After recording with jazz greats, with traditional Arab musicians, with classical string quartets or Armenian musicians! Portugal was next.

After recording with jazz greats, with traditional Arab musicians, with classical string quartets or Armenian musicians, after writing symphonic orchestral works for the BBC Orchestra in London and the Ensemble Modern in Germany - what would a Lebanese composer do next? Of course he would go to Portugal, put music to Portuguese poetry and record the songs with a young fado singer from Lisbon.

The adventure started with an inquiry by Ricardo Pais, the director of the National Theatre in Porto. Rabih Abou-Khalil, who first thought the whole idea was humorous - especially considering that he spoke absolutely no Portuguese at the time - immediately consented; the thrill of doing something that surreal was simply irresistible. It had not been the first time that Abou-Khalil considered working with a singer. However, he had not encountered the right one before - a free spirited virtuosic vocalist, who could sing Abou-Khalil's complex rhythms and unusual melodies, sufficiently rooted in his own culture to be able to transcend it. These traits have always played a major role in the choice of musicians Abou-Khalil made. And if the lyrics should have to be in Portuguese, so be it, music transcends language.

Additional Details

Label: Enja Records

Genre: World

Run Time: 50 mins

Region: 0

Release Date: 09/09/08

UPC: 063757952022