A SYMPHONY of sound has filled the Bahrain National Theatre in recent days as musicians rehearsed for tonight’s opening of the 31st Bahrain International Music Festival.
The Bahrain Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by acclaimed composer Major General Dr Mubarak Najem, has been perfecting every note and melody.
“Our mission is to bring joy and hope to the audience,” said Maj Gen Dr Najem. “The concert hall will be full of positive energy so that when the audience goes home they will continue carrying it with them ... even into the next day when they set off to work.
“That’s what inspired me to help form this 100-strong orchestra and pick the programme that we will be playing.
“The orchestra is made up of musicians of different nationalities with a diverse range of talent, which in turn showcases the beauty of Bahrain, a kingdom of peace and openness.”
He added that all the members of the orchestra were excited and thankful to the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities for organising the event.
The hour-and-a-half programme of majestic pieces will feature an array of classical compositions from the likes of Austrian Wolfgang Mozart, German composer Johannes Brahms and Czech composer Antonín Dvořák.
There will also be Arabic and Khaleeji songs in the mix that have been arranged by the maestro himself into orchestral work.
“As this is the opening of the Bahrain International Music Festival, the programme needed to be diverse,” said Maj Gen Dr Najem, who studied conducting and composing at The Academy of Arts Cairo Conservatoire in Egypt in the late 1970s and was the first Bahraini to lead the Bahrain Police Band in 1998.
“It features worldly classical music, along with different pieces such as Arabic songs turned into orchestral work, as well as popular songs and music from film scores.
“I don’t want to deliver a heavy set of long, complicated music that could put people to sleep,” he added, “so there will be something for everyone to enjoy.”
The orchestra’s performance during the dress rehearsal was ethereal and serene with Maj Gen Dr Najem directing the musicians joyfully and gracefully with his baton.
Over the years, Maj Gen Dr Najem has played for visiting royalty and conducted orchestras such as the Bulgarian Symphony Orchestra. He also has composed songs for Bahrain TV and has heard his music performed by different artists. Tonight’s sold-out concert at the theatre is set to kick off the 31st Musical Festival on a high note on what happens to be International Music Day.
Other planned events, which are free, includes an evening of authentic Moroccan sounds tomorrow by the Rabat Troupe for Instrumental Music at the Cultural Hall, at 8pm.
There will also be a tribute event on Tuesday for the late Bahraini singer Mohammed Zowayed by the Bahrain Music Band, conducted by Zeyad Zaiman at 8pm at the Cultural Hall.
The Ismaeel Dawas Band, founded in 1935, will perform traditional folk music at Dar Al Muharraq on Wednesday at 8pm.
Meanwhile, the Japanese Taiko ensemble Wagaku Miyabi will be back in Bahrain promising to put on an electrifying showcase on Thursday at the Cultural Hall at 8pm. The band will present a powerful performance of Japanese drums with other Japanese musical instruments.
The Bahrain International Music Festival ends with the musical stylings of Noel Kharman on October 7 at the Cultural Hall at 8pm.
This will be the Palestinian singer’s first concert in the kingdom and she hopes to enthral people with her songs that are a mixture of Arabic and Western music.
mai@gdnmedia.bh
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