“Scheherazade” Revives Her Legends in a Majestic Orchestral Performance at IXSIR

Inspired by the enchantment of One Thousand and One Nights, the performance is conceived, designed, and conducted by Lebanese-Armenian Maestro Harout Fazlian. It brings East and West into harmony, blending oriental instruments with Rimsky-Korsakov’s iconic Scheherazade (1888)—a masterpiece of the Russian school known for its vivid orchestral storytelling.

Under the summer sky, the all-female Firdaus Orchestra – a pioneering initiative by   ExpoCity-Dubai dedicated to empowering women through music – will take the stage with 26 professional musicians. With delicate artistry, they will weave melodies and tales into a singular moment suspended between mountains and vineyards.

This landmark event marks the first performance by a UAE-based orchestra in Lebanon since the lifting of the travel ban—a powerful gesture of cultural diplomacy and renewed regional connection through creativity.

The concert is further enriched by a parallel literary narrative, with Jana Abi Ghosn voicing Scheherazade and Jalal Chaar as Shahryar, in a poetic text by Henri Zoghaib that returns the tale to its Levantine origins.

Set in a purpose-built amphitheater nestled among Ixsir’s vineyards, the scene evokes a vision of a flying carpet, floating between earth and sky,  inviting the audience into a world of wonder.

In this context, Maestro Fazlian comments: “I always strive to offer my audience something truly creative and unique—an experience they won’t find elsewhere. It’s about more than the music; it’s about awakening all the senses and keeping the wonder alive. I am grateful that IXSIR embraced my vision for the setup, which—though complex—is essential to creating this immersive journey, which has become a signature. I’m confident my adaptation of Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade will be more than a concert—it will be a magical experience.”

For more information about the two evenings (Thursday 10 and Friday 11 July):
https://www.ticketingboxoffice.com/sheherazade-tickets/group/1035/en