An Evening of Joy at the Baalbek International Festivals: “Roots in Our Hands: From Spain to Lebanon”
On the third evening of the 2023 Baalbeck International Festivals, the iconic Temple of Bacchus came alive with a stunning performance by the renowned Spanish artist Nacho Arimany and the talented Lebanese singer Fabian Daher. The event drew an esteemed audience, including the ambassadors of Spain, Jesús Santos Aguado; Belgium, Queen Verfak; Denmark, Christopher Vivek; and Colombia, Lina Vanessa Varela FitzGerald. Also in attendance were Yolanda Soller Onis, director of the Sursock Institute in Beirut, acting mayor of Baalbeck Mustafa Al-Shal, Baalbeck-Hermel governor Bashir Khodr, and Naela de Freige, president of the festival committee.
Nayla De Freige warmly welcomed the attendees and expressed her gratitude for their presence. She stated, “Thank you all for being with us tonight for the concert ‘Roots in Our Hands: From Spain to Lebanon,’ an event crafted to foster a musical and vocal dialogue between Spain and Lebanon.”
She further added, “An exceptionally gifted artist, peace messenger, composer, and multi-instrumentalist have collaborated to bring this performance to life as part of the Baalbeck Festival. This remarkable individual is none other than Nacho Arimany, a singer who has gathered an outstanding ensemble of musicians, singers, and dancers, all of whom have contributed to this unforgettable evening.”
As De Freige expressed, “Nacho is Spanish, yet he deserves to be considered an honorary citizen of Lebanon for his unwavering dedication to Lebanese music! I also want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the entire team at the Spanish Embassy in Lebanon, led by Ambassador Jesús Santos Aguado, for their steadfast support of this project from the very beginning. Moreover, I am deeply grateful to the concert’s sponsors and our partner, CMA CGM, whose invaluable support has enabled our festival to continue flourishing.”
The musical journey began with Nacho Arimany’s captivating composition, “Roots in Our Hands,” a piece deeply inspired by his profound connection to Lebanon. Joined by a talented Spanish flamenco dancer, Arimany and his ensemble crafted a rich and harmonious dialogue, blending the artistry of Lebanese and Spanish musicians into a truly unique performance.
In the second phase of the performance, the Saint Joseph University Choir, led by Yasmina Sabah, joined forces with Lebanese singer Fabian Daher. Together, they engaged in a seamless dialogue that blended Arabic music with classical Spanish traditions, particularly flamenco. This collaboration took the audience on a deep cultural journey, tracing the rich heritage and roots of both musical worlds across the centuries.
“Roots in Our Hands” offered an exhilarating and unforgettable journey, where sound and movement came together to embody the essence of freedom and liberation.
The Baalbeck International Festivals continue to champion and promote cultural exchanges, a mission beautifully showcased through this unique and original creation.
