avoca Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 i was joking.... ooohhh...., i am slow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miro Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 So guys I haven't been catching up with the thread so I don't know if those have been posted before. Pics from the press conference held today in Beirut Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hotdlp Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 So guys I haven't been catching up with the thread so I don't know if those have been posted before. Pics from the press conference held today in Beirut Those pictures are lovely! Is the live version of this anywhere? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A. Clay Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 Festival rekindles Lebanon's cultural life Saturday, Jul 26, 2008 The stage is under construction again at the edge of the Roman temple of Bacchus as the festival of Baalbeck, the oldest in the Middle East, comes back to life, taking advantage of a rare summer of calm in Lebanon. Resurrected in 1996 after the end of a 15-year-sectarian war, the Baalbeck international festival was cancelled again in 2006, when war broke out between the Shia Hizbollah group and Israel on July 13, the festival's opening day. Last year too, the show was stopped as Lebanon was wracked by conflict between the Lebanese army and a Sunni Islamist group holed up in a camp in the north of the country. Until a few months ago, the organisers feared this would be another lost year. "We weren't sure whether there would be a festival but we were having contacts with artists just in case a miracle happened," says Joseph Chemali, vice-president of the festival. "Then a miracle did happen." After the Shia Hizbollah movement briefly took over Sunni parts of Beirut, a power-sharing deal was struck that enhanced the group's authority in government. The threat of war receded, at least temporarily. Although the festival season is now in full swing - Baalbeck's shows start next week with classical music concerts, Brazilian jazz and the Arab diva Warda al-Jazayria - reviving Lebanon's cultural life is an uphill battle. "We face two kinds of insecurity," says Mr Chemali. "Political and military insecurity is one and financial insecurity is another." While Lebanon's political factions have been squabbling and its economy struggling, the booming nearby states of the Gulf have taken a keen interest in cultural events. Thanks to their deep pockets, they are now threatening to drive traditional cultural festivals in the region out of the market for pop artists. The highest booking fee a Lebanese organiser can pay is just $250,000 (£125,000, €159,000), forcing all three summer festivals - Baalbeck, Beiteddine, and Byblos - to join forces to lure Mika, the Lebanese-born pop singer, back to Beirut to stage his show tomorrow at Martyrs' Square in the heart of the capital. "The Gulf is trying to create an image. We already have an image and we're trying to find ways to compete on money through partnerships with international festivals," says Mr Chemali. Unlike the Gulf, the Baalbeck festival also has to deal with politics. The Roman temples present a magical setting but the site lies in a stronghold of the Hizbollah group and the area has been known as the grounds of militant training camps. Although some Hizbollah members in Baalbeck are offended by the festival - and the serving of alcohol during the evening events - the party's position is generally co-operative, largely because the shows portray a different image of the town. "It's the only thing that puts Baalbeck on the map, so everyone likes it," says Issam Yaghi, a local official. "The party [Hizbollah] doesn't mind. They're pragmatic about it and they even complain that the festival is not bringing big enough names to attract even more attention." Local officials hope the festival will promote tourism to the Roman site but there is no tourism infrastructure in rundown Baalbeck. The only decorations, moreover, are Hizbollah flags, portraits of leaders and pictures of young men killed in battles with Israel. That the festival organisers are pragmatic too has helped establish a working relationship: the people of Baalbeck are invited to attend dress rehearsals of Arabic shows for a symbolic fee, which is then turned over to the municipality. The festival also offers its setting, with a stage, sound and light and the seating arrangements, to the municipality for two evenings so it can put up its own cultural programmes. Meanwhile, Hizbollah can turn its propaganda machine on for the festival season. At the entrance to the Roman ruins, the party has set up a "museum" that is, these days, dedicated to the 2006 war with Israel. Selling CDs and DVDs of speeches by Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, its chief, the museum also displays a day-by-day picture gallery of the war, with the number of Israeli strikes and Lebanese deaths carefully recorded. One part of the museum is dedicated to commemorating the "martyrs" from Baalbeck who died in the war. The museum even has its own artistic offering. On a recent day, it was playing a song celebrating the return of Samir Kuntar, the Lebanese militant who spent 30 years in jail and was released this month in a prisoner swap. By Roula Khalaf in Baalbeck © Copyright The Financial Times Ltd 2008. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAK1 Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 So guys I haven't been catching up with the thread so I don't know if those have been posted before. Pics from the press conference held today in Beirut He's looking good! That Dead Sea mud obviously did the trick;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mandilambi Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 I have that bracelet with the hearts...my childhood sweetheart gave it to me when we were just tots. I still have it too! lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAK1 Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 Something that has just struck me. Will Cherisse, Sara and Sam have to cover up tomorrow night? I know that they have advertised for Big Girls, but is there some sort of rule there for not baring you arms and legs. I might be wrong, I was just curious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dilek Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 thanks for the pics miro:flowers2: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mandilambi Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 Something that has just struck me.Will Cherisse, Sara and Sam have to cover up tomorrow night? I know that they have advertised for Big Girls, but is there some sort of rule there for not baring you arms and legs. I might be wrong, I was just curious. I was actually wondering that myself. I would not be at all surprised if they would have to make some changes to the costumes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LebAngel Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 Something that has just struck me.Will Cherisse, Sara and Sam have to cover up tomorrow night? I know that they have advertised for Big Girls, but is there some sort of rule there for not baring you arms and legs. I might be wrong, I was just curious. I think you'd be very surprised if you see what people are wearin there even if each community respect the other, everybody wears whatever they want!! as I told you, you d be very very surprised:naughty: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LebAngel Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 Thank you for the pics! he really looks serious and impressed... Love his outfit, actually his jeans are very elegant! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dilek Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 I think you'd be very surprised if you see what people are wearin there even if each community respect the other, everybody wears whatever they want!! as I told you, you d be very very surprised:naughty: yes that's what i heard from a friend of mine who went there last year. she said there are no rules about covering yourself or not showing particular areas:roftl: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I <3 MIKA!!! Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 Something that has just struck me.Will Cherisse, Sara and Sam have to cover up tomorrow night? I know that they have advertised for Big Girls, but is there some sort of rule there for not baring you arms and legs. I might be wrong, I was just curious. I was actually wondering that as well the other night when mika posted the add for the big girls... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LebAngel Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 yes that's what i heard from a friend of mine who went there last year. she said there are no rules about covering yourself or not showing particular areas:roftl: yep exact here are pics of lebanese female singers and how they dress for their gigs and tv appearances: http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2166839700054961820mNqdWn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lilacmandie Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 So guys I haven't been catching up with the thread so I don't know if those have been posted before. Pics from the press conference held today in Beirut Lovely to see him looking so well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sivan Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 nice pictures Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fmbm Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 Thanks for the pictures! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mici Posted July 27, 2008 Share Posted July 27, 2008 Pretty pictures, thanks for posting them. Love his jacket and those bracelets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanessa Posted July 27, 2008 Share Posted July 27, 2008 Great pics !!Thanks for finding them Miro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mari62 Posted July 27, 2008 Share Posted July 27, 2008 Thank you for the pics Miro! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babspanky Posted July 27, 2008 Share Posted July 27, 2008 So is it after midnight in Lebanon? What time is/was Mika on? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mari62 Posted July 27, 2008 Share Posted July 27, 2008 In Lebanon it should be 12.57 pm now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babspanky Posted July 27, 2008 Share Posted July 27, 2008 In Lebanon it should be 12.57 pm now Yes, but did anyone know the time he was or is on? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dilek Posted July 27, 2008 Share Posted July 27, 2008 In Lebanon it should be 12.57 pm now i thought she was asking when does the gig starts:blink: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mari62 Posted July 27, 2008 Share Posted July 27, 2008 i thought she was asking when does the gig starts:blink:Yes, she was, I dunno that, but I think it's also important to know what time it is over there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts