He has an angelic face. She has a mane on fire and a smile that could tempt a saint. Together, they form an unexpected, flamboyant, contrasted duo. Marc Reaidy Baz and Christina Haddad unite their differences on stage in "Popera" on April 30 at the Casino du Liban. An audacious show at the crossroads of styles and sensitivities.

Distinct worlds

These two do not come from the same world. Christina Haddad made her debut in the most renowned piano bars in Beirut, where she learned to captivate, hypnotize and engage a diverse and demanding audience. She quickly built a solid stage career in variety music, before exporting her talent far beyond borders, to Jordan, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, the United States.

Everywhere she goes, she ignites a fire. Known for her vocal power and magnetic stage energy, she shatters barriers between genres. Haddad navigates effortlessly between pop, jazz, international variety, classical crossover, and musical theater. A quintessential showgirl, she dares extravagance without ever sacrificing emotion.

In front of her, Baz, a Lebanese tenor with a golden voice, seems to come straight from another universe. He comes from a classical school, that of opera with a capital "O." But it would be a mistake to reduce him to that framework: this bel canto enthusiast specializes in crossover into pop, a sort of modern opera, more open, more accessible, without ever renouncing the demand of lyric singing.

For more than two decades, he has been leading a double life with disconcerting assiduity: an artist on stage, a financial director in a Lebanese holding company for over thirty years. Rigorous, structured, passionate — a man of balance between the stage and numbers. His repertoire is vast and multilingual; he sings in Italian, French, Russian, Turkish, Polish. Vocal coach, occasional actor, he also engages in humanitarian causes — notably with The Neonate Fund and the Children’s Cancer Center of Lebanon — and collects distinctions.

United by their differences

So, what unites these two artists?

“Our contradictions,” said Baz. They do not share a musical genre, nor a stage approach, nor a vocal style. But it is precisely this difference that draws them towards each other. This is not their first collaboration, but it is indeed the first time they design a formal show together as a whole.

In "Popera," they wanted to create a true theatrical synergy, with 12 musicians on stage — percussion, violins, piano, cello, guitars, and basses. All local artists, handpicked and specially trained for this project, except for an acoustic part carried by a Russian pianist. The arrangements are entirely new, signed by Simon Tarabay, who also directs the ensemble. “The idea is to play with pieces that everyone knows, to give them a second life,” stated Baz. Because "Popera," as its name suggests, is not elitist. It does not target a niche audience. It’s a popular show in the most noble sense of the word: accessible, generous, and open.

As for the program, the two artists — both polyglots — drew from Spanish, Arabic, Italian, Turkish, and Russian repertoires, but also from film music.

“We will offer a very different, but always comprehensible repertoire. We are not going to mix Céline Dion with Bocelli, we will transform the songs, change the arrangements, the voices, create solos, duets,” stated Baz. Haddad is in pure variety, in the show, in the moment. He is more classic, more sober. Two schools, two temperaments and the same demand.

But "Popera" will not just be a simple concert. It is a dramatic musical show, with sung passages, of course, but also spoken, narrated moments. Worked transitions, clashing universes.

“There will be nuances, contrasts, lightness, but also darker respites. In our exchanges, when I take back the microphone, it’s to express a more melancholic, perhaps more complicated note,” he said.

"Popera" is a project without sponsors – which is rare and courageous – produced by Music Saga and Neo Vision Plus. A project that bets everything on the artistic. Just two sincere, committed artists who firmly believe that the stage can move, vibrate, surprise.

The show will take place in the context of a seated dinner, but the organizers have thought of everything: a "drink only" option is available, with tickets ranging from $45 to $120. Enough to open the doors of the Casino du Liban to a wider audience.

*Popera, April 30 at 8:30 p.m. at the Casino du Liban, Salle des Ambassadeurs

Tickets available at Ticketing Box Office

This article was originally published in French in L'Orient-Le Jour.