Fusing Western music with the sweetness of Eastern melody, Emirati opera singer Fatima Al Hashemi celebrated “Emirati Women’s Day” yesterday with her first full concert at the “Mohammed Bin Rashid Library Theatre”.

Al Hashemi attended the ceremony, organized by the Emirati Youth Orchestra, as part of the library’s strategy to promote the presence of Emirati women and highlight their active contribution to society, and they performed for over an hour, the amount of actual singing.

The concert was attended by Dr. Mohammed Salem Al Mazrouei, Board of Directors of Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Library Foundation, Jamal Al Shehi, Board of Directors, and Dubai Opera Director, Dr. Paolo Petrocelli, as well as an elite group of representatives from the Emirates Authors and Writers Association and the Ministry of Culture and Youth. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Mohammed Salem Al Mazrouei, Member of the Board of Directors of Mohammed Bin Rashid Library, said: Today, Mohammed Bin Rashid Library is an integrated cultural and entertainment center that combines knowledge and cultural treasures with the arts. and entertainment, we seek to provide a unique experience that reflects our vision and ambitions for the future of libraries. ”In the next 50 years the public will support the aspirations of a wise leadership in developing advanced knowledge in all fields, especially in the field of culture. He added: “Art and music events form bridges that connect us to the world of creativity and thought, reflect the power of art to touch souls, transport us to other worlds with a message to enhance our values ​​and expand our horizons. “

Al-Hashemi appeared on stage wearing a white abaya and opened the ceremony with the Emirati national anthem, and artist Asmahan opened her concert with “Oh My Love, Come”. Opera music from the art of the Eastern aesthetic period to the Western, the concert program includes a group of famous songs: “Love” by George Bizet, “I am my heart, my guide” by the artist Laila Murad, “September” by Fatima Al Hashemi, which carries an oriental rhythm. , and Eduardo de Capua’s “Ya Shamsi”, distinguished by its romantic melody. Artist Fatima Al Hashimi also presented the song “Belakaw”, which has a folk character. Al-Hashemi chose to return to audience favourites, including Zaki Nasif’s “O Lover of Roses”, while the orchestra played Hussein Al Jazmi’s “I Am Laha Shams”.

Among his own songs, Al Hashemi presented: “A Heart Without Guards”, written by Emirati poet Amal Al Sahlavi and composed by musician Ihab Darwish, he pointed out that the song expresses people’s love for the late Sheikh Sultan in its words. Bin Saeed Al Nahyan, may God rest his soul. He left it in the hearts of Emiratis. He continued the concert with Franz Schubert’s “So Quiet, My Songs”, Farid Al-Atrash’s “O Flower in My Imagination” and Majda Al-Rumi’s “But Tell Me, My Love”. He opened the concert with the song Asmahan.

Speaking about the concert, Fatima Al Hashemi told Emirates Today: “I am very happy to present my first full concert at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library, especially this one (to mark Emirati Women’s Day) where I mix Arabic and Western songs. My love for Western classical music dates back to childhood. was with me, but at the same time I grew up in an artistic family listening to Eastern Taraab and being influenced by it, and this is the first time I thought of presenting these songs on stage.” He added: “I love classical music, but Eastern music has a sense of music in its melodies.” Classicism appeals to me a lot. Attracted, and it encouraged me to put oriental songs in the concert, but if you look closely at the songs I have chosen, you will notice that the existing oriental songs have a western character.