Arab World Festival

This retrospective of Ziad Rahbani’s work will feature live readings and musical performances of his timeless repertoire. An exploration of memory and resistance through art, celebrating one of the most vibrant artistic souls of the Arab world, hosted by Johnny El Hage and his guests.

In the vibrant heart of Montréal, the soul of Algeria drifts in like a warm desert breeze. For one luminous evening, Chaâbi music—rooted in both Algiers and Kabylia—merges into a poetic soundscape that transports audiences to a bygone era, alive and resonant as ever. 

Immerse yourself in Canticles of Love, a musical tapestry born from an improbable encounter between the captivating singer Khaled Al-Hafez, a keeper of the Levant’s heritage; the magical contralto Gabrielle Cloutier, whose voice maps the contours of inner landscapes; and the spirited energy of Ensemble Vox choir, guardian of sacred harmonies.

A unique gem of the flamenco scene, Y Una Noche inhabits the stage like a glowing vision drifting through a parallel universe. Here, dreams take shape, dualities dissolve, and a symphony unfolds where flamenco and Arabo-Andalusian song entwine, merging ancestral echoes with modern rhythms.

Blending classical finesse with raw emotional depth, Canadian-Algerian soprano Fairouz Oudjida illuminates ancestral traditions, breathing new intensity into a treasured heritage of song. Her powerful voice traces the breathtaking ornamentations of Andalusian music like so many restored jewels, weaving together the nûbas of the Maghreb and the mouwachahat of the Levant in timeless harmony.