Culture & Education | Sunday 8 January, 2017 11:35 am |

The Sharjah World Music Festival 2017 (SWMF 2017) got off to an electrifying start with Emirati superstar Hussain Al Jassmi and Egyptian pop queen Sherine Abdel Wahhab rocking the audiences with a selection of their greatest hits until the wee hours of Saturday morning at Al Majaz Amphitheatre.

 

The event was attended by Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Chairman of Sharjah Media Centre and Chairman of Sharjah Media Corporation, Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), HE Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal, CEO of Shurooq, HE Tareq Saeed Allai, Director of Sharjah Media Centre, Dr Inas Abdul Dayem, Head of the Cairo Opera House, and Artist Furat Qaddouri, Manager of Sharjah World Music Festival – were also present.  

 

Also in attendance were the managers of Shurooq’s tourist and leisure destinations, numerous artists and media personalities, and dignitaries and celebrities from the UAE and abroad.

 

In her debut public appearance in Sharjah, Sherine the ‘Queen of Feelings’, took stage amid the thunderous cheering of fans.  Describing the UAE as the ‘Incubator of Cultures’, the artist expressed her sheer delight at being in the UAE, and also voiced her happiness at sharing the stage with local superstar Al Jassmi.

 

Her first two performances, ‘Tareeqi’, or ‘My Way’, and ‘Mshaa'er’ or ‘Feelings’ made the audience swing and tap with joy. Her sensational voice and enigmatic on-stage persona continued to entertain fans who just couldn’t get enough her chart topping favourites, as they continued to cheer for more.

 

She dedicated one of Umm Kulthum’s most remarkable songs, ‘Ba'eed Annak’ to the audience. She gave the audience a big surprise by performing one of Al Jassmi's biggest hits, ‘6 El Sobh’ or ‘6am’. She concluded her performance by signing ‘Ah Ya Leil’ (Oh, night!), the song with she began her musical career 16 years ago.

 

Then, the much-anticipated entry by renowned Emirati singer Hussain Al Jassmi was made amid roaring applause and cheering by his dedicated fans.

 

Al Jassmi began his address by praising the achievements of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, for his patronage and support for culture, art, theater, poetry, music, and other genres that nurture human minds.

 

“I am delighted because Sharjah has been organising this world-class music festival, which has taken just four years to come at par with the most important music festivals in the world, due to its careful selection of artists and excellent management. The fact that the festival has outstanding venues like Al Majaz Amphitheatre and the Flag Island Theatre, to host its concerts also adds great value and character to the event. I hope the festival continues to leave its impressive imprint on music, locally, regionally and internationally,” Al Jassmi said.

 

An IIMSAM Goodwill Ambassador who advocates for the use of Spirulina in fighting severe malnutrition worldwide, Al Jassmi extended a warm welcome to Abdel Wahhab to Sharjah, emphasising that her participation and that of the other artists from all corners of the world evidences the growth of the emirate as a meeting point or a ‘hub’ for top artists in music, film and theater who are also eager to share their art and skill before international audiences.

 

With his magical voice, Al Jassmi treated his audience to a number of his biggest hit songs from his most popular albums. He performed 'Bahr Al Shoq’, and ‘Ya Taj Ala Al Ras’ before continuing with a blend of Lebanese, Egyptian, Iraqi and Emirati songs. He continued to perform his most popular hits like ‘Bahebek Wahashtini’ (I Love You and Missed You), ‘Faqadatek Ya Azz Elnas’ (I Lost You My Dearest), and ‘Boushret Kheir’ (Good News).

 

The festival, organised by Furat Qaddouri Music Centre and sponsored by Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), will continue until 14 January, taking place at Al Majaz Waterfront, Al Qasba and Flag Island. The nine-day music extravaganza will feature 24 internationally acclaimed artists and music bands from 14 Arab and foreign countries, namely the UAE, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Egypt and Jordan, as well as France, Spain, Holland, Ukraine, Turkey, Cuba, Columbia and the United States.

 

The festival will continue with other concerts where the audience will be treated to traditional Arabic music with the "Legends of Oud" at the Flag Island Theatre, at 9pm, on Saturday, 7 January. The Legends of Oud concert will feature four contrasting musical talents from across the region, namely celebrated Iraqi musician Naseer Shamma, founder of "Beit Al Oud Al Arabi" (The Arabic Oud House), Husain Sabsaby from Syria, Iraqi Khalid Mohammed Ali and Turkish artist Necati Çelik, who is dubbed Munir Bachir of Turkey.

 

On Sunday, 8 January, at 9pm, the Flag Island will host Egyptian singer Reham Abdel Hakim, accompanied by the Cairo Opera House Orchestra, conducted by maestro Mohammed El Mougi.  Reham will lead a tribute to one of the Arab World’s most distinctive and memorable voices, Umm Kulthum. In this evening titled "For the memory of the legendary Um Kulthum, Reham will sing a selection of Um Kulthum’s most beautiful songs written and composed by top Arab poets and composers.

 

The programme of SWMF's concerts can be viewed on social networking sites on hashtag #SWMF17, or on www.sharjahworldmusicfestival.com.

 

Concert tickets are available online at www.ticketmaster.ae, and can also be purchased at the customer service counters of Al Qasba Theatre, The Flag Island Theatre and Al Majaz Waterfront.

 

By organising this first of its kind festival, Furat Qaddouri Music Centre seeks to boost the cultural and art presence of Sharjah and the UAE, introduce various musical cultures around the world to the UAE community and add a new dimension to the emirate’s repertoire of tourist, art and culture attractions