The Lebanese singers Marcel Khalifa and Umaima al Khalil performed a concert at the International Gulf Conference Center in Bahrain, which was overcrowded with audience from Bahrain and some gulf states, according to the daily al Hayat.
The Progressive Democratic Manbar Association organized the concert in collaboration with the al Ayyam Press and Publication Establishment on the first anniversary of the release of Bahrain National Action Charter and the first anniversary of the association establishment.
The concert was opened with Andalusian music based on the lute played by Khalifa amid warm welcome by the audience. Khalifa performed also 17 music and singing pieces including six without singing and the rest were alternated between him and Khalil.
Khalifa then played four music pieces including Khiyam inspired from the desert, Granada which saluted the Arab old musician Zeriab, and playing the lute. Before Khalil took her turn, Khalifa sang the two songs Tifel Wa Tayyarah (Child and Plane) and Hobb (Love) written by the Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish.
Khalil began singing, without music, the second part of the song Ahmed al A’rabi and then he participated with Khalil in singing part of the Ahmed al Arabi.
The two singers continued singing Shams al Shammouseh, Tekbar Fi al Eamar, Rita, and Asfour Tall Min al Shubbak (Bird Appeared From Window) which Khalifa dedicated to Arab prisoners in the Arab secret prisons.
“I am still a prisoner,” commented Khalifa who introduced the Bahraini fife player Mohammed al Ghanem who played a new music piece using the flute and violin.
Khalifa concluded the concert with three songs: al Hudood (Borders), which he sang along with the audience; Mohammed al Dorrah which he sang using the flute; and Salam A’laik (Peace Upon You) -- Albawaba.com
