Egyptian mezzo-soprano Farrah al-Dibany at the opening night of the Beiteddine Festival on July 20, 2023. (Credit: Joseph Eid/AFP)
The president of the Beiteddine Festival, Nora Joumblatt, issued a press release announcing the cancellation of the 2024 edition. Explaining the reasons for this decision, she stated that “at a time when the south of Lebanon and its population are going through difficult times, and at a time when Palestine is undergoing incessant genocide before the whole world that watches in silence, the Beiteddine Festival announces the suspension of its activities that were planned this year.”
Since Oct. 7, 2023, Israel has been shelling the Gaza Strip in retaliation for a deadly Hamas attack on its territory. The Israeli offensive has killed more than 35,000 Palestinians. And since Oct. 8, a “support” front for Gaza has been opened in southern Lebanon by Hezbollah. Daily exchanges of fire with the Israeli army have left almost 400 people dead.
“The festival committee,” the statement added, “is aware that its public will understand the decision [to suspend the festival] and remains convinced of the need to continue its cultural role, so it has decided to limit activities to art exhibitions held in the palace courtyards during the summer.”
“We hope that southern Lebanon will return to calm and stability, that the war in Gaza will cease and that Palestine will return, and we look forward to improved general conditions to continue the artistic and cultural role that the festivals have continuously played since 1984, emanating from our deep belief in Lebanon's role and message,” concludes the Beiteddine Festival press release.
A “reduced and symbolic festival” for Baalbeck?
Nayla de Freige, Chairperson of the Baalbeck Festival Committee since 2011 and CEO of L'Orient-Le Jour, said she was “awaiting security developments in the region before taking a decision” on the Baalbeck Festival, while the Bekaa plain is regularly targeted by Israeli strikes and fire.
“We have prepared a small, symbolic festival. We wanted to present an edition that suited the situation and the ongoing incidents. But no definitive decision has yet been taken,” she said, affirming that she was waiting to hear whether a cease-fire would be agreed in the ongoing armed conflicts. “For the time being, it is not possible to organize activities in the Bekaa,” added de Freige. An official decision will be announced soon.
This article originally appeared in French in L'Orient-Le Jour.
