There will be a large celebration this month, including an operetta at the Syrian Opera House, since Damascus was recently chosen as the 2008 capital of Arab culture.
Syrian singer Mayada Al Hinawi, Egyptian singer Hani Shaker, Tunisian singer Latifa, Lebanese singer Asi Hilani and Emirati singer Hussein Al Jismi will star in the opera.
They will perform the song “Yeslam Torabak Ya Sham” (God Bless Your Grounds Syria), written by Palestinian poet Rami Yousif, composed by Lebanese Haitham Ziad and distributed by Toni Saba. The song is produced by ‘Dar Al Shabiba Lilfinoon Production Company.’
According to the London daily Elaph, composer Haitham Ziad was recently in Cairo for two days to record the song with Latifa and Hani Shaker and will record with the other singers prior to the opertta. Ziad said he was honored to be part of the project and stated that it adds to his career. Ziad has composed many successful songs for a number of famous singers, such as Haifa Wahbe’s “Rajab,” Rula Sa’d’s “An Iznak Ya Mu’alim,” Nawal Zoghbi’s “Aghla Al Habayeb,” and Amal Hijazi’s song “Nifsi Tefhamni” and many more.
Haitham Ziad took the project personally, stating “the song comes as a thank you letter from Syria to all Arab countries for choosing Damascus as the Cultural City for the year 2008.”
