NATIONAL ARAB ORCHESTRA UMS Digital Presentation Hosted on UMS.org
Michael Ibrahim Artistic Director and Conductor
Lubana Al Quntar / Vocalist Mai Farouk / Vocalist
Friday Evening, March 26, 2021 at 7:30 (Digital Premiere) Streaming on demand through Monday, April 5
Ithra Theatre, King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture Dhahran, Saudia Arabia THANK YOU TO SUPPORTERS OF THIS UMS DIGITAL PRESENTATION
This Digital Arts Adventure brought to you in part by THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN CREDIT UNION ARTS ADVENTURES PROGRAM Supporting Sponsor LOUISE TAYLOR Funded in part by STATE OF MICHIGAN COMMISSION ON MIDDLE EASTERN AMERICAN AFFAIRS
This digital presentation of the National Arab Orchestra is supported by Louise Taylor and the University of Michigan Credit Union Arts Adventures Program. UMS also extends our gratitude to the University of Michigan for its partnership and support this season. This digital presentation is funded in part by the State of Michigan Commission on Middle Eastern American Affairs. PROGRAM
Arab Women in Music: The Works of Asmahan and Umm Kulthum
Songs for Asmahan
Medhat Asim Ya Habibi Ta’ala
Farid Alatrash Nawayt Adari Alami
Farid Alatrash Layali il-Uns
Mohamed il-Qasabji Ya Tuyour
Mohamed Abdelwahab Fakarouni, Arr. Michael Ibrahim Instrumental Medley
Songs for Umm Kulthum
Baligh Hamdi Alf Leila
Riyad il-Sunbati ’Ala Baladi il-Mahboub
Zakaria Ahmed il-Wardi Gamil
Mohamed Abdelwahab Inta ’Umri
Songs in the Arab World are recognized as belonging to the singer who it was written for or who sang them. In the above program, the first four songs before the instrumental medley are known to be for Asmahan; the last four songs that follow the medley are known to be for Umm Kulthum. This concert recording marks the first time women had ever performed on the stage of the Ithra Theatre at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture.
3 PROGRAM For millennia, Arab women, Asmahan’s family. Vocalist Mai Farouk and women in general, have is a specialist in Tarab, having sung evoked countless emotions and Umm Kulthum in major venues around intellectual passions that have the world with her striking voice and shaped civilizations. The National stage presence. Arab Orchestra celebrates the Asmahan and Umm Kulthum are contributions Arab women have women of bravery, style, individuality, made to the arts in this historic and unique artistry who dared performance at the Ithra Theater in become the icons they are now. They the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with are two prolific female artists whose a program featuring the works of vast contributions launched them renowned artists Asmahan and Umm beyond song, resulting in a legacy Kulthum. of unwavering commitment to the When two artists with such creation of important, visible and creativity as Asmahan and Umm unforgettable art. Kulthum coexist in a given time and space, it represents an artistic phenomenon that occurs only once in centuries. Cairo, Egypt, between the 1940s and early 1960s, experienced a cultural renaissance. Mohammad El Qasabji, Zakaria Ahmed, Amhed Ramy, Riad El Sumbaty, Farid El Atrache, and Mohammed Abdul Wahab are all broadly celebrated artists known for rethinking and reshaping music and poetry of the Arab World. Undoubtedly, we can say that Asmahan and Umm Kulthum were not only two outstanding female voices, but also integral catalysts in a period of creative vibrancy. The National Arab Orchestra seeks to capture a moment in time in Arab musical heritage in this program. They were invested in revisiting — rather than replicating — the art of Asmahan and Umm Kulthum. Lubana Al Quntar was a natural choice as vocalist for this program not only because of her command of Arabic and Western singing techniques, but also as a direct descendant of
4 ARTISTS
The National Arab Orchestra’s (NAO) and her brother, renowned composer and founder and music director, Michael singer Farid Al Atrash. These connections Ibrahim (artistic director and conductor), influenced her musical path and played is a dynamic conductor and a recognized an important role in her decision to seek innovator in the Arab music circuit. A a career as a professional singer, where Metro-Detroit native, he was born into a she began singing at an early age. Ms. Al Syrian immigrant family of humble origins. Quntar performs a wide-ranging repertoire He began his musical studies on the of Arab music in various styles, including oud, and later studied the bassoon and classical, contemporary, folk, and pop. nay as his musical training progressed. In addition to traditional Arab stylings, Mr. Ibrahim studied under renowned she studied opera and became the first musicians Simon Shaheen, Johnny Sarweh, Syrian opera singer to gain international Nadeem Dlaikan, Douglas Bianchi, Anthony recognition through various European Iannaccone, Dr. David Pierce, Robert appearances. She returned to Syria to Williams, and Victoria King. He earned a lead the Department of Opera Singing bachelor’s degree in music from Eastern and launched the Department of Classical Michigan University, and a master’s degree Arabic Singing at the Syrian National in conducting from Wayne State University. Conservatory. This was a ground-breaking Mr. Ibrahim’s background and event, marking the first time students unique approach to composition and could study both operatic and traditional improvisation — fusing Western and Arab singing through an accredited institution. music idioms — has led to performances She established the Arabic Music Singing in concert halls and venues around the Ensemble that performs across countries world, features on a number of recordings of the Arab World. She came to the US and film scores, and opportunities to in 2012 and has since performed in share the stage with some of the most numerous venues across the country. influential figures in Western and Arab music. His role as an educator, providing A talented Egyptian singer, Mai Farouk instrumental and ensemble instruction, (vocalist) adores the traditional Tarab. lectures, and demonstrations on Arab Best known for her exquisite renditions music, privately and in the classroom, of Umm Kulthum songs, Ms. Farouk has at university and grade-school levels, appeared in many venues and festivals ultimately brought him to founding the throughout Egypt and the Arab World. NAO, where he currently serves as music Highlights include performances at The director. Mr. Ibrahim hopes that through Opera House in Cairo and the Arab Musical his performances and educational efforts, Festival, as well as having represented he can instill a wider appreciation for Arab Egypt in several regional and international music and its heritage. competitions.
Lubana Al Quntar (vocalist) comes from The National Arab Orchestra (NAO) a family with origins deeply rooted in began in 2009 as a student ensemble classical Arabic music. Her family includes at the University of Michigan under the renowned singer/actress Amal Al Atrash direction of Michael Ibrahim. Following (known by her stage name, Asmahan), its first concert, the ensemble doubled
5 in size to become an orchestra and of newly composed music performed live began rehearsing for its next project. to the silent films of Mohamed Bayoumi The success of the first two concerts led in collaboration with the Arab American Mr. Ibrahim to establish the Orchestra’s National Museum, the Detroit Institute nonprofit entity under the name Michigan of Arts, and the National Performance Arab Orchestra in Spring 2010. Network, exposing Arab World music and Under the leadership of its founder culture to new audiences. and music director, the orchestra The NAO continues its mission to established a second chamber group preserve and integrate Arab culture by (the takht ensemble), which offered its creating memorable musical experiences first performance in December 2010. through education and performance with With its continued expansion, the an emphasis on the musical traditions organization began to gain the support of the Arab World. The NAO is comprised of its community, which included the of musicians of both Arab and non-Arab addition of the orchestra’s co-founders, backgrounds who are either students or Usama Baalbaki, Moose Scheib, and Dr. professional musicians in the community. Vasken Artinian. Within the next three years, the Michigan Arab Orchestra quickly established itself as the nation’s leading organization for Arab music, which led the orchestra to its home at the Detroit Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts in 2012 and culminated in the orchestra’s first major grant from the Knight Foundation in 2013. The Michigan Arab Orchestra began implementation of its Building Bridges Through Music (BBTM) program in the Detroit Public School System. The BBTM program was designed to teach students about the beauty and richness of Arab culture while providing opportunities for cultural understanding and enrichment. In January 2014, the National Arab Orchestra made its national debut at the Woodruff Arts Center (Atlanta Symphony Hall). Since then, the Orchestra has collaborated on many projects, including the Haflah concert with the Michigan Philharmonic, premiering an original score by Grammy- nominated composer Kareem Roustom; the MidEast x MidWest concert with the Toledo Symphony Orchestra; the East Meets West Hip-Hop Fusion Project, integrating Arab music into Western culture; and, most recently, a commission
6 UMS ARCHIVES
This digital presentation marks the UMS debuts of the National Arab Orchestra, conductor Michael Ibrahim, and vocalists Lubana Al Quntar and Mai Farouk.