jordan pulse -

In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of the Star of the East, Umm Kulthum, the Arab Music Ensemble led by Maestro Alaa Abdelsalam presented a collection of the great singer's songs.

As Amani Saad, head of the Central Administration for Arab Music, stated, the Egyptian Opera House chose to mark its participation in the Jerash Festival with a tribute to Umm Kulthum, featuring two musical segments.

The evening began with the ensemble performing a musical piece from Umm Kulthum's song "Amal Hayati" by composer Mohamed Abdel Wahab. Singer Hanan El-Khouly then performed "Amal Hayati," with lyrics by poet Ahmed Shafik Kamel and music by Abdel Wahab, originally sung by Umm Kulthum in 1965. The lyrics include:
"My life's hope, my precious love that never ends
The sweetest melody my heart heard and never forgets
Take my whole life but today, but today
But today let me live."

The audience enjoyed the evening breeze and the melodies of Abdel Wahab, as well as the refined performance by Hanan El-Khouly, recalling the era of beautiful classic music.

In the second segment, with composer Baligh Hamdi and lyrics by poet Mamoun El-Sanawy, Hanan El-Khouly performed Umm Kulthum's song "Ba’eed Annak Hayati Azab," which includes:
"I forgot sleep and its dreams
I forgot its nights and days
I forgot its nights and days
Far from you my life is torment
Don't keep me far from you
I have no friends but tears
With them I live far from you."

In the second part of the Egyptian participation, singer Rehab Omar performed two of Umm Kulthum's songs: "Alf Leila Wa Leila" (A Thousand and One Nights) with lyrics by poet Morsi Jamil Aziz and composed by Baligh Hamdi, and the poem "Al Atlal" (The Ruins) with lyrics by poet Ibrahim Nagi and music by composer Riad Al-Sunbati.

Rehab Omar sang "Alf Leila Wa Leila," which depicts the flourishing phase of love, filled with the joy of lovers. The music was lively and expressive of happiness, with lyrics such as:
"It's a sweet night of love, worth a thousand nights and nights
All life is just one night like this
How can I describe to you, my love, how
Before I loved you, how was I
I don't even remember yesterday."

Then, she sang Ibrahim Nagi's masterpiece "Al Atlal," which still captivates art and music lovers. The song speaks of the end of a love story, leaving only "the ruins" as memories, starting with old, sad remembrances and asking: "Oh my heart, where is love?" with the answer being: "It was a castle in the imagination... and it fell." This song has been much discussed regarding the poet's beloved, and it became an iconic and immortal musical piece by Riad Al-Sunbati.

"Oh beloved, I once visited your garden
The bird of longing sings my pain
For you are the delay of the oppressor who graces
And the tyranny of the capable judge"
Ending with:
"Give me my freedom, release my hand
I have given all I could give."

Minister of Culture Haifa Najjar honored the two singers and the musical ensemble.