Hiba Tawaji

Hiba Tawaji
Birth name	Hiba Michel Tawaji
Born	(1987-12-10) December 10, 1987
Origin	Achrafieh, Lebanon
Genres	Oriental music, jazz, opera, funk, pop music
Occupation(s)	Singer, actress, director
Instruments	Vocals

Hiba Michel Tawaji (Arabic: هبة ميشال طوجي‎) was born on December 10, 1987, in Achrafieh, Beirut, and grew up in the Elissar, Matn District, Lebanon. Tawaji is a Lebanese singer, actress, and director. She sings in Arabic, English and French. Tawaji interprets different music styles such as Oriental music, pop music, jazz, funk, and opera, as well as being a coloratura soprano with a four octave vocal range.

Tawaji has admired Oussama Rahbani (producer and composer and son of Mansour Rahbani) from a very young age, and always dreamt of meeting and working with him.^[1] That dream came true in January 2007 when she met Oussama and started a successful career alongside him.

She participated in the 4th series of The Voice: la plus belle voix the French version of The Voice, coached by Mika.

Education

From 1990 and until 2005, Tawaji studied in Athenee de Beyrouth School, and got her Baccalaureate.

From 2002 until 2007, she took singing lessons and solfeggio at Ecole des Arts Ghassan Yammine. Then she went to Saint Joseph University of Beirut, IESAV, and majored in audio-visual and cinematographic studies, earning her B.A. in 2010.

She also took for many years private opera lessons with Galina Khaldeeva.

From 2007 and to the present day, she has been developing vocal techniques and interpretation with Lebanese producer and composer Oussama Rahbani. As well as taking vocal lessons with Lebanese singer and vocal coach Wadih Abi Raad.

From May 2010 and until July 2010, she took vocal lessons with Emmy Award winner Gwen Conley in New York. In that same period, she followed a three-month intensive acting workshop at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York.

The Voice: la plus belle voix

In 2015, Tawaji took part in the 4th series of The Voice: la plus belle voix the French version of The Voice. In the blind auditions, she auditioned with "Les Moulins de mon cœur" by Michel Legrand with all four judges, Mika, Florent Pagny, Jenifer and Zazie turning their chairs. Tawaji opted to be in Team Mika. The blind audition was broadcast on day 3 of the auditions on 24 January 2015.

On 7 March 2015, in the Battles Round, Mika put her against Nög, another contestant in his team, both co-singing in "Mon amie la rose" from Françoise Hardy. Mika chose to keep Tawaji to the next round, with Nög being stolen by coach Zazie.

On 28 March, during the "L'Épreuve ultime" round, she interpreted "Fighter", a song by Christina Aguilera. She ended up staying in the Top 3 of Team Mika alongside Sharon Laloum and Yann'Sine Jebli, with David Thibault being stolen by Mika from Team Florent Pagny as a fourth new member of Team Mika.

In the live rounds, she sang "Everytime" from Britney Spears and was saved by public vote as top pick from Team Mika. In the second live round, she sang "Amoureuse" from Véronique Sanson again ending as public favourite from Team Mika with the biggest number of votes. Mika also opted to keep David Thibaut as Top 2 in his team.

On the semi-finals held on April 18, she confronted David Thibault in a bid to represent Team Mika in the final. She sang "Pas là" from Vianney, but lost to Thibault in the public vote, with the latter going to the 25 April 2015 final. Tawaji ended up finishing joint 5th to 8th place for the season.

Discography

Albums

2009 – Sayf 840 "صيف 840" (Highlights and the complete version) by Mansour Rahbani
2011 – La Bidayi Wala Nihayi "لا بداية ولا نهاية", (Oussama Rahbani feat. Hiba Tawaji)

La Bidayi Wala Nihayi

No.	Track Name	Music	Lyrics	Arranged/Orchestrated/Adapted/Conducted
1	La bidayi wala nihayi - (لا بداية ولا نهاية) - ("The Windmills of Your Mind")	Michel Legrand	Mansour Rahbani	Adapted, orchestrated and conducted by Oussama Rahbani
2	Herban - (هربان) - ("Running away")	Oussama Rahbani	Ghadi Rahbani	Arranged by Oussama Rahbani
3	La tkelli innak mechtakli - (لا تقلّي إنك مشتقلي) - ("Don't tell me that you miss me")	Oussama Rahbani	Ghadi Rahbani	Arranged and orchestrated by Oussama Rahbani
4	Zat ellafti - (ذات اللفتة) - ("Same glimpse")	Oussama Rahbani	Ghadi Rahbani	Arranged and orchestrated by Oussama Rahbani
5	Machyi w ma baaref la weyn - (ماشية وما بعرف لوين) - ("Salvador Dalí")	Oussama Rahbani	Ghadi Rahbani	Arranged and orchestrated by Oussama Rahbani
6	Kell shabi fallou - (كل صحابي فلّو) - ("All my friends are gone")	Oussama Rahbani	Ghadi Rahbani	Arranged and orchestrated by Oussama Rahbani
7	Tango el horriyyi - (تانغو الحرية) - ("Libertango")	Ástor Piazzolla	Ghadi Rahbani	Adapted, orchestrated and conducted by Oussama Rahbani
8	Helm - (حلم) - ("Dream")	Oussama Rahbani	Ghadi Rahbani	Arranged and orchestrated by Oussama Rahbani
9	Khayfi koul - (خايفة قول) - ("Afraid to say")	Oussama & Jad Rahbani	Ghadi Rahbani	Arranged by Oussama Rahbani & Jad Rahbani
10	Bel omr elli baki - (بالعمر اللي باقي) - ("What are you doing the rest of your life")	Michel Legrand	Mansour Rahbani	Adapted, orchestrated and conducted by Oussama Rahbani
11	Almourtazaka - (المرتزقة) - ("Mercenaries")	Oussama Rahbani	Ghadi Rahbani	Arranged and orchestrated by Oussama Rahbani
12	Ftahli el bab (فتحلي الباب) - ("Let me in")	Oussama Rahbani	Ghadi Rahbani	Arranged and orchestrated by Oussama Rahbani

2011 – Don Quixote ( by Marwan, Ghadi & Oussama Rahbani)

Introduction of the Album Don Quixote
Don Quixote A musical play based on the novel by Miguel de Cervantes. Music Composed, orchestrated and produced by Oussama Rahbani, lyrics by Ghadi Rahbani, directed by Marwan Rahbani, play produced by Byblos International Festival and Oussama Rahbani, album produced by 'Oussama Rahbani Cast: Hiba Tawaji (Dulcinea – Dima), Elie Khayat (Don Quixote), Gilbert Jalkh (Samho El Ghoul), Nader Khoury (Farmer), Simon Obeid (The Priest), Wadih Abi Raad (Chancellors – Ambassadors – Shamshoum) and choir. Recorded, mixed and mastered at Georges Merheb Studio Sound engineer: Georges Merheb Artistic consultant" Fouad Khoury Set and costume designer: Agnes Treplin Choreography: Dolly Sfeir and Pascale Sayegh Zgheib Animation and graphic design: Adaimy Studios Photos by Wael Hamza, Jana Younes Starring Rafic Ali Ahmad, Hiba Tawaji, Paul Sleiman, Tony Balaban, Nazih Youssef, Assad Haddad, Maya Yammine, Toni Issa, Rita Hayek, Boutros Hanna.

Tracklist

Ouverture المقدمة الأولى
Aalbal ya watanna عالبال يا وطنّا
Min a’shik gharib من عاشق غريب
Yemkin sarli aktar men daher يمكن صرلي أكتر من دهر
Rayhin رايحين
Lamouni ktir لاموني كتير
Dehket lhkoul ضحكت الحقول
Ghannou leddar غنّو للدار
Min li byekhtar مين اللي بيختار
Mouhakamat al maktaba محاكمة المكتبة
Hata el ketob hara’touha حتى الكتب حرقتوها
Elli ya habibi قلي يا حبيبي
Moujtamaana bi khatar مجتمعنا بخطر
Kasik ya madini كاسك يا مدينة
Ahla be Don Assad أهلا بالدون أسعد
Ahmar Azrak أحمر أزرق
La valse - Douri ya tawahin الفالس – دوري يا طواحين
Machiyeh wma ba’ref la weyn ماشية ما بعرف لوين
Aazameh w fakhameh عظمة وفخامة
Samho hakem al jazireh سمحو حاكم الجزيرة
Awlak leych mlahekni قولك ليش ملاحقني
Jayi tezraa ahlam جايي تزرع أحلام
Jano al tawahin / Watan al hassassine جنو الطواحين – وطن الحساسين
Ouverture المقدمة الثانية

2014 – Ya Habibi "يا حبيبي"

No.	Track Name	Music	Lyrics	Arranged/Orchestrated/Adapted/Conducted
1	Khalas - (خلص)	Oussama Rahbani	Ghadi Rahbani	Music & Orchestration by Oussama Rahbani
2	Sabah El Kheir - (صباح الخير)	Oussama Rahbani	Mansour Rahbani	Music & Orchestration by Oussama Rahbani
3	Awwal Ma Cheftou - (أول ما شفتو)	Oussama Rahbani	Ghadi Rahbani	Music & Orchestration by Oussama Rahbani
4	Lamma Byofda El Masrah - (لما بيفضى المسرح)	Oussama Rahbani	Ghadi Rahbani	Music & Orchestration by Oussama Rahbani
5	Yamamaton - (يمامة)	Oussama Rahbani	Mansour Rahbani	Music & Orchestration by Oussama Rahbani
6	Hobbi Li Intaha - (حبي اللي انتهى)	Oussama Rahbani	Ghadi Rahbani	Music & Orchestration by Oussama Rahbani
7	Al Rabih Al Arabi - (الربيع العربي)	Oussama Rahbani	Ghadi Rahbani	Music & Orchestration by Oussama Rahbani
8	Helwa Ya Baladi - (حلوة يا بلدي)	Samir Kassab, Jeff Barnel & Bernard Dahan	Samir Kassab, Jeff Barnel & Bernard Dahan	Adapted by Mohamed Marwan Saada, Arranged & Orchestrated by Oussama Rahbani
9	Maakoul - (معقول)	Oussama Rahbani	Ghadi Rahbani	Music & Orchestration by Oussama Rahbani
10	Ya Habibi (poem) - ((يا حبيبي (شعر)	Background music : "Adagio from Spartacus" by Aram Khachaturian	Mansour Rahbani	Music & Orchestration by Oussama Rahbani
11	Ya Habibi - (يا حبيبي)	Oussama Rahbani	Mansour Rahbani	Music & Orchestration by Oussama Rahbani
12	Ana Habbaytou - (أنا حبيتو)	Oussama Rahbani	Ghadi Rahbani	Music & Orchestration by Oussama Rahbani
13	Al Mar'a - (المرأة العربية)	Oussama Rahbani	Ghadi Rahbani	Music & Orchestration by Oussama Rahbani
14	Osset Dayaa (Zorba the Greek Mix) - (قصة ضيعة)	Mikis Theodorakis	Ghadi Rahbani	Adapted & Orchestrated by Oussama Rahbani
15	Beirut - (بيروت)	Oussama Rahbani	Henry Zougheib	Music & Orchestration by Oussama Rahbani
16	Eli W Elak El Sama - (إلي والك السما)	Oussama Rahbani	Mansour Rahbani	Music & Orchestration by Oussama Rahbani

Music videos

2008 – Metl el rih, "متل الريح" – Directed by Joe Bou Eid | Produced, composed and orchestrated by Oussama Rahbani | Written by Mansour Rahbani for the musical play "عودة الفينيق" The Return of the Phoenix
2011 – Helm, "حلم" – Directed by Hiba Tawaji | Produced, composed and orchestrated by Oussama Rahbani | Lyrics by Ghadi Rahbani | Taken from the album La Bidayi Wala Nihayi "لا بداية ولا نهاية"
2011 – Aal Bal Ya Watanna, "عالبال يا وطنّا" – Directed by Hiba Tawaji | Produced, composed and orchestrated by Oussama Rahbani) | Lyrics by Ghadi Rahbani | Taken from the musical play Don Quixote by Marwan, Ghadi and Oussama Rahbani
2011 – Machyi w ma baarif la weyn, "ماشية وما بعرف لوين" – Directed by Marwan Rahbani| Produced, composed and orchestrated by Oussama Rahbani | Lyrics by Ghadi Rahbani | Taken from the stage performance in the musical play Don Quixote
2011 – Min elli byekhtar, "مين اللي بيختار" – Directed by Marwan Rahbani | Produced, composed and orchestrated by Oussama Rahbani | Lyrics by Ghadi Rahbani | Taken from the stage performance in the musical play Don Quixote
2011 – Elli ya habibi oul, "قلّي يا حبيبي قول" – Directed by Marwan Rahbani | Produced, composed and orchestrated by Oussama Rahbani | Lyrics by Ghadi Rahbani | Taken from the stage performance in the musical play Don Quixote
2012 – Lamouni Ktir, "لاموني كتير" – Directed by Marwan Rahbani | Produced, composed and orchestrated by Oussama Rahbani | Lyrics by Ghadi Rahbani | Taken from the stage performance in the musical play Don Quixote
2012 – Kasik Ya Madini, "كاسك يا مديني" – Directed by Marwan Rahbani | Produced, composed and orchestrated by Oussama Rahbani | Lyrics by Ghadi Rahbani | Taken from the stage performance in the musical play Don Quixote
2013 – La Bidayi Wala Nihayi, "لابداية ولا نهاية"
2014 – Khalas, "خلص" – Directed by Fabrice Begotti | Produced, composed and orchestrated by Oussama Rahbani | Lyrics by Ghadi Rahbani | Taken from the album Ya Habibi "يا حبيبي"
2014 – Al Rabih Al Arabi, "الربيع العربي" – Directed by Serge Oryan | Concept by Oussama Rahbani, Hiba Tawaji, Serge Oryan | Produced, composed and orchestrated by Oussama Rahbani | Lyrics by Ghadi Rahbani | Taken from the album Ya Habibi "يا حبيبي"
2014 – Metl El Chajar Mazrou3in, "متل الشجر مزروعين" - Directed by Joe Bou Eid | Concept by Oussama Rahbani & Ghadi Rahbani | Produced, composed and orchestrated by Oussama Rahbani | Lyrics by Ghadi Rahbani | A tribute to the Lebanese Army on its 69th anniversary

Musicals

2008 – Byblos International Festival: "عودة الفينيق" The Return of the Phoenix (by Oussama Rahbani),^[2]
2008 – Dubai: "عودة الفينيق" The Return of the Phoenix (by Oussama Rahbani)
2008 – 2009 – Casino du Liban: "عودة الفينيق" The Return of the Phoenix (by Oussama Rahbani)
2009 – Byblos International Festival: "صيف 840" Summer 840 (by Mansour Rahbani)^[3]
2009–2010 Casino du Liban: "صيف 840" Summer 840 (by Mansour Rahbani)
2010 – Qatar: "ملوك الطوائف" Moulouk Al Tawaef
2011 – Byblos International Festival: Don Quixote (by Marwan, Ghadi and Oussama Rahbani)^[4]

Concerts

March 2011 – Abu Dhabi Festival: "An evening with Oussama Rahbani", Zaha Hadid Pavilion, Oussama Rahbani feat. Hiba Tawaji & Wadih Abi Raad.^[5]
August 2011 – Ehdeniyat festival: "Oussama Rahbani feat. Hiba Tawaji & Wadih Abi Raad" ^[6]
November 2011 – Palais des congrès Dbayyeh – Lebanon: "La bidayi wala nihayi", "Oussama Rahbani feat. Hiba Tawaji & Wadih Abi Raad" ^[7]
February 2012 – Saint Joseph Church Monot – Lebanon: "Synergy" a symphonic piece by Oussama Rahbani. Conducted by Maestro Michel Khairallah, performed by The Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra, Hiba Tawaji (Soprano) & the NDU Choir.^[8]
September 2012 – Palais Des Congres Dbayyeh - Lebanon: "Lana wa lakom al hayat" A Concert for "Gebran Tueini Foundation" 2012 By Oussama Rahbani & Hiba Tawaji. Music by Oussama Rahbani, Mansour Rahbani, Lyrics by the Great Mansour Rahbani, Ghadi Rahbani.^[9]
July 2014 - Festival International De Hammamet - Tunisia: Oussama Rahbani presents Hiba Tawaji in concert at Festival International De Hammamet.^[10]
March 2013 - Abu Dhabi Festival: With the NSOU National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine. Conducted by Maestro Vladimir Sirenko. Produced & Orchestrated by Ghadi & Oussama Rahbani.^[11]
July 2013 - Byblos International Festival - Lebanon: "Rahbani Summer Night". With the NSOU National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine. Conducted by Maestro Vladimir Sirenko. Produced & Orchestrated by Ghadi & Oussama Rahbani.^[12]
April 2014 - Oman ROH (Royal Opera House Muscat) - Oman: 2 concerts, with the NSOU National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine. Conducted by Maestro Vladimir Sirenko. Produced & Orchestrated by Ghadi & Oussama Rahbani.^[13]
August 2014 - Batroun International Festival - Lebanon: "Ya Habibi" - Hiba performed songs taken from the albums "Ya Habibi", "La bidayi wala nihayi", "Don Quixote" among other hit songs. Concept by Oussama Rahbani & Hiba Tawaji, Lyrics by the Great Mansour Rahbani & Ghadi Rahbani, Composed, Arranged & Produced by Oussama Rahbani, Directed by Marwan Rahbani.^[14]
November 2014 - Casino du Liban - Lebanon: 2 concerts, "Ya Habibi" - Hiba performed songs taken from the albums "Ya Habibi", "La bidayi wala nihayi", "Don Quixote" among other hit songs. Concept by Oussama Rahbani & Hiba Tawaji, Lyrics by the Great Mansour Rahbani & Ghadi Rahbani, Composed, Arranged & Produced by Oussama Rahbani, Directed by Marwan Rahbani.^[15]

Awards

November 2011 – BIAF – Beirut International Award Festival in Pavillon Royal/Biel – Beirut^[16]