An exceptional artistic evening in the heart of the Saudi capital
On a night described as legendary, Syrian artist Assala Nasri, dubbed the "Icon of the East," brought the curtain down on the musical concerts of the sixth edition of Riyadh Season, delivering an artistic evening that will remain etched in the memory of Arab art. Under the supervision and patronage of His Excellency Advisor Turki bin Abdulmohsen Al-Sheikh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Entertainment Authority, Assala captivated the audience at the Mohammed Abdo Arena, which was filled to capacity with enthusiastic fans who came to witness a finale befitting the grandeur of the season.
Background of the event: Riyadh Season as a global entertainment destination
This concert is part of Riyadh Season, the global entertainment festival launched by Saudi Arabia in 2019 as a key initiative of Vision 2030. The season aims to transform Riyadh into a world-class tourist and entertainment destination, enhancing the quality of life for its residents and visitors by hosting a diverse range of artistic, sporting, and cultural events. Over the years, the season has successfully attracted major international and Arab stars, placing the Kingdom on the global entertainment map. Assala's concert represents the culmination of this vision's success in delivering unique and memorable experiences.
Concert details: A musical journey across cultures
Led by the esteemed maestro Tamer Faydi and his orchestra, Assala delivered a complete and groundbreaking performance. Assala set a new record at the concert by singing in seven different dialects, embarking on a musical journey across cultures that included Syrian, Gulf, Egyptian, Lebanese, and Moroccan dialects, in addition to singing in Turkish and Kurdish. Across six sets, she delighted the audience with 23 songs from her extensive repertoire of hits, such as "Sou'al Basit" (A Simple Question), "Ya Majnoun" (Oh Crazy One), "Ba'dak Anni" (Your Absence From Me), and "Sawahha Qalbi" (My Heart Did It), accompanied by folk dance troupes that added a vibrant and visually stunning touch to the performance.
The importance and impact of the event: a bridge between cultures
The concert was more than just a local event; it held significant regional and international dimensions. The highlight was the international duet between Assala and renowned Turkish star Ebru Gündeş in the song "Akthar" (More), which ignited the audience's enthusiasm and demonstrated the power of art to build bridges between cultures. This artistic collaboration underscores the openness of the Saudi art scene to global experiences and reinforces Riyadh's position as a hub for the arts. Assala also revealed her upcoming artistic project: a Syrian album featuring 14 songs representing the provinces of her homeland. She gifted the audience with an exclusive track from the album titled "Dabke Arab" (Arab Dabke), reaffirming her deep connection to her artistic roots and her enduring influence on the Arab music scene.
An unforgettable ending
Assala concluded her concert with the song “Erfa’ Rasak Fouq” (Raise Your Head High), leaving a strong impression on her audience, who interacted with her throughout the evening. His Excellency Turki Al-Sheikh expressed his admiration for the concert in a tweet, saying, “Assala’s concert was beautiful, and Maestro Tamer Faydi was wonderful.” With this resounding success, Assala cemented her position as one of the most important voices in the Arab world, and Riyadh Season once again proved its ability to create unforgettable artistic evenings.
