Souk with Nawal El Zoghbi
The Concertgebouw will be transformed into a souk: a world full of old and new sounds, tastes, smells and colours in an extensive, evening-filling programme. During this sixth edition of SOUK, traditional Arabic (pop) music, the hits of Nawal El Zoghbi, classical Western music, dance and other art forms merge. The Netherlands Chamber Orchestra, the National Ballet, and various partners such as El Hizjra and the youth association Entrée will join forces for this.
Souk with Nawal El Zoghbi
The story
In the Grote Zaal, SOUK begins a musical journey along the Nile. The river symbolises life, travel and the exchange of ideas, bringing musical cultures together. The Netherlands Chamber Orchestra, conducted by conductor Jochen Neuffer, the National Ballet and young musicians from the Netherlands and the Arab world lead us downstream in a swirling program in which the convergence of various musical styles is central. From the golden age of Arabic music to the present day.
Lebanese superstar Nawal El Zoghbi
After the break, the program in the Grote Zaal will focus on the collaboration between superstar Nawal El Zoghbi and the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra. 'The Golden Star' is the nickname of Nawal El Zoghbi in the Arab world. She became known for revolutionary video clips in the 1990s. Since then, she has reinvented herself repeatedly, cementing her status as one of the biggest pop stars in the Arab world. Many know her for her performances of Tarab and Warda songs. In the past 25 years, she has presented 17 albums, selling more than 30 million copies. This makes her one of the best-selling Arab artists ever. She performs hits and new work in unique arrangements with the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra and her band.
Around the concert
The evening begins in the foyers, which have been transformed into a traditional souk as you know it from the Middle Eastern medinas. Later in the evening, these spaces transform into a new world: a 'modern' Arab-Western world souk - from nostalgia to the present of the youngest generations of the Arab diaspora in the Netherlands.
Dates and times
| Friday 9 June | 19:00 |
| Saturday 10 June | 19:00 |