jordan pulse -

Lebanese artist Marcel Khalife will participate in the 38th edition of the Jerash Festival for Culture and Arts this year, performing on the main stage of the ancient city's festival site. Renowned for his commitment, high artistic sense, and vast cultural knowledge, Khalife is celebrated for singing works by several Palestinian poets, especially the late Mahmoud Darwish. Darwish's poems, sung and composed by Khalife, continue to resonate across the Arab world, reviving the beauty of meaningful, committed songs from a great poet and a distinguished artist united in their dedication to Palestine.

Marcel Khalife, a composer, singer, and oud player, underscores the festival's significance as a platform for free and eloquent expression. His participation highlights the crucial role of art and culture in supporting Arab causes, particularly the Palestinian issue.

Generations of Palestinians and Arabs have grown up with Khalife's voice, closely linked to the late poet Darwish. This artistic synergy is evident in many famous Palestinian national songs, such as "I Long for My Mother's Bread" by Darwish, and other impactful pieces that have influenced entire generations. Khalife's genuine dedication to the Palestinian cause has garnered him a large following in Palestine, Jordan, and the wider Arab world.

This year's Jerash Festival emphasizes the festival's role as a beacon for the Palestinian struggle and national resilience in the face of Gaza's daily hardships from violence and destruction. In addition to Khalife's performance on the festival's main stage, he will also participate in the opening of the cultural program of the Jerash Festival. This event, featuring artists and writers, will be held at the Royal Cultural Center on Thursday, July 25, 2024, and will be led by Minister of Culture Haifa Najjar.

Marcel Khalife's career is rich with artistic achievements, marking him as a prominent advocate for the Palestinian cause. His nationalistic songs uniquely blend Arab music with Western instruments like the piano. Besides singing Darwish's poems, Khalife has performed "Jafra" by the late Palestinian poet Ezzedine Al-Manasra, and "We Shrouded Him in Green." He pioneered the trend of singing Palestinian national poetry, intertwining images of beloved women with land and country, or mother and homeland. Khalife has also composed for other poets like Habib Sadeq, Talal Haidar, and Khalil Hawi. Additionally, he created the piece "Jadal" and composed music for several of Abdel-Hakim Caracalla's plays, such as "A Midsummer Night's Dream."

The Jordanian and Arab audiences eagerly await Khalife's performances, anticipating the artistry of a great artist who has significantly enriched national poetry with his melodies and singing.