Algerian Radio
The committed Lebanese singer and musician, Marcel Khalifa, gave a concert on Saturday evening at the Boualem-Bessaïh Algiers Opera. He performed major works from his artistic repertoire, embodying commitment and authentic art, including extracts from the most famous poems of the late Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish, in front of a large audience of music lovers.
For more than two hours, the audience at the Algiers Opera savored Marcel Khalifa's performance as he interpreted masterpieces from his repertoire, celebrating humanity, freedom, love, and revolution, particularly the Palestinian cause—a subject that has defined his unique artistic presence for over four decades.
The famous singer Marcel Khalifa opened the evening with a new musical piece dedicated to Algeria, titled "Bahr" (Sea). He then continued, oud in hand, with a selection of the most beautiful poems by the late Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish. These included "Ya tayr al-hamam," "Mountasiba al-kama amchi," "Rita wal-boundoukia," "Ahino li-khoubz oummi," "Ya bahriya hila hila," and "Mounadhiloune," receiving thunderous applause.
With his melodious voice and perfect interpretation, Marcel Khalifa allowed the audience to relive moments of authentic music. Accompanied by his son, Rami Khalifa, on the piano and his nephew, Sary Khalifa, on the cello, the virtuoso artist also performed musical extracts such as "Beyrouth El Djazair" and "Sarkha," which he dedicated "to the families of the martyrs, who fell," he said, "on pure land."
The artistic evening was graced by the presence of the Minister of Culture and Arts, Malika Bendouda; the President of the National Independent Authority for Audiovisual Regulation (ANIRAV), Amar Bendjedda; the Lebanese Ambassador to Algeria, Ali Al Moula; the manager of the Algiers Opera, Mourad Senoussi; as well as figures from the artistic world.
On this occasion, Ms. Bendouda highlighted that this evening hosted by Marcel Khalifa, an "icon of committed and authentic art," is part of the "rich artistic program of evenings for the holy month this year, with the participation of several renowned Arab artists invited to Algeria to revive refined artistic taste."
To this end, the Minister praised the project to create the Algiers Philharmonic Orchestra, which falls within the framework of "the global artistic policy of the President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, aiming to revive interest in classical and refined music." She added that this national and cultural project is capable of contributing to the revival of the music world in Algeria by creating links that fuel this establishment, namely music institutes that train musical talents to be qualified at the national and international levels.
Speaking on this occasion, Marcel Khalifa expressed that he was "very happy to host this artistic concert in Algeria after an absence of nearly 15 years." He expressed his "great admiration for the engagement of the Algerian public, who sang along with enthusiasm and great interaction" to his extensive artistic repertoire and his most famous songs that remain engraved in the memory of generations.
"Algeria holds a very special place in my heart," he said, adding that "since the early seventies, it was one of the first stages to have welcomed my artistic novelties."
Marcel Khalifa, who will perform his second concert at the Algiers Opera followed by two others in Oran and Constantine, emphasized that "committed song is alive and constitutes a humanitarian message resistant to time, always carrying the causes of humanity in all its depth and dreams."
