'Les Musicales de Baabdath' blows out its 10 candles, from Oct. 23 to Nov. 26

From Grieg to Charbel Rouhana, from the strings of a Berlin quartet to the Brazilian rhythms of a youth orchestra, Les Musicales de Baabdath will mark its 10th anniversary by bringing together diverse musical traditions and performers. From Oct. 23 to Nov. 26, 2026, the festival will take place in churches, a university hall, a jazz venue and a brewery in Baabdat, Beirut and Tripoli. This expanded reach reflects an ambition that has guided the festival since its founding in 2016: to bring music to audiences who do not necessarily attend concert halls.

The anniversary also celebrates the continuity of an independent project in a country where long-term cultural initiatives face considerable challenges. Over the past decade, crises and wars have forced organizers to cancel three editions at the last minute. Despite these setbacks, a volunteer team has organized nearly 50 concerts and hosted dozens of Lebanese and international artists.

The Ministry of Tourism is sponsoring this edition, which the European Union is co-financing in partnership with the Ministry of Culture as part of the "Culture for All" project. The festival also receives support from cultural organizations, embassies, the Municipality of Baabdat, companies and individual donors.

Lebanese composers in the spotlight

The opening concert will take place Oct. 23 at 8 p.m. at Baabdat's new church, featuring pianist Iyad Sughayar and the Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Karim Said. The program includes Grieg's "Piano Concerto," Sibelius' "Symphony No. 5" and the first movement of Walid Gholmieh's "Symphony No. 3," in tribute to the composer, who died 15 years ago.

Lebanese composers will feature in several other concerts. Sughayar will perform two recitals, on Oct. 26 at 8 p.m. at Baabdat's new church and on Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. at the Safadi Cultural Center in Tripoli. The programs will pair works by Mozart, Beethoven and Liszt with compositions by Sibelius, Khachaturian and Houtaf Khoury.

In Beirut

Sabaya Beirut takes the stage at Monnot on Oct. 23, letting the music speak for itself

On Oct. 28 at 8 p.m. in Baabdat, violinist Mario Rahi and pianist George Daccache will dedicate their concert to Lebanese music, including a tribute to Boghos Gelalian, a composer of Armenian descent. Works by Sevag Derghougassian, Houtaf Khoury and Claude Chalhoub will round out the program, which will also feature the Lebanese premiere of Iyad Kanaan's "Duo" for violin and piano.

Chamber music will also play a central role in this year's program. The Berlin-based Exira String Quartet will perform on Nov. 9 at 8 p.m. at Baabdat's new church and on Nov. 11 at 8:30 p.m. at Elmir Brewery in Mar Mikhael. The two concerts will bring Haydn, Mendelssohn and Beethoven into dialogue with contemporary composers.

Guitarist Raphael Bereau and violinist Jean-Samuel Bez will perform "Paganini Goes Balkan" on Nov. 10 at 8 p.m. in Baabdat, combining classical works, arrangements and Balkan musical traditions. Bez will return on Nov. 12 at 8 p.m. at the same venue for a piano trio performance with Belgian musicians.

In Beirut, Armenian pianist Hayk Melikyan will perform twice. On Nov. 20 at 8:30 p.m. at Saint Joseph Church of the Jesuit Fathers, he will play Khachaturian's "Piano Concerto" with the Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Raffi Mikaelian. The following evening, at 8:30 p.m. at the Assembly Hall of the American University of Beirut, Melikyan will give a recital featuring Armenian and American composers, from Komitas to John Cage.

From the oud to Brazilian rhythms

Other performances will explore the connections between instruments and musical traditions. On Nov. 17 at 8 p.m. at Baabdat's new church, oud player Charbel Rouhana, double bassist Makram Aboul Hosn and bouzouk player Elie Khoury will present a concert dedicated to string instruments, blending oriental music with contemporary compositions.

Aboul Hosn will also perform with Danish guitarist Niclas Knudsen and drummer Pavlo Wardini on Nov. 3 at 9 p.m. at Metro al-Madina in Clemenceau. Knudsen will return to the stage on Nov. 5 at 8 p.m. in Baabdat, joining the trio led by pianist and composer Arthur Satyan.

The festival will close on Nov. 26 at 8 p.m. at Baabdat's new church with a concert that turns toward Latin America, particularly Brazil. The LeBAM wind orchestra, conducted by Serghei Bolun, will perform the closing program. Giving young musicians the final concert underscores the festival's commitment to passing musical traditions on to a new generation. Beyond its concerts, Les Musicales de Baabdath organizes workshops, specialized courses and master classes to support student musicians and encourage exchanges with guest artists.

Most concerts will be free. For events in Baabdat, the festival will provide a free round-trip shuttle from Beirut, with reservations required. The shuttle will leave at 6:45 p.m. from Badaro, on Sami al-Solh Street, and travel to the new church of the Maronite parish of Baabdat. Audience members can make an optional donation upon arrival.

Les Musicales de Baabdath, from Oct. 23 to Nov. 26, 2026. Detailed program and access information: www.lesmusicales.org. Shuttle bookings via Nakhal: +961 3 153 520.

Les Musicales de Baabdate : dix bougies à souffler, du 23 octobre au 26 novembre