Baalbek International Festival Celebrates 70th Anniversary with Special Tribute in Ajloun Despite War

A 70-Year Legacy Moving From the Temple of Bacchus to Ajaltoun

Organizers marked the milestone anniversary by relocating the festival’s spirit along the historic road connecting Beirut to the grand temple, as reported by An-Nahar. War conditions prevented performances inside the ancient Baalbek ruins this summer. The “Resonant Strings” ensemble, in collaboration with the Ajaltoun municipality, hosted an evening titled “Where is Nay?!” to bridge the geographical gap, according to An-Nahar. The production combined music, theater, and poetry to examine the festival’s history.

Jean Cocteau and the Thematic Roots of “Where is Nay?!”

The tribute drew inspiration from French writer and artist Jean Cocteau’s 1956 visit to Lebanon during the Suez Crisis, when he staged his play “The Infernal Machine” among the Baalbek ruins, according to An-Nahar. The Ajaltoun performance used Cocteau as a central figure. Actor Noah Muqaddam portrayed Cocteau seated at a desk repeating the question, “Where is Nay?!” while writing a scene dedicated to “Nay,” a symbolic character representing humanity, beauty, and memory, as detailed by An-Nahar. Five artists—Joe Daou, Elie Sfeir, Tabiri Ghazirian, Noah Muqaddam, and Hassan Makhzoum—collaborated on the collective vision and direction.

Classical Music, Lebanese Poetry, and Contemporary Works

The evening’s program blended classical European compositions with foundational Lebanese literary works, according to An-Nahar. Performers delivered excerpts from Georges Bizet’s opera “Carmen” and Giuseppe Verdi’s “Nabucco.” The schedule also featured Khalil Gibran’s poem “Love,” sung by Fairouz with a composition by the Rahbani brothers, alongside his poem “Give Me the Flute and Sing,” set to a melody by Najib Hankash. Do you hear my voice? Wajdi Mouawad

Wajdi Mouawad contributed a text titled “Do You Hear My Voice?” as a tribute to Jean-Louis Manguy, who died a year prior, according to An-Nahar. The musical selection included the first movement of Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 and the “Nimrod” variation from Edward Elgar’s “Enigma Variations.” Composer Ramzi Qandalaft wrote a new piece specifically for the festival’s 70th anniversary, while Eyad Kanaan recited Elias Abu Chabakeh’s poem “Return to Us What Was,” as reported by An-Nahar. The performance featured singer Fadia Tomb El Hage, oud player Samir NasrEddine, and the Notre Dame University-Louaize Choir alongside the Resonant Strings ensemble. Joe Daou served as artistic director and orchestra conductor for the evening, which preserved the cultural footprint of a festival that has accompanied Lebanon through decades of history, according to An-Nahar.