KUWAIT, June 9 (KUNA) -- The Tenth Int'l Music Festival kicked off here Saturday evening with a symposium paying tribute to Kuwaiti singer Yahya Ahmad.
Organized by the Kuwaiti National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (NCCAL), the five-day event attracted participants from several local, Arab and foreign countries.
The symposium is part of NCCAL's series of activities in honor of Kuwait's leading artists and creative people in all fields, said Mohammad Al-Asoussi, the director of the festival.
The symposium featured Ahmad's first song "ghabo anni alli ahibbohom" (they have gone, the ones I love), written by late poet Mohammad Al-Tenib, composed by Ibrahim Al-Sola and sung by Ahmad in 1963.
During the symposium, a number of young singers accompanied by the Kuwaiti national folklore band sang "Ya Kuwaitena" (O, Our Kuwait), Ahmad's most famous song.
Several folklore bands will offer concerts and performances during the festival including the French "Under Aches" band which give a concert of Arabic and Western music, Al-Asoussi noted.
Italian soprano Jolanta Omilian accompanied by Polish pianist Jerry Romaniuk will give a concert along with other performances by the Jordanian Ma'an and Awlad Amer folklore bands, the Syrian Enana band.
Music contribute to rapprochement among world people with different cultures, Al-Asoussi added. The festival will last through June 13.
