Asmahan Presence and Distinctive Performance Style

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A versatile singer renowned for her powerful voice, enchanting stage Asmahan presence and distinctive performance style. Amal Al-Atrash, (1912-1944), better known by her stage name Asmahan, was an exceptional Syrian-Egyptian singer and actor who rose to fame in Egypt in the 1930s and early 1940s. Born into a prominent family, she moved from Syria to Egypt with her mother and siblings due to political unrest. To earn a living, her mother, who had an excellent voice, began singing and playing the oud. She was a source of inspiration for Asmahan and her brother, Farid Al-Atrash, who also became a famous musician. Asmahan, like her mother, demonstrated vocal talent from an early age, and went on to sing songs written by DID YOU KNOW? renowned musicians in some of Egypt’s most important venues. Asmahan collaborated with the great artist Mohammed Abdel Wahab, Asmahan was a versatile singer celebrated singing one of his compositions for for her powerful voice, enchanting stage the Film Yawm Sa’id (Happy Day). presence and distinctive performance style. She was not only skilled in tarab, but she was also incredibly innovative. Her voice was FUN FACT regarded as one of the few in the Arab world at the time able to compete with renowned Asmahan and her brother Farid Al- Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum. Atrash starred in the successful 1941 film Intisar al-Shabab (The Triumph Despite her short life, Asmahan performed of Youth), in which they portray two and recorded several memorable songs young singers looking for fame in Egypt. composed by renowned musicians, including her brother Farid Al-Atrash. Asmahan also appeared in a number of critically acclaimed MUSICAL TERM films, and some of her songs for these films became major hits. She was one of the most Tarab: Arabic word referring to distinguished female Arab singers of the 20th a state of musical bliss where the century, paving the way for the female artists listener is deeply moved and carried who followed her. away by a musical performance. .

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