An Evening of Joy at the Baalbek International Festivals: “Roots in Our Hands: From Spain to Lebanon”

On the third night of the 2023 Baalbeck International Festivals, renowned Spanish performer Nacho Arimany and Lebanese singer Fabian Daher graced the stage. The majestic Temple of Bacchus hosted the performance, which was attended by the ambassadors of Spain, Jesus Santos Aguado; Belgium, Queen Verfak; Denmark, Christopher Vivek; Colombia, Lina Vanessa Varela FitzGerald; and Yolanda Soller Onis, director of the Sursock Institute in Beirut. The acting mayor of Baalbeck, Mustafa Al-Shal, the governor of Baalbeck-Hermel, Bashir Khodr, and the president of the festival committee, Naela de Freige, were also present.

Nayla De Freige welcomed all to the event and thanked everyone for coming. She said, “I thank you all for joining us tonight for the concert ‘Roots in Our Hands: From Spain to Lebanon,’ designed to create a musical and vocal dialogue between Spain and Lebanon.

Additionally, she said “An exceptionally gifted artist, a peace messenger, a composer, and a multi-instrumentalist have all worked together to create this as part of the Baalbeck Festival. He is none other than Nacho Arimany, a singer who has assembled a stellar cast of musicians, singers, and dancers who have all contributed to this enchanting evening.”

As De Freige put it, “Nacho is Spanish, but he ought to be considered an honorary citizen of Lebanon for his devotion to Lebanese music! I also want to thank the entire team at the Spanish Embassy in Lebanon, led by Ambassador Jesus Santos Aguado, for their assistance with this project from the beginning. In addition, I want to express my gratitude to the concert’s sponsors and our partner, CMA CGM, whose help has made it possible for our festival to grow.”

The melodic composition “Roots in Our Hands” by Nacho Arimany, who has a thorough understanding of Lebanon, served as the starting point for the journey. With the help of a Spanish flamenco dancer, he and his band created a musical dialogue between Lebanese and Spanish musicians.

The Saint Joseph University choir, directed by Yasmina Sabah, and Lebanese singer Fabian Daher performed during the second phase. Together, they engaged in an open conversation that fused Arabic music with classical Spanish music, particularly flamenco, and took the audience on a profound cultural journey through the centuries and its roots.

“Roots in Our Hands” was an exciting and memorable journey that used sound and movement to express freedom and liberation.

The Baalbeck International Festivals support and promote cultural exchanges, which were highlighted by this original creation.