Sharjah: The Sharjah World Music Festival 2017 will host two key musical evenings in January 2017, one featuring the traditional oud on January 7 and the other on January 8 dedicated to the memory of Umm Kulthoum, one of the greatest Arab singers of the 20th century.
Organised by Furat Qaddouri Music Centre and sponsored by Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), the fourth edition of the festival will run from January 6 to 14 on Flag Island.
The ‘Legend of Oud’ concert will feature four of the world’s most skilful oud players, who will exhibit their signature influences on this musical instrument. They are Naseer Shamma, celebrated Iraqi musician and founder of Beit Al Oud Al Arabi (The Arabian Oud House); Hussain Sabsaby from Syria, Iraqi composer and musician Khalid Mohammad Ali; and Turkish star Necati Çelik.
Hussain Sabsaby, Khalid Mohammad Ali, Naseer Shamma, Necati Celik and Reham Abdul Hakim.
On January 8, artist Reham Abdul Hakim, accompanied by the Cairo Opera House Orchestra conducted by maestro Mohammad Al Mougi, will celebrate the legendary Egyptian singer Umm Kulthoum in a concert featuring a selection of her most iconic songs.
Known for her unique and strong voice, Reham Abdul Hakim’s first artistic show was the Umm Kulthoum TV series in 1999.
Artist Furat Qaddouri, manager of the festival, said: “We promise that our audience will experience a rich musical and cultural evening at the Flag Island Theatre. Traditional oriental music will remain the overarching theme of these two days’ performances, along with European bands that bring together artists from all across the world. Residents and tourists will enjoy a great artistic experience in both vocals and instruments during these performances.”
Tickets for the concerts are available online on www.ticketmaster.ae. They can also be purchased at the customer service counters of Al Qasba Theatre, The Flag Island Theatre, Al Majaz Amphitheatre and Al Majaz Waterfront. VIP tickets are priced at Dh350 each, and the general admission ticket is available for Dh250. All concerts begin at 9pm.