Jordanian Soprano Zeina Barhoum Performs at the Arab Art Festival in Chengdu, China

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Bridging Sino-Arab Cultures

Jordanian Soprano Zeina Barhoum Performs at the Arab Art Festival in Chengdu, China


Determined to bring cultures together through her music, Jordanian Soprano Zeina Barhoum represented Jordan in the closing ceremony of the Arab Art Festival in Chengdu, China on October 25. Barhoum sang Si Lu Meng Xiang (The Dream of Silk Road) with Beijing Award winning Tenor Wang Chuanyue. The idea of the festival and the song embody the core of Zeina's message of bridging cultures as the words of the song actually include those exact words.

Barhoum also presented a number of solo performances, such as Ana Albi Dalili, Oh Mio Babbino Caro, Franz Lehar duet in English and Les Filles de Cadix, on October 26 and 27.

Aiming to support cultural exchange and cooperation between China and Arab states, the Arab Art Festival is organized by the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sichuan People's Government and the League of Arab States.

Jordanian Soprano Zeina Barhoum's first album Alcántara - Bridging Cultures Across The Mediterranean & Beyond was recently launched on iTunes & Anghami. The album contains 10 Arabic and international cover songs, including the classical Andalusian-Arabic song Lamma Bada, the Neapolitan song O Sole Mio and Sempre Libera from Verdi's La Traviata and more.

Zeina Barhoum is a classically trained Soprano and founder of The Alcántara music and art series. Zeina has performed at benefits countless times for the benefit of women, children, peace and prosperity. Among her many invitations to perform, Barhoum was invited to perform at Kensington Palace in celebration of Women achievers, and for bridging cultures through the Arab International Women's Forum.

Her album Alcántara refers to the Roman stone arch bridge built in Extremadura, Spain. The title of the song reflects Zeina's dedication to building strong connections of understanding and compassion through her music. Her second album, Alcántara II was recently recorded live and launched at a concert accompanied by the Philharmonic Orchestra of Lviv and Choir lead by Conductor Lorenzo Tazzieri. Zeina obtained a BSC in Visual Communication at the American University of Sharjah.

During 2017, Barhoum was awarded the Grand Prix at a ceremony held by the Embassy of Ukraine in Jordan. She had previously won the same award at the 2nd Taras Shevchenko International Singing Competition. In July 2017, Barhoum launched the Amman Opera Festival (AOF), the first opera festival in the Arab world, featuring a full operatic production of Verdi's La Traviata held at the Roman Amphitheater in Downtown Amman. In September 2018, the 2nd edition of AOF presented a full operatic production of the opera La Bohéme at the Roman Amphitheatre.

Barhoum's motivation behind this initiative is to plant the seeds towards growing the opera culture in Jordan and the Arab world, and perhaps inspire the building of a purpose-built Opera House in Jordan's Capital, Amman, joining the company of other Arab states such as Oman and the UAE.

Under the patronage of HRH Princess Muna Al Hussein, Soprano Zeina Barhoum and Somerset artist Peter Lawrence held an art exhibition that included some of their paintings, as part of Alcántara Beyond the Wells: Bridging Cultures with Music and Art, at the Bishop's Palace in Wells, UK.

Zeina is also a fashion designer at Creative Concepts Industries (CCI), a family business that was founded in July 2006. She started her own jewelry brand Zeina Barhoum Jewelry.