The Lebanese Armenian musician, composer and pianist, Guy Manoukian, played at the Beiteddine Festival on August 9 accompanied by the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra with Guest Mario Reyes from the Gypsy Kings Family. The mixture of contemporary Arabic and Armenian music that Manoukian played created a night of originality with a touch of culture and tradition.

http://www.baldati.com/photos/photo.php?photoid=11480#photo-11480

Hanine Y Son Cubano played at the Beiteddine Festival on July 31st bringing to the scene a mixture of Cuban and Arabic tunes. Hanin’s unique voice and Arabic singing with the Cuban music in the background created an original sound that the audience enjoyed.

http://www.baldati.com/photos/photo.php?photoid=11124#photo-11124

Le Festival de Beiteddine est l’un des plus réputés du Moyen-Orient. Tous les ans, il accueille les plus grands artistes du monde au palais deux fois centenaire de Beiteddine, charmante petite ville perchée dans les montagnes du Chouf.

PROGRAMME 2009. Pour en savoir plus, visitez le Site Web du Festival

- 2 juillet, 21h - Hommage à Oum Kalsoum
- 9 juillet, 20h30 - Charles Aznavour
- 18 juillet, 20h30 - Emir Kusturica et le No Smoking Orchestra
- 22 juillet, 20h30 - Madeleine Peyroux 
- 25 juillet, 20h30 - Gabriel Yared et le Budapest Concert Orchestra
- 31 juillet, 20h30 - Hanine y Son Cubano
- 9 août, 20h30 - Guy Manoukian accompagné par l'Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra
- 12 août, 20h30 - Palestine Youth Orchestra et Marcel Khalife
- 15 août, 21h - Kadim Al Sahir

EXPOSITIONS: "Oum Kalsoum" (à partir du 2 juillet 2009) et "Liban Traces" (à partir du 12 juin 2009).

LE PALAIS. Le Palais de Beiteddine, qui est un chef-d'oeuvre de l'architecture libanaise du début du XIXème siècle, fut construit par l'Emir Bechir Chehab II sur un promontoire qui surplombe des montagnes en terrasses. Pas moins de 36 années furent nécessaires pour en réaliser la construction et la décoration. [plus]

LES SCENES. Le Palais dispose de diverses cours, dont trois sont régulièrement utilisées en tant que scènes durant le Festival (Al Midane, Al Salamlek, Dar el Harim). D'autre part, un espace principal a été spécialement rénové et aménagé afin d'accueillir des expositions de photographie, de sculpture et de peinture. [plus]

ARTISTES. Depuis sa création, le Festival de Beiteddine a reçu de nombreux grands artistes internationaux, régionaux et locaux. Parmi ceux-ci: Elton John, José Carreras, Feyrouz, Cesaria Evora, Maurice Bejart, Jessey Norman, Kazem al-Saher, Tito Puente, Youssou N'Dour, Monserrat Caballe, John McLaughlin Zakir Hussain, Placido Domingo… [plus]

Beiteddine, "House Of Faith", is Lebanon's greatest treasure. It is known for its palace which was built by Emir Bechir II Chehab. The palace reflects the typical oriental architecture of the 19th century. It took thirty years to be build. It is remarkable for its glamorous arcades, multicolored mosaic floors, reception rooms, harems, hammams and even by its guest house "Diyafa" where passing guests were lodged

Furthermore, visitors were mostly fascinated by the palace museum, since it exposes the Canaanite Phoenician works of art, a wide collection of Middle Ages arms, traditional costumes and Jewellery, mainly in silver. From Beiteddine, Emir Bechir II started the reorganization of his country and introduced many reforms.

Beginning in 1943, the year of Lebanon's independence, the palace became the summer residence of the president. Bechara El Khoury was the first president to use Beiteddine and he brought back the remains of Emir Bechir from Istanbul, where he had died in 1850.

Today Beiteddine, with its museums and its gardens, is one of Lebanon's major tourist attractions. Beiteddine holds every year the Beiteddine Festival where Cesaria Evora, Elton John, Majida El Roumi, Stomp, Montserrat Caballé, Andrea Bocelli, Joe Cocker, Placido Domingo, Kazem El Saher, Notre Dame de Paris, and many more talented artists performed throughout the years.

For more information: www.beiteddine.org.

Few minutes from Beiteddine rises the Emir Amine palace, one of the most beautiful hotels in Lebanon which has an exceptional view that cannot be obstructed. It was built for the emir's son, Amine.