Ziad Rahbani, Lebanese musical giant and sardonic critic, dead at 69
He was 69.
Rahbani was much-loved across Lebanon and his words remained relevant across generations, from those who grew up with him during the 1975-90 Civil War, to the post-war generation who have struggled to shake the war's legacy.
He passed away at a hospital in Beirut on Saturday morning after a long illness, the hospital said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
a day ago
- Reuters
Ziad Rahbani, Lebanese musical giant and sardonic critic, dead at 69
BEIRUT, July 26 (Reuters) - Ziad Rahbani, the Lebanese composer and musician who built a distinct Lebanese sound from Western and Arabic musical roots, and whose sardonic critique of the country's sectarian politics rang true to Lebanese across the divides, has died. He was 69. Rahbani was much-loved across Lebanon and his words remained relevant across generations, from those who grew up with him during the 1975-90 Civil War, to the post-war generation who have struggled to shake the war's legacy. He passed away at a hospital in Beirut on Saturday morning after a long illness, the hospital said.
The Independent
a day ago
- The Independent
Ziad Rahbani, Lebanese composer and son of iconic singer Fayrouz, dies at 69
Ziad Rahbani, a visionary Lebanese composer, playwright, pianist and political provocateur, died on Saturday, at the age of 69, according to the state-run National News Agency. The death was confirmed by a person close to Rahbani who spoke on condition of anonymity. The cause of death was not immediately clear. Born in 1956 in Antelias, near Beirut, Ziad was the eldest son of legendary Lebanese singer Fayrouz and late composer Assi Rahbani, one half of the famed Rahbani Brothers. From a young age, he showed signs of prodigious talent, composing his first musical work at just 17 years old. Raised among artistic royalty, his world was steeped in music, theater, and political consciousness — a combination that would define his life's work. His mother, who was considered to be the most famous and esteemed performer in the Arab world, performed some of his compositions at her concerts, blending Lebanese folklore with Western syncopation and phrasing. Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun said Rahbani was 'not just an artist, but a complete intellectual and cultural phenomenon.' In a statement, Aoun praised Rahbani as 'a living conscience, a rebellious voice against injustice, and an honest mirror reflecting the suffering and marginalized.' He highlighted how Rahbani's fusion of classical, jazz and Oriental music 'opened new windows for Lebanese cultural expression' and elevated it to global levels. 'Ziad was a natural extension of the Rahbani family, which gave Lebanon much beauty and dignity,' the president added. Lebanese pop star Elissa, writing on X, said: 'Ziad_Rahbani was not an ordinary artist ... With his loss today, Lebanon has lost a part of itself and a big piece of its collective memory.' Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri sent his 'deepest condolences to the great Fairouz, to the Rahbani family, and to all Lebanese on the loss of the brilliant artist Ziad Rahbani, who embodied the Lebanon we loved.' Minister of Culture Ghassan Salame said: 'We will mourn him as we continue to sing his songs that will never die.' Prime Minister Nawaf Salam described Rahbani as 'an exceptional and creative artist — a free voice who remained true to the values of justice and dignity.' 'My music is not Western' While his parents helped construct a golden era of Lebanese musical theater steeped in idealism and nostalgia, Rahbani charged onto the scene with irreverent satire, unflinching political critique and jazz-inflected scores that mirrored the chaos and contradictions of a Lebanon at war with itself. 'I admire the music of composers like Charlie Parker, Stan Getz and Dizzy Gillespie,' he once said. 'But my music is not Western, it's Lebanese, with a different way of expression.' Rahbani's music reflected the hybrid heritage of Lebanon, which until the civil war erupted in 1975 was a cultural melting pot where East met West. But it was also deeply rooted in the traumatic events of the sectarian strife, the bloody street battles between rival militias and three years of violent Israeli occupation after the 1982 invasion. His breakout play, Nazl el-Sourour (Happiness Hotel), premiered in 1974 when he was only 17 and portrayed a society disfigured by class inequality and repression. The tragicomic narrative follows a group of workers who hijack a restaurant to demand their rights, only to be dismissed by the political elite. With this bold debut, Rahbani revealed his enduring theme: that Lebanese society was fractured not only by war but by entrenched power. A leftist Greek Orthodox, Rahbani also wrote plays and satirical radio shows centered on his violent environment that mock the sectarian divisions of his country. Rahbani's subsequent plays solidified his reputation as the voice of the disenchanted. In Bennesbeh Labokra Chou? (What About Tomorrow?), he plays a jaded bar pianist in post-civil war Beirut who drifts through a surreal landscape of broken dreams, corruption and absurdity. The work features some of Rahbani's most poignant music and biting commentary, including the famous line, 'They say tomorrow will be better, but what about today?' Legendary live performances More than just a playwright, Rahbani was a composer of staggering range. He infused traditional Arabic melodies with jazz, funk and classical influences, creating a hybrid sound that became instantly recognizable. His live performances were legendary, whether playing piano in smoky clubs in Hamra, one of Beirut's major commercial districts that harbors a multifaceted identity, or orchestrating large-scale productions. His collaborations with Fayrouz, especially during the late 1970s and 1980s, ushered in a darker, more politically charged phase in her career. Songs like Ouverture 83, Bala Wala Chi (Without Anything), and Kifak Inta (How Are You) reflected Ziad's brooding compositions and lyrical introspection. Rahbani came under fire from Arab traditionalists for his pioneering efforts to bridge the gap between Arab and Western culture with music. In recent years, Ziad appeared less in the public eye, yet his influence never waned. Younger generations rediscovered his plays online and sampled his music in protest movements. He continued to compose and write, speaking often of his frustration with Lebanon's political stagnation and decaying public life. Rahbani is survived by his mother, Fayrouz, 90, his sister Reema and brother Hali. ——
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Top violinist Nicola Benedetti confirms she IS married to jazz musician 25 years her senior who she met when she was just 17 - and they have a baby daughter
Top violinist Nicola Benedetti has confirmed she is married to a jazz musician 25 years her senior who she met when she was just 17 years old. The 38-year-old was introduced to celebrated jazz musician Wynton Marsalis, 63, more than 21 years ago in New York when she attended the American Academy of Achievement summit as a student-delegate. At the time, the Scottish violinist was just 17 years old, while Mr Marsalis, of New Orleans, was 42. Speaking publicly about their relationship for the first time, Ms Benedetti, of Ayrshire, has revealed she was a 'huge fan' of the American trumpeter when they initially crossed paths. Having formed a 'certain type of kinship', she said that the pair initially remained 'good friends' for several years, despite their large age gap. They then began a romantic relationship several years later, with the couple welcoming their first child together, a daughter, in May 2024. Now, speaking to The Telegraph about the decision to keep their relationship private for so many years, Ms Benedetti said: 'I don't tend to discuss my private life because people don't come to my concerts because of whom I'm in a relationship with. 'They come because I play the violin'. Ms Benedetti, 38, met celebrated jazz musician Wynton Marsalis, 63, (both pictured) more than 21 years ago in New York when she attended the American Academy of Achievement summit as a student-delegate Mr Marsalis has four other children - two sons, Wynton Jr. and Simeon, with former partner Candace Stanley, a third son, Jasper, whom he shares with actress Victoria Rowell, alongside a daughter, Oni, who he has publicly collaborated with. As a key figure in the 1980s jazz renaissance, he often been referred to as the 'Pied Piper' of Jazz, accumulating up to nine Grammy awards across a career spanning over four decades. Meanwhile, Ms Benedetti, who has strong Italian roots, won the title of BBC Young Musician in 2004 when she was 16 and became the youngest ever recipient of the Queen's Medal for Music in 2017. She shared with The Telegraph that since having a child, she has begun to question elements of her upbringing. Both her and her older sister would be required to practise the violin for up to three hours on a daily basis during the summer holidays. Adding that her 'strict' childhood meant both her and her sister 'feared upsetting our parents', the Scots performer added that she believes the young people of today often 'lack basic discipline in their daily lives'. In 2015, Mr Marsalis composed a violin concerto specifically for Ms Benedetti titled 'Violin Concerto in D', premiered at London's Barbican Centre. The piece, widely considered one of the most popular and beloved violin concertos in the classical repertoire, was described as 'taking inspiration from Ms Benedetti's life as a travelling performer and educator who enlightens and delights communities'. But Ms Benedetti and Mr Marsalis said they could hardly remember who came up with the initial idea, joking in a joint interview: 'It's like a scene from When Harry Met Sally. I don't know if I said it or if she said it.' The couple welcomed their first child, a daughter, in May 2024. Pictured: Ms Benedetti and Mr Marsalis. Pictured: the pair at a reception to celebrate the most talented jazz musicians in London on May 9, 2024 Ms Benedetti, who has strong Italian roots, won the title of BBC Young Musician in 2004 when she was 16 and became the youngest ever recipient of the Queen's Medal for Music in 2017. Just after giving birth in 2024, she was seen attending events with her new-born baby in tow (pictured) Meanwhile, in an interview with the LA Times in 2016, Ms Benedetti gushed about the piece, remarking that the sound was 'truly wild and so quintessentially him', while Mr Marsalis said the favourite part of the concerto for him was simply 'Nicola's sound'. Adding: 'I just like her sound'. In the years following, the pair continued to collaborate on numerous projects. In 2023, Ms Benedetti became the first woman and the first Scot to be appointed director of the Edinburgh International Festival, which takes place every August. Announcing her pregnancy in March 2024, Ms Benedetti told the Times that she was feeling 'positive' and 'excited', adding: 'There is so much unknown. Flexibility will be the aim of the game in the next little while and plenty of support.' In May 2025, nine months after her daughter's birth, she revealed that becoming a mother had 'definitely' changed her and given her a more relaxed attitude to the perfectionism that drove her to international fame. In an interview with Richard Morrison for The Times, she said: 'Throughout my life I have been so concerned with what could happen, or what did happen, or what could have been done better. 'I used to analyse again and again every note of the performance I'd just done, or the recording I'd just made. 'So I was always living either in the past or the future. Since my daughter was born, I have learnt to live in the present and just be grateful to be here.' She also added: 'I've not done any big concerts since giving birth. Just a bit of playing in the [Edinburgh] Festival and one or two small private concerts.' However, just weeks after giving birth, she was seen attending events with her new-born baby in tow, including promoting Scottish Opera's Oedipus Rex with her daughter in a sling. She also took her daughter with her when she appeared on BBC Radio 4's Today Show where she discussed funding for the arts and performed violin piece Ashokan Farewell by Jay Ungar. Mr Marsalis currently serves as the artistic director of Jazz at the Lincoln Center, in New York, the site of where the pair first met all those years ago. In January 2009, he performed to President Obama alongside an exclusive crowd of 100 guests at his inauguration party. Meanwhile, Ms Benedetti also serves as founder of music education charity The Benedetti Foundation, which has inspired more than 100,000 young musicians. In March 2024, the foundation responded to the news of Ms Benedetti's pregnancy in a celebratory post that read: 'We are so thrilled for our founder and artistic director Nicky Benedetti who has announced she is expecting a baby in May. Huge congratulations and much love from all of the foundation team.' On BBC Radio Scotland series Stark Talk in 2019, Ms Benedetti spoke about having children, stating: 'My sister's married now and in a very kind of settled place in her life, but she's 35, and a lot of my friends are in similar circumstances. They live in a house with a partner and have children or are going to have children, and obviously I'm not at that point yet.' Asked in a 2022 interview with The Times if she would like to have children, she was quoted as saying: 'If I am fortunate enough to be able to, yes I hope so.'
