Sokhiev, Stéphane Denève and Full biographies at beirutchants.com Emmanuel Krivine.

Bertrand Chamayou is signed to Erato as an exclusive recording artist. His critically acclaimed double album of Ravel’s complete works for piano (2016) received an ECHO Klassik award and Gramophone Editor’s MR. NABIL BUSTROS CLOSING CONCERT Le Choeur de l’USJ MESSIAH GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL (1685 - 1759) Founded in 2015, the USJ Choir assembles today over fifty singers of different YASMINA SABBAH, CONDUCTOR ages, professions and backgrounds. MARIE-JOSÉE MATAR, SOPRANO In collaboration with members of the Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra, as MATTEO EL KHODR, COUNTERTENOR well as the Jeunesses Musicales du HAITHAM HAIDAR, TENOR Liban Orchestra, the choir has covered a large and varied repertoire ranging from DEC 22 / 9:00 PM Baroque music to Contemporary music. It is in the choir’s mission to introduce well ST. JOSEPH CHURCH known masterpieces, as well as obscure MONOT works to the public. The USJ Choir aims to contribute in raising Lebanese choral music to international standards and to keep Full biographies at beirutchants.com spreading the joy of singing. BEIRUT CHANTS FESTIVAL WISHES YOU A Merry Christmas

NOTE: As the situation in the country remains uncertain, venues & concerts are subject to change. Please always refer to beirutchants.com for updates.