Frances Guy

Summer Festivals (3) Bizarre - A Mexican diva at Baalbeck

Baalbeck, the heart of the Beka'a, Lebanon's contrasts exposed. The Baalbeck festival opens to an international audience in the temple of Bacchus. The President is there with a number of cabinet ministers but it is the poster of Hassan Nasrallah, secretary general of Hizballah that adorns the Roman entrance. Outside the Presidential guard vie for muscularity with the slightly shady looking types on motorbikes with walkie talkies. And yet it doesn't matter, you can't beat the scene. The Romans made their temples to provoke awe, to humble man before the Gods, even in a ruined state at dusk they are a marvel. The backdrop is there for any decent artist, and the temples are warm, Bacchus after all had a fun side, and even Baal would have approved of the idea of his temple being used for international culture. Astrid, a Mexican diva, of Lebanese parents, warms the audience with her baroque style, making us laugh at the globalisation of chauvinism, the Mexican relationship with Bush's America and her amazing costumes. Some of the high brow suggest the show is not appropriate for the opening of the festival. I think it is spot on, popular but not bawdy, fun, accomplished and international and the critics can say what they like but the two Ministers next to me enjoyed themselves thoroughly as did the rest of the audience, the President and his wife included. Viva Mexica, Viva Libano indeed.... and the guys on the motorbikes outside? I don't know but I rather wished Mika had come here too or maybe some other popular star - I'd like to see the guys outside, inside dancing in the aisles with the rest of them! for more on the Baalbeck festival check out www.baalbeck.org.lb

Posted at 10:43 04 August 2008 by Frances Guy  |  Comments[1]