WRMEA, August 2010, Page 58

Music & Arts

MESTO Performs in Abu Dhabi

Los Angeles’ MESTO performs in Abu Dhabi’s “Rhythms from Arabia” festival. (Photo courtesy of MESTO)

AT THE request of the Abu Dhabi Authority of Culture and Heritage, 45 musicians of the Multi Ethnic Star Orchestra (MESTO) and Maesto Nabil Azzam flew from Los Angeles to take part in the Gulf emirate's 11-day "Rhythms from Arabia" festival.

The audience was astounded at the May 13 concert to hear non-Arab musicians flawlessly perform Dr. Azzam's arrangements of classics by Muhammad Abd al-Wahhab and Farid al-Attrash. Moroccan singer Karima Skalli offered special renditions of "Inta 'Umri," "La Mush Ana" and "Ya Habibi Ta'ala." An audience favorite was conductor Azzam's violin solo in "Unshudat al-Fann."

Dr. Azzam, who is from Nazareth, received his Ph.D. in music from UCLA, where he wrote his dissertation on the compositions of Egypt's al-Wahhab. He subsequently organized MESTO to preserve classical Arab music in the U.S.

During his stay in the Gulf, Dr. Azzam was interviewed on numerous TV programs which praised him for bringing classical Arab music to U.S. concert halls.

—Pat McDonnell Twair