São Paulo – The Baalbeck International Festival opened last Friday (25) at the Temple of Bacchus, in Lebanon, with the famous opera Carmen, in a production featuring a Brazilian touch. The piece was directed by the Lebanese-Brazilian Jorge Takla, Brazilian professionals were involved the production, and Brazilian dancers were featured. The festival’s sponsors include the Embassy of Brazil in Beirut and Guimarães Rosa Institute, a Brazilian government organization devoted to cultural and educational diplomacy.
“The Embassy of Brazil warmly welcomes the successful holding of Baalbeck International Festival – a deeply symbolic event that highlights Lebanon’s cultural strength as a nation marked by pluralism and diversity,” the Guimarães Rosa Institute in Beirut posted on social media. The festival is a major cultural event in Lebanon, taking place in the historic citadel of Baalbek, at a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) World Heritage site archaeological complex.
According to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA), the opera chosen by the Baalbeck International Festival Committee to launch its culture and arts summer season at the Temple of Bacchus was staged in honor of the French composer Georges Bizet, 150 years after its premiere on March 3, 1875 in Paris. One of the most famous operas of all time, it tells the tale of the young gypsy woman Carmen, the soldier Don José, and the bullfighter Escamillo, in a plot of drama, romance, comedy, and tragedy.
“Carmen is that woman who sings of freedom. Her voice resounds from Baalbek to all those who suffer in silence, who resist fear, hunger, and injustice throughout this region, carrying a unified humanitarian message,” Baalbeck International Festival Committee president Nayla de Freij said in her opening address. She highlighted Takla’s directing as well as the work of maestro Toufic Maatouk, visual artist Nabil Nahas, designer Rabih Kayrouz, the Lebanese and French vocalists and choir, the Lebanese and Brazilian dancers, and the Romanian orchestra featured in the opera.
Lebanese authorities in attendance included the first lady, Neamat Aoun, representing Lebanon’s president Joseph Aoun; and prime minister Nawaf Salam and his wife, Sahar Salam. Nayla said president Aoun has awarded the Lebanese Order of Merit, Third Class (Silver) to the director Jorge Takla in recognition of the outstanding work he accomplished in a very short time to bring this opera to Baalbek, despite all the challenges.
The opera Carmen was also staged on Saturday (26). On August 8 and 9, Baalbeck International Festival will feature a concert by Hiba Tawaji, a Lebanese singer who recently performed during the historic reopening of the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, with musical direction by the composer, musician and producer Oussama Rahbani, featuring a full orchestra and choir.
Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
