Timeline of Fairuz

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This is the timeline of Lebanese artist Fairuz :

Contents

[edit] 1930s-1950s

1935
  • November 21 : Nouhad Haddad was born in 'Jabal Al Arz' village, Lebanon from Wadi Haddad (Turkish origins, Mardin) and Lisa El Boustani.
1946
  • Mohammad Fleifel (oriental music teacher) notices young Nouhad's talents. She becomes his student in the Lebanese National music institute.
1952
  • Her very first song made by the Rahbani brothers,'Itab' "Reproaches". Immediate success of the song, Fairuz becomes a major artistic figure in the Middle-East.
1955
1957
  • Fairuz faces her audience for the first time during the show "Ayyam Al Hassad" (Days of Harvest) where she sang "Lebnan Ya Akhdar Helou" (Lebanon the Beautiful Green) in Baalbeck.
  • Awarded "Cavalier" Order Medal of Honour by Lebanese President Camille Chamoun.
  • The Rahbanis turn down a request for Fairuz to sing at the presidential palace at the honour of the Shah of Iran, who was visiting at that time…
1959
  • Baalbeck International Festival, where she performed "Al 'Urs Fil Qarya" (The wedding in the village) [also called "Al Muhakama" (The trial)].
  • First appearance in Damascus' International Festival.

[edit] 1960s

1960
  • Damascus International Exhibition Festivals. Civil unrest starts in Lebanon as the PLO refugees from Jordan settle in Lebanon.
1961
  • Damascus International Festivals and Baalbeck International Festival where she performed the musical play "Al Ba'albakiya" (The girl from Baalbeck).
  • Also, performances in Canada, USA, Brazil and Argentina.
1962
  • Fairuz in the Royal Albert Hall in London. She performed the musical plays "Jisr al Amar" (Bridge of the moon) in Baalbeck and "Awdat al 'Askar" (The return of the soldiers) in Le Capitole Theatre, Beirut.
  • Fairuz sales pass the 10 million mark to become first Arab female singer to achieve this number after Umm Kulthum.
  • She was given the Order of Merit, Awarded by President Fouad Chehab, Lebanon
1963
  • Casino du Liban, where she performed the musical play "Al Layl wal Qandil" (The Night and the Lantern).
  • Order of Cedars, Awarded by President Fouad Chehab, Lebanon
  • Performed in Jordan.
  • She received the Medal of Honor awarded by King Hussein, Jordan
1964
  • In the Cedars Festival, where she first sang Gibran’s ‘Give Me the Flute and Sing’. The song establishes her as the Arab World’s most prominent name in music. She performed the musical play "Biyya'el Khawatem" (Rings for Sale).
1965
  • "Biyya' el Khawatem" (Rings for sale) made as a movie.
  • In Beiteddine International Festival.
1966
  • In Kuwait. "Ayyam Fakhreddine" musical play in Baalbeck International Festival.
  • In Damascus where she sang 'The Bells of the Return' for the Palestinian cause.
  • "Safarbarlek", the exile, movie.
1967
  • The musical play "Hala wal Malik" (Hala and the King) in
  • Piccadilly Theatre, Beirut
  • Damascus International Festival
  • Cedars Festival, Lebanon (she sang Zahratal Mada'en, a song for Jerusalem, and Abdel Wahab's Sakanal Layl).
  • She received the Order of Merit, First Class, awarded by President Nureddine al'Attassi, Syria
  • "Bintel Haress" (The Guard's Daughter) movie.
1968
  • In Tunisia and Algeria.
  • She received the Key of the Holy City Awarded by the Cultural Committee of Jerusalem.
  • "Ach Chakhs" (The Person) musical play at the Damascus International Festival
1969
  • "Ach Chakhs" (The Person) musical play in:
  • Piccadilly Theatre, Beirut
  • "Jibal As Sawwan" (Sawwan Mountains) musical play in:
  • A memorial stamp featuring Fairuz was issued by the Lebanese Government.
  • She records the Orthodox Great Friday Liturgy Hymns for the first time at the St. George Church in Antelias. The event set a tradition of Fairuz holding the Great Friday Funeral ceremony at a different church every year according to the Syriac/Greek/Russian Orthodox liturgy.
  • Her popularity soars to new heights as her music is banned in her own country Lebanon by order of the government because she refused to sing at the honor of the Algerian president Hawari Bou Medyan.

[edit] 1970s

1970
  • In Morocco, Brazil, and Argentina.
  • "Ya’eesh Ya’eesh" (long live long live) musical play at the Piccadilly Theatre, Beirut
  • She received the Legion of Honour awarded by President Suleiman Frangieh, Lebanon
  • "Sah Ennawm" (Did you sleep well?) musical play at the Damascus International Festival
1971
  • "Sah Ennawm" (Did you sleep well?) musical play at the Piccadilly Theatre, Beirut
  • A sold out 11 city tour in the United States of America, Canada and Mexico, during which she sang selections from "Nass min Wara".
  • Release of “Fairuz in America’ a documentary about her tour, produced by Parker and Associates. The documentary became TV’s highest rated show in the Arab world.
  • "Nass min Wara" (People made out of paper) musical play in Damascus International Festival
1972
  • "Nass min Wara" (People made out of paper) musical play at the Piccadilly Theatre, Beirut
  • "Naturet Elmafateeh" (The Guardian of the Keys) musical play at
  • June 27: Assi Rahbani suffers a severe brain hemorrhage that leaves him half-paralyzed.
1973
  • Ziad Rahbani, their eldest son, composes the first song for his mother titled "Saalouni Nnas" (The People Asked Me), in the musical play "Al Mahatta" (The Station) performed at
  • Piccadilly Theatre, Beirut
  • Damascus International Festival
  • "Qasidet Hub" (A poem of Love) at
  • Baalbeck International Festival (Last appearance until 1998)
  • Damascus International Festival
1974
  • "Loulou" musical play at
  • Piccadilly Theatre, Beirut
  • Damascus International Festival
  • In the Kingdom of Oman.
1975
  • In Baghdad, Iraq.
  • In Morocco, where the king of Morocco attended personally at the Capitol’s Stadium, an exception to the tradition that artists usually performed at the royal palace’s auditorium.
  • She received the Gold Medal of Honour awarded by King Hussein, Jordan
  • "Mais Elreem" musical play in:
  • Piccadilly Theatre, Beirut
  • Damascus International Festival
  • Fairuz refuses to sing at the honour of the Shah of Iran in the prestigious Pheonicia Hotel in Beirut during his visit to Lebanon.
1976
  • In Damascus International Festival, where she sang for the first time "Bhebbak ya Lebnan" (Lebanon I love you).
  • In Cairo, Egypt. The biggest crowd in a stage ever since Oum Koulthoum sang in the same place 12 years before. Both ladies drew nearly 4500 people inside, and well over 15,000 crowded outside. The area had to be blocked off for security.
1977
  • Good Friday prayers held in Sidnaya Holy shrine in Syria. The area was shut down one week before the event for security reasons as about 1600 people camped around the premises. About 6500 people attended the event and for the first time she sang 'La Tanouhi' (Don't Weep).
1977-1978
  • Her last musical play, "Petra", performed in:
  • Amman Roman Amphitheater
  • Damascus International Festival (Last appearance)
  • Piccadilly Theatre, Beirut (Last appearance)
  • Casino du Liban
1978
1979
  • In Al'Sharika in the UAE.
  • In the Olympia Stadium, Paris. She first sang 'Sakkarouch Chaware (They closed the streets), talking about the destruction in Beirut. One week later the PLO-Lebanese Phalange war expands to become a civil war between the Lebanese Christian Phalange and the Islamic Extremist Movements. It is also the last concert with husband Assi Rahbani before their separation. Fairuz total sales pass the 20 million for the decade of the 1970s.
  • Arab media goes into shock as the separation between Fairuz and husband Assi is officially announced. Ziad slowly takes over the reins of his mother’s musical career as composer and artistic manager.

[edit] 1980s

1981
  • In Brazil. First concert with her son, Ziad Rahbani.
  • In USA and Canada where ticket sales pass the 1 million mark.
  • Theatre of the Performing Arts, Miami, Florida — October 2
  • John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, D.C. — October 4
  • Music Hall, Cleveland, Ohio — October 10
  • Carnegie Hall, New York City, New York — October 11
  • Masonic Temple, Detroit, Michigan — October 17
  • Place des Arts, Montreal, Canada — October 22/23
  • O’Keefe Center for the Performing Arts, Toronto, Canada — October 25
  • Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California — October 30
  • Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco, California — November 7/8
  • Music Hall, Houston, Texas — November 14
  • J. F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, D.C. — November 15
  • United Nations’ General Assembly Lobby, New York City, New York — November 20
  • Symphony Hall, Boston, Massachusetts — November 22
1982
  • In Egypt where she sings 'Your Lute Is Loud’ for the first time in celebration of the PLO’s annihilation within Lebanon and the exile of Arafat out of Lebanon to Tunisia. In spite of its political inclinations, the song became the most successful for the year.
1983
  • Jarash International Festivals.
1984
  • In Australia, last concert with sister Huda as the two separate professionally as well.
1985
  • Another Arab media shock wave as the professional separation of Fairuz and sister Huda is officially announced.
  • In Abu Dhabi, UAE.
  • August: In Bousra Roman Amphitheatre, Syria. The biggest venue ever held in the Middle East, entrance was free and there were no tickets for sale. About 30,000 people camped outside several days before the event and 13,000 filled up the stadium by dawn time. All roads to the area were completely shut down the day of the concert. The concert started at 09:00 p.m. and ended by 01:00 a.m.. The crowds were out of control and beyond reason with elation as they carried Fairuz’s car on their shoulders after the concert, all the way to Damascus, crossing well over 7000 km. At Damascus, and for the first time and exception to tradition, president Hafez al'Asad bows to her as he greets her. 'Bowing to the greatness of the Great One’ was the title of the next day’s newspapers. President Asad gave her the highest of honors in the nation. It was her last appearance in Syria.
1986
  • In London, the Royal Hall Festival where ticket prices reached 1000 pounds sterling, she eclipsed Frank Sinatra at the ticket sales box office (his concert was scheduled to take place two weeks after hers).
  • Good Friday at St. Elie church in Antelias area, in East Beirut. The Lebanese Forces militia had shut down the area for security precautions as 3500 people flocked to the area from all the over the divided nation and well over 1250 tourists also attended, in spite of the unstable security in Lebanon.
  • Fairuz is rushed to the hospital for exhaustion, at the same time her husband, after an estrangement of 7 year dies in the same hospital in the floor above. The two never divorced but were totally estranged for 7 years.
1987
  • In Bahrain, biggest Fairuz venue in the Gulf. VIP ticket prices reached $1,500 and well over 2,500 attended.
  • United States Tour
1988
  • In Bercy, Paris.
  • She received the Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres title awarded by President Francois Mitterrand, France.
  • Death of daughter Layal of a suicidal drug overdose, after 3 years in rehabilitation.
1989
  • Concert in Cairo. The Cancellation War starts in Lebanon.
  • Cancellation of a concert in London, due to the death of Alice Dagher in Lebanon, one of Fairuz’s closest friends.

[edit] 1990s

1990
  • Concert in Dubai.
1991
  • In Qatar. No tickets were released for sale, it was an all-invited event.
  • For the first time at the St. Charbel shrine, her first public appearance in Lebanon, where she holds the Great Friday ritual funeral prayers. Prayers for Lebanon and the martyrs are lifted upon the end of the 30*year civil war. Well over 750 people attended inside and around 1000 listened outside in spite of the strong rainstorm and still-insecure situation. She sings for the first time "With Us Is the Lord" as it is enrolled into the Orthodox liturgical repertoire in Russia. It has been 90 years since a liturgical hymn has been added into the church’s official repertoire.
1992
  • Good Friday prayers held in Balamand Monastery without any advance notice. About 600 people were already present and about 1000 rushed to the area when the news spread.
1993
  • Fairuz sues Madonna for $2.5 million for plagiarism over the Arab section*sampling in her song "Erotica". The song contains a section of a Christian Great Friday hymn that translates "Today, He is held to a cross" while Madonna repeats over her voice 'All over me'. Upon the song’s release, the Vatican bans Madonna from entering its lands and she is banned on its radio stations. The song and its accompanying album are also banned in Lebanon. Sales of the song soar and reach 5 million units and an undisclosed settlement is reached between Fairuz and Madonna.
  • In Dubai, where she cried as she sang "Don’t Be Scared, Salem Is Sleeping and Not Feeling Cold" (a song for the martyrs of Lebanon).
  • Good Friday prayers held at the St. Charbel shrine.
1994
  • In London's Olympia.
  • Fairuz is the star of the launch event of the Solidere Real Estates Company. First concert in Lebanon since the end of the war, held in Matyrs' Square, the separation area between East and West Beirut, as to reunite the divided nation. Over 50,000 attended and the free event broke TV ratings as 125 million Arabs watched her via satellite. Millions were said to have cried as a video of the Lebanese war was shown while she sang the song "To Beirut". The King of Saudi Arabia declares, "It was when Fairuz’s voice soared from its heart that we knew Lebanon is finally back."
1997
  • In Dubai, where she first sings "Greet Him for Me".
  • She received the Highest Artistic Distinction awarded by President Bin Ali, Tunisia
  • Jerusalem Award awarded by the Culture and Arts Committee, Jerusalem
1998
  • In Bahrain.
  • In Tunisia, fist time since 1968.
  • Return to the Baalbeck International Festival since 20 years of absence. Tickets sell out within the first day of sale and well over 16,000 people fill up the three massive stadiums of Baalbeck pillars.
  • The release of "Fairuz" a documentary about the living legend’s childhood, life, the trip to glory with her husband and brothers in-law and how she became the symbol of a dying nation’s hope.
  • She received the Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur title awarded by President Jacques Chirac, France
  • Highest Distinction awarded by King Hussein, Jordan
1999
  • In the Kingdom of Oman.
  • At the MGM Grand Arena, Las Vegas, where she is reported to have brought in the biggest crowd ever since the late Frank Sinatra. Well over 14,000 people were estimated to be inside the stadium and over 5,000 outside.
  • The release of "Arrab al Mowaed" (The Time Is Approaching), a behind-the-scenes documentary of the legend’s record-breaking concert at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas. The show was another record-breaking broadcast in the Arab World.

[edit] 2000-Present

2000
  • Twice at the Beiteddine International Festival.
2001
  • In Dubai.
  • In Kuwait.
  • In Switzerland.
2002
  • In Dubai where she dedicated the event to the Intifada.
  • At St. George church, Achrafieh for the Orthodox Great Friday Funeral Ritual.
  • In Paris after 14 years of absence since the Great Friday mass in Notre Dame. Well over 2500 attend.
  • In Beiteddine. Fairuz performs for the first time without her son Ziad.
2003
  • In Dubai, where she first sings ‘Small Thing’ and ‘He’s a Loss’.
  • At the St. Georgeos Church in Downtown Beirut for the Orthodox Great Friday Funeral Ritual.
  • In Doha, Qatar.
  • Beiteddine International Festival where she sings new songs for the first time since Wala Kif. CD.
  • Third major multi-state USA tour since the 1970s, and announcement of a new CD release by 2004 (the CD is still not yet released).
  • Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, Connecticut — October 11
  • Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California — October 18
  • Fox Theatre, Detroit, Michigan — October 23
  • Fairuz blocks the release of "We Loved Each Other so Much" in Lebanon. The documentary was made by Dutch director Jack Janssen and it talks about the old Lebanese days of economic growth and luxury and the fall into the bloody chaos as Fairuz’s voice remained the only ray of hope. The movie is screened in several festivals around the world but not inside Lebanon.
2004
  • At the Church of St. Elias al*Kantari in West Beirut, near Downtown. An Orthodox Great Friday mass is held in the middle-sized Maronite church. Well over 2000 people crowded the inside and about 3000 camped outside.
  • September: First appearance in 2004 at the University Arena in Jordan, the tickets sold out in 1 day and well over 6,500 attended the event.
  • December 12: Tickets sell out completely for 2 venues in Montreal, Canada for Feb. 13 and 14, 2005.
2005
  • February 12-13: At the 2 biggest venues in Canada, 6000 attend the first concert and 11,000 the second concert a night later. It was her first concert in Canada after 24 years, since her Legend and Legacy Tour in 1981.
  • Fairuz declines to perform the Western Great Friday Funeral Mass due to the returned civil unrest in the country that followed the assassination of the former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri a month earlier. The only statement her media office released to the press was "I will not sing to a divided people."
  • April 05: A Gulf-based business magazine makes a poll about the Arab World’s most powerful singers and she places in at second place with a fortune worth $36.9 million, an artistic archive of plays, concert performances, and photos worth an estimated $20.8 million, and a music back catalog worth an estimated $30 million.
  • April 29: Fairuz holds the Eastern Orthodox Great Friday Funeral Mass in Bekfaya area, in far East Beirut, at the Muhaidseh church. Thousands crowded outside the church that was full within every inch of space. The mass lasted 45 minutes and the crowds cheered loudly for almost 15 minutes. For the third time in the history of the Orthodox Church 3 more hymns are enrolled into the Russian Orthodox liturgy. "Al Aodiya al’Oula" (The First Valleys), "Al Aodiya al Tasi’aa" (The Nine Valley), and "Sabbihu al'Rabb" (Bless the Lord).
  • June 25: Fairuz is awarded a honorary doctorate degree at the prestigious AUB (American University of Beirut) during its annual graduation ceremony. It is the first time ever a vocalist has been awarded such a high honor, usually granted to avant garde scientists, politicians, and laureate.
2006
  • March 01: Official announcement that Fairuz will be holding two concerts at the Baalbeck International Festival during the Summer of 2006.
  • March 20: Official announcement of Fairuz to be holding a charity concert at UAE, at the American University of Dubai for the Autism Center. The concert is scheduled to be at March 30, 2006.
  • March 30: Fairuz sang in the American University theatre in Dubai. the concert consisted of oldies. It was very successful. She sang Zourouni (Visit me) for the first time since her Las Vegas concert in 1999. The stars of the show were "Aam yelaabo el wlad" (the children are playing) which was sang for the first time on a stage, "Ya rayt" (I wish) which has been last sang in 1960, "Ehkili ehkili" (tell me, tell me) which is a Lebanese patriotic song and finally "Hamra stayhatik" (your rooves are red) which is one of her late husband's masterpieces during the 1960s and was sang on stage for the first time in 2004.
  • May 18: Fairuz sang in the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The concert consisted mainly of oldies. The crowds were cheering for 5 minutes after she left the stage. She came back on stage twice. Some of the songs she performed are: "Zourouni" (Visit me) , "Sanrji'ou Yawman" (we will be back one day), "Hamra Stayhatik" (your rooves are red) and "am Yel'abo Lewlad" (the children are playing).
  • July: Fairuz is due to sing at the Baalbeck International Festival. She will be performing one of her old plays; "Sah Ennawm" (Did you sleep well?), the comic musical play, in a new version written by her son Ziad. She last performed this play more than 30 years ago in both Beirut and Damascus. The show is planned to start on the 13th of July for 4 days and it will be performed on a special stage between the 2 Roman temples in Baalbeck.
  • July 12: a free performance of Sah Ennawm was delivered to Baalbeck's residents.
  • July 13: Cancellation of the four performances in Baalbeck due to the situation in Lebanon. New dates for these performances could be given starting the 17th of July.
  • July 25: Fairouz is again the media's most sought-after icon after her songs and videos are endlessly played and aired throughout the Arab World in the light of the Israeli/Hizballah raging wars.
  • August 02: Fairouz donates $750,000 USD for the aid of the 1.2 million refugees who were left homeless and stranded after the escalation of the war.
  • December 01, 02, 03: Fairuz performs Sah Ennawm (Did you sleep well?) operetta at BIEL's theatre in downtown Beirut, with more than 6,500 people present each night, amid the growing political and religious tensions in Lebanon.
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