Hiba Kawas
Encyclopedia
Sidon
Sidon or Saïda is the third-largest city in Lebanon. It is located in the South Governorate of Lebanon, on the Mediterranean coast, about 40 km north of Tyre and 40 km south of the capital Beirut. In Genesis, Sidon is the son of Canaan the grandson of Noah...
, Lebanon) is a Lebanese
Lebanese people
The Lebanese people are a nation and ethnic group of Levantine people originating in what is today the country of Lebanon, including those who had inhabited Mount Lebanon prior to the creation of the modern Lebanese state....
operatic soprano
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and academic.
Biography and career
Hiba Al Kawas graduated from the Lebanese UniversityLebanese University
The Lebanese University is the only public institution for higher learning in Lebanon. Founded in 1951, it has 17 faculties as of 2006 and serves various cultural, religious, and social groups of students and teachers....
with a degree in experimental sciences and a Bachelor's Degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in clinical psychology
Clinical psychology
Clinical psychology is an integration of science, theory and clinical knowledge for the purpose of understanding, preventing, and relieving psychologically-based distress or dysfunction and to promote subjective well-being and personal development...
. She followed this with a Master's Degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in opera singing with high distinction from the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory
Conservatoire Libanais
Le Conservatoire libanais national supérieur de musique or The Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music was founded in the 1930s by Wadih Sabra, composer of the national anthem of Lebanon. Sabra's goal was to establish an institute of higher learning for music. The Conservatoire, which is...
and a Master's Degree in composition
Musical composition
Musical composition can refer to an original piece of music, the structure of a musical piece, or the process of creating a new piece of music. People who practice composition are called composers.- Musical compositions :...
and studies in musicology
Musicology
Musicology is the scholarly study of music. The word is used in narrow, broad and intermediate senses. In the narrow sense, musicology is confined to the music history of Western culture...
. She completed final studies for a Diploma in piano. Al Kawas was awarded a special scholarship from the Accademia Musicale Chigiana
Accademia Musicale Chigiana
The Accademia Musicale Chigiana is a music institute in Siena, Italy. It was founded by Count Guido Chigi Saracini in 1932 as an international centre for advanced musical studies. It organises Master Classes in the major musical instruments as well as singing, conducting and composition...
in Italy where she pursued advanced studies in opera singing with Carlo Bergonzi
Carlo Bergonzi
Carlo Bergonzi is an Italian operatic tenor. Although he performed and recorded some bel canto and verismo roles, he is above all associated with the operas of Giuseppe Verdi, including a large number of the composer's lesser-known works that he helped revive...
and composition with Franco Donatoni
Franco Donatoni
Franco Donatoni was an Italian composer.Born in Verona, he started studying violin at the age of seven, and frequented the local Music Academy...
.
Composer
Hiba Al Kawas has composed for symphony orchestra, chamber orchestra, string orchestraString orchestra
A string orchestra is an orchestra composed solely or primarily of instruments from the string family. These instruments are the violin, the viola, the cello, the double bass , the piano, the harp, and sometimes percussion...
, various ensembles, piano, and voice. In her compositions traditional Arabic instruments are included in the orchestra. Her compositions combine Oriental-Arabic music components with international composition techniques, forming a bridge between Oriental-Arabic music, classical and neo classical forms, and contemporary music.
Hiba Al Kawas has recorded 21 works of her own composition with the Dnepropetrovsk Symphony Orchestra-Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
under the direction of Vyacheslav Blinov, and 10 works with the Kraków Academy of Music
Academy of Music in Kraków
The Academy of Music in Kraków is a conservatory located in downtown Kraków, Poland.-History:The Academy, until 1945 as a conservatory under the name Cracow Conservatory or Conservatory of the Music Society, was founded in 1888 by the eminent Polish composer Władysław Żeleński thanks to artistic...
Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Wojciech Czepiel. She has recorded 13 works with The National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine
National Philharmonic Society of Ukraine
The National Philharmonic Society of Ukraine , often referred to as Kiev Philharmonic and National Philharmonic, is a concert hall in Kiev, Ukraine....
and the National Choir of Kiev conducted by Vladimir Sirenko. In 2000 participated as a composer in the Krakow
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
Contemporary Composition Festival, where the Krakow chamber Orchestra played her Aspiration No.1 conducted by Wojceich Czepiel. At her second appearance ath the festival, her composition Moments in Krakow was given its world premiere by the Krakow Academy of Music conducted Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Wojceich Czepiel. Her orchestral work, Pleusis 1, which was premiered in 2000 by the Lebanese National Symphony Orchestra
Lebanese National Symphony Orchestra
L’Orchestre symphonique national du Liban or The Lebanese National Symphony Orchestra was founded in late 1999 in Beirut under the guidance of Dr. Walid Gholmieh and the management of Le Conservatoire libanais national supérieur de musique or The Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music...
conducted by Harout Fazlian and by Wojciech Czepiel, has been played by the City of London Sinfonia
City of London Sinfonia
The City of London Sinfonia is an English chamber orchestra based in London. In London, the CLS performs regularly at Cadogan Hall and St Paul's Cathedral. It is also the resident orchestra at Opera Holland Park. The CLS has annual residencies in four towns in Southern England: Ipswich, King's...
, Cairo Symphony Orchestra
Cairo Symphony Orchestra
The Cairo Symphony Orchestra, , is an orchestra based in Cairo, Egypt. It was founded in 1959 by its first music director and conductor, Franz Litschauer...
, Krakow Symphony Orchestra, Bolshoi State Theatre Symphony Orchestra
Bolshoi Theatre
The Bolshoi Theatre is a historic theatre in Moscow, Russia, designed by architect Joseph Bové, which holds performances of ballet and opera. The Bolshoi Ballet and Bolshoi Opera are amongst the oldest and most renowned ballet and opera companies in the world...
.
On 14 October 2007, her composition Rou'ia fi Maa received its première at the Opéra Bastille
Opéra Bastille
L'Opéra Bastille ' is a modern opera house in Paris, France. It is the home base of the Opéra national de Paris and was designed to replace the Palais Garnier, which is nowadays mainly used for ballet performances....
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. The work comprises five instrumental and three song pieces based on Arabic poems by Nada El Hage
Nada El Hage
Nada El Hage is a Lebanese Poet, writer and journalist.-Biography and Career:Nada El Hage is the daughter of the Lebanese Poet Ounsi el-Hajj. She completed her high school education in Beirut before she headed to Paris to major in Philosophy in the Sorbonne University...
. It was commissioned by the Festival d'Automne for contemporary music and performed by the Neuwe Ensemble of Amsterdam with Al Kawas singing the soprano solos. In November 2007 a short musical film Noor - Lady Light was produced using Hiba Al Kawas' song Asra Biqalbi which is based on a poem by Abdel Aziz Khoja
Abdel Aziz Khoja
Abdelaziz Khoja was born in 1942. He holds a bachelor's degree in chemistry and geology from the Riyadh University and a PhD degree in chemistry form the University of Birmingham. He worked as a chemistry teacher in the Faculty of Education in Mecca. He was appointed as dean of the Faculty of...
. Asra Biqalbi and several other works by Al Kawas received their world première at the Abu Dhabi Music Festival, in the closing concert on 2 April 2008.
Concert artist
Since her first concert at the age of six, Hiba Al Kawas has performed in many concerts in Lebanon, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, Cairo, Tunis, Bahrain, London, Paris, Italy, Germany, Poland, Ukraine, Portugal, and Amsterdam. She has established a career in Lebanon and the Arab world, furthering the cause of Arabic operaOpera in Arabic
The history of opera in the Arabic speaking world is generally viewed to have started from the premiere of Verdi's Aida in Cairo at the Khedivial Opera House in 1871, though Verdi's opera was sung in Italian.-Western operas sung in Arabic:...
. She developed and adapted operatic vocal techniques to find the proper voice placement to preserve the Arabic pronunciation and singing tradition. She frequently performs her own vocal compositions in concerts.
She performed at the opening ceremony of Tyre festival in Lebanon and the Al-Medina Festival in Tunis
Tunis
Tunis is the capital of both the Tunisian Republic and the Tunis Governorate. It is Tunisia's largest city, with a population of 728,453 as of 2004; the greater metropolitan area holds some 2,412,500 inhabitants....
. On 30 November 2006, Hiba Al Kawas performed along with José Carreras
José Carreras
Josep Maria Carreras i Coll , better known as José Carreras , is a Spanish Catalan tenor particularly known for his performances in the operas of Verdi and Puccini...
in Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
at the second anniversary of the Dubai International Financial Centre, accompanied by the City of London Sinfonia
City of London Sinfonia
The City of London Sinfonia is an English chamber orchestra based in London. In London, the CLS performs regularly at Cadogan Hall and St Paul's Cathedral. It is also the resident orchestra at Opera Holland Park. The CLS has annual residencies in four towns in Southern England: Ipswich, King's...
Orchestra, conducted by David Giménez Carreras
David Giménez Carreras
David Giménez Carreras is a Spanish conductor. He is the Music Director of the Orquestra Simfònica del Vallès. and a principal guest conductor of the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra...
and Brad Cohen
Brad Cohen
Brad Cohen is an American motivational speaker and an award-winning teacher and author who has severe Tourette syndrome . Cohen described his experiences growing up with the condition in his book, Front of the Class: How Tourette Syndrome Made Me the Teacher I Never Had, co-authored with Lisa Wysocky...
. She performed songs of her own composition and sang a duet with Carreras, "All I Ask of You" from The Phantom of the Opera
The Phantom of the Opera (1986 musical)
The Phantom of the Opera is a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber, based on the French novel Le Fantôme de l'Opéra by Gaston Leroux.The music was composed by Lloyd Webber, and most lyrics were written by Charles Hart, with additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe. Alan Jay Lerner was an early collaborator,...
. On 19 February 2007 Al Kawas sang several of her compositions in the presence of President Jacques Chirac
Jacques Chirac
Jacques René Chirac is a French politician who served as President of France from 1995 to 2007. He previously served as Prime Minister of France from 1974 to 1976 and from 1986 to 1988 , and as Mayor of Paris from 1977 to 1995.After completing his studies of the DEA's degree at the...
at the IMA
IMA
- Institutions :* Indianapolis Museum of Art, an art museum in Indianapolis, Indiana* Indian Medical Association* Indian Military Academy, Dehradun...
in Paris. She dedicated her song O Liban soit sauvé! (composed to the poetry of Nada El Hage
Nada El Hage
Nada El Hage is a Lebanese Poet, writer and journalist.-Biography and Career:Nada El Hage is the daughter of the Lebanese Poet Ounsi el-Hajj. She completed her high school education in Beirut before she headed to Paris to major in Philosophy in the Sorbonne University...
) to President Chirac and the memory of Rafic Hariri. On 2 April 2008, Al Kawas closed the 5th Abu Dhabi Music and Art Festival, accompanied by Bolshoi Theatre
Bolshoi Theatre
The Bolshoi Theatre is a historic theatre in Moscow, Russia, designed by architect Joseph Bové, which holds performances of ballet and opera. The Bolshoi Ballet and Bolshoi Opera are amongst the oldest and most renowned ballet and opera companies in the world...
Symphony Orchestra. Several of her compositions inspired by Andalusian music were premiered at the Festival with Jose Maria Gallardo Del Rey on guitar. On 21 April 2008, she presented a music, poetry, and meditation evening, "The Sound of a Peaceful Heart", with Dadi Janki, the head of Brahma Komaris University, and the poets Hoda Naamani and Nada El Hage. On 19 June 2008 she performed her songs in London with the Nieuw Ensemble
Nieuw Ensemble
The Nieuw Ensemble was founded in 1980 in Amsterdam. It has a unique instrumental structure, using plucked instruments such as mandolin, guitar and harp in combination with wind, string and percussion. Ed Spanjaard has been the principal conductor since 1982...
, Amsterdam, at the Cadogan Hall
Cadogan Hall
Cadogan Hall is a 900-seat capacity concert hall on Sloane Terrace in Chelsea / Belgravia in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, United Kingdom...
.
Academic
Al Kawas is currently a member of the board at the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory and a professor of Opera singing and Composition. She is a professor at the Lebanese UniversityLebanese University
The Lebanese University is the only public institution for higher learning in Lebanon. Founded in 1951, it has 17 faculties as of 2006 and serves various cultural, religious, and social groups of students and teachers....
and is the Academic and Music Coordinator at the Teachers' Training College for Music in Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
. She is a committee member of The Lebanese National Symphony Orchestra
Lebanese National Symphony Orchestra
L’Orchestre symphonique national du Liban or The Lebanese National Symphony Orchestra was founded in late 1999 in Beirut under the guidance of Dr. Walid Gholmieh and the management of Le Conservatoire libanais national supérieur de musique or The Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music...
as well as a member of the High National Committee of Music at UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
. She is a member of the Intellectual Property
Intellectual property
Intellectual property is a term referring to a number of distinct types of creations of the mind for which a set of exclusive rights are recognized—and the corresponding fields of law...
Committee of the International Chamber of Commerce
International Chamber of Commerce
The International Chamber of Commerce is the largest, most representative business organization in the world. Its hundreds of thousands of member companies in over 130 countries have interests spanning every sector of private enterprise....
. In 2005, she gave several lectures at the University of Amsterdam and was commissioned by the University to compose Sada Al Akwan, which was played by the Nieuw Ensemble during Gaudeamus Music Week in Utrecht
Utrecht
Utrecht is a city in the Netherlands.The name may also refer to:* Utrecht , of which Utrecht is the capital* Utrecht , including the city of Utrecht* Bishopric of Utrecht* Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Utrecht...
. She is the co-author of Methods for Elementary and Intermediate Music Stages in Lebanon (1997/1998) and the author of Methods for Teacher Training in Lebanese Music Schools (2000).
Awards
- On 22 January 2007 Hiba Al Kawas received the decoration from HRH Sultān Qaboos bin Said al Said, The Golden Order of Sultan Qaboos for Culture, Science and Art.
- In July 2003, a postage stamp with her name and picture was published in Lebanon.
- Received the Lebanon Creativity Award (2003).
- Received the Seal Of Beirut (2001).
- Presented with the Seal of the American University of Beirut Allumnii (1998).
- Received the Seal of the Lebanese American University Allumnii of Abu Dhabi (1993).
Instrumental
For symphony orchestra- Ilaik (Overture), (1995)
- Pleusis No.1 in 3 movements, (2000) - Dedicated to Mrs. Nazik HaririNazik HaririNazik Hariri is the widow of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. She married Rafik in 1965. Nazik is of Palestinian origin.- External links :*...
, in recognition of her support and patronage and played for the first time by the Lebanese National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Harout Fazlian. - Moments In Krakow (Overture), (2002)
- Baina Nahrain, (2004) - Commissioned by Al JazeeraAl JazeeraAl Jazeera is an independent broadcaster owned by the state of Qatar through the Qatar Media Corporation and headquartered in Doha, Qatar...
television. - In the Path of Light, (2008)
For string orchestra
String orchestra
A string orchestra is an orchestra composed solely or primarily of instruments from the string family. These instruments are the violin, the viola, the cello, the double bass , the piano, the harp, and sometimes percussion...
- Aspiration No.1, (1999)
For the Neuwe Ensemble
- Sada Al Akwan, (2005)
- Rou'ia Fi Maa, (2007)
Octets
- Wajd, (1994)
Trios
- Those days, (1995)
Duets for oud
Oud
The oud is a pear-shaped stringed instrument commonly used in North African and Middle Eastern music. The modern oud and the European lute both descend from a common ancestor via diverging paths...
and piano
- Itab, (1997)
For piano
- Love Hurts, (1990)
- Faragh, (1991)
- Rhapsody For Piano, (2005)
Vocal
Arabic arias for soprano, choir and symphony orchestra- Ma Asani Aqoulu, poetry by Houda Naamani, (1995)
- Unshoudat Al Matar, poetry by Badr Shaker Assaiiab, (1995)
- Ode to Peace, poetry by Houda Naamani, (2000)
- To Saida, poetry by Hamza Abboud, (2000)
- Qalbi Yuhaddithuni, poetry by Ibn El Farid, (2003)
- Salam El Hurriya, poetry by Nada El Hage, (2005) - Dedicated to the memory of the late Lebanese Prime Minister, Rafic El Hariri. This composition was also produced as a musical film by Milad Tawq.
- Ya Ayyuha El Ati Mina Zzaman, poetry by Henry Zgheib, (2005)
- Liajli Lubnan, poetry by Houda Naamani, (2005)
- O Liban Soit Sauvé, poetry by Nada El Hage, (2007)
Arabic arias for soprano and symphony orchestra
- Arousa Asharq, poetry by Souheil Al Kawas, (1989)
- Tashkou Thalam Allail, poetry by Mohammed Bin Ahmed Al Souweidi, (1994)
- Laallaka Tushiluha Thata Yawm, poetry by Ounsi El HageOunsi el- HajjOunsi El-Hage is a Lebanese poet born in 1937. After starting his writing career in the mid 1950s, he had published several poetry works and books between 1960 and 1994. He was also an editor-in-chef for various Arab magazines. In 1964, he founded the poetry magazine Al-Mulhaq...
, (1994) - Liajlika, poetry by Houda Naamani, (1995)
- Being you being me, poetry by Houda Naamani, (1995)
- Hatta Law Inhalat Eshshams, poetry by Houda Naamani, (1995)
- Intu Nsitouna, poetry bu Mohammed Bin Ahmed Al Souweidi, (1996)
- Tabqa Li, poetry by Ounsi El hageOunsi el- HajjOunsi El-Hage is a Lebanese poet born in 1937. After starting his writing career in the mid 1950s, he had published several poetry works and books between 1960 and 1994. He was also an editor-in-chef for various Arab magazines. In 1964, he founded the poetry magazine Al-Mulhaq...
, (1997) - Dummani, poetry by Houda Naamani, (1998)
- Aiqithni Thaniatan, poetry by Houda Naamani, (1998)
- Wa Tuhibbuni, poetry by Houda Naamani, (1999)
- Lakaannaka, poetry by Houda Naamani, (1999)
- Yaduka, poetry by Houda Naamani, (2000)
- Arda, poetry by Nada El Hage, (2001)
- La Arifu Baitan Siwah, poetry by Nada El Hage, (2001)
- Lianni Ahya, poetry by Nada El Hage, (2002)
- Araftu Beirut, poetry by Hussa, (2002)
- Biekfi Twaddeni, poetry by Ragheda Mahfouz, (2003)
- Ashamamta Itri, poetry by Nada El Hage, (2005)
- Fi Biladi, poetry by Nada El Hage, (2006)
- Intel Hawa, poetry by Mohammed bin Rashid Al MaktoumMohammed bin Rashid Al MaktoumMohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum , also Sheikh Mohammed, , is the Prime Minister and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates , and absolute monarch of Dubai.-Personal life and education:...
, (2006) - Asra Biqalbi, poetry by Abdel Aziz KhojaAbdel Aziz KhojaAbdelaziz Khoja was born in 1942. He holds a bachelor's degree in chemistry and geology from the Riyadh University and a PhD degree in chemistry form the University of Birmingham. He worked as a chemistry teacher in the Faculty of Education in Mecca. He was appointed as dean of the Faculty of...
, (2007) - Habibi, poetry by Abdel Aziz KhojaAbdel Aziz KhojaAbdelaziz Khoja was born in 1942. He holds a bachelor's degree in chemistry and geology from the Riyadh University and a PhD degree in chemistry form the University of Birmingham. He worked as a chemistry teacher in the Faculty of Education in Mecca. He was appointed as dean of the Faculty of...
, (2008) - Njom Eddini Binaik, poetry by Nada El Hage, (2008)
- Sawti ya Ssamma, poetry by Zahi Wehbi, (2008)
Arabic arias for soprano and orchestra
- Zaman Ghaddar, poetry by Hiba Al Kawas, (1982)
- Ours Saida, poetry by Hiba AL Kawas, (1984)
- Ana Man Youhibba Al Anjouma, poetry by Omar Abu Risha, (1985)
- Min La Makan, poetry by Abdel Wahab El Baiati, (1986)
- Min El Qalb Bisrakh Sawt, poetry by Ragheda Mahfouz, (1988)
- Ilna Haq Bdaw Eshshams, poetry by Ragheda Mahfouz, (1988)
- Blahfit Whanin Ettair, poetry by Ragheda Mahfouz, (1988)
- Oughannika Habibi, poetry by Ounsi El HageOunsi el- HajjOunsi El-Hage is a Lebanese poet born in 1937. After starting his writing career in the mid 1950s, he had published several poetry works and books between 1960 and 1994. He was also an editor-in-chef for various Arab magazines. In 1964, he founded the poetry magazine Al-Mulhaq...
, (1992) - Awwal Essafar, poetry by AdonisAdonisAdonis , in Greek mythology, the god of beauty and desire, is a figure with Northwest Semitic antecedents, where he is a central figure in various mystery religions. The Greek , Adōnis is a variation of the Semitic word Adonai, "lord", which is also one of the names used to refer to God in the Old...
, (1992) - Sarraq El Omr, poetry by Talal Haidar, (1992)
- Abda'u min Raqmin Yamshi, poetry by Hamza Abboud, (1992)
- Ya Naseema El Reeh, poetry by Al Hallaj, (2005)
Arabic arias for soprano and piano
- Lashou Jina, poetry by Ragheda Mahfouz, (1988)
- Boukra Btikbari, poetry by Raghed Mahfouz, (1988)
- Limatha Nuhawilu Hatha Assafar, poetry by Mahmoud DarwishMahmoud DarwishMahmoud Darwish was a Palestinian poet and author who won numerous awards for his literary output and was regarded as the Palestinian national poet...
, (1992) - Min Ghiabika La Yahda'u Ellail, poetry by Hamza Abboud, (1996)