Jordan Times
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
25th Jerash Festival opens
July 25
By Hani Hazaimeh
AMMAN — The Greco-Roman city of Gerasa will host the silver jubilee celebration
of the Jerash Festival for Culture and Arts starting July 25.
The South Theatre will be the venue for official opening, featuring Jordanian
vocalists Rose Al Werr, Caroline Madi and Samah Bassam, accompanied by the
National Jordanian Orchestra, Lubna Far, acting general manager of the festival,
announced on Monday.
The festival, which will run through August 17, includes a versatile cultural
and artistic programme that will include broad local, Arab and international
participation, Farr added.
“It will be remembered as a joyous summer celebration welcoming Jordanian
families as well as Arab and foreign visitors, Farr told reporters.
“This year Jerash festival is commemorating its silver jubilee by extending the
festivities to 24 days for the first time,” she added.
Her Majesty Queen Noor, with a committee of volunteers supported by staff and
students from Yarmouk University, launched the first Jerash Festival in 1981.
The festival has been cancelled twice in its history: the first was in 1982
during the Israeli invasion of southern Lebanon and in 2006, due to the
escalating conflict and humanitarian crisis in Lebanon last July.
An array of activities and cultural events are on the schedule such as
“International Oud Day.”
The pear-shaped, stringed instrument, similar to a lute, is used in traditional
Middle Eastern and East African music.
This year the festival will highlight the Nay, a wind instrument that consists
of a piece of hollow cane or reed and figures prominently in Middle Eastern
music, with the participation of major Nay players in the Arab world and the
region.
Famous Arab singers and foreign musicians will perform in the South Theatre,
starting with Iraqi Kazem Saher and including the American three-time Grammy
award winning “Ozmatli Group,” which is participating in the festival for the
first time.
The line up of singers include Egypt’s Hani Shaker, who has proved he is not
only a talented singer but also a songwriter, and Latifa Al Tunisia, winner of
the 2004World Music Award from Las Vegas for her song “Ma Etrohsh Baed.”
Lebanon will be represented by Wadi Al Safi, known for his Mawals of Ataba,
Mijana and Abu el Zuluf, Najwa Karam, whose voice has been described as holding
the spirit of the high mountain, Fadil Shakir, Assi Hilani, Nancy Ajram and
Fares Karram.
Iraqi singer Majed Al Muhandis and Hussein Al Jasmi from the Gulf will also
perform in the festival, as well as popular Jordanian soloist Omar Abdallat.
These Arab artists are a big hit with the younger generation and perform to
packed halls.
The National Music Conservatory will hold a Jordanian night, while Al Jeel Al
Jadeed Club for Circassian Folklore and the Chechen Waynakh group will display
their traditional dances.
The Moscow Ballet will perform Cinderella at the North Theatre, which will also
host a variety of classical and folkloric Arab and international performers such
as Al Hannunah Group from Jordan, Ara de Madrid from Spain and the Jollanar
troupe from Syria.
Ahmad Al Sherbini and Al Ismailiyah Popular Arts Group will present a night of
Egyptian songs at the North Theatre, while the Bahrain Orchestra, conducted by
Ahmad Al Jumayri, will play traditional and contemporary compositions.
Meanwhile, several children’s plays from Jordan, Lebanon and other foreign and
Arab countries will be staged at the Artimes Theatre.
These include Sundouk Al Farah by the Jordanian Children Theatre
and Shadi Sweiss’ “Grandpa’s Library and Stories,” a puppet musical show that
urges children to read and widen their imagination.
“Jerash festival has always given special attention to children while preparing
the programme since this festival is intended for the whole family,” Farr said.
The main square in Jerash will be the venue for various musical and artistic
evenings throughout the festival, featuring local, Arab and international
groups, some of which are participating for the first time. The Jordan Armed
Forces Orchestra and local troupes like the Jerash municipality group,
Almahabish Group, Al Aqaba Group and Al Ramtha Folkloric Group will perform for
the public.
Renowned Arab actor Adel Imam will star in the “Bodyguard,” which will be held
in the Arena theatre in Amman for three days starting July 30.
Other activities to be held in the capital include “Bernanrda Alba’s House,”
directed by Hussein Nafi, a concert by Jordanian singer Saad Abu Tayih, and a
seminar on the status of Arab songs conducted by the Royal Cultural Centre.
MESTO-USA, a multiethnic star orchestra conducted by Nabil Azzam, will also
perform in Amman. The ensemble combines the traditions of many ethnic musical
genres and those of Western classical traditions.
A poetry festival slated for July 31 will introduce foreign poetry recitals with
instantaneous Arabic translation.
Japanese poet Koma, who inherited the talents of the Kings of Koguryo and used
to talk naturally to flowers and trees, will thrill listeners with her poems.
In addition, several poets representing various schools of poetry in Jordan, the
Arab region and the world are participating in this year’s festival.
Poetry recitals will also be held in Amman and other major cities such as Karak,
Irbid, Zarqa and Mafraq.
Ticket prices for the various events will not exceed JD15 and admission to some
activities will be free, Farr said, adding that there will be no live telecast
of the events in order to encourage more people to attend performances in Jerash
and Amman.
For dates and locations of the performances, check the festival’s website at
www.jerashfestival.com.jo.