Beirut Chants for Christmas
Beirut Chants Festival inaugurated its 8th edition at Saint George Maronite Cathedral in Downtown Beirut. After its debut at Carnegie Hall last May, the “Messa Di Gloria” of Puccini opened Beirut Chants 2015, conducted by The festival Artistic Director father Toufik Maatouk and featuring the Lebanese talented Tenor Bechara Moufarrej, the International Baritone Salvatore Grigoli and the Choirs of Univesité Antonine and Notre Dame University conducted by the Choir Master father Khalil Rahme, and The Orchestra Giovanile Mediterranea.
Puccini is celebrated as one of the greatest opera composers, renowned particularly for La Boheme, Tosca and Madame Butterfly. Since its publication in 1951 it has been universally known as the Messa di Gloria and has become a firmly established part of the choral repertoire.
Beirut Chants Festival presents this year 28 concerts with various music genre and lasts till December 23rd in some of Beirut churches.
Tuesday 1 Opening Night: Messa di Gloria - Giacomo Puccini
After Carnegie Hall Debut in May 2015
Bechara Moufarrej, Tenor - Salvatore Grigoli, Baritone – Marco Vinco, Bass
Antonine University & NDU Choirs
Khalil Rahme, o.m.m, Choir Master
Orchestra Giovanile Mediterranea, Palermo - Toufic Maatouk o.a.m, Conductor
In collaboration with the Italian Cultural Institute in Beirut, Université Antonine and Notre Dame University
Saint George Maronite Cathedral | 20:00
Wednesday 2: A Night of Contemporary Arabic Music
Asil Ensemble
Firas Andari Shahrout, Oud - Mohamad Antar, Nay - Barakat Jabbour, Violin - Bilal Bitar, Santour - Reda Bitar, Alto Violin - Imad Hashisho, Cello - Ali Hout, Riqq
Farah Kaddour, Soprano Oud - Abed Kobeissy, Tanbour & Buzuq - Ghassan Sahhab, Qanun
Mustafa Said, Oud & Composition
Saint Elie Greek Catholic Cathedral | 20:00
Thursday 3: Corinne Metni and Guest Artists
Elianne Saade - Bechara Moufarrej - Teddy Nasr - Orchestra Giovanile Mediterranea, Palermo - Sebastien Bagnoud, Conductor
In collaboration with the Embassy of Switzerland in Lebanon
Saint Maron Church | Gemmayzeh | 20:00
Friday 4: An Angelic Sound
Xavier De Maistre, Harp
First prize of the International harp competition of Bloomington, Indiana
St. Maron Church | Gemmayzeh | 20:00
Saturday 5: Armenian Mosaic IV
Kamila Yerkanian-Keshishian, Piano – Zakar Keshishian, Duduk and Shvi
St. Nishan Orthodox Church | 20:00
Sunday 6: Lebanese School of Blind & Deaf Choir
All Saints Church | 18:00
Sunday 6: Armenian Traditional Christmas
Groong Choir - Edouard Torikian, Conductor
St. Elie Armenian Catholic Cathedral | 20:00
Monday 7: Romanze di Tosti - Salon musique of the Belle Époque
On the occasion of the centenary of the Italian composer Francesco Paolo Tosti
Artemisa Repa, Soprano - Fabio Centanni, Piano
St. Elie Kantari | 20:00
Tuesday 8: Impressive Duo
Boris Andrianov, Cello First prize of Rostropovich competition
Alexander Ghindin, Piano First prize of Tchaikovsky competition
St. Louis Capuchin | 20:00
Wednesday 9: Maronite Christmas
Qolo ‘Atiqo Choir - Fr. Miled Tarabay, Conductor
St. Elie Kantari | 20:00
Thursday 10: Greek Orthodox Liturgy
St. Romanos Choir – Father Romanos Gebran, Conductor
St. George Orthodox Cathedral | 20:00
Friday 11: Beethoven Symphony No. 1 and Premiere Piano Concerto of Naji Hakim
Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra - Claire Foison, Piano - Francesco Lanzillotta, Conductor
In collaboration with Centre du Patrimoine Musical Libanais and the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music
In memory of Mr. Raphael with special thanks to Banque Libano Française
St. George Maronite Cathedral | 20:00
Saturday 12: Technique Doesn’t Exist
Julien Libeer, Piano
St. Maron Church Gemmayzeh | 20:00
Sunday 13: Children’s Christmas Carols
Ecole de Musique Antonine Children Choir- Nelly Maatouk, Conductor
St. Louis Capuchin | 18:00
Sunday 13: Avanesyan Piano Trio
Hrachya Avanesyan, Violin – Aleksander Chavshyan, Cello - Julien Libeer, Piano
St. Elie Kantari | 20:00
Monday 14: A Tenor Christmas
Elya Francis, Tenor - Fausto Di Benedetto, Piano
Notre Dame Al Ataya, Achrafieh | 20:00
Tuesday 15: Christmas Tradition from the Orient
St. Stephanos the Melode Choir - Bachir Osta, Conductor
St. Elie Greek Catholic Cathedral | 20:00
Wednesday 16: All Handel!
Ensemble la Lira d’Orfeo - Raffaele Pe, Countertenor
In collaboration with the Italian Cultural Institute in Beirut
St. Louis Capuchin | 20:00
Thursday 17: Ghada Shbeir
St. Maron Church | Gemmayzeh | 20:00
Friday 18: Lebanese Traditional Music
Al Fayha Choir - Barkev Teslakian, Conductor
National Evangelical Church | 20:00
Saturday 19: Beirut Youth Choir
Yassmina Sabbah, Conductor
St. Nishan |18:00
Saturday 19: Music from Vienna
Concilium Musicum Wien
Christophe Angerer, Conductor
In collaboration with the Austrian Embassy in Beirut
St. Joseph Church | Monot | 20:00
Sunday 20: Christmas for the Homeless Children
Gargatch Children Choir
Zakar Keshishian, Conductor – Liana Harutyounian, Piano
National Evangelical Church | 18:00
Sunday 20: The Festival Concert
Mira Akiki, Soprano - Ihab Jammal, Violin - Bassel El Baba, Piano
St. Elie Greek Catholic Cathedral | 20:00
Monday 21: La Chanterie de Beyrouth
Noha Hatem, Conductor - Isabelle Issahakian, Piano
National Evangelical Church |18:00
Monday 21: Samar Salame, Soprano
St. Elie Kantari | 20:00
Tuesday 22: A Tribute to Beirut Orpheus Choir
Coronation Mass - W.A. Mozart and Christmas Carols
Corinne Metni, Soprano - Samar Salame, Soprano - Miranda Heldt, Soprano
Angela Simkin, Mezzo - Julian Issa, Tenor - Julien Van Mellaerts, Baritone
Rajai Khouri, Guest Baritone - Antonine University Choir - Toby Purser and
Toufic Maatouk o.a.m, Conductors
In collaboration with Peace & Prosperity Trust in UK
St. Maron Church | Gemmayzeh | 20:00
Wednesday 23 Closing Concert: Opera Arias
Cinzia Forte, Soprano - Maurizio Agostini, Piano
In Collaboration with Teatro di San Carlo- Napoli- Italy
St. Maron Church | Gemmayzeh |20:00