Description
“A first ever international vinyl edition of a golden era Arab world classic revolving the legendary singer interpreting songs by her long time collaborators, the equally renowned Rahbani Brothers – including ex-husband Assi – and set to lavish yet delicate string arrangements, as originally issued in Lebanon, ’87 – now with new liner notes by Mario Choueiry of Institut du Monde Arabe.
‘Chat Iskandaria’ portrays the Lebanese diva some 30 years into an illustrious oeuvre that would become a byword for sophisticated Arab-world pop, singing in a highly distinctive timbre about life, love and nostalgia for country life, or the old world, but with a modern sheen. It was originally recorded for the Relax-In label at the Baalbeck Studios related to the annual international festival in the Beqaa Valley, Lebanon, where she was often among the biggest attractions.
Nearly a decade since splitting with creative and romantic partner Assi Rahbani – who, along with sibling Mansour, was behind much of Fairuz’s music between the ‘50s and ‘70s – Fairuz would return to their songbook and more traditional orchestral arrangements on this album, an attractive showcase for her melismatic flights variously spanning the luxury groove-driven title piece and intricate drums of ‘Ya Zairi Fi Al Douha’, forlorn feel of ‘Ams Intahayna’, elegant folk dance style of ‘Sayed Al Hawa’, and sweep-off-your-feet finale ‘Najmat Al Koutoub.’”
