Grand opening of Muscat Chamber Music Series will be held in either March or April, said organisers on Wednesday.
The aim of the Muscat Chamber Music Series is to provide music workshops and free concerts so that people in Oman can learn more about the value of music.
"A country is known by the music and music knows no boundaries," said Ahmed Abouzahra, general manager and founder of Arabesque International, a performing arts promotion company based in Oman, while announcing the third pre-launch event of the Muscat Chamber Music Series, which will take place at the Oman Auditorium Hall, Al Bustan Palace, on January 21, 2015, at 7.30pm.
This concert will be unique, bringing the spirit of Om Kolthoum to the series for the first time.
Some of her best songs will be performed by Egyptian musicians, namely by Rehab Omar, accompanied by the talented 'Maged Sorour Ensemble for Arabic Music'.
Its leader and conductor, Maged Sorour, is one of the most illustrious qanoon players of the Arab world, and Rehab Omar has been dubbed "The best artistic successor of Om Kolthoum, since her passing."
In addition to the vocal tribute to the great Om Kolthoum, the audience will be delighted with instrumental melodies from the Arabic repertoire.
A distinguished soloist, Rehab Omar became dedicated to music at an young age, and was able to gain much of her early on-stage experience as a member of the 'Children's Choir' founded by Selim Sahab, and in collaboration with his National Arab Music Ensemble.
In 2005, she joined the Abdel Halim Nowera Ensemble for Arabic Music, and with them performed in numerous festivals and on stages including those of the Alexandria and Cairo Opera Houses, where she still performs regularly. In her young career, she has already graced the stage in many Arab countries, and has also been called to perform in Europe.
The programme will be held under the patronage of the Egyptian Culture Office to the Sultanate, and presented by the Oman Arab Bank.
The concert will be free of cost, and the Egyptian musicians will be doing a workshop with young Omani musicians from the Oud Association, which will be open to participants of all ages.
