The Masters of Classical Arabic Music
Zekeriyah | Chicago, IL | 05/24/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a brilliant series of CDs, culled from the collections of EMI Arabia with the ambition to bring the true masters of Arabic classical music to a wider audience. Featuring ten performances by artists known and respected across the Arabic-speaking world, this CD does a wonderful job showing the beauty, intensity and raw emotion of Arabic music. Passionate vocals, masterful 'oud playing and full orchestras give each performance a rich, lush sound that you can appreciate even if you don't know a word of Arabic.
The first CD includes performances by the legendary Lebanese super-star Fairouz, Egyptian-born composer and 'oud player Mohamed Abdel Wahab, singer Warda from Algeria, Abdel Halim Hafez of Egypt, an instrumental number by Lebanese violinist Abboud Abdel Aal, and Egyptian diva Oum Kalthoum, who can rightly be called the mother of Arabic classical music, amongst others. On the second CD, we are treated to a full 50 minute dramatic performance of "La Ya Sadiqi" (No My Friend) by Iraqi Kazem el-Saher, one of the finest classical musicians in the contemporary Arabic-speaking world, along with a song by Mohammed Abdu of Saudi Arabia. All in all, over 2 hours of classical Arabic music.
This CD is only the first in the series, which includes several other compilations, as well as re-releases of masterpiece recordings by classical Arabic performers. All of them, including this particular CD, are worth tracking down and adding to your personal collection. Essential listening for any lovers of classical Arabic music, or music from the Middle East in general. This is haunting, painfully beautiful music, and even if you don't speak Arabic you can feel the raw emotion behind it."
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1