Damascus, June 12 (SANA) The Syrian National Orchestra for Arabic Music performed at the Damascus Opera House on Thursday, presenting a program that blended classical and contemporary works in reinterpretations of Arab musical heritage under the direction of Adnan Fathallah.
The concert opened with “Sama’i Bayati” by late Syrian composer Hassan Iskaf, in a new arrangement by Essam Rafeh, highlighting one of the key melodic structures in Eastern music.
The program continued with “Aziza” by Mohamed Abdel Wahab, performed in a refreshed orchestral arrangement that preserved its original character while introducing modern orchestral elements. It also featured “Nujum al-Layl” by Farid al-Atrash, reimagined in an orchestration by Franck Pourcel, blending Eastern melodic traditions with Western arranging techniques.
Fathallah contributed his own composition “Marouj,” before the performance shifted to a Turkish “Syrto” piece in the “Sultani Yakah” maqam, arranged by Nazik Abjian.
The concert further included selections from Arab musical heritage, including the introduction to Umm Kulthum’s “Laylat Hob,” Mohamed Abdel Wahab’s “Hayati,” and a “Longa” rooted in Arab–Turkish tradition arranged by Kamal Skiker.
It also featured the theme from the television series “Raafat Al-Hagan,” composed by Ammar El-Sherei, before concluding with “Midnight Dance” by Fathallah.
Fathallah said the concert focused on instrumental Arabic music, emphasizing its expressive capacity without lyrics through contemporary arrangements that maintain authenticity while renewing presentation.
He added that such performances help introduce younger audiences to classical Arabic music and strengthen its cultural presence.
The Syrian National Orchestra for Arabic Music was established in 1990 to preserve and promote Arab musical heritage.
kA.ABD
