Al Bustan Festival
17 Feb – 22 Mar
The international festival of music and the performing arts, Al Bustan continues its tradition of culture in the winter season. Emile-bustani auditorium, Al Bustan Hotel, Beit Mery unless otherwise stated. 04 9728980, albustanfestival.com.
February
Super stars and super music (Tue 17) An all star line up playing the greats of classical music including Beethoven’s concerto for piano, violin and cello, Saint Saens: Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, Sarasate: Gypsy airs and Bizet/sarasate Carmen Fantasy. Musicians include Oliver Poole on piano, Ana Tifu on violin, Lizi Ramashvili on cello, Nikita Zimin on saxophone and the Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Gianluca Marciano. Super stars and super music ( Thu 19) The same program as Tue 17 but with a surprise. Inspiration and Creativity (Sat 21) British pianist Oliver Poole plays Schumann, Rachmaninov, Stravinsky and his own live improvisations. Inspiration (Mon 23) An lecture from ambassador Miguel Angel Estrella. Music At The Museum (Tue 24) A duo made up of cellist Alexander Buzlov and pianist Veronika Ilinskaya do Schubert Sonata in A minor D821, Beethoven Sonata No.3 in A major, Op.69 and Brahms sonata No.1 in E minor, Op. 38. The National Museum Bellini’s Norma (Thu 26, Sat 28) An opera in concert performance with one of Bellini’s greats. Gianluca Marciano
March
An Oriental Night (Sun 1) The music of Ziad Ahmadieh. Khatia is back! (Wed 4) The award-winning Georgian pianist Khatia Buniatishvili and the State Youth Orchestra of Armenia (SYOA) do Tchaikovsky, conducted by Gianluca Marciano. One piano, two girls, four hands (Fri 6) Two pianists Khatia Buniatishvili and Gvantsa Buniatishvili double up to play Mozart, Schubert, Brahms and more. Passion and genius (Sat 7) Violinist Arabella Steinbacher is joined by the State Youth Orchestra of Armenia (SYOA) to play Mozart and Beethoven. Music of two cultures (Sun 8) The Accentus Austria Early Music Ensemble. Assembly Hall The brilliance of the Two Sergeis (Tue 10) The Two Sergei’s, violinist Krilove and conductor Smbatyan join forces between the State Youth Orchestra of Armenia (SYOA) The Arthur Satyan Acoustic Ensemble (Thu 12) Renowned Armenian jazz organist Arthur Satyan performs featuring Avo Tutunjian on alto saxophone, Khatchadour Savzyan on contrabass and Paolo Orlandi on drums. Crystal Garden Remembering Sinatra the Blue Eyes Singer (Fri 13) Swing legend Frank Sinatra remembered with a festive choir. A Sensuous Voice (Sat 14) Late night jazz from the Marly Marques Quintet. Crystal Garden La Mome de Paris, a tribute to Edith Piaf (Sun 15) A tribute to the French diva Edith Piaf with Richard Galliano on accordion and Sylvain Luc, acoustic guitar. Saint Joseph Jesuit Church Heavenly Inspiration (Tue 17) Beethoven Mass in C Major with soprano Valentina Farcas and mezzo soprano, Eva Vogel, tenor Mark Milhofer, bass David Shipley and The World Orchestra, conducted by Gianluca Marciano. Mario Frangoulis (Thu 19) Greek tenor Mario Frangoulis sings Theorodakis. Late night in a Greek Taverna (Fri 20) Traditional Greek Music. Ain El Khasfe Music inspired by Ancient Greece (Sat 21) A concert from pianist Paolo Restani and The World Orchestra conducted by Gianluca Marciano. La Divina, a tribute to Maria Callas (Sun 22) Remembering Maria Callas with 12 of her favourite opera arias.