Ziad Rahbani, enfant terrible of Lebanese stage and song, dies at 69
He had long suffered from health problems.
Tributes poured in for the enfant terrible of Lebanese music -- a musician, composer and theatre producer who made a huge mark on generations of Lebanese with his theatre pieces and songs, which many know by heart.
Rebellious and visionary, his work evoked Lebanon's civil war even before it erupted in 1975, later reflecting the eventual conflict itself and the harsh realities of economic crisis.
One of his most famous theatre pieces, the 1980 production "Film Ameriki Tawil" (The American Motion Picture), was a satirical depiction of Lebanon during the civil war, set in an asylum with characters who represented facets of society.
Ziad Rahbani was the son of Arab musical icon Fairuz, who turned 90 last year, and the late Lebanese composer Assi Rahbani who along with his brother Mansour modernised Arab music by blending Western, Russian and Latin American sounds with Eastern rhythms.
Already adored by older generations, Fairuz became a youth idol when her son began composing jazz-influenced songs for her, calling it "Oriental jazz".
While Fairuz transcended Lebanon's deep sectarian divides, her son was fiercely left-wing and secular, and spent his life decrying the divisions that ruined his country.
"I feel like everything has gone. I feel like Lebanon has become empty," Lebanese actress Carmen Lebbos, his former partner, wrote on X.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said in a statement that Rahbani was "a voice that rebelled against injustice, an honest mirror for the oppressed and marginalised".
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said that "Lebanon has lost an exceptional artist and creative, a free voice who stayed faithful to the values of justice and dignity" and who said "what many don't dare to say".
Culture Minister Ghassan Salame wrote on X that "we dreaded this day as we knew his health was worsening and that his desire for treatment was dwindling".
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France 24
6 days ago
- France 24
Ziad Rahbani, visionary Lebanese musician and politically engaged son of Fayrouz, dies at 69
Ziad Rahbani, a visionary Lebanese composer, playwright, pianist and political provocateur, died on Saturday, at the age of 69, according to the state-run National News Agency. The death was confirmed by a person close to Rahbani who spoke on condition of anonymity. The cause of death was not immediately clear. Born in 1956 in Antelias, near Beirut, Ziad was the eldest son of legendary Lebanese singer Fayrouz and late composer Assi Rahbani, one half of the famed Rahbani Brothers. From a young age, he showed signs of prodigious talent, composing his first musical work at just 17 years old. Raised among artistic royalty, his world was steeped in music, theater, and political consciousness — a combination that would define his life's work. His mother, who was considered to be the most famous and esteemed performer in the Arab world, performed some of his compositions at her concerts, blending Lebanese folklore with Western syncopation and phrasing. Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun said Rahbani was 'not just an artist, but a complete intellectual and cultural phenomenon.' In a statement, Aoun praised Rahbani as 'a living conscience, a rebellious voice against injustice, and an honest mirror reflecting the suffering and marginalized.' He highlighted how Rahbani's fusion of classical, jazz and Oriental music 'opened new windows for Lebanese cultural expression' and elevated it to global levels. 'Ziad was a natural extension of the Rahbani family, which gave Lebanon much beauty and dignity,' the president added. Lebanese pop star Elissa, writing on X, said: 'Ziad_Rahbani was not an ordinary artist ... With his loss today, Lebanon has lost a part of itself and a big piece of its collective memory.' Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri sent his 'deepest condolences to the great Fairouz, to the Rahbani family, and to all Lebanese on the loss of the brilliant artist Ziad Rahbani, who embodied the Lebanon we loved.' Minister of Culture Ghassan Salame said: 'We will mourn him as we continue to sing his songs that will never die.' Prime Minister Nawaf Salam described Rahbani as 'an exceptional and creative artist — a free voice who remained true to the values of justice and dignity.' While his parents helped construct a golden era of Lebanese musical theater steeped in idealism and nostalgia, Rahbani charged onto the scene with irreverent satire, unflinching political critique and jazz-inflected scores that mirrored the chaos and contradictions of a Lebanon at war with itself. 'I admire the music of composers like Charlie Parker, Stan Getz and Dizzy Gillespie,' he once said. 'But my music is not Western, it's Lebanese, with a different way of expression.' Rahbani's music reflected the hybrid heritage of Lebanon, which until the civil war erupted in 1975 was a cultural melting pot where East met West. But it was also deeply rooted in the traumatic events of the sectarian strife, the bloody street battles between rival militias and three years of violent Israeli occupation after the 1982 invasion. His breakout play, Nazl el-Sourour (Happiness Hotel), premiered in 1974 when he was only 17 and portrayed a society disfigured by class inequality and repression. The tragicomic narrative follows a group of workers who hijack a restaurant to demand their rights, only to be dismissed by the political elite. With this bold debut, Rahbani revealed his enduring theme: that Lebanese society was fractured not only by war but by entrenched power. A leftist Greek Orthodox, Rahbani also wrote plays and satirical radio shows centered on his violent environment that mock the sectarian divisions of his country. Rahbani's subsequent plays solidified his reputation as the voice of the disenchanted. In Bennesbeh Labokra Chou? (What About Tomorrow?), he plays a jaded bar pianist in post-civil war Beirut who drifts through a surreal landscape of broken dreams, corruption and absurdity. The work features some of Rahbani's most poignant music and biting commentary, including the famous line, 'They say tomorrow will be better, but what about today?' More than just a playwright, Rahbani was a composer of staggering range. He infused traditional Arabic melodies with jazz, funk and classical influences, creating a hybrid sound that became instantly recognizable. His live performances were legendary, whether playing piano in smoky clubs in Hamra, one of Beirut's major commercial districts that harbors a multifaceted identity, or orchestrating large-scale productions. His collaborations with Fayrouz, especially during the late 1970s and 1980s, ushered in a darker, more politically charged phase in her career. Songs like Ouverture 83, Bala Wala Chi (Without Anything), and Kifak Inta (How Are You) reflected Ziad's brooding compositions and lyrical introspection. Rahbani came under fire from Arab traditionalists for his pioneering efforts to bridge the gap between Arab and Western culture with music. In recent years, Ziad appeared less in the public eye, yet his influence never waned. Younger generations rediscovered his plays online and sampled his music in protest movements. He continued to compose and write, speaking often of his frustration with Lebanon's political stagnation and decaying public life. Rahbani is survived by his mother, Fayrouz, 90, his sister Reema and brother Hali.
France 24
6 days ago
- France 24
Ziad Rahbani, enfant terrible of Lebanese stage and song, dies at 69
"On Saturday at 9:00 am (0600 GMT), the heart of the great artist and creator Ziad Rahbani stopped beating," said a statement from the Beirut hospital where he was being treated. He had long suffered from health problems. Tributes poured in for the enfant terrible of Lebanese music -- a musician, composer and theatre producer who made a huge mark on generations of Lebanese with his theatre pieces and songs, which many know by heart. Rebellious and visionary, his work evoked Lebanon's civil war even before it erupted in 1975, later reflecting the eventual conflict itself and the harsh realities of economic crisis. One of his most famous theatre pieces, the 1980 production "Film Ameriki Tawil" (The American Motion Picture), was a satirical depiction of Lebanon during the civil war, set in an asylum with characters who represented facets of society. Ziad Rahbani was the son of Arab musical icon Fairuz, who turned 90 last year, and the late Lebanese composer Assi Rahbani who along with his brother Mansour modernised Arab music by blending Western, Russian and Latin American sounds with Eastern rhythms. Already adored by older generations, Fairuz became a youth idol when her son began composing jazz-influenced songs for her, calling it "Oriental jazz". While Fairuz transcended Lebanon's deep sectarian divides, her son was fiercely left-wing and secular, and spent his life decrying the divisions that ruined his country. "I feel like everything has gone. I feel like Lebanon has become empty," Lebanese actress Carmen Lebbos, his former partner, wrote on X. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said in a statement that Rahbani was "a voice that rebelled against injustice, an honest mirror for the oppressed and marginalised". Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said that "Lebanon has lost an exceptional artist and creative, a free voice who stayed faithful to the values of justice and dignity" and who said "what many don't dare to say". Culture Minister Ghassan Salame wrote on X that "we dreaded this day as we knew his health was worsening and that his desire for treatment was dwindling".
France 24
17-07-2025
- France 24
French town withdraws pop festival funding over Kneecap appearance
British police are investigating Kneecap's lead singer under a terror offence after he was accused of displaying a Hezbollah flag at a concert last year. The Lebanese militant group is banned in Britain. Police said they are also investigating videos allegedly showing calls for the death of British lawmakers. The Paris suburb of Saint Cloud approved a 40,000 euro ($46,500) subsidy this year for the Rock En Seine festival that last year attracted 180,000 people over four days. The town council said the money had been agreed before the lineup was announced. Kneecap are to appear at the event on August 24. Saint Cloud said its council had now voted to withdraw the subsidy. A statement said the town "finances, within its means, a cultural and artistic project. On the other hand it does not finance political action, nor demands, and even less calls to violence, such as calls to kill lawmakers, whatever their nationality." The town said it respects the festival's "freedom" to decide its lineup and had not sought "any kind of negotiation with the aim of influencing the programme". Kneecap have been taken off the bill for festivals in Scotland and Germany this year because of the controversy. The group have said they are commited to the Palestinian cause but have denied any terrorism connection. Singer Liam O'Hanna, who appears under the name Mo Chara, has condemned the charges against him as political. O'Hanna is to appear in court again four days before the Rock En Seine show.
