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Gulf Weekly
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf Weekly
A symphony of cultures
melissa@ One of Bahrain's oldest choirs and young talents at a local university will come together as one voice for their debut collaboration, Chorus of Cultures, a spectacular musical concert set to be staged on May 23. Formed more than 50 years ago, Manama Singers, together with the RCSI Medical University of Bahrain Choir, will take enthusiasts on an exciting journey through language, rhythm, and harmony, across continents and cultures, conjuring an 'unforgettable evening of musical unity'. The two-hour concert presented by more than 70 singers will tell tales from around the world, presenting a rich tapestry of global choral and solo music – from the soulful call of African folk melodies to the dramatic flair of classical arias and the groove of contemporary popular hits. 'Manama Singers were looking for a conductor at the end of 2024, as our regular conductor Jo Dichiolla was taking some time out. We were lucky enough to find an exciting new conductor, South African Stefan Els, who is also the conductor and founder of RCSI Medical University of Bahrain Choir,' Manama Singers chairperson Susan Scott told GulfWeekly. 'We started rehearsing a number of South African songs and then Stefan suggested a combined concert, which we thought was a wonderful idea. The concert, being multinational and cultural, grew to showcase different songs, but was also named so because both choirs have a remarkable number of nationalities,' she added. Manama Singers, which celebrated its golden jubilee three years ago, comprises more than 40 members across nationalities, including English, Welsh, Scottish, Irish, French, Italian, German, Swiss, Swedish, American, Indian, Pakistani, Malaysian, Kiwi (New Zealand), Jordanian, Lebanese and Zambian. RCSI Medical University of Bahrain Choir, formed last year, currently has 32 members. 'Teaching African songs was a particularly fun challenge,' choirs'conductor and RCSI Bahrain data analyst Stefan revealed. 'Getting everyone to learn the words, rhythms, and accompanying movements was a steep but rewarding learning curve,' he added. 'Manama Singers were initially quite hesitant to let go of their choir folders and memorise the music, but they have overcome that with great dedication.' This is the first time Manama Singers will be presenting without sheet music – printed notations meant to guide the performer about pitch, rhythm and other elements. 'While we've been rehearsing since mid-January, we've only had two combined weekend rehearsals, each about four hours long. We had to get creative with our rehearsal spaces at RCSI. Practising on staircases helped with acoustics, and the altos even worked on their projection techniques in a car park at one point,' the 34-year-old from Al Sayh, who has been living in Bahrain for the last six years, said, highlighting some memorable moments behind the scenes. US expatriate Amanda Pilmer, who moved to the kingdom in August last year, shared her experience and excitement for the show. 'It's been great meeting all these new people, who are so welcoming. I'm a mum of two so, spending that one day a week rehearsing has given me an outlet,' the 40-year-old from Adliya said, adding that she will be presenting some solo acts at the concert. The event will commence at 7pm at Downtown Rotana in Manama.
Gulf Weekly
20-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf Weekly
A journey of self-discovery
melissa@ BAHRAINI-FRENCH creative Christine Khonjie's debut book, compiling her photographs, artwork and writings, was unveiled in the kingdom this month, and brings alive her creative process while being on the spectrum. Drawings, Books And Embroideries, that highlights five decades of her work, features zoomorphic creations, djinns (spirits), goddesses and shamanic self-portraits on paper, textiles and objects. Christine, with her unique artistic style, reflecting her nomadic life between Iran, France, India and Bahrain, transports the reader to her own 'geography of memories'. The book was launched at Shaikh Ebrahim bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Centre for Culture and Research in Muharraq. 'I decided to launch the book in Bahrain because I feel my roots are here, even though I have never lived or will never live here,' the 77-year-old told GulfWeekly. 'My father was Bahraini and my family lives here. I have always made trips to visit them since the 1960s,' she added. 'My friend and renowned curator, writer and producer Rose Issa (who is also the editor and publisher) suggested I work on this book, and she has done a wonderful job with the whole project.' Christine started drawing and painting when she was about 38. 'It just came to me one day, but they were just scribbles, not art, if you ask me. I was making a self-portrait with my left hand and when I saw it, I felt such an emotion being released. My therapist, who I was seeing for my Asperger's, encouraged me to go with the flow,' the Paris-based talent said. Asperger Syndrome is a developmental disorder and those with the condition may have a hard time relating to others socially, exhibit repetitive behaviour patterns, and have a narrow range of interests. Asperger's has been merged with other conditions into autism spectrum disorder – a neurodevelopmental disorder. Some famous personalities known to have had Asperger's are Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein and Mozart. Sir Anthony Hopkins, Bill Gates and Elon Musk also said that they have been diagnosed with the condition. Christine was clinically diagnosed in her early 40's but the polyglot, who speaks French, Persian, Italian and English, stuck out like a sore thumb right from her childhood. 'As a child, I hardly spoke but as an adolescent, I started talking a bit. Even so, I wasn't very popular – I said what I thought, which didn't go down too well with my peers,' she recalled. Though school was tough, Christine was determined to get an education. At the age of 10, she was introduced to archaeology and Ukrainian-born French archaeologist Roman Ghirshman by her father. 'I didn't understand what it (archaeology) was, but I was fascinated by it and as a teenager I decided to learn it formally. I signed up for a diploma at École du Louvre, which was difficult given my condition, but I made the cut. 'The four years that ensued were challenging. 'I had no friends, dressed strangely and was on my own. However, I successfully completed my course,' the writer noted, highlighting that back in the day, there wasn't much awareness about Asperger's and having learning difficulties was frowned upon. It is also the main reason Christine, despite being qualified, turned down many job offers in her late 20s. Braving the odds, the artist, who has exhibited her works at multiple showcases in Bahrain, used her 'uniqueness' to empower her and while her creations are partly influenced by her passion for archaeology, she believes they primarily come from 'somewhere inside her'. While Christine doesn't think much of her writing, she has plans to revisit a draft she had penned down decades ago about her late sister, who she lost to suicide, which she hopes to publish. For now, she is happy to return to Paris at the end of the month and surround herself with things she loves, including archaeology and ecology.
