culture

Rising Stars: Lebanese Conservatory Talents Take Berlin by Storm

The Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music (The Conservatory) has achieved a new milestone on the international stage. Thirteen teams of students, from both the Eastern and Western music departments, earned awards in Berlin’s 9th Rising Stars Grand Prix 2024 – International Music Competition. This globally renowned event ...

A Noel Gallagher Guitar Sells for Over €271,000

A guitar that belonged to Noel Gallagher, the lead guitarist and songwriter of Oasis, was sold at a Bonhams auction in London for an impressive £226,800, which equates to over €271,000. The instrument, a red Gibson Custom Shop Florentine Les Paul, was a key element in the Britpop icon’s collection during the height of the band’s fame in the ...

Caracalla Carries Baalbeck's Timeless Spirit to World Stages

Amid Lebanon's ongoing challenges, Caracalla Dance Theater recently showcased its enduring strength and cultural pride on the world stage. Invited to represent Lebanon at Beijing Forum for Performing Arts (BFPA) 2024, held at the National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in Beijing, Caracalla joined over 60 arts institutions from across the ...

Turkey Revives Hammam Tradition with Restorations and Museums

For centuries, hammams were central to Ottoman society, but they mostly fell out of use with the advent of running water. Today, many in Turkey are being restored to revive an ancient ritual bathing tradition. A mainstay of old Turkish films, hammam scenes were highly entertaining—a free space where women socialized, ate, drank, and even ...

Hidden 17th-Century Frescoes Found in Roman Villa’s Ceiling

A hidden treasure of 17th-century frescoes has been uncovered in Villa Farnesina, Rome. Rosy-cheeked cherubs, preserved in vivid hues of blue, red, and gold, adorn the paintings concealed for centuries above the vaulted ceiling of what was once the living room of Agostino Chigi, a prominent banker and Renaissance patron. Chigi had the villa ...

Elie Saab Enchants Riyadh for His 45th Anniversary

On November 14, 2024, Riyadh's Boulevard City transformed into a luxurious, magical setting to host 1001 Seasons, a breathtaking fashion and music event celebrating the 45-year career of Lebanese designer Elie Saab. Under the artistic direction of Carine Roitfeld, former editor-in-chief of Vogue France, the show presented no fewer than 300 new ...

John Malkovich’s Anti-War Comedy Sparks Nationalist Outrage in Bulgaria

John Malkovich's direction of Arms and the Man, a satirical 19th-century play by George Bernard Shaw, has stirred intense reactions among nationalist groups in Bulgaria. These groups argue that the production insults the country and misrepresents its history, an accusation Malkovich has dismissed as far-right agitation. The premiere, held ...

Cultural Dialogue at the Franco-Arab Film Festival in Paris

The Franco-Arab Film Festival of Noisy-le-Sec (FFFA), held in Île-de-France, returns for its 13th edition from November 15 to 30. This year, the festival will take place both in Noisy-le-Sec and Paris, with part of the program dedicated to Gaza, featuring a special day of screenings, discussions, and short films that delve into the complex ...

Taylor Swift Triumphs at the 2024 MTV Europe Music Awards

The American superstar Taylor Swift triumphed on Sunday evening at the 2024 MTV Europe Music Awards, taking home four awards at this ceremony celebrating the biggest names in global music in Manchester, United Kingdom. The 34-year-old artist, although not present, won major categories: Artist of the Year, Best Live Artist, Best Video for her clip ...

‘Gladiator 2’: Ridley Scott Returns to Rome, 25 Years Later

Nearly 25 years after introducing Russell Crowe to the arena, Ridley Scott presents a brutal and bloody follow-up to one of his greatest successes, Gladiator 2, a blockbuster featuring Denzel Washington and a new generation of stars, in theaters this Wednesday. The story takes place 15 years after the first film, which won five Oscars, including ...

Court Ruling Lifts India’s Decades-Old Ban on Rushdie’s Novel

A historic ruling by the Delhi High Court has officially lifted India’s longstanding ban on The Satanic Verses, the novel by British-American author Salman Rushdie. The decision, rooted in a legal technicality, effectively nullifies the import restriction imposed in 1988 due to the lack of any tangible record of the original ban order. The ban ...

Nuhad Es-Said Pavilion for Culture: A Beacon in Lebanon’s Dark Night

In these dark times, when Lebanon’s heritage is brought to its knees, when the ancient jewels of our culture teeter under bombardment, our hearts ache for Baalbeck, Tyre, and many other mythical places already wounded, whose future hangs by a thread. When the iconic Palmyra Hotel in Baalbeck, witness to so many eras, lies injured by bombs, a ...