Every year, thousands of music lovers and worshippers of stone temples (not Pilots or Rolling Stones, or even 'stoners', but the preserved ancient ruins and theaters in use as venues for performance) attend music and art festivals amongst the rubble and ruins of ancient civilizations across the Middle East. As the dusty vestiges of each old city are transformed into magical settings, it is as though particularly inspired performers have been resurrected into Roman Gods and Goddesses.
2013 could be called “one for the ages,” filled with star-studded festivals year-round, culminating in some peak summer- time performances. As these celebrations of talent draw to a close with Amman's Citadel Nights curtain call last week, we take a look at some of the highlights of the summer's classic stoney venues - from Baalbeck's Roman sun temple to Amman's Roman theater.
International, regional and local artists took to the stage in the classic historic venues, bringing old and modern tunes to audiences young and old. Jordan’s Jerash Festival for Culture & Arts drew a whopping 100,000 crowd in the course of the event.
As the end of festival season is upon us, we reflect on how these traditional events have brought alive - with pulsating beats - the ancient audotoriums of the Middle East. Some cities may rock out grand venues as the Royal Albert Hall or impressive sports stadiums but here in the Middle East we do it in classic Roman-Greco style -- pump up the pillars!
When ruins come back to life - a roundup of musical stars taking on the Middle East's ancient venues.
