National Arab Orchestra
On the Shoulders of Giants: Arab Women in Music
Directed by: Michael Ibrahim
February 10, 2018
Detroit Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts

Layali il-Uns Fi Vienna
Composer: Farid Alatrash, Originally sung by: Asmahan
Vocalist: Lubana Al Quntar

Audio produced by: DAVESCHALLACOUSTIC
Video produced by: hawkmedia.us

Violins: Layth AlRubaye, Eylem Basaldi, Megan Gould, Laura Harada, Frances Hostetter, Emad Ibrahim, Insia Malik, Fr. Dn. Bassam Nashawati, Roberto Riggio, Katie Van Dusen, Andrea Vercoe, Sachiyo Yoshimoto. Cello: Khaled Khalifa, Double Bass: Jonathan Hammonds. Oud: Victor Ghannam. Qanun: Tony Barhoum. Nay/Director: Michael Ibrahim. Electric Guitar: Edward Gedeon. Synthesizer: Haitham Zbib. Percussion: Ryan Paul Gates, Roger kashou, Gilbert Mansour, Karim Nagi, Tareq Rantisi, Dr. Gursharan Singh Sandhu.

Fordson High School Choir: Juana Abdalla, Fatima Alrebaie, Zainab Alrebaie, Maya Berry, Dena Eldirawi, Farrah Hassoun, Sabrina Itawi, Selena Jafer, Amal Khalil, Sarah Qaddoumi, Leila Rustom, Yossr Saihi, Nora Soofi.

Born Amal al-Atrash into a Druze family in Syria, Asmahan (1912-1944) was a film star known for the high quality of her singing. Fleeing from fighting in the Jabal Druze with her mother, singer ‘Aliya Husayn, and her brother, the famed singer and ‘ud player Farid al-Atrash, Asmahan moved to Egypt in 1925. In these early years in a new place, she, as well as Farid, would appear in performances on programming on Egypt’s new private radio stations. Unlike the diva Umm Kulthum, whose fame and stage persona is inseparable from her live performances and her relationship with her audience, Asmahan limited her musical career to performing and recording for film only. Asmahan starred in two big musical films: Intisar al-Shabab (Fountain of Youth, 1941) and Gharam wa Intiqam (Love and Revenge, 1944). Asmahan was revered for her virtuosic mastery of various Arabic and European vocal singing styles. One of the most famous songs in Gharam wa Intiqam , "Layali Uns fi Vienna" was one such song in which Asmahan’s expertise and ability to switch between different vocal techniques is showcased. Muhammad al-Qassabji was one composer who wrote operatic songs specifically for Asmahan. Asmahan’s private life was often in the public spotlight, with her numerous romantic entanglements and political controversies being the subject of media coverage, up until her untimely death in a car accident.

Lubana Al Quntar comes from a Syrian family that is deeply rooted in classical Arabic music. She is related to singer/actress Amal Al Atrash (known by her stage name, Asmahan) and her brother, renowned composer and singer Farid Al Atrash. These connections influenced her musical path and played an important role in her decision to seek a career as a professional singer. Born in Syria, she began singing at an early age and had an unusual gift for singing challenging sung poetry from childhood. Today Lubana performs a wide a range of repertoire within the Arab music canon which include music from the classical, contemporary, folk, and pop genres. Her expressive voice allows her to add luster and richness to the various singing styles. In addition to traditional Arab song, Lubana studied opera and became the first Syrian opera singer to attain international recognition, as she appeared in concerts throughout Europe. She returned to Syria to head the Department of Opera Singing and launched the Department of Classical Arabic Singing at the Syrian National Conservatory. This was a ground-breaking event because, for the first time, students could study both operatic and traditional singing at an accredited institution. She established the Arabic Music Singing Ensemble that performed across the Middle East. She came to the United States in 2012 and has since performed in numerous venues across the country in addition to her European performances.

To find out more about the National Arab Orchestra visit our website at www.NationalArabOrchestra.org or email us at info@nationalaraborchestra.org

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