Baalbeck International Festival returns in Lebanon with art, hope

Beirut: The Baalbeck International Festival was inaugurated late Friday night at the historic Baalbek Citadel in easternLebanon. Under the theme of...

Beirut: The Baalbeck International Festival was inaugurated late Friday night at the historic Baalbek Citadel in eastern Lebanon.

Under the theme of "Voice of Resilience," the opening night features musical compositions inspired by Lebanese heritage and global classics, a light show, and a performance of the opera "Carmen" at the open-air stage transformed from the ruins of the ancient Roman temples in Baalbek.

Deputy Mayor of Baalbek Abdel Rahim Shalha told Xinhua that the festival was cancelled last year due to the Israeli attacks on Lebanon. This year, it will continue until August 9, featuring performances by artists from France, Italy, Armenia, Lebanon, and Arab performers.

The Baalbeck International Festival, launched in 1956, was "one of the most prestigious cultural events in the Middle East, evolving over decades into a platform for artistic and cultural dialogue between East and West," said Shalha.

The festival introduces young people to the art of opera, brings together artists from different cultures, and revives the tourism and cultural industry once again, said Nayla De Freij, head of the Baalbeck International Festival Committee, in a speech at the event.