Sabah Fakhri (Syria)SONGS OF SPIRITUAL LOVEBorn into a very religious family in 1933 in Aleppo, Syria, into a very religious family, Sabah Fakhri is one of the greatest voices of the Arab world, unanimously appreciated from the Middle East to the Maghreb.
A student first at the conservatory of Aleppo, then in Damascus, Sabah Fakhri was influenced for many years by the great tradition of Arab song by masters such as Ali Darwish, Omar Batch or Mohamed Rajab. He added to the Muwashshah ( a style derived from Andalusian one, of which his native town of Aleppo is the depositary) an innovating touch by enlarging the make-up of the classical Takght (a small traditional chamber orchestra) to a large orchestra largely based on strings: violins, violoncellos, double basses, etc.
He is well known by the Arab and Syrian public, and is usually followed in chorus by the audience. His repertoire is made up of erudite as well as very popular pieces, running together in a spirit of Wasla (suite) with measured and improvised parts going from Muwashshah to Mawal ( a recitation from a poem) and assorted compositions of Sama' and improvisation on modes (Taqsims). A master of Tarab, this musical rapture that seizes devoted audiences, Sabah Fakrih has given countless concerts throughout the world over the last decades and in 1978 received the Golden Medal of Arab Music of Damascus. His televised appearances as a comedian/singer in famous television series such as "Nagham el Ams" (Melodies of the Past) or "Al Wadi Al Kabir" (The Great Valley) in which he imitates the great Lebanese-Algerian singer Warda, have greatly contributed to his immense popularity in the Arab world. Chanting the great mystical poets of Islam, he will perform once
again at the Fes Festival as a songster of spiritual values.
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