2017

2nd edition

MAIN SPONSORS

MEDIA PARTNERS

Ketevan Kemoklidze

Anush Hovhannisyan

OPENING OPERA GALA Anush Hovhannisyan, soprano Ketevan Kemoklidze, mezzo Giulio Pelligra, tenor Igor Golovatenko, baritone Al Bustan Festival Orchestra Gianluca Marcianò, conductor

- Massenet, Herodiade, Thaïs- Saint Saens, Samson et Dalila- Rossini, Semiramide- Gounod, La Reine de Saba

This concerT is sponsored by

Wednesday 15 FebRUaRy

The “Queens and Empresses of the Orient” Festival unfolds in the oriental palace of King Herod in Jerusalem with Hérodiade and her daughter Salomé.

It is an Orient as seen by the French composers Massenet (1842-1912), Gounod (1818 -1893), Saint-Saens (1835-1921) and the Italian composer Rossini (1792-1868).

FIRst PRIzE wINNER sAxOPhONIstsQUAtUOR MORPhING

Christophe Grèzes, saxophone soprano Eddy Lopez, saxophone alto Anthony Malkoun-Henrion, saxophone tenor Matthieu Delage,saxophone baritone

- Ravel, Quartet- Grieg, Holberg Suite- Granados, Spanish dances- Glazunoz, excerpts Quartet Op. 109

The Morphing Quartet won the first prize at the prestigious Chamber Music Competition in Osaka in 2011.

The French-Lebanese saxophonist Anthony Malkoun is a member of the quartet. The brilliant saxophonists are in Lebanon for the first time.

FRiday 17 FebRUaRy

SCHEHERAZADEis a legendary persian queen

and The sTrong willed highly inTelligenT eldesT daughTer of The Vizier

of The sassanid King shahryar

she is The sToryTeller of one Thousand and one nighTs The sTory

booK ThaT includes The original Tales of aladdin, ali baba and many more

GIANLUcA MARcIANóMUsic diRectoR oF the al bUstan FestivalGianluca Marcianò is the Music and Artistic Director of the Al Bustan Festival, Artistic Advisor of the Tokyo New City Orchestra and in October 2016 he takes up the position of Principal Guest Conductor of the Armenian State Opera in Yerevan.

Previous posts have included the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb and the Tbilisi State Opera & Ballet Theatre in Georgia where he conducted La Forza del Destino, Cavalleria Rusticana, Nabucco, Attila, Il Trovatore, Mitridate, Re di Ponto and Aida, as well as the New Year’s Concert with Andrea Bocelli in Batumi. Marcianò also has strong ties with the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet in Vilnius. Much of Marcianò’s operatic work in the UK has centred around ENO, Grange Park Opera and Longborough Festival.

satURday 18 FebRUaRyschEhERAzADE

Victor Julien-Laferrière, cello Al Bustan Festival Orchestra Gianluca Marcianò, conductor

- Ravel, Shéhérazade, ouverture de féerie- Schumann cello concerto op. 129- Rimsky Korsakov, Scheherazade

As we were dazzled by Victor Julien Laferrière last year, we invited him again. Do not miss his concert!

In the second part of the concert, you will enjoy the popular music of Rimsky Korsakov, Scheherazade, a symphonic suite based on “One Thousand and One nights”.

This concerT is sponsored by

FAMILY CONCERTJAcARANDA ENsEMbLE

Sebastian Pietsch, saxophone Richard Mosthaf, didgeridoo, alpenhorn Thomas Hoffmann, alpenhorn, french horn Matthias Dressler, marimba, percussion Thomas Ringleb, percussion

under The paTronage of The german federal minisTry for foreign affairs

sUnday 19 FebRUaRy at 4:30 p.M.

Five musicians, principals of the Brandenburg Symphony, have put together an unusual ensemble as a result of a desire to experiment with new sounds.

Through its music, the Jacaranda Ensemble builds a bridge between the cultures of the world. The positive response of the public as well as international respect has confirmed the unusual concept of the Jacaranda Ensemble.

queen of babylon, wife of King nimrod succeeded him To The Throne

of The assyrian empire (811 -806 bce)

SEMIRAMIS

Anna Bonitatibus

A concert dedicated to the legendary Semiramis, wife of the Biblical Nimrod, Queen ofthe Assyrian Empire(reigned 811-806 BCE).The majority of the pieces in the program were unknown in modern times before being unearthed by Anna Bonitatibus, a few years ago.

About this concert at Wigmore Hall: “Altogether an exhilarating evening of rarities and novelty, sung with full blooded rigor” Bachtrack.

Monday 20 FebRUaRy

This concerT is sponsored by

sEMIRAMIs Anna Bonitatibus, soprano Marco Marzocchi, piano Lindsey Jo Kleiser, oboe Irina Znachko, violin Daniel Pfennings, violin Vladimir Tkachenko, viola Karen Kocharyan, cello

THE FESTIVAL LECTURE

"UNDER thE sPELL OF MAGIc:thE ORIENtAL QUEEN INRIMsky-kORsAkOv's schEhERAzADE"

Dr Nasser Al Taee, advisor of the RoyalOpera House of Muscat (ROHM)

Dr Nassr AL Taee

"Under the spell of magic: the Oriental Queen in Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade"This talk seeks to link Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade to Antoine Galland’s Les Mille et Une Nuits as a continuation of European fascination with the Oriental tale, and in particular,the Oriental woman.

tUesday 21 FebRUaRy at 6:30 p.M.Bathich Auditorium, A.U.B

Nestan Meboniya

Alessandra Volpe

This concerT is sponsored by

The Stabat Mater describes the suffering of Mary, mother of Jesus, as her son is crucified.Rossini’s Stabat Mater combines two entirely different styles of composition: traditional church music in the Renaissance manner of Palestrina and Pergolesi, and arias that would not sound out of place in a typical Rossini opera. It was described as “noble, simple and severe.”

stAbAt MAtER, ROssINI Nestan Meboniya, soprano Alessandra Volpe, mezzo Giulio Pelligra, tenor Goderzi Janelidze, bass Choir of the Serbian National Theatre Al Bustan Festival Orchestra Gianluca Marcianò, conductor

Wednesday 22 FebRUaRySaint Joseph Jesuit Church

Mario Stefano Pietrodarchi, bandoneon Xenia Cogan, piano Khaled Mouzannar, piano Al Bustan Festival Quintet Gianluca Marcianò,piano/conductor

- Palmieri, Four Seasons- Molinelli, Trittico Napoletano- Piazzolla, Volver, Oblivion, libertango- Mouzannar, Lettre à un père disparu, Machkal

thURsday 23 FebRUaRy

Mario Stefano Pietrodarchi

Khaled Mouzannar

MEDEAa former princess of The "barbarian" Kingdom of

colchis (in presenT-day wesTern georgia)in an ancienT greeK Tragedy wriTTen by euripides

based upon The myTh of Jason and medea

Ilona Domnich

Svetla Vassileva

OPERA MEDEA, chERUbINI(Italian version, in concert performance)

Svetla Vassileva, soprano (Medea) Ilona Domnich, soprano (Dirce) Daniela Pini, mezzo (Néris) Lorenzo Decaro, tenor (Giasone) Goderzi Janelidze, bass (Creon) Choir of the Serbian National Theatre Al Bustan Festival Orchestra Gianluca Marcianò, conductor

Daniela Pini

synopsismedea tells a portion of the classic tale of one of the great sorceresses of the ancient world of the same name, who falls in love with Jason. she uses her magic to help him obtain the golden fleece (symbol of authority and kingship). she even kills her own brother to ensure that Jason and her escape colchis (ancient kingdom and region on the coast of the black sea) with the fleece.cherubini’s opera begins after Jason and medea are married, after she bears him two children. Their past history together is important to understand why medea becomes desperate for revenge against Jason. as the opera opens, Jason has forsaken medea to marry glauce, the daughter of creon. she poisons glauce on her wedding night. but glauce’s death does not slake her hunger for revenge, so then she murders her own children. Jason is crushed with sorrow. medea returns to the temple and sets it on fire, and she escapes before both the temple and the palace go up in flames.

Medea is an Opera that is rarely performed. It has been said that it requires a soprano with vocal cords of amalgamated steel to sing the title role of MEDEA and Svetla Vassileva has it.

sUnday 26 FebRUaRy at 7 p.M.

This concerT is sponsored by

RAchMANINOv AND ELGAR Renaud Capuçon, violin Khatia Buniatishvili, piano Al Bustan Festival Orchestra Gianluca Marcianò, conductor

- Elgar, Violin Concerto Op. 61- Rachmaninov, Piano Concerto No. 3

This concerT is sponsored by

It is Martha Argerich who played musical matchmaker and brought these two brilliant performers together. Their concerts at Lugano Festival in 2012 were a resounding success.

Renaud has been praised for his “intensely lyrical” tone and “gloriously rich sound” (BBC Music Magazine). Khatia was described as the “fiery young star” and hailed by Argerich as “a young pianist of extraordinary talent.”

Wednesday 1 MaRch

ROMANtIc sONAtAs Renaud Capuçon, violin Khatia Buniatishvili, piano

- A. Dvorak, 4 Romantic Pieces- E. Grieg, Violin Sonata No. 3- C. Franck, Violin Sonata in A major

This concerT is sponsored by

Khatia and I met over Franck’s sonata,” Capuçon recalls. “This is the sonata that sealed our musical partnership, the sheer joy of playing together.”

thURsday 2 MaRch

ONLy bEEthOvEN 3 Gloria Campaner, piano Al Bustan Festival Orchestra Beatrice Venezi, conductor

- Beethoven Leonora Overture- Piano Concerto No. 3- Symphony No 3 “Eroica”

This concerT is sponsored by

Who else but Gloria Campaner to play the Piano Concerto No. 3?

The” Eroica” Symphony, also No. 3, is one of the major milestones in the development of Beethoven’s style trademark.

satURday 4 MaRch

Gloria Campaner

Beatrice Venezi

This new project of mixing classical and electronic music is a great success.Gloria Campaner is not only an amazing pianist but also a great DJ!

AL bUstAN FEstIvAL GIG DJ Gloria Campaner mixing classical music DJ Giorgio Cadamuro Alias Ceacus Animi

Giorgio Cadamuro

sUnday 5 MaRch at 9:30 p.M.

Gloria Campaner

Venue to be confirmed

JULIA DOMNA (Theatre in arabic)

Mireille Maalouf, Julia Domna Serena Chami, the servant Cherif Khaznadar, director

Julia Domna ( about 170-217) born in Emesa, today's Homs in Syria, daughter of the High Priest Bassianus. She got married to Emperor Septimius Severus. Together they ruled a huge empire at the turn of the second and third centuries ( 193- 211)She was the mother of Emperors Caracalla and Geta and was famous for her quick learning as well as her extraordinary political influence.After the murder of her son Emperor Caracalla, she chose to commit suicide in 217.

Monday 6 MaRch

Two musicians playing with elegance and virtuosity.Lionel Cottet plays an 1852 Jean-Baptiste Guillaume cello

FROM LAtIN AMERIcAtO PARIs

Lionel Cottet, cello Jorge Viladoms, piano

- Fauré, Elégie en do mineur op. 24 - Debussy, Sonate pour violoncelle et piano - Villa-Lobos, Chant du Cygne noir - Saint-Säens, Le Cygne (Carnaval des Animaux) - Ravel, Pièce en forme de Habanera - Piazolla, Oblivion

Jorge Viladoms

Lionel Cottet

tUesday 7 MaRch

This concerT is sponsored by

CLEOPATRAin 51 bc afTer The deaTh of her faTher

she became queen of egypT aT The age of 18ruling wiTh her 10 years old broTher

laTer she wanTed The Throne only for herself

Julius caesar in loVe wiTh her, helped her defeaT her broTher in The baTTle of The nile. afTer

caesar’s assassinaTion, anTony was assigned rome's easTern proVinces, including The Kingdom

of egypT, Then ruled by cleopaTradespiTe his marriage wiTh ocTaVian's sisTer

ocTaVia, anTony carried on a loVe affair wiTh cleopaTra, who bore him Three children

anTony was defeaTed by ocTaVian's forces aT The baTTle of acTium. defeaTed, anTony and cleopaTra

fled To egypT, where They commiTTed suicide

cLEOPAtRA Regula Mühlemann, soprano La Folia Barockorchester Robin Mueller, conductor

This concerT is sponsored by

Regula Mühlemann

Together with the acclaimed soprano Regula Mühlemann, La Folia Barockorchester explores the historical figure of Cleopatra through the different interpretations of Baroque composers.Besides famous arias by George Frideric Handel and Johann Adolf Hasse, the program also reveals pieces by Alessandro Scarlattiand Antonio Vivaldi.

FRiday 10 MaRch

This concerT is sponsored by

FADO, AN EvENING IN LIsbON Katia Guerreiro, fadista Luís Guerreiro, portuguese guitar Pedro de Castro, portuguese guitar João Veiga, acoustic guitar Francesco Gaspar, acoustic bass

“Une interprète parfaite pour mettre en voix la solitude, l’angoisse vitale, le déchirement, la séparation des amants, les ombres et les lumières, l’essence de l’enivrante beauté du fado”.Le Monde, 2015

satURday 11 MaRch

Katia Guerreiro

ZENOBIAqueen of The roman colony of palmyra

(c. 240-275) in presenT day syria from 267 To 272

she conquered seVeral of rome’s easTern proVinces before she was subJugaTed by The

emperor aurelian (ruled 270-275)

her roman name was “Juila aurelia zenobia”

zENObIA, QUEEN OF shEbA AND PALFALvI's tRUMPEt

Tamás Pálfalvi, trumpet Orquesta Joven de Extremadura Gianluca Marcianò , conductor

- Reinecke, Overture Zenobia- Hummel, Trumpet Concerto- Goldmark, The Queen of Sheba

Tamás Pálfalvi

Queen of Sheba is a biblical figure 967 B.C.E.. Her legendary voyage to meet Solomon, King of Israel, has inspired centuries of speculation about her kingdom and influence in the ancient world.

“Pálfalvi sets new standards for trumpet playing” MDR Figaro, 2015

sUnday 12 MaRch

This concerT is sponsored by

This concerT is sponsored by

sAINt-sAËNs vIOLIN cONcERtO NO. 3

Fanny Clamagirand, violin Orquesta Joven de Extremadura Gianluca Marcianò, conductor

- Saint-Saëns Andromaque Overture- Violin Concerto No. 3- Bizet Djamileh Egyptian Dance- Carmen Suites No. 1 and No. 2

Fanny Clamagirand

Fanny Clamagirand recorded the complete Saint- Saëns Violin Concertos. Her CD has been awarded a “Choc” by the French musical magazine Classica. Saint-Saëns Violin Concerto No. 3 was praised for its poetic atmosphere.

tUesday 14 MaRch

Ksenia Zhuleva (left) - Xenia Gamaris (right)

vIOLIN AND vIOLADOUbLE cONcERtOs

Xenia Gamaris, violin Ksenia Zhuleva, viola Orquesta Joven de Extremadura Gianluca Marcianò, conductor

- Mozart, Sinfonia Concertante for violin, Viola and Orchestra - Bruch, Double Concerto for violin and Viola with orchestra- Schubert, Rosamunde the Princess of Cyprus

Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante for Violin and Viola can be considered his most successful realization in this cross-over genre between symphony and concerto.

It happens that the name of the two Russian female soloists is doubled as well.

thURsday 16 MaRch

Silvia dalla Benetta

OPERAtIc GRAND FINALE Silvia dalla Benetta, soprano Paola Gardina, mezzo Lorenzo Decaro, tenor Orquesta Joven de Extremadura Gianluca Marcianò, conductor

- Verdi, Nabucco excerpts- Berlioz, La Mort de Cléopâtre- Verdi, Aida excerpts

Berlioz's La Mort de Cléopâtre is a deeply admired work that has been taken up by some of the most important mezzo singers of our time. It is the perfect way to bring the Festival to an end.

sUnday 19 MaRch

This concerT is sponsored by

MEtEOR cARDWhat is the Meteor Card? It is a pass for 5 different prepaid concerts of your choice.

Who can buy it?Anyone can register and buy the Meteor Card.

How much does it cost?It costs $150.

What is the advantage of the card?With this card you can attend as many as 5 concerts.

What if I do not know my schedule yet? You have up to 6 days prior to the concert’s date to call the Al Bustan Festival box Office to place your order. Be sure to tell the sales person that you are a Meteor cardholder.Your seat will be assigned by the Al Bustan Festival office on the day of the performance.You can pick up your ticket at the entrance of the concert’s venue no later than 08:00 p.m.

Anything I should know about?There are few Meteor seats for each concert.First come, first served.We advise you to choose the performance you wishto attend as early as possible.

yOUth cARDWhat is the Youth Card? It is a card that encourages young people to attend many concerts of the Festival.

What is the advantage of the card?With this card you can attend as many concerts as you want at the price of $10 each.

Who can buy it?Anyone under 25 can buy the Youth Card.

How much does it cost?It costs $25.

Anything I should know about?Upon availability, your seat will be assigned by theAl Bustan Festival Box Office on the day of the performance one hour prior to the event. You can pick up your ticket at the entrance of the concert’s venue no later than 08:00 p.m.

BOTH METEOR AND YOUTH CARDS ARE PERSONAL AND NOT TRANSFERABLE.YOU WILL BE ASKED TO SHOW YOUR ID WHEN PICKING UP YOUR TICKET AT THE AL BUSTAN BOx OFFICE.

BOTH CARDS CAN BE PURCHASED AT ANY OF THE FESTIVAL POINTS OF SALE.

PRICE LIST

FEbRUARy DATE PERFORMANCE PRICE

Wed. 15 OPERA GALA OPENING Usd 90/ 60 ll 135,000/ 90,000

FrI. 17 QUAtUOR MORPhING Usd 50/ 30 ll 75,000/ 45,000

SAt. 18 schEhERAzADE Usd 120/ 90/ 60/ 45 ll 180,000/ 135,000/ 90,000/ 67,500

Sun. 19 JAcARANDA Usd 50/ 30 AT 4.30 P.M. ll 75,000/ 45,000

Mon. 20 sEMIRAMIs Usd 90/ 60/ 40 ll 135,000/ 90,000/ 60,000

tue. 21 FEstIvAL LEctURE FRee entRance BATHICH AUDITORIUM - A.U.B, AT 6.30 P.M.

Wed. 22 stAbAt MAtER, ROssINI Usd 90/ 60/ 40 SAINT JOSEPH JESUIT CHURCH ll 135,000/ 90,000/ 60,000

Sun. 26 OPERA MEDEA, chERUbINI Usd 120/ 90/ 60/45 AT 7 P.M. (IN CONCERT PERFORMANCE) ll 180,000/ 135,000/ 90,000/ 67,500

PreMIuM roW L: ADD 15$ PER SEAT

MARch DATE PERFORMANCE PRICE

Wed. 1 RAchMANINOv AND ELGAR Usd 120 / 90/ 60/45 ll 180,000/ 135,000/ 90,000/ 67,500

tHu. 2 ROMANtIc sONAtAs Usd 120 / 90/ 60/45 ll 180,000/ 135,000/ 90,000/ 67,500

SAt. 4 ONLy bEEthOvEN Usd 120 / 90/ 60/45 ll 180,000/ 135,000/ 90,000/ 67,500

Sun. 5 AL bUstAN FEstIvAL GIG VENUE TO BE CONFIRMED, AT 9.30 P.M.

Mon. 6 JULIA DOMNA Usd 50/30 ll 75,000/ 45,000

tue. 7 FROM LAtIN AMERIcA tO PARIs Usd 50/30 ll 75,000/ 45,000

FrI. 10 cLEOPAtRA Usd 120 / 90/ 60/45 ll 180,000/ 135,000/ 90,000/ 67,500

SAt. 11 AN EvENING IN LIsbON Usd 90 / 60 / 40 LL 135,000/ 90,000/ 60,000

Sun. 12 zENObIA & PALFALvI's tRUMPEt Usd 90 / 60 / 40 ll 135,000/ 90,000/ 60,000

tue. 14 sAINt-sAENs vIOLIN Usd 90 / 60 / 40 cONcERtO NO 3 ll 135,000/ 90,000/ 60,000

tHu. 16 vIOLIN & vIOLA Usd 90 / 60 / 40 DOUbLE cONcERtOs ll 135,000/ 90,000/ 60,000

Sun. 19 OPERAtIc GRAND FINALE Usd 90 / 60 / 40 ll 135,000/ 90,000/ 60,000

SOIRÉE D'OR DINNERSAFTER THE PERFORMANCE OF

SAturdAY 18 schEhERAzADE60 USD/ LBP 90’000 + VAT

SundAY 26 OPERA MEDEA60 USD/ LBP 90’000 + VAT

SAturdAY 4 ONLy bEEthOvEN60 USD/ LBP 90’000 + VAT

SAturdAY 11 AN EvENING IN LIsbON60 USD/ LBP 90’000 + VAT

SundAY 19 OPERAtIc GRAND FINALE60 USD/ LBP 90’000 + VAT

THE SOIRéE D’OR DINNER TICKETS CAN BE PURCHASED AT ALL POINTS OF SALE

TICKETS ON SALE ATthe Festival box oFFicehotel al bUstan04 972 980/1/203 752 000-6

Opening hours: 10.00 a.m to 8.00 p.m

libRaiRie antoine- ABC ACHrAFIeH 01 218 078- ABC dBAYeH 04 521 684- HAMrA 01 341 472- BeIrut SoukS 01 999 650

booking onlinewww.albustanfestival.com

FoR FURtheR inFoRMationFEstIvAL OFFIcE At hOtEL AL bUstAN04 972 980/1/203 752 000-6

EARLY BOOKING, BEFORE JANUARY 4, 2017Your tickets can be delivered by hand to your address.

PAYMENT BY CHEQUEPlease make your check payable to“Al Bustan Festival Association”

ASK FOR THE DISCOUNT OF 50 % OFF YOUR TICKET IF YOU ARE BELOW 15 YEARS.

discounts are applicable at Box offices and not on-line. discounts cannot be accumulated.Members will be asked to show their membership card.Students will be asked to show their student’s cards. discounts apply to card holder only.

TIME OF PERFORMANCESall performances begin at 8.30 p.m. precisely unless otherwise stated.

VENUESall performances take place in the Emile Bustani Auditorium unless otherwise stated.

Seating in all churches, are divided in sections and not numbered.First come, first seated.

The price of tickets includes V.A.T.

Program, venues and prices are subject to change without prior notice.

For further information,contact the Festival office

TEL +961 4 972 980/1/2MOB +961 3 752 000-6

festival@albustan-lb.comwww.albustanfestival.com

FESTIVAL EXHIBITION

jad el khoURy

al bUstan FestivalBeyt Meri, Lebanon

P.O.Box: 11-3764 Riad el Solh 110 72 150 Beirut, Lebanon

04 972 980/1/2festival@albustan-lb.com

www.albusTanfesTiVal.com

© Jo

seph

Kai

& L

ama

Zou

ein