Fairouz Shines

Very few entertainers can bring thousands of people from all over the world to attend a concert, but this is exactly what Lebanese diva Fairouz did over two nights last weekend.

The Beirut International Exhibition Centre (BIEL) saw around 14,000 fans who flocked to watch and hear the legendary singer perform some of her most popular, as well as new, songs.

The first part of the concert was dedicated entirely to the songs written and composed by Fairouz's son, musician Ziad Rahbani, while in the second part she performed her well-known oldies, composed by the Rahbani Brothers — Asi and Mansour.

Although the latest album, Eh Fi Amal, by Fairouz was launched on Thursday, the day of the first concert, many in the audience had already memorised the songs and were singing along — a phenomenon that few but Fairouz can claim.

Starting with Sallimli Aleih, the singer, wearing a sparkling beige dress, bowed to endless cheering by the excited fans who had waited for hours outside the venue despite the heavy rain.

Angelic

The singer looked and sounded better than she had in her recent concerts. In many of her concerts over the past few years, she has relied heavily on chorus backup, singing only a few sentences from each song during live performances.

This weekend, the singer's voice, described as angelic by her fans, seemed to regain its capabilities, and just a month away from her 75th birthday, she appeared more at ease and confident than she had been in many years.

More favourite numbers by Rahbani followed, including Kifak Enta, Eshta'tillak, and some from the new album such as Eh Fi Amal, Ossa Zghiri Ktir, Ma Shawart Hali and Allah Kbir, some she performed in Dubai in 2003.

Although Rahbani never made an appearance onstage, he was the one who orchestrated the event, which could be felt despite his absence.

During the breaks Fairouz took, her chorus kept the audience entertained by performing some of Rahbani's songs in the first part, including Aishe Wahda, Bima Enno and Rajaa Bi Iznillah and some of the Rahbani Brothers' songs in the second, including As'iss Waraq, and Tallou Siyyadi. The crowd, which seemed to know every word, sang along loudly with the band.

In the second part of the concert, Fairouz, who appeared in a bridal white dress, performed old numbers — Wata Dowar, Ya Rayt, Ouda Minsiyyi, Al Tahouneh and Emmi Namet, after which she bowed and left the stage before returning in true Fairouz fashion to show respect for her audience and enchant them with a repeat performance of her last song, Bukra Berjaa.

It is worth noting that the audience not only responds to Fairouz's songs, but to her famous gestures as well. People cheer when she raises her hand or tosses her hair, and go crazy if they get to see an ever-so-rare smile.

The concerts were attended by many stars, including Fairouz's brother-in-law Elias Rahbani, Egyptian actor Adel Imam, Emirati singer Ahlam and Syrian actors Qusay Khawli and Saifddine Subaie.