Summer Festivals
2012
Gibran National Committee Summer Festival 2012
The Gibran National Committee held its summer festival during July and September 2012 at the Gibran Museum - Mary Haskel Square - Bcharreh.- Northern Lebanon.
Press Release
The Gibran National Committee eagerly works for the promotion and diffusion of cultures and arts as interaction between civilizations through various activities such as exhibitions, conferences, lectures, painting exhibitions and summer festivals in which dance, music, rituals, customs and other arts expressions are performed live. The "Gibranic Days" summer festivals that are constantly held at Mary Haskel Square - Gibran Museum, became synonymous with summer and a tradition attracting hundereds fans.
The program
The GNC was honored this year to collaborate with the American, Chinese and Mexican Embassies, giving the opportunity for each embassy to promote an aspect of tradition and culture of its country.
July 7th: American Embassy
08.30 p.m. American Jazz Night
Location Mary Haskel Square - Gibran Museum
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July 7 eve was dedicated to the American Embassy. It was called "The American Night", The Art Roland Jazz Quartet (New York, New York), that is inspired by Jazz music from the 1930's through 1950's, also known as the "Golden Age of Jazz", came from the United States to perform at the Mary Haskel Square - Gibran Museum. The ensemble's repertoire included pieces by Jazz legends such as Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie and Billie Holiday as well as their own critically acclaimed original compositions and some popular oriental music such as "Bent el Shalabiya", "Raje' Yit'ammar Libnan… )
This exceptional Jazz night, was attended by Mr. Peter Brown, Cultural Attaché of the American Embassy, Mr. Antoine Tawk President of the Bcharreh Municipality… and Jazz lovers from all over Lebanon and bordered countries.
President of the GNC Dr. Tarek Chidiac in his opening speech has confirmed that the "Gibranic Days" became a center of attention for the lovers of art innovation and Gibran,
In his speech Mr. Brown was thankful for the GNC to realize "The American Night" that introduced distinctive styles of American jazz, a reflection of the cultural and popular diversity in the United States.
July 21st: Chinese Embassy
08.30 p.m. Chinese Folklore Night
Location Mary Haskel Square - Gibran Museum
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In the frame of the "Gibranic Days", the Chinese Embassy in collaboration with the GNC as well, has introduced a style of the Chinese Folklore through a festival called "Chinese Folklore Night" on July 21st.
Members of the Chinese band, Ms. Xiaojing He on Pipa instrument, Ms. Lara Molaeb on Piano and Mr. Sam Molaeb on Viola, have played Chinese tradition music presenting the Pipa instrument that is a four-stringed lute, one of the oldest Chinese musical instruments with over 2000 years of history. Lebanese and international songs were also played on stage to add to the "Chinese Folklore Night" a special emotion.
Afterward, a Cong Fu demonstration led by Master Chen and Master Nouhra President of the Lebanese Union for the Cong Fu was perfumed on stage.
The attendees including H. E. Mr. Wu Zexian Chinese Ambassador and members of the Chinese Embassy, GNC President and board of members, in addition to hundreds of fans have applauded loudly and repeatedly.
August 4th & 5th: Mexican Embassy
Mexican Cultural Weekend
August 4th: 11.00 a.m. Economic Forum
Location Chbat Hotel - Bcharreh
8.30 p.m. Mexican Night Location Mary Haskel Square - Gibran Museum
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The Mexican Embassy chose to engage a long and rich weekend that was launched on Saturday, August 4th. It began with an economic forum attended by Dr, Tarek Chidiac President of the GNC, H.E. Mr. Jorge Alvares Fuentes Ambassador of the Mexican Embassy, Mr. Jorge Malcolm Baker Commercial Attaché of the Mexican Embassy and other Mexican Embassy's staff, H.E. Mr. Plamen Tsolov Bulgarian Ambassador, Mr. Boris Richard First Counselor of the Swiss Embassy, Mr. Maroun Rizcalla President of the Lebanese – Mexican Business Council, Ms. Roula Al-Bayea Bcharreh District Commissioner, Professor Rudy Nagi Kayrouz, former and current municipality presidents, businessmen and other eminent figures.
The attendees have discussed commercial exchange means between Lebanon and Mexico as well as the facilities provided by the Mexican Embassy to create commercial opportunities that serve both countries.
As a result, various recommendations were set to enhance mutual exchanges and cooperation in the near future.
Upon the conclusion of the forum, the attendees have assisted at a lunch host by the GNC board of members in their honor.
The Mexican art and craft exhibition was inaugurated in the evening at the Mary Haskel Square – Gibran Museum, followed by a Mexican festival.
Nearly one thousand attendees have assisted at the festival in which live Latin traditional music and dances were performed by over forty artists with their traditional colorful dresses.
The Mexican band came to Lebanon especially to assist at the festival that was described as magnanimous and wild. People were called by the artists to dance while tequila and rich Mexican traditional dishes were generously served at the buffet. It is worth mentioning that H. E. Ms. Angelina Eichhorst Ambassador of the European Union to Lebanon was among the eminent attendees.
August 5th:
11.00 a.m. Mexican Movie "Laberinto del Fauno"
Location Gibran crypt - Gibran Museum
Followed by cocktail and token exchanges
The weekend included photo display of Mexican culture and an exhibition of Mexican handicrafts.
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Sunday 5th, a screening of the Guillermo del Toro's 2006 cult film 'El laberinto del fauno' (Pan's Labyrinth) was displayed at the crypt of Gibran Khalil Gibran at the Gibran Museum. The film's surreal narrative interweaves good and evil, fairies and fawns on one little girl's quest to be reunited with her father. At the end of the film a cocktail was served in which tokens were exchanged.
In his letter upon the Mexican Weekend conclusion, H. E. the Mexican Ambassador Mr. Jorge Alvarez Fuentes has conveyed his gratitude for the great success reaped by the Mexican weekend. He also stated that the Mexican cultural event is to reinforce the ties between the Lebanese and the Mexican people, people that is united by the history although geographically distant.
