DAMASCUS: The Damascus International Festival of Arabic Poetry celebrated the tradition of sung poetry on Tuesday evening with a performance by Lebanese vocalist Walaa Al-Jundi at the Damascus Opera House.
Held on the festival’s third day, the concert explored the enduring connection between Arabic poetry and music, drawing on works from across Arab literary history — including classical verse, romantic poetry, spiritual themes, and Andalusian muwashahat, a traditional poetic and musical form originating in medieval Andalusia.
Al-Jundi opened the evening with “Shakawt Layli” (“I Complained of My Night”), a contemporary poem by Kuwaiti poet Abdulaziz Saud Al-Babtain, set to music by Bilal Al-Zein. She went on to perform excerpts from Al-Qushayri’s Ayniyyah, composed by the Rahbani Brothers, along with Ahmed Shawqi’s “Mudnak Jafahu Marqaduhu,” composed by Mohamed Abdel Wahab.
Lebanese vocalist Walaa Al-Jundi performing at the Damascus Opera House. (SANA photo)
The program also featured the Andalusian muwashah “Jadaka Al-Ghayth” by Lisan al-Din Ibn al-Khatib, as well as “Aghadan Alqak” (“Shall I Meet You Tomorrow?”) by Sudanese poet Al-Hadi Adam — a piece widely known through the voice of Umm Kulthum and the music of Mohamed Abdel Wahab.
