FADWA KURBAN
〰
By : LOREEN S. RIHANI
From the high peaks of Lebanon to the heart of America, Fadwa Kurban, the Eastern
Nightingale, went as a child and began her struggle for musical recognition, « My voice should
cross the sea, and my message reach the other side of the world », she always thought.
Nightingale, went as a child and began her struggle for musical recognition, « My voice should
cross the sea, and my message reach the other side of the world », she always thought.
Her burning youthful desire and her strong determination to succeed and attain a worthy posi-
tion in the world of music,
found her through periods
of discouragement and
financial distress. She
studied in Europe and
America and in both
places received remark-
able encouragement.
found her through periods
of discouragement and
financial distress. She
studied in Europe and
America and in both
places received remark-
able encouragement.
She had the Bel Canto
Schooling and among her
teachers were some world
famous German and Ita-
lian masters.
Schooling and among her
teachers were some world
famous German and Ita-
lian masters.
Most of her life she
spent in America where
she persued her operatic
career with an audition
at the Metropolitan in
New York.
spent in America where
she persued her operatic
career with an audition
at the Metropolitan in
New York.
In 1925 she introduced
Arabic music to the Euro-
pean and made an exqui-
site combination of both.
Having heard her voice
Gibran K. Gibran, encou-
raged her to go to Europe
and study her career fully,
and so she did.
Arabic music to the Euro-
pean and made an exqui-
site combination of both.
Having heard her voice
Gibran K. Gibran, encou-
raged her to go to Europe
and study her career fully,
and so she did.
Her long years of train-
ing helped her to be one
of the world’s known
ing helped her to be one
of the world’s known
singers. She possesses a
vibrant coloratura sopra-
no voice which reveals
intrinsic merit and com-
mands admiration and
respect. She can sing in
six languages : Arabic,
English, French. Italian,
German and Spanish, and
in each her accent is
perfect. Her gifted ope-
ratic voice has a range
of three octaves with
lyric and dramatic qua-
lities. With ease and
sweetness her powerful
voice reaches the high
notes and holds the level
for a time. She appeared
on American and Euro-
pean stages. Her presen-
tation of the « Oriental
Night », at the Symphony
Hall in Boston, added
more to her fame.
vibrant coloratura sopra-
no voice which reveals
intrinsic merit and com-
mands admiration and
respect. She can sing in
six languages : Arabic,
English, French. Italian,
German and Spanish, and
in each her accent is
perfect. Her gifted ope-
ratic voice has a range
of three octaves with
lyric and dramatic qua-
lities. With ease and
sweetness her powerful
voice reaches the high
notes and holds the level
for a time. She appeared
on American and Euro-
pean stages. Her presen-
tation of the « Oriental
Night », at the Symphony
Hall in Boston, added
more to her fame.
Critics refer to her as
the « Oriental Nightin-
gale ». Tagore wrote her,
« You have a voice divine,
of rare beauty. » Daniel
Frohman said, « She is
the finest coloratura I
the « Oriental Nightin-
gale ». Tagore wrote her,
« You have a voice divine,
of rare beauty. » Daniel
Frohman said, « She is
the finest coloratura I
Madame FADWA KURBAN
have ever heard ». Ameen Rihani in his comments about her said, « Fadwa Kurban, if the
world of music is not out of joint, will yet arrive ». In Egypt, Argentina, France, Brazil,
Canada, Chile, and the United States of America music lovers and critics characterize her
voice as divine, phenomenal in range and rare in beauty.
world of music is not out of joint, will yet arrive ». In Egypt, Argentina, France, Brazil,
Canada, Chile, and the United States of America music lovers and critics characterize her
voice as divine, phenomenal in range and rare in beauty.
16