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UK Sculpture Designed to Attract Visiting Insects
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia /Culture & Society

UK Sculpture Designed to Attract Visiting Insects

From Asharq Al-Awsat · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • The Beirut Holidays festival opened its 11th season with a concert headlined by Abeer Nehme, celebrating Lebanon's resilience under the slogan “And Lebanon Remains.”
  • Thousands gathered on the waterfront to enjoy Nehme's performance, which blended her own songs with classic works, accompanied by a drone light show depicting Lebanon's map.
  • The festival featured a diverse musical program, including collaborations with Algerian artist Amine and tributes to Lebanese musical legends Zaki Nassif and Ziad Rahbani.

Under the slogan “And Lebanon Remains,” the Beirut Holidays festival launched its 11th season with an evening of music and celebration, marking a vibrant return for the city. Lebanese singer Abeer Nehme headlined the opening concert, captivating a crowd of thousands gathered on the waterfront in the Antelias-Naccache area.

She opened with “Ahwe,” written and composed by Charbel Rouhana, expressing her longing to reunite with her Lebanese audience after a long wait.

— Abeer NehmeDescribing her feelings upon returning to the stage in Beirut.

Nehme delivered a 90-minute performance that spanned her own popular songs and cherished classics by Lebanese icons Fairuz and Zaki Nassif. The concert was enhanced by a striking visual spectacle: illuminated drones formed a map of Lebanon across the night sky, shifting to create symbolic shapes like a heart, much to the audience's surprise and delight. Many attendees captured the moment on their phones, reflecting the shared sense of longing and reunion.

Expressing her joy at reconnecting with her Lebanese audience after a long absence, Nehme performed "Habibati" (Beirut), a song embodying love and hope for the capital. Despite the heat, the crowd's enthusiasm remained high, with many singing along and applauding throughout the evening. The concert embraced a variety of musical styles, including French chanson and classical Arabic music.

She extended her tribute to the capital with “Habibati” (Beirut), a song carrying a message of love and hope.

— Abeer NehmePerforming a song dedicated to Beirut.

Abeer Nehme also welcomed Algerian artist Amine of Babylone for a duet of his hit song "Zina." Later in the program, she paid homage to the late Zaki Nassif, performing two of his well-known songs, "Naqqili Zahra" and "Ishtaqna Ktir Ya Habayeb." The performance concluded with a rendition of "Bi Oulo El Hob Bi Oqtol El Waqt," composed by the late Ziad Rahbani, further weaving together nostalgia and contemporary celebration.

Nehme said she was delighted to meet her Lebanese audience again after an absence and thanked those who had traveled long distances to attend the concert.

— Abeer NehmeSpeaking about her return to performing in Lebanon.
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Originally published by Asharq Al-Awsat. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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