Amidst a year of challenges, an historic concert celebrating heritage and hope was held at the Saint Elias and Saint Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Catholic Cathedral on December 18, in partnership with the Syriac League and Zovighian Public Office.
The concert was dedicated to the front liners of the most recent war in Lebanon, who served with humanity and immense commitment to peace: doctors, nurses, paramedics, journalists, civil defense, the Lebanese National Army, and Middle East Airlines (MEA).
Habib Ephrem, President of the Syriac League, said during his opening speech: “From this blessed Armenian cathedral, near that towering mosque, in the heart of resilient Beirut, we stand as witnesses to freedom, diversity, and the dignity of every human being.”
Uplifting music through philanthropy
Produced and commissioned by business leader and philanthropist Lynn Zovighian, the concert was directed by award-winning international opera soprano singer Maria Mattar; virtuoso pianist, conductor, and musicologist Dr. Armen Ketchek; and choirmaster of the Fayha National Choir, Maestro Barkev Taslakian, who all performed at the event. It also marked the second edition of “Giving Voice to Music,” a philanthropic initiative launched by Lynn Zovighian and the Zovighian Public Office in 2023. This initiative seeks to elevate musicians and inspire society, by bringing communities together with the transformative power of culture.
Soprano Lynn Zovighian with the Fayha National Choir dedicated Richard Rodgers’ Climb Ev’ry Mountain to journalists, doctors, the Lebanese National Army, and Middle East Airlines.
Maestro Barkev Taslakian explained: “In moments of crisis, music becomes our refuge; an unspoken language that heals wounds words cannot touch. It is the thread that stitches hearts together, dissolving boundaries and building bridges across differences.”
Dr. Armen Ketchek added: “This is an important message to all Lebanese people and to everyone who cares about the fate of this beautiful country and the entire Middle East.”
Downtown Beirut cathedral transformed into sanctuary of unity
Held under the kind auspices of His Beatitude Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian, Catholicos Patriarch of Cilicia of the Armenian Catholic Church, the Armenian Catholic Cathedral opened its doors to a full house of Lebanese and residents from all walks of life. This year, the cathedral marks 65 years since it opened to the public. A symbol of national unity during Lebanon’s civil war, given its precarious position on the Green Line, the cathedral is being officially recognized as a national tourism symbol on the national registry of Lebanon this month.
“This cathedral is for all of Lebanon, and it was an honor to welcome our musicians and audience to this empowering event,” shared Father Raffi Ohanessian.
Musicians representing communities across the country performed from the church’s stunning stage and altar. Children and musicians with special needs were also a beloved highlight.
World premieres take center stage
The program was an immersive blend of Lebanese and Levantine heritage and folkloric music, as well as spiritual and uplifting melodies befitting an occasion meant to inspire an audience from across the country. An evening of world premieres, Chouf oudist Ziad El Ahmadie performed for the first time his composition “Lamma el Aatmeh” (When the darkness) with the Fayha National Choir and Franz Schubert’s Ave Maria was performed in Arabic by Maria Mattar and Arabic sign language by musician Nadira Samaha who represented the hearing-impaired community.
Chouf oudist Ziad El Ahmadie debuted his composition “Lamma el Aatmeh” alongside the Fayha National Choir in a world premiere.
In a world premiere, Soprano Maria Mattar sang in Arabic Franz Schubert’s “Ave Maria” with Nadira Samaha who performed with Arabic Sign Language.
A zajjal, a poetry form unique to Lebanon, listed as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage element, was composed and recited for this concert by young Chouf poet Iwan Gharzeddinee “Lebnan ya Basmet Watan Bel Eid” (Lebanon, a Smile of a Nation in Celebration). Syriac soprano Pauline Yazbeck, who lost her ability to walk from polio as a young child, sang the “Shlom Lekh Maryam” (Hail Mary) in Aramaic with a Syriac dialect.
16-year-old Iwan Gharzeddinee, a rising poet from the Chouf, recited a zajjal he composed for “Giving Voice to Hope” titled “Lebnan ya Basmet Watan Bel Eid.”
Soprano Pauline Yazbeck, who lost her ability to walk due to polio as a child, delivered a moving performance of “Shlom Lekh Maryam” (Hail Mary) in Aramaic with a Syriac dialect.
Maria Mattar emphasized: “True excellence is born from the harmony of teamwork, where every musician’s strength amplifies a collective vision. Together, we can achieve what none can alone.”
“The uniqueness of Lebanon was unravelling in one evening of delightful cultural performances. Seeing my heritage represented side by side with Lebanon’s diverse cultural landscape was a true honor and a mesmerizing experience,” exclaimed Mark Daou, a member of the Lebanese Parliament.
The concert became a stage for interfaith dialogue and cultural exchange when the Fayha National Choir performed two musical pieces celebrating Muslim traditions, “Allah Al Quddus,” arranged by Edward Torikian with the solo sung by choir member, Nader Mshad, and “Mawlay,” composed by Baligh Hamdi and sung with soloist Omar Al Hajj.
After both performances, Zovighian went back on stage and exclaimed: “I want to pause for a moment to say how rare it is to have the opportunity to celebrate co-existence in its deepest most human form. We are in a Lebanon today where a performance like this might be hard to come by. But I am personally immensely proud that my family’s church has taken this very special form of leadership to welcome this essential musical interpretation and heritage to this stage.”
There was heartfelt appreciation from the audience. As Ibrahim Mneimneh, member of the Lebanese Parliament shared after the concert: “It was a magical evening with a magical blend of music and Sufi supplications under the roof of the Cathedral of Gregory the Illuminator and Elias the Prophet for Armenian Catholics in the heart of the capital of coexistence, Beirut, which restored the city’s cultural splendor and civilizational depth after dark and difficult days that our country went through.”
The graduates of nursery Dent de Lait with co-founder and early childhood development expert Lamice Joujou and vocal coach Toni Bayah took the stage to sing the iconic “Li Beirut” made famous by Lebanon’s beloved Fairouz.
Mezzo-soprano Lamice Joujou, joined by graduates of Dent de Lait and conducted by Toni Bayeh, delivered a special rendition of Joseph Harb’s iconic “Li Beirut.”
“Hope is home,” shared Lynn Zovighian during her opening remarks. Reflecting after the concert, she added: “This was a historic feat. By working together as colleagues and friends, we have co-created an experience that represents the Lebanon we love. The impact of their innovation and hard work will last a lifetime.”
Lynn Zovighian was gifted a Virgin Mary icon by the Armenian Catholic parish for her philanthropy and dedication to music and community.
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