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Sunday, 31 January 2016, at 20:00
Église du Couvent Notre Dame de Louaizé – Zouk Mosbeh
Simone Vebber, was born in Trento (Italy) in 1983. He teaches organ at the Conservatory of Bergamo and at the Musikschule Oberengadin of St. Moritz in Switzerland. Vebber is also professor of improvisation at the Scuola Civica in Milan. He was awarded several prizes at distinguished international competitions. He won 1st Prize in Alessandria – Italy (2001), in Pistoia – Italy (2003) 1st Grand Prize and Public Prize at the “J. S. Bach Organ Competition” in Saint Pierre lès Nemour – France in 2005, 1st Prize at the “J.J.Fux” international organ competition in Graz 2010 (A) and the “J.S. Bach Prize” at the St. Albans Competition 2011. He performs concerts in several music-festivals in Italy and in Europe.
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Simone Vebber was born in Trento, Italy, in 1983.
Vebber graduated from the F. A. Bonporti Conservatory of Trento and received a diploma from the International Academy of Music, Milan, where he studied old organ under L. Ghielmi.
Vebber attended the Interpretation Masterclasses under P. D. Peretti, Brett Leighton, Bine Bryndorf, J. C. Zehnder, L. Lohmann, and C. Stembridge, Jean Guillou, Roberto Antonello, Giancarlo Parodi, Naji Hakim.
He won the gold medal (first prize) in “Organ Improvisation” at the CNR of Saint-Maur, Paris.
In 2005, he was awarded the First Grand Prize at the J. S. Bach Organ Competition in Saint-Pierre-lès-Nemours, France.
In 2008, CIDIM, Rome nominated him as the “Best Young Organist for the New Careers Project.”
In 2010, he was awarded the first prize at the J.Fux of Graz Competition in Austria, and in 2012 he was awarded the P. Hurford Award at the St. Albans International Organ Competition in England.
In 2013, he took third place at the International Ritter Organ Competition in Magdeburg, Germany.
His extensive experience in concerts led him to play as a soloist in the most celebrated international organ festivals (Vienna, Copenhagen, Paris, Bordeaux, Milan, Zagreb, Beirut, Rio di Janeiro, etc.).
As a soloist, he played also with the Padova and Veneto Orchestra, Hayden Orchestra of Trente and Bolzano, and the Mozart Orchestra, which was under the direction of Claudio Abbado.
His repertoire spans numerous genres – from classical to contemporary music composers. Since 2012, he has taught the organ at the Musikschule Oberengadin in St. Moritz, Switzerland (Elevinnen of the Upper Engadine Music School), and at the Bergamo Conservatory, Italy. He also teaches improvisation at the Scuola Civica of Milan, Italy.
Tuesday, 2 February 2016, at 20:00
Couvent St. Elie – Mu’aisrah Jounieh
Daniel Matrone was born in Annaba (Bône), Algeria. His studies at Toulouse Conservatory were continued in Paris with Marie-Claire Alain (organ) and Yvonne Lefébure (piano), including composition and improvisation with great masters among whom Maurice Duruflé. He was artistic director of the International Competition of Bordeaux where, after being organist of St. Jean de Luz, he has held the post of organist at the Church of Notre-Dame. Titular organist at the church of Saint-Louis-des-Français in Rome since September 1999, Daniel Matrone has been honoured as Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres.
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Pianist, organist, and composer Daniel Matrone was born in Annaba (Bône, Algeria). A grandnephew of composer Giacinto Lavitrano (Ischia, 1875 – Bône, 1937), he exhibited artistic talent by learning the piano at an early age. Following his studies at the Toulouse Conservatory, he moved to Paris where he studied under Marie-Claire Alain (organ) and Yvonne Lefébure (piano). Matrone also studied music composition and musical improvisation with some of the great masters, including Maurice Duruflé.
In 1986, Matrone was one of the founders of Ekymose, an art gallery in Bordeaux, France, where he performed his numerous piano compositions for the public; his collaborations with musicians, such as Meredith Monk and Roberto Benzi, also corresponds to this interchange with the world of art. Several of his piano and organ recordings have earned him prestigious awards (Choc du Monde de la Musique, Diapason d’or). Organist at the church of Saint-Louis-des-Français in Rome since September 1999, Matrone has been honored as “Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres” (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters).
Thursday, 4 February 2016, at 20:00
Église de la Medaille Miraculeuse, Rue Saint Charbel, Achrafieh – Beirut
Performer, soloist, musicologist and composer, Jean-Paul Lécot was a student of Xavier Darasse, at the Conservatory of Toulouse. Choirmaster and organist at the Basilicas in Lourdes, he is actively involved in the revival of the liturgical music both nationally (with over 500 songs) and internationalyl (his composition Hymne pour le Grand Jubilé 2000 is translated into 27 world languages including Arabic). For 22 years, Lécot was artistic director of the Sacred Music Festival of Lourdes. The Minister of Culture has named him Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts and Pope John Paul II made him a member of the Pontifical Academy.
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Jean-Paul Lécot was a student of Xavier Darasse at the Conservatory of Toulouse, France.
As a singer, he recorded critically-acclaimed CDs dedicated to Couperin (played on the most beautiful organ in Rome), Lully; Rameau; Mozart; Marin Marais; and Charpentier, as well as Chaconnes and other Follies Françoises (Rieti, near Rome), which earned him several awards, including: Five stars in Diapason magazine (France), Choc du Monde de la Musique (France), etc.
As a concertist, he performed in numerous recitals throughout Europe.
As a musicologist, his research was published in France, Italy, Germany, and Switzerland; the fruit of his research cumulated in two volumes on M.A. Charpentier, and two other books on Luly and J.P. Rameau, which La Sinfonie d’Orphée (France) published. He is the author of more than 500 organ transcriptions from the sixteenth century to O. Messiaen (1908-1992).
As a composer, he wrote instrumental pieces, seven cantatas, and an extensive oratorio for eight soloists, double choir, and orchestra (performed at Notre-Dame de Paris); he also orchestrated Beethoven and Liszt pieces.
As a maestro di cappella (choirmaster) and organist of the Basilicas of Lourdes (France), he actively contributes toward the renewal of national (more than 500 songs) and international (his Hymn for the Great Jubilee 2000 was translated into 27 languages, including Arabic) liturgical music.
For 22 years he has been the artistic director of the International Festival of Sacred Music of Lourdes, and as such he afforded the chance to many of the world’s best ensembles to perform there.
The French Minister of Culture promoted him Knight of the Order of the Arts, and Saint Pope John Paul II made him Pontifical Academician.
Saturday, 6 February 2016 at 20:00
Collège du Sacré-Coeur – Gemmayzé – Beirut
Saturday, 7 February 2016, at 20:00
The National Evangelical Church of Beirut
Riad Essoulh (facing the Grand Serail – Sarayat Hukumi) – Beirut
Website: www.najihakim.com
Naji Hakim was born in Beirut on October 31, 1955. He studied with J. Langlais and at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris and he is a licentiate teacher in organ from Trinity College of Music in London. Hakim has won ten first prizes at international organ and composition competitions. At first organist of the Basilique du Sacré-Coeur, Paris from 1985 until 1993, he then became organist of l’église de la Trinité, succeeding Olivier Messiaen, from 1993 until 2008. He is professor of musical analysis at the Conservatoire National de Région de Boulogne-Billancourt, and visiting professor at the Royal Academy of Music, London. He is also a distinguished composer: his works include instrumental music, symphonic music, and vocal music.
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Naji Subhy Paul Irénée HAKIM was born in Beirut , 31 October, 1955. He studied with J. Langlais and at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris – classes of R. Boutry, J.-C. Henry, M. Bitsch, R. Falcinelli, J. Castérède and S. Nigg, where he was awarded seven first prizes. He is a licentiate teacher in organ from Trinity College of Music in London and won ten first prizes at international organ and composition competitions.
In 1991 he was awarded the Prix André Caplet from the Académie des Beaux-Arts and in 2009 the Premier Prix du Concours de Musique Sacrée de la Cathédrale de Monaco. At first organist of the Basilique du Sacré-Coeur, Paris from 1985 until 1993, he then became organist of l’église de la Trinité, in succession to Olivier Messiaen, from 1993 until 2008. He is professor of musical analysis at the Conservatoire National de Région de Boulogne-Billancourt, and visiting professor at the Royal Academy of Music, London.
He is a graduate of the École Nationale Supérieure des Télécommunications in Paris, member of the Consociatio Internationalis Musicae Sacrae in Rome and Doctor honoris causa of the Pontifical University Saint-Esprit of Kaslik, Lebanon . In 2007, His Holiness Pope Benediktus XVI has awarded Naji Hakim The Augustae crucis insigne pro Ecclesia et Pontifice, for his excellent commitment and work for the benefit of the Church and the Holy Father.
His works include instrumental music (organ, flute, bassoon, horn, trumpet, harp, guitar, violin, piano), symphonic music (Les Noces de l’Agneau, Hymne de l’Univers, Ouverture Libanaise, Påskeblomst, Augsburger Symphonie, four organ concertos, a violin concerto, a piano concerto), and vocal music (oratorio Saul de Tarse, cantata Phèdre, Magnificat and four masses).
Saturday, 7 February 2016, at 20:00
The National Evangelical Church of Beirut
Riad Essoulh (facing the Grand Serail – Sarayat Hukumi) – Beirut
Born in Bucharest on October 25th 1977, Octavian Gheorghiu was awarded a Masters Degree from “Transilvania University of Brasov” (Romania), where he studied with renowned clarinetist Aurelian Octav Popa.
In 1996, Gheorghiu graduated from “Dinu Lipatti” Music High School of Bucharest. In 1998 he completed a master class at “Scuola Superiore di Musica” of Aosta (Italy) under the direction of Maestro Romeo Tudorache. In 2002 he graduated from the Bucharest National Music University after studying with Prof. Ion Nedelciu. Gheorghiu has studied with Maestro Emil Visenescu. Since 2005, he is the clarinet soloist of the Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra and a clarinet teacher at the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music.
Saturday, 7 February 2016, at 20:00
The National Evangelical Church of Beirut
Riad Essoulh (facing the Grand Serail – Sarayat Hukumi) – Beirut
After beginning his music studies in Lebanon, violinist Mario Rahi moved to Rome where he graduated at the Santa Cecilia Conservatory of Rome. Later he was awarded a Masters Degree from the Accademy of Santa Cecilia. In Siena, he attended the masterclass courses of the Accademia Chigiana run by celebrated violinist Salvatore Accardo. He worked with the Roma Sinfonietta Orchestra conducted by Ennio Morricone and he was the concertmaster of the World Youth Orchestra from 2006 to 2010 and of the Cappella Musicale Costantina of Rome. Since 2011, he is concertmaster of the Beirut Chants Festival Orchestra, and member of the Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra.
Saturday, 7 February 2016, at 20:00
The National Evangelical Church of Beirut
Riad Essoulh (facing the Grand Serail – Sarayat Hukumi) – Beirut
Oleg Balanuta was born in Republic of Moldova, he started playing the oboe at the age of 12 at the Republican Lyceum of Music “Ciprian Porumbescu” in Chisinau.
At the age of 15 he won the Brasov International Competition of Music and the International “Jeunesses Musicales” Bucharest Competition. In 1996 he received a one year Scholarship at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music where he studied with the legendary oboist, John de Lancie. In the same year he won a scholarship at Aspen International Festival of Music.
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From 1997 he continues his studies in Romania at Bucharest Lyceum of Music “Dinu Lipatti” and in 2000 at Bucharest University of Music “George Enescu”. From 1997 to 2000 he was a constant winner of the Romanian Olympic Competition of Music.
In 2000, he was engaged, at 20 years of age, as principal oboist in the Giurgiu Philharmonic Orchestra. He was also guest principal oboe of Valcea Philharmonic Orchestra, Romanian Broadcast Orchestra, “Shumsky” Bucharest Orchestra, “L’ORCHESTRA I SEDICI” in Germany.
Oleg Balanuta has made solo appearances with Romanian Broadcast Orchestra, Giurgiu Philharmonic Orchestra, Galati Philharmonic Orchestra, Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra, he performed solo recitals, among over places, at “Mihail Jora” Concert Hall, Romanian Ateneum Hall and Pierre Y. Aboukhater Amphitheater in Beirut.
He also played in the Wind Ensemble “Dixtuor” and the Contemporary Ensemble “Profil”. With these ensembles he made tours across Europe and recorded many first-audition works.Since 2006 he is the Principal Oboe of the Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra.
Saturday, 7 February 2016, at 20:00
The National Evangelical Church of Beirut
Riad Essoulh (facing the Grand Serail – Sarayat Hukumi) – Beirut
Mihaita Gabriel Raileanu was born in Iasi, Romania in 1985 and started his musical studies at the age of 10 at the National Art College “Octav Bancila” with professor Nicolae Musteata. During his school he participated in multiple national music contests and won several awards. In 2004 he was accepted at the National University of Music Bucharest, in the French Horn class of Professor Nicolae Lipoczi. From 2004 to 2008 he was permanent collaborator for the National Chamber Orchestra of the Romanian Radio Company as well as playing with the Sibiu Philharmonic Orchestra, Bucharest Radio Orchestra, Romanian Philharmonic Orchestra.
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Graduated the University in 2008 and started to work with the Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra from september, now being the section leader of the French Horn section. In 2010 performed Solo, the Simfonie Concertante by W. A Mozart under the baguette of Dr. Walid Gholmieh.
With the Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra, he took part in Beit Eddine Festival, Byblos Festival, Baalbeck Festival, with renown International Soloists.