After much anticipation, renowned Iraqi vocalist Kadhim al-Saher enchanted the audience with a mesmerizing performance at Beiteddine Palace over the weekend, leaving the crowds longing for more.
During his 90-minute-long Saturday evening show, which mingled much-loved favorites with relatively new tunes, Saher’s emotive voice sent chills up the spines of his fans.
Staged as part of the annual Beiteddine Art Festival, this well-organized and highly enjoyable concert commenced at 9 p.m., when a mixed instrumental-vocal ensemble, led by Iraqi Maestro Hasan Falih, took the stage.
The fans of Iraqi vocalist Kadhim al-Saher boogie at Beiteddine Palace Saturday evening. (Press Photo)
Dubbed the “Caesar of Arabic Song,” Saher was greeted to the stage by a near-capacity house applauding, whistling and cheering. He then opened the show with his rendition of “Aradi Khdodha [Reconcile your cheeks].”
It didn’t take long for ladies to start streaming down the aisles toward the stage to greet Saher – and the security team surrounding him – and to offer him flowers.
“You have many demands,” he joked, referring to two ladies holding a banner emblazoned with the title of a song they wanted to hear.
Continuing, he introduced a new tune called “Ya Koul al-Aisheq [All the love],” which captivated the audience, setting their heads swaying with satisfaction.
Saher is known for his passionate, romantic songs which, combined with his silky vocals and air of class, have made him one of the most desired performers in the Arab world. His appreciation for the sophistication of the Arabic language is evident in the songbooks, accumulated by himself and his collaborators, many of which are based on the works of renowned poets, not least the late Syrian master Nizar Qabbani.
Saher, who also sang Friday at Beiteddine, took advantage of the show to promote his protege Christine Said, who was a contestant on The Voice during the show’s third season. Said joined Saher on stage for a light-hearted and coy little two-song duet – “Agazlak Ghasban Aanak [I will flirt with you even if you didn’t want to]” and “Yedrab al-Hob [Damn love].” The duet electrified the atmosphere, getting those in the crowd on their feet as they raised their hands in the air in pleasure.
Saher didn’t waste much time, trying to cover a range of most of his beloved songs. Fans continued chanting his name and the titles they wanted him to perform. His playlist included “Law Lam Takouni Anti fy Hayati [If you weren’t in my life],” “Zedini Oshqan [Make my love grow]” and the more nationalistic “Ma Li Kheleq [I am lethargic],” which Saher originally performed with his team from The Voice Kids. Saher’s version was even better than you’d expect.
In one amusing moment of the show, a fan approached the stage near Saher and asked him to look more at the fans to the right of the stage. The Iraqi vocalist evidently took it as a joke, asking, “How can I divide myself?” Saher declaimed his love of and gratitude to Lebanon with the song “Ya Rayheen Lubnan [Those going to Lebanon],” gracefully transitioning to the heartfelt “L’Jesmek Otoroun Khateer al-Nawaya [Your body has a scent with dangerous intentions],” a piece of Qabbani poetry he set to music.
The queue of fans wanting an audience continued throughout the show. At one point, an audience member came down to give Saher a wedding invitation. The night ultimately wound down. With the crowds singing along with him, Saher broke many hearts by concluding the show with snippets from some of the tunes demanded by the audience. As he walked off stage, some remained in the terraces, clinging to the hope that he would surprise them with another unexpected song, but Saher was long gone, leaving the crowd with a night of love and excitement.
