RAVENNA: Nine musicians from the Syrian diaspora in Europe are playing Sunday in the 24th friendship concert conducted by Riccardo Muti, this year at the Paestum archaeological site in southern Italy, but the coronavirus pandemic blocked others from arriving directly from Syria.
The concert Sunday by the Luigi Cherubini Youth Orchestra founded by Muti, part of the Ravenna Festival summer series, is dedicated to Syrian archaeologist Khaled Al-Asaad and Kurdish-Syrian politician Hevreen Khalaf, both of whom were slain during Syria’s ongoing civil war.
“These concerts give to Ravenna the possibility to be an important ambassador of peace and brotherhood from Italy,” Muti told The Associated Press earlier this month in Ravenna. Khalaf was killed by Syrian fighters trained by Turkey 2019, and Al-Asaad was beheaded in 2015 by fighters of the Daesh group after he refused to aid their destruction of the ancient Roman city at Palmyra, a UN world heritage site.
Muti launched the Roads of Friendship concert series in 1997 in Sarajevo, shortly after Bosnia’s 1992-1995 civil war ended, and has since traveled to cities wounded by war, including Beirut, as well as in ancient and historic sites to “reestablish ties” with places that have made history, including the ancient Roman amphitheater in the southern Syrian city of Bosra.
“We can build bridges between civilizations, between people, with music,” said Karoun Baghboudarian, a cellist living in the Netherlands who is playing in Sunday’s concert and who sang in the chorus during the 2004 concert in Bosra — before Syria devolved into war, a period when she said musicians’ lives flourished.
Her brother, Missak Baghboudarian, conducts the Syrian National Symphony Orchestra and had hoped to travel to Italy to conduct a concert in Ravenna and attend the Paestum concert of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3, known as the “Heroic,” but was unable to travel because of travel restrictions imposed by the coronavirus. Instead, the Syrian National Symphony Orchestra streamed Beethoven’s “Heroic” from Damascus on July 2.
Karoun Baghboudarian said she hoped the concert would renew attention on Syrians’ suffering.
“We hope that Syria will come through the war and all the difficult situations as heroes, and that they can live normally,” she said by phone from Paestum.
Muti conducts Syria musicians in memorial concert amid ruins
https://arab.news/93wyp
Muti conducts Syria musicians in memorial concert amid ruins
- Nine Syrian musicians in Europe are playing in the 24th friendship concert conducted by Riccardo Muti
‘The Zone of Interest’ director’s Oscars speech slammed by hundreds of Jewish stars, creators in open letter
DUBAI: More than 450 Jewish stars and other Hollywood professionals have slammed “The Zone of Interest” writer-director Jonathan Glazer’s speech at the 2024 Academy Awards, in an open letter published by Variety.
While accepting the award for best international feature, Glazer connected his Holocaust film with the attack on Gaza and said: “Our film shows where dehumanization leads at its worst. It’s shaped all of our past and present.
“Right now, we stand here as men who refute their Jewishness and the Holocaust being hijacked by an occupation which has led to conflict for so many innocent people.
“Whether the victims of October — whether the victims of Oct. 7 in Israel or the ongoing attack on Gaza, all the victims of this dehumanization, how do we resist?”
In the open letter, movie industry figures said: “We refute our Jewishness being hijacked for the purpose of drawing a moral equivalence between a Nazi regime that sought to exterminate a race of people, and an Israeli nation that seeks to avert its own extermination.”
US actors Debra Messing, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Julianna Margulies, and Brett Gelman, director Eli Roth, writer Amy Sherman-Palladino, and producer Amy Pascal were some of the Hollywood stars who signed, as did many other creatives, executives, and Hollywood professionals.
The letter added: “The use of words like ‘occupation’ to describe an indigenous Jewish people defending a homeland that dates back thousands of years and has been recognized as a state by the United Nations, distorts history.
“It gives credence to the modern blood libel that fuels a growing anti-Jewish hatred around the world, in the United States, and in Hollywood.
“The current climate of growing antisemitism only underscores the need for the Jewish state of Israel, a place which will always take us in, as no state did during the Holocaust depicted in Mr. Glazer’s film.”
Netflix drops trailer for ‘Rebel Moon 2’ starring Sofia Boutella
DUBAI: On Tuesday, Netflix dropped the full trailer for “Rebel Moon — Part 2: The Scargiver,” starring French Algerian actress Sofia Boutella.
The science fiction epic, directed by Zack Snyder, is set to premiere on April 19, 2024.
“Rebel Moon — Part 2: The Scargiver” continues the saga of Kora, played by Boutella, and the surviving warriors as they prepare to fight alongside the people of the settlement of Veldt to defend a once peaceful village, a newfound homeland for those who have lost their own in the fight against the Motherworld.
The film also stars Djimon Hounsou, Ed Skrein, Michiel Huisman, Doona Bae and Anthony Hopkins.
Netflix dropped the teaser trailer in December. “A gift for the fans — and rebels,” Boutella wrote on her Instagram Stories at the time, sharing the clip.
The first part of “Rebel Moon,” which ended on a cliffhanger, was released on Dec. 22, 2023, on Netflix.
In a previous interview, Boutella told Arab News that she was drawn to playing a strong female lead.
“Various aspects drew me to Kora; a big one was the chance to play a lead female character,” Boutella said. “I think that’s important. I’m grateful for Zack for thinking of having a woman as the lead character in his movie — whether it was me or someone else.”
Aside from the rare opportunity to lead an action movie, Boutella also welcomed the chance to shape a character who diverges from the archetypal hero.
“What drew me to the project was playing a character that was complicated and conflicted,” she explained. “From a drama perspective, it was ticking all the boxes: I get to do an action film with the best visual guy ever and play the most dramatic character ever.”
Boutella drew on her history as an immigrant. She grew up in Algeria during its civil war and later moved to France, and found herself navigating the complexities of adapting to a different culture. This personal connection became the emotional anchor for her portrayal of Kora, who was abducted at a young age and had to adapt to a new world.
“Having left Algeria young, when I go back there I don’t feel like I belong to Algeria. And then, in France, I don’t feel like I belong to France because I didn’t grow up there,” she explained.
Saudi artist brings ‘special charm’ of Japanese art to life
- Maryam Al-Suwaidan paints Japanese-style whimsical characters that evoke feelings of nostalgia
- Love for Japanese art began in childhood when she copied drawings from the covers of videos and comic books
RIYADH: A Saudi artist whose fascination with Japanese animation began in childhood is breaking new ground in the Kingdom’s burgeoning art scene.
Maryam Al-Suwaidan paints Japanese-style whimsical characters that evoke feelings of nostalgia.
Her love for Japanese art began in childhood when she copied drawings from the covers of videos and comic books featuring her favorite characters.
“These works had a special charm for me and opened the doors of imagination, which motivated me to continue drawing,” she said.
Al-Suwaidan’s method is derived from chibi art, a style of Japanese cartoon and anime illustration characterized by small, cute and exaggerated characters with oversized heads.
In high school, as Al-Suwaidan’s fondness for the art form grew, she decided to learn Japanese.
“I didn’t realize that most of these works came from Japan until almost high school. This pushed me to watch more of their works, and the Japanese language was completely new to me but comfortable to listen to and easy to learn,” she said.
“By learning the language, I can now access books by artists that are not translated, and discover their new tools and how to execute artistic works more deeply.”
Al-Suwaidan said: “I started learning art at a chalk drawing workshop with the artist Shoa’a Al-Dosary. I focus on illustration — depicting objects and characters with detailed backgrounds, and sometimes adding a hint of surrealism. My inspiration comes from animated films and visual stories that stimulate my creativity.”
The biggest attraction of Japanese art for Al-Suwaidan is that despite the distance and language difference of the medium compared with local art, there are similarities in culture, values and ethics.
The Saudi artist is inspired by iconic anime films such as “Spirited Away” and “Howl’s Moving Castle” by Japanese director Miyazaki Hayao of Studio Ghibli, a Japanese production house known for its attention to detail and unique storytelling.
Japanese animations such as the works of Miyazaki Hayao, Nakura Yasuhiro and others have “brilliantly depicted” the worlds and noble ideas of their creators, Al-Suwaidan said.
“This motivated me to learn the Japanese language to read their books and become familiar with more of their works and techniques.”
Al-Suwaidan found inspiration from the works of Saudi and Japanese animators that she watched as a child.
“One of the works that is still etched in my memory is the film ‘Jazeerat Al Noor’ (Island of Light) by the Saudi director Osama Khalifa. It tells the story of ‘Hay Bin Yaqthan’ by Ibn Tufail and how he came to know the presence of the Creator through contemplation and reflection on nature around him. This feeling accompanies me every time I contemplate the world and creatures to draw,” she said.
Al-Suwaidan added: “I aim for my drawings to evoke emotions and resonate with viewers. I choose color palettes and designs based on the subject matter, focusing on highlighting the main element of the drawing.
“Saudi culture and traditions influence my work, particularly in how I portray nature and surroundings. Feedback on my art has been positive, reminding viewers of their childhood memories and dreams.”
Al-Suwaidan views art as an “integral part of society” that reflects identity and conveys messages: “Through art, an artist can express their lifestyle and perspectives, connecting with others in the community.”
Mytheresa partners with Saudi influencer Nojoud Al-Rumaihi for Ramadan campaign
DUBAI: German luxury e-tailer Mytheresa has collaborated with Saudi influencer and consultant Nojoud Al-Rumaihi for a Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr campaign shot in Saudi Arabia.
The curated edit features the influencer’s top picks from labels such as celebrity-loved, London-based label Roksanda, New York-based fashion house Markarian, British brand Self-Portrait and red carpet mainstay Taller Marmo.
The edit of more than 500 pieces also includes costume jewelry, fine jewelry, hair accessories, dresses, bags and shoes. For Al-Rumaihi, comfort was key when curating the Ramadan edit.
“I always look for silhouettes that are fitted yet comfortable on the body, and I feel like the label that helps deliver my needs is Saint Laurent. The pieces always compliment my body in the best way possible,” she told Arab News. While she had a tough time picking a favorite, she added that an embellished, caped gown hailing from London-based fashion label Safiyaa, founded by Daniela Karnuts, was one of her personal favorites.
The e-tailer has partnered with Al-Rumaihi for the third year on its Ramadan campaign — something the influencer says is key in understanding the coveted Saudi market.
“Having a Saudi creative perspective can help international brands and e-tailers gain valuable local cultural insights with an authentic perspective that can help them connect with the Saudi market more effectively,” she said, adding that including local voices in the decision making process can ensure international brands project a message that is culturally relevant.
The campaign images were shot in the Bab Al-Saad resort in Diriyah, as well as a farm in the same historic area that is located just outside Riyadh.
“Bab Al-Saad is a venue that portrays a luxury Arab-themed space. Meanwhile, the farm is located in Diriyah, where Saudi was first established. The farm carries a lot of history in its architecture and doors,” Al-Rumaihi said, referring to the historical status of Diriyah, which was an oasis settlement founded in the 15th century along the Wadi Hanifah.
Diriyah is also home to At-Turaif, an archaeological treasure trove of royal palaces, mosques, homes and defensive towers built in the 18th century in the capital of the First Saudi State.