AMMAN — Famed Lebanese composer and
singer Marcel Khalifeh will be performing in the Arena Center at
Al-Ahliyya Amman University at 8pm on Friday.
One of Khalifeh’s prominent poems-turned-into-a-song
is “Ummi,” Arabic for “My Mother.” The sentimental song is played during all
mother-related celebrations, especially on Mother’s Day.
It is especially popular in Palestine, where it is heard
in smoke-filled traditional coffee shops in the old city of Jerusalem and the
more lavish cafes on the outskirts of the
West Bank city of Ramallah.
Khalifeh told a press conference in Amman on
Wednesday that Ummi is his most favorite song because “I wanted to give it to
my mom as a gift, but she passed away before I could let her hear it in my
voice,” he said.
Khalifeh agreed to perform for free on Friday. The
event is under the supervision of Hilal Al-Quds Club and the patronage of the
Lower House Deputy Khalil Atieh.
Ticket prices range between JD25 to JD250. It was
not immediately clear where the money to be raised from ticket sale would go.
Khalife spoke about Palestinian Poet Mahmoud
Darwish’s long poem “Mural,” which Khalifeh said he intended to turn into a
large theatrical piece, combining theater acting, dancing, and singing in the
near future.
He said he mulled over this thought at the start of
the COVID-19 pandemic, and worked on it multiple times since until its total
time was reduced to from three hours to 90 minutes.
“Cutting it by half the time certainly took out some
of its dynamic elements,” he said. He noted that the work will be presented
under a “death” theme.
During Friday’s concert, Khalifeh said he was due to
perform jointly with Dalal Abu Amneh, who was supposed to sing with him. But he
pointed out that “her father passed away, and she will not be able to make it”.
Head of Hilal Al-Quds Club Diyaa Al-Shwaiki said Khalifeh
immediately responded to the club’s invitation, and accepted to attend the
press conference and hold the concert on Friday.
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