São Paulo – Brazil’s TV Cultura aired this Sunday (20) the concert Um Abraço em Beirute (Embracing Beirut), featuring Brazilian and Lebanese artists. The show kicked off a fundraising campaign for Lebanon, whose capital was struck by a major blast on August 4 that claimed 200 lives, left 6,500 people wounded, and damaged 400,000 houses and 40,000 buildings. Lebanese TV channel LBCI also featured the concert live at 8 pm, Beirut time.
The program was created by the Consulate General of Lebanon in Rio de Janeiro, in partnership with TV Cultura and relying on support from the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC), which is handling the donations. The funds will go to Lebanese Red Cross. A QR Code was made available on the screen for donations during the TV show. Donations are still being accepted and will remain so over the following days (see bank details at the bottom of this page).
The program featured songs, poetry and spoken words of encouragement and solidarity towards Lebanon. Footage and numbers regarding the destruction in Beirut were shown, but the core message was one of hope. One Beirut resident recalled the day of the disaster and said it’s desolating to walk the streets of Beirut. “We want peace,” she said. In between the performances, hosts Marcelo Tas, Adriana Couto and Chris Maksoud called out for donations, as did the artists themselves.
Top-tier Brazilian musicians played songs whose lyrics convey messages of hope. “I suffer just like everyone, I just don’t sink into endless pain. I might even dive to the bottom, of a deep well of pain, but then I emerge again with a smile” (loosely translated from Portuguese), sang Lenine in his song “Envergo, Mas Não Quebro” (I’ll break, but I won’t bend). Gabriel Sater, the son of Almir Sater, sang “with each step we build and recreate a life full of joy,” from his song “Um Novo Amanhã Agora” (A New Tomorrow Right Now).
“In my band I’ve learned that by holding hands and helping one another we can go much farther,” said Nando of the group Roupa Nova, which played “Sapato Velho” (Old Shoe). The entire show featured art direction from another Roupa Nova musician, Ricardo Feghali, alongside Tim Rescala. Flávio Venturini sang that the sun will be back tomorrow, in his and Renato Russo’s song “Mais uma vez” (Once Again). Zeca Baleiro played “Por minha rua” (All Over My Street) in the concert for Beirut.
Several other musicians were featured, Arab descendants and otherwise, including Jorge Vercillo, Frejat, Fagner, Daniel, Sorriso Maroto, Badi Assad, Sami Bordokan, Pretinho da Serrinha and many others. Gilberto Gil accompanied himself on acoustic guitar for a rendition of “Andar Com Fé” (Walking with Faith). Marina Elali, a singer of Arab background, sang and said her song was about hope. “I am sending out all my faith, my love and my positive energy to our Lebanese cousins.”
Vanderléa, who discussed her Lebanese descent, sang “É Preciso Saber Viver” (You Must Know How To Live Life) alongside a choir. The Beirut Symphonic Orchestra, conducted by HArout Fazlian, accompanied singers Claudia Leitte, who sang the cheerful “Amor Perfeito” (Perfect Love); Lenine (pictured above); Fagner; Daniel; and the group Melim. Their voices were recorded individually, with arrangements supplied by maestro Tim Rescala. The Lebanese singer Jahida Wehbe made several appearances alongside the Orchestra, and even sang songs by Brazilian composers.
Actors and actresses including Drica Moraes and Osmar Prado declaimed verses by the Lebanese poet Gibran Khalil Gibran. “Beauty isn’t in the face, beauty is a light within the heart,” actress Fernanda Montenegro said, quoting Gibran. The consul of Lebanon to Campinas and surrounding cities, Miled Khoury, and the president of the Brazilian Academy of Letters, Marco Lucchesi, conveyed messages of solidarity to the Lebanese people. The TV program opened with Lebanon’s consul-general to Rio de Janeiro, Alejandro Bitar, who explained how it came about and announced that the fundraising campaign was open.
The show featured general direction from Maurício Valim and Marcelo Amiky. All artists declined to charge. The event relied on support from the Lebanese League and the Federation of Lebanese-Brazilian Entities of the State of Rio de Janeiro.
Donations
Santander (Bank Code 033)
Branch: 3681
Current Account: 13003341-5
Corporate Taxpayer Number (CNPJ): 62.659.784/0001-11
Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce
Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
