LONDON: The Academy of Art and Arabic Heritage in London hosted its annual choir concert on Wednesday at the Barbican Hall.
The 50-voice choir performed a selection of songs showcasing the history and diversity of music from across the region.
Established in 2015, the choir is among a series of initiatives launched by the academy to celebrate Arab cultural heritage in Britain.
The performance featured a range of dialects, rhythms and vocal maqamat, as well traditional instruments, including the tablah, oud, qanoun and ney.
It was led by Syrian conductor Basel Saleh, who has previously worked with with the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Damon Albarn of Gorillaz.
Songs from Sudan, Morocco, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq were featured in the performance.
“This was the first time I felt so connected to Arab culture in London through the music we all know and which unites the Arab world. The truth is that as Arabs in Britain, we lose this connection,” Emad Al-Abadi, a guest who attended the concert, told Arab News.
Another guest, Nashwan Al-Mosuli, said: “The music today was excellent. We heard songs from all around the region, from Sudan, Morocco, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq.”
