French jazz pianist Paul Lay reimagines Beethoven in Riyadh

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Paul Lay's performance included the beloved “Symphonie No. 7” and variations of “In Vienna,” reimagined with a twist of jazz and blues elements. (AN Photo: Abdulrahman BinShalhoub)
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The night ended with standing ovations for the French pianist Paul Lay and Saudi opera singer and vocal coach Sawsan Al-Bahiti. (AN Photo: Abdulrahman BinShalhoub)
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French artist, Paul Lay, recreates the iconic symphonies of German Beethoven, reconstructed through a Jazz-based lens. (AN Photo: Abdulrahman BinShalhoub)
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Updated 19 October 2022
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French jazz pianist Paul Lay reimagines Beethoven in Riyadh

  • Performance included “Symphonie No. 7” and variations of “In Vienna” reimagined with jazz and blues elements
  • Joining the artist onstage for a surprise performance was Saudi opera singer and vocal coach Sawsan Al-Bahiti

RIYADH: French pianist Paul Lay brought a whimsical blend of jazz and classical music to the halls of the Cultural Palace in Riyadh’s multinational Diplomatic Quarters this week, premiering his newest album, Full Solo, for the first time in Riyadh.

His first solo album unfolded on Saudi listeners in a crescendo of raw passion on a Maeari piano, as Lay channeled one of his idols in distinctive covers of Ludwig van Beethoven’s greatest classical hits.

His performance included the beloved “Symphonie No. 7” and variations of “In Vienna,” reimagined with a twist of jazz and blues elements.

“I’m a jazz pianist, but I also studied a lot of classical music. For this repertoire, I tried to make the right combination to mix the written music and the improvised music. The idea is how to make new forms by playing this beautiful music by Beethoven,” Lay told Arab News.

Paralleling the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, the French Embassy aims to spotlight established and emerging foreign talents in all sectors, especially music, in an effort to build bridges between the two countries. Lay began the show by playing variations of both the Saudi and French national anthems.

In partnership with the Alliance Française and the Diplomatic Quarter Authority, the event acts as an elemental opportunity to open up the floor for cultural discourse: French artist, Lay, recreates the iconic symphonies of German Beethoven, reconstructed through a Jazz-based lens, a genre of music that originates from the African-American communities of New Orleans — all broadcast to Saudi listeners.

“That’s the main purpose of music for me: To meet people from different cultures, but we gather the same vibes,” Lay said.

Joining the artist onstage for a surprise performance was Saudi opera singer and vocal coach Sawsan Al-Bahiti, who collaborated with Lay on presenting a cover of “Leila Law Bagi Leila” by Saudi singer Abdel Rab Idris and another in Spanish.

“It was a wonderful exchange of culture . . . I believe music is an international language; no matter what the words are, the melody is the fundamental of this language. This night is pure proof to this testimony,” Al-Bahiti told Arab News.

The opera singer expressed a feeling of familiarity with Lay as they performed onstage. While they only met the night prior, the two’s love for music made the delivery seamless.

“I believe any two musicians, if they know each other or not, when they hear each other, and they have this calmness and openness for other musicians to join, magic is created,” she said.

The night ended with standing ovations for the two onstage and a call for an encore.

The acclaimed French artist was dubbed “the most brilliant jazz pianist of his generation” by critics. In addition to revolutionizing the concept of soloism, he won multiple awards for his unconventional blend of genres — most prominently the “Best French Musician of the Year” award by the French Jazz Academy.

Lay began his journey as a student at the Conservatoire Superieur National de Musique et de Danse, later becoming a teacher at the institute. As he studied the jazz legends, their influence was strong enough to create one out of him.

The marriage between classical music and jazz was prompted by the music festival La Folle Journee de Nantes. The festival yearly takes place in the city of Nantes, under the patronage of a different classical musician. In 2020, Lay was selected to carry on the tradition, which happened to be the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birthday.

In preparation for the album, Lay spent a few months soaking up Vienna’s emotional pull, where the iconic composer spent much of his time creating the timeless classics.

Inspired by the harmonious feel of the town, Lay, in his deciphering of Beethoven’s greatest hits, found that the purposeful notes lend themselves to the blues genre effortlessly.

“Beethoven is a great master of silence and suspense, which is what I needed to keep while improvising . . . Silence is as important as the notes in the music. That was the main goal, and on the other side, to keep the right form,” Lay said about the experience.

Birthed was Lay’s sixth album, “Full Solo,” which reached top sales for jazz/blues at the French retail chain Fnac last year.

The word mystery is one often used to describe the nature of Beethoven’s music — and not a foreign one to Lay. The artist studied the music carefully to be able to sustain the integrity of the sonatas while also adding his own flare.

“Mystery in music is one of the keys, but we don’t really control that, it’s the way we play and the way we keep a distance as well. It’s beyond words.

“When I feel really good, I forget that I’m playing, and the music takes me, and I fly with the instrument,” he said.


Saudi fashion showcased in Selfridges

Updated 18 June 2025
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Saudi fashion showcased in Selfridges

  • London store to host designs by Kingdom’s rising stars

RIYADH: The Saudi Fashion Commission has teamed up with the Cultural Development Fund and British high-end department store Selfridges to showcase some of the Kingdom’s leading stylists.

Selected labels from the Saudi 100 Brands program and CDF beneficiaries, all of which blend modern Saudi aesthetics with innovative design techniques, will be on display at the store in London for the next two months, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

The commission’s CEO Burak Cakmak said: “This is more than retail, it marks a new era for Saudi fashion, from Riyadh to London.”

The Saudi 100 Brands program supported designers in refining their craft and building global business opportunities, he said.

The partnership with Selfridges represents a significant milestone for the Saudi fashion industry, reflecting its rising momentum and evolving talent base. It also coincides with the Kingdom’s Year of Handicrafts 2025.

CDF CEO Majed Al-Hogail said the event highlighted the sector’s growing role in shaping Saudi Arabia’s cultural economy.

“Saudi talents are redefining our creative identity, rooted in heritage, expressed globally,” he said.


New award honors top Hajj hospitality centers

Updated 18 June 2025
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New award honors top Hajj hospitality centers

  • The award recognizes top-performing hospitality centers affiliated with Ekram Al-Dayf

MAKKAH: Amr Al-Maddah, undersecretary for Hajj and Umrah services at the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, has launched the inaugural Ekram Excellence Award for Hajj season 2025.

The award recognizes top-performing hospitality centers affiliated with Ekram Al-Dayf, a division of Ashraqat company serving Arab pilgrims, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Adnan Saleh Al-Shehri, adviser for excellence and awards at Ekram Al-Dayf, said the initiative aims to inspire excellence in administration and operations.

It seeks to deliver high-quality, sustainable services in line with Vision 2030, the ministry’s goals, the Pilgrim Experience Program, and Ekram Al-Dayf’s strategy.

The award honors outstanding centers, promotes a culture of quality and commitment, and encourages compliance with service standards.

It also aims to boost competition among providers, improve performance indicators, and support innovation, according to the SPA.

The initiative further promotes social responsibility, volunteerism, and enhances the overall pilgrim experience. It aligns with the ministry’s broader efforts to raise hospitality standards and ensure an exceptional Hajj journey.


JIAT clears coalition of alleged rights violations in Yemen

Updated 18 June 2025
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JIAT clears coalition of alleged rights violations in Yemen

  • Coalition forces identified four locations and carried out an air mission on what was considered a legitimate military target and in line with international humanitarian law

RIYADH: The Joint Incidents Assessment Team on Wednesday issued a statement in response to allegations of human rights violations in Yemen over the targeting of Sarwah Rural Hospital in Harib directorate, Marib governorate on April 24, 2015.

After examining various documents, including air tasking orders, daily mission schedules, mission execution procedures, after-mission reports and satellite images, the JIAT concluded that the hospital is located in Sarwah village and included on the coalition forces’ no-strike list.

Specialists studied satellite images of the hospital and found no trace of damage to its structures caused by aerial targeting.

Analyzing coalition air missions on April 24, 2015, the JIAT found no evidence of operations in Sarwah village. Similarly, missions on April 23 and April 25 showed no activity in the area.

In a press conference in Riyadh, JIAT spokesman Mansour Al-Mansour addressed an allegation that coalition forces targeted a mosque in Al-Sawad in Yemen’s Amran governorate on Sept. 23, 2019.

After reviewing air missions, the JIAT found that no coalition operations were carried out in Amran on that date.

By studying missions conducted the day before, the JIAT reported that intelligence indicated Houthi militia fighters were gathering at mobilization sites in Harf Sufyan in Amran in preparation for a major attack.

Coalition forces identified four locations and carried out an air mission on what was considered a legitimate military target and in line with international humanitarian law.

“The coalition forces have taken all possible precautions to avoid accidental loss or damage to civilians and civilian objects, or in any case, to minimize it to the lowest possible level, during the planning and execution of the military operation,” Al-Mansour said.

The precautions included the use of “guided bombs proportionate to the size of the military targets and ensuring that there were no civilians present before or during the targeting,” he said.

The JIAT concluded that the strike was lawful. It noted that while the targeted structure was claimed to be a mosque, no indications such as a minaret were found.

It also addressed an allegation that a coalition airstrike hit a pickup truck in Al-Jarr village, Hajjah governorate, followed by a second strike 10 minutes later that destroyed a house on June 16, 2019.

After reviewing air mission data, satellite images and visiting operational centers, the JIAT found no evidence of coalition activity on that date, nor on the days before or after. Satellite imagery also showed no signs of aerial targeting.

The JIAT concluded that coalition forces did not target Al-Jarr village, as claimed.

It also addressed an allegation that coalition forces targeted houses in Al-Hijrah village, Markhah Al-Sofla directorate in Shabwah on Jan. 4, 2019.

After reviewing air tasking orders, mission schedules, post-mission reports and satellite images, it found that no coalition air missions were conducted in Shabwah.

The JIAT also confirmed that no air missions were carried out in the governorate on Jan. 3 or Jan. 5, 2019, and concluded that coalition forces did not target houses in Al-Hijrah village as claimed.


FSB Sports Show Riyadh spotlights exhibitors powering sports, leisure solutions for urban future

Updated 18 June 2025
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FSB Sports Show Riyadh spotlights exhibitors powering sports, leisure solutions for urban future

  • Saudi Arabia’s plan to become center for world-class sports infrastructure gaining momentum

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s ambitious plans to be a center for world-class sports infrastructure and recreation spaces are gaining momentum, with more than $2 billion in committed investments and a projected $5.9 billion in sports sector revenue by 2030.

With major international events, including the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027, Asian Winter Games in NEOM’s Trojena in 2029, Riyadh Expo 2030, FIFA World Cup 2034 and the Asian Games in Riyadh in 2034 on the horizon, the Kingdom is accelerating development as part of Vision 2030.

Aligned with this ambition, the inaugural FSB Sports Show Riyadh — organized by DMG Events and Koelnmesse — welcomed thousands of industry leaders and professionals this week at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center.

Rob Hetherington, group business development director at Gebal Group, which was among the exhibitors, said: “Saudi is our most important market that we are focusing on right now.

“We have been working in Saudi for five years now and have already developed over 40 to 50 outdoor spaces. So we have got a team that’s growing into double figures. Our company has 400-plus people and we are going to rapidly grow into the Saudi market.”

The company designs and supplies outdoor recreation areas and has developed skate parks for the Red Sea Project and at the Qiddiyah entertainment city, NEOM and Sports Boulevard, among other places.

“We delivered lots of fanzone spaces in Qatar for the World Cup. Our plan is to do the same thing for the World Cup in Saudi Arabia,” Hetherington said.

Muhammed Kazi, senior vice president for construction at DMG, said: “From active cities and giga-projects to school playgrounds and public parks, Saudi Arabia is transforming how it designs and delivers spaces for sports, wellness and recreation.”

Denis Steker, senior international vice president at Koelnmesse, said: “FSB is the international benchmark for innovations in sports and leisure facilities. As Saudi Arabia scales up investment across public parks, playgrounds or stadiums to increase the health and well-being of the public, now is the ideal time to bring this event to Riyadh.”

At the show, which ran from Monday to Wednesday, Scott Van Der Kleij, sales director at exhibitor GreenFields, told Arab News: “We are here to get a better understanding of what the Saudi market is and especially towards the FIFA World Cup 2034.”

Ramsha Asghar, director for sports flooring at Neo Sports, said the event had “been a really good opportunity to showcase our material and speak to really high-end individuals, and I am really excited for what’s to come from the sports projects.”

Bill Lennox, managing director at Yardex, which supplies artificial grass and is FIFA-certified, told Arab News he saw “tremendous volume and potential for the product” in Saudi Arabia.

The sports show was held concurrently with the International Hardware Fair Saudi Arabia.

Gerald Bose, president and CEO of Koelnmesse, said: “Launching both FSB Sports Show and International Hardware Fair marks a significant step in connecting global expertise with Saudi Arabia’s rapidly advancing sectors.”

With more than 200 exhibitors and brands, the FSB Sports Show supported the Kingdom’s plans to develop inclusive and modern environments for community wellness and active living.

Among the standout attractions were TeleiosX, which gave visitors the chance to experience competitive, full-motion racing on the show floor, and a virtual golf simulator presented by Marafei Almarefah.


Immersive ‘Diriyah experience’ to open in London’s Knightsbridge

Updated 18 June 2025
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Immersive ‘Diriyah experience’ to open in London’s Knightsbridge

  • Diriyah Experience House, at One Hyde Park, will feature the project masterplan for the city
  • Jerry Inzerillo: We are thrilled to launch the Diriyah Experience House in the heart of London

JEDDAH: A pavilion hoping to attract investment in the development of historic Diriyah will open in London’s prestigious Knightsbridge borough next month.

The Diriyah Experience House, at One Hyde Park, will feature the project masterplan for the city, which is projected to welcome more than 50 million visitors annually by 2030. Interactive content will allow visitors to explore the scheme in more detail.

Jerry Inzerillo, group CEO of Diriyah Company, said: “We are thrilled to launch the Diriyah Experience House in the heart of London. Through this global platform, our team will share the story of Diriyah in a way that reflects its stature on the world stage — supporting our international outreach as we build one of the world’s most iconic destinations rooted in the Kingdom’s deep history and rich cultural heritage.”

The pavilion is set to have its official opening in early July, in collaboration with Sotheby’s International Realty, which will operate the venue.

It follows a successful month-long event held in London in July 2024, which highlighted the plans for Diriyah and was accompanied by an intensive promotional campaign across the British capital.

The efforts aim to elevate Diriyah’s global profile as the birthplace of Saudi Arabia and attract increased international interest in its investment potential.

Diriyah Art Futures also recently concluded “The Light Footprint” exhibition at Venice’s Querini Stampalia Foundation. Held in collaboration with Italian architecture firm Schiattarella Associati, it coincided with the opening of the Venice Biennale of Architecture 2025.

Curated by Marta Francocci, the exhibition explored the design and conceptual development of DAF’s innovative Riyadh headquarters, an architectural landmark inspired by Najdi tradition and sustainable design. It highlighted the fusion of cultural heritage with technological advancement through models, sketches, videos and archive materials.

Developed by the Saudi Museums Commission, DAF is envisioned as a global hub for art, science and education. “The Light Footprint” was also featured in the collective exhibition, “Intelligens Naturale, Artificiale,” curated by Carlo Ratti as part of the biennale’s official program.