In a most anticipated debut, the famous Russian soprano Anna Netrebko will perform at this year's Beiteddine Art Festival in Lebanon on Aug. 27. The event is scheduled to take place during the festival's July 27 to Sept. 5 run this year.
Netrebko will be featured as one of the notable stars at the festival, which will be held at the Beiteddine palace on the outskirts of Beirut.
Other musicians that will perform as part of the gala's 30th anniversary include tenor Juan Diego Florez, Lebanese composer, singer and songwriter Marcel Khalifé, singers Kadim Al-Sahir and Reham Abdelhakim among others.
In addition, the internationally acclaimed Lebanese musician Marcel Khalifé and Al-Mayadine Ensemble will take to the stage on Aug. 5, reviving his most famous songs, such as "Rita wal Boundoukiyya," and "Oummi."
Khalifé's works have transcended the Arab world and have taken reached global audience as well.
Another noted set of performers, adding to the experience, will be Rebecca Ferguson, who will perform the greatest hits of the legendary jazz vocalist Billie Holiday, and David Gray who has become a global rock hit over his career.
For Ms. Netrebko, though, she will be the guest tenor with Yusif Eyvazov and will be a part of the festival's final performances.
Launched in 1985, the art festival came into being to help celebrate Lebanon's culture, according to a release:
"[The festival] "came as an act of faith in Lebanon's cultural role and power of creativity, a call for normality amidst the chaos and madness of war. It was born and has grown in very difficult times and made it against all odds."
Having already begun, the festival is currently unfolding within the 200-year old palace in the Chouf Mountains, which is considered to be an archetype of Lebanese architecture.
However, if you can't attend the festival in person, you can enjoy one of her previous performances in the video below.
