Photo: Supplied.
She is considered one of the Arab world’s greatest singers to ever live, and now Umm Kulthum is getting a tribute concert in her honor at the Dubai Opera this month. The legendary Egyptian musician, who passed away 44-years-ago at the age of 76, will be commemorated by Tunisian singer and songwriter, Ghalia Benali, who will take to the stage of the Zaha Hadid-designed opera house on February 16 to captivate audiences with some of Umm Kulthum’s most timeless classics. Nicknamed “granddaughter of Umm Kulthum” (note: they aren’t related), the Brussels-born Benali is set to perform “Al Atlal”, “Qadheet Hayati”, and “Alf Leila w Leila”, among others during “A Tribute to Umm Kulthum”.
The concert comes just a few weeks after a hologram of Umm Kulthum performed to an audience in Saudi Arabia. The digital three dimensional rendering of the singer, backed by a real-life orchestra, performed some of her biggest hits against the backdrop of the craggy, sand-stone mountains of the historic city of Al Ula as part of the Winter at Tantora Festival. The digitized 3D hologram followed in the footsteps of the life-size CGI-image of Tupac Shakur (he died in 1996), who rapped alongside Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre at Coachella in 2012.
Meanwhile, on February 8, the Alexandria Opera House commemorated the late singer’s 44th death anniversary with a concert performed by the National Arab Music Ensemble, headed by maestro Abdel Hamid Abdel Gaffar.
Yasmin Raeis as Umm Kulthum. “Looking For Oum Khulthum” (2017)
Though its been almost 50-years since she’s passed, the Egyptian icon’s legacy continues to live on. In 2017, Iranian director Shirin Neshat premiered a feature film focused on the Arabic singer. Looking for Oum Kulthum, which starred Egyptian actor Yasmin Raeis as Umm Kulthum, made its debut at the Venice International Film Festival. Meanwhile, Marc Jacobs Beauty brand ambassador, Dubai-based Rhea Jacobs collaborated with Omani photographer Issa SK on a striking, ’50’s-inspired shoot inspired by the late singing icon.
Rhea Jacobs photographed by Issa SK.
Rhea Jacobs photographed by Issa SK.
Tickets are on sale for “A Tribute to Umm Kulthum”, with prices for the tribute concert starting at AED 195. Tickets can be purchased online.
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