Beiruting News

The Rachid Karami International Fair of Tripoli (RKIF) proudly organized a landmark event in its cultural renaissance: the orchestral concert “Angham wa Kasaed” (أنغام وقصائد), presented by Dr. Hiba Al-Kawas, composer and President of the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music, performed by Jahida Wehbe and the Lebanese National Orchestra of Oriental Music and the Choir of the Oriental Section of the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music under the direction of Maestro André El-Hajj.

The event was attended by H.E. Ambassador Sahar Baassiri Salam, Hala Obeid, representing the First Lady, Nehmat Aoun, deputies, officials, members of the Board of the Rachid Karami International Fair, cultural institutions, and media representatives. The Master of the Ceremony of the evening was poet and journalist Majida Dagher.

This concert opened a new cultural chapter for the RKIF — a landmark of Lebanon’s modern heritage and a masterpiece of world architecture designed by Oscar Niemeyer. Following decades of neglect, the site is now stepping into a new era of vitality and creation, driven by the vision and determination of its newly appointed Board of Directors.

A Cultural Landmark Reawakens
Spanning over 750,000 square meters and conceived in the 1960s under the patronage of President Fouad Chehab, the Rachid Karami International Fair was designed to embody Lebanon’s openness, creativity, and innovation. Its modernist forms and monumental structures once symbolized the nation’s ambition to serve as a cultural and economic bridge between East and West.

Yet history had different plans. The civil war erupted, and the site remained dormant for decades. In January 2023, UNESCO inscribed the RKIF on the World Heritage in Danger List, recognizing its universal value and launching a global call for its preservation and revival.

Today, the Fair’s revival is definitely tangible. The concert marked the return of art, music, and public life to the heart of this extraordinary site.

In this context, Hani El Chaarani, Director of the Board of the Rachid Karami International Fair, said, "Reviving the Rachid Karami International Fair is more than an urban project; it is a key move to economically and culturally renew Northern Lebanon and establish it as a leading hub for investment, tourism, and creativity."

During the evening, Joumana Chahal Timéry, in charge of the programming within the Board of the Rachid Karami International Fair and the President of the Association Patrimoine Tripoli-Liban, declared, “Our gathering tonight for this concert carries a special symbolism. Music is a language that needs no translation — it is the most beautiful expression of human unity despite our differences. And when melody fills this Fair’s spaces, it tells us: Tripoli, despite its hardships, remains alive — creative, welcoming, radiant, and full of hope."

As for Dr. Hiba Al-Kawas, she said, “The launch of the new season of the Lebanese National Orchestra of Oriental Music from Tripoli is not just an artistic event—it is a declaration of solidarity with a city that deserves to be heard. This is where the mission of the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory begins: a cultural stand against despair, where melody becomes a force for shaping both the nation and the individual. From Tripoli, we don’t just launch a season—we revive the heartbeat of the nation, echoing with a renewed sense of identity.”

A Dialogue Between Music and Poetry
The program of the concert featured the works and performances of Jahida Wehbe, acclaimed for her original compositions and rich vocal artistry, and works by major Lebanese and Arab artists.

Under the musical direction of Maestro André El-Hajj, the concert united two major Lebanese ensembles — the Lebanese National Orchestra of Oriental Music and the Choir of the Lebanese National Conservatory (Oriental Section) — in an evening that celebrated the depth and elegance of Arabic heritage through orchestral interpretation.

A Vision for the Future
The new Board of Directors of the RKIF, appointed by Decree No. 36 of August 8, 2025, has outlined an ambitious vision to transform the site into a living cultural platform. Through partnerships with national and international institutions, the Fair will host a vibrant calendar of cultural, artistic, economic, and environmental initiatives designed to reposition Tripoli on the global cultural map.

This first orchestral concert is more than a symbolic act — it is a commitment to continuity, a promise that the Fair will once again become a meeting point for ideas, creativity, and dialogue.

In reviving this space of culture and encounter, the concert reaffirms the belief that Tripoli is not only a city of history but also of creativity, exchange, and renewal.