Hiba Tawaji
Hiba Tawaji | |
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| File:Hiba Tawaji.jpg | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Hiba Michel Tawaji |
| Born | December 10, 1987 |
| Origin | Achrafieh, Lebanon |
| Genres | Oriental music, Jazz, Opera, Funk, Pop music |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, actress, director |
| Instrument | Vocals |
Hiba Michel Tawaji (Template:Lang-ar) was born on December 10, 1987, in Achrafieh - Beirut, and grew up in the Elissar - Matn District. 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, and opera, as well as being a soprano with a four octave vocal range.
Tawaji has admired Oussama Rahbani (producer and composer and son of the Music Legend 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.
Education
From 1990 and until 2005, Tawaji studied in Athenee de Beyrouth School, and got her French Baccalaureate in French literature.
From 2002 until 2005, she took singing lessons and solfeggio at École De Musique 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.
Career
- Music videos
2008 – "متل الريح" "Metl el rih" [2] – (directed by Joe Bou Eid)
(Composed and orchestrated by Oussama Rahbani)
Written by Mansour Rahbani for the musical play "عودة الفينيق" The Return of the Phoenix
2011 – "حلم" "Helm" [3] – (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 – "عالبال يا وطنّا" "Aal Bal Ya Watanna" [4] – (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 & Oussama Rahbani)
2011 – "ماشية وما بعرف لوين" "Machyi w ma baarif la weyn" [5] – (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" by Marwan, Ghadi & Oussama Rahbani.
2011 – "مين اللي بيختار" "Min elli byekhtar" [6] – (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" by Marwan, Ghadi & Oussama Rahbani.
2011 – "قلّي يا حبيبي قول" "Elli ya habibi oul" [7] – (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" by Marwan, Ghadi & Oussama Rahbani.
2011 – "لاموني كتير" "Lamouni Ktir" [8] – (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" by Marwan, Ghadi & Oussama Rahbani.
- 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)
|
Introduction of the Album La Bidayi Wala Nihayi (a word by Oussama Rahbani) |
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The project had begun to crystallize except that I was waiting for that one person or voice that would rise up to my expectations if I wished to offer something new, different and distinguished. And thus, by chance, the meeting with Hiba Tawaji happened. And from the very beginning, I discovered an ambitious, eager personality, with a unique character and fierce temperament, who grasps readily and is disciplined and highly talented; educated and knowledgeable; blessed with a varied background “in music, stage and film”. And this was indeed what I was seeking. The following step was what to present, for whom and how. I began to review songs and ideas I had in mind since 1986, which to date interpret my personality and ultimate love for music, and for the voice without limits, where anything is possible. Isn’t the human voice the finest instrument created by God? I then had to pick new lyrics with a different feel. First I had to approach the master, Mansour Rahbani, to write lyrics for two songs that were a great influence in my youth. These were The Windmills of Your Mind and "What Are You Doing For The Rest of Your Life?", both by Michel Legrand. For other lyrics I went to Ghadi Rahbani, who is himself a composer and poet, adept at providing variation and interpretation of lyrics over an existing melody. I had read many poems written by Ghadi since 1985, new topics, such as mercenaries, discrimination against people such as in random checking at airports and difficulty in obtaining entry visas, and emigration from the home country; dictatorships in the third world (Astor Piazolla’s Libertango)… and love songs that are not typical of the popular form. As for the music, from the inception of a song, composition and arrangement are inseparable and follow the dramatic flow of the text. Each song represents an individual topic, complete in itself, with beginning, middle and end, portraying a situation much like a cinematic project, with music, text and imagery, all brought to life by Hiba; Hiba’s sensuality, emotive projection, the embodiment of lyrical and dramatical situations, and solid technical ability. With her four-octave voice, Hiba may be the first Arabic-language singer to combine mastery of several music styles, ranging from opera and jazz, to pop and soul, in addition to a firm grasps of our musical environment. I believe that Hiba will soar very high." Oussama Rahbani |
| Track Name | Music | Lyrics | Arranged/Orchestrated/Adapted/Conducted |
|---|---|---|---|
| La bidayi wala nihayi - (لا بداية ولا نهاية) - (The Windmills of Your Mind) [9] | Michel Legrand | Mansour rahbani | Adapted, orchestrated and conducted by Oussama Rahbani |
| Herban - (هربان) - (Running away) [10] | Oussama Rahbani | Ghadi Rahbani | Arranged by Oussama Rahbani |
| La tkelli innak mechtakli - (لا تقلّي إنك مشتقلي) - (Don't tell me that you miss me) [11] | Oussama Rahbani | Ghadi Rahbani | Arranged and orchestrated by Oussama Rahbani |
| Zat ellafti - (ذات اللفتة) - (Same glimpse) [12] | Oussama Rahbani | Ghadi Rahbani | Arranged and orchestrated by Oussama Rahbani |
| Machyi w ma baaref la weyn - (ماشية وما بعرف لوين) - (Salvador Dali) [13] | Oussama Rahbani | Ghadi Rahbani | Arranged and orchestrated by Oussama Rahbani |
| Kell shabi fallou - (كل صحابي فلّو) - (All my friends are gone) [14] | Oussama Rahbani | Ghadi Rahbani | Arranged and orchestrated by Oussama Rahbani |
| Tango el horriyyi - (تانغو الحرية) - (Libertango) [15] | Astor Piazolla | Ghadi Rahbani | Adapted, orchestrated and conducted by Oussama Rahbani |
| Helm - (حلم) - (Dream) [16] | Oussama Rahbani | Ghadi Rahbani | Arranged and orchestrated by Oussama Rahbani |
| Khayfi koul - (خايفة قول) - (Afraid to say) [17] | Oussama & Jad Rahbani | Ghadi Rahbani | Arranged by Oussama Rahbani & Jad Rahbani |
| Bel omr elli baki - (بالعمر اللي باقي) - (What are you doing the rest of your life) [18] | Michel Legrand | Mansour rahbani | Adapted, orchestrated and conducted by Oussama Rahbani |
| Almourtazaka - (المرتزقة) - (Mercenaries) [19] | Oussama Rahbani | Ghadi Rahbani | Arranged and orchestrated by Oussama Rahbani |
| Ftahli el bab (فتحلي الباب) - (Let me in) [20] | Oussama Rahbani | Ghadi Rahbani | Arranged and orchestrated by Oussama Rahbani |
- 2011 – Don Quixote ( by Marwan, Ghadi & Oussama Rahbani)
| Introduction of the Album Don Quixote |
|---|
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 the 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 Don Quixote Starring Rafic Ali Ahmad, Hiba Tawaji, Paul Sleiman, Tony Balaban, Nazih Youssef, Assad Haddad, Maya Yammine, Toni Issa, Rita Hayek, Boutros Hanna. |
| Track Name | Music | Lyrics | Orchestrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ouverture المقدمة الأولى | Oussama Rahbani | ------------- | Oussama Rahbani |
| Aalbal ya watanna [21] عالبال يا وطنّا | Oussama Rahbani | Ghadi Rahbani | Oussama Rahbani |
| Min a’shik gharib من عاشق غريب | Oussama Rahbani | Ghadi Rahbani | Oussama Rahbani |
| Yemkin sarli aktar men daher [22] يمكن صرلي أكتر من دهر | Oussama Rahbani | Ghadi Rahbani | Oussama Rahbani |
| Rayhin رايحين | Oussama Rahbani | Ghadi Rahbani | Oussama Rahbani |
| Lamouni ktir [23] لاموني كتير | Oussama Rahbani | Ghadi Rahbani | Oussama Rahbani |
| Dehket lhkoul ضحكت الحقول | Oussama Rahbani | Ghadi Rahbani | Oussama Rahbani |
| Ghannou leddar غنّو للدار | Oussama Rahbani | Ghadi Rahbani | Oussama Rahbani |
| Min li byekhtar [24] مين اللي بيختار | Oussama Rahbani | Ghadi Rahbani | Oussama Rahbani |
| Mouhakamat al maktaba محاكمة المكتبة | Oussama Rahbani | Ghadi Rahbani | Oussama Rahbani |
| Hata el ketob hara’touha حتى الكتب حرقتوها | Oussama Rahbani | Ghadi Rahbani | Oussama Rahbani |
| Elli ya habibi [25]قلي يا حبيبي | Oussama Rahbani | Ghadi Rahbani | Oussama Rahbani |
| Moujtamaana bi khatar مجتمعنا بخطر | Oussama Rahbani | Ghadi Rahbani | Oussama Rahbani |
| Kasik ya madini [26] كاسك يا مدينة | Oussama Rahbani | Ghadi Rahbani | Oussama Rahbani |
| Ahla be Don Assad أهلا بالدون أسعد | Oussama Rahbani | Ghadi Rahbani | Oussama Rahbani |
| Ahmar Azrak أحمر أزرق | Oussama Rahbani | Ghadi Rahbani | Oussama Rahbani |
| La valse - Douri ya tawahin الفالس – دوري يا طواحين | Oussama Rahbani | Ghadi Rahbani | Oussama Rahbani |
| Machiyeh wma ba’ref la weyn ماشية ما بعرف لوين | Oussama Rahbani | Ghadi Rahbani | Oussama Rahbani |
| Aazameh w fakhameh عظمة وفخامة | Oussama Rahbani | Ghadi Rahbani | Oussama Rahbani |
| Samho hakem al jazireh سمحو حاكم الجزيرة | Oussama Rahbani | Ghadi Rahbani | Oussama Rahbani |
| Awlak leych mlahekni [27] قولك ليش ملاحقني | Oussama Rahbani | Ghadi Rahbani | Oussama Rahbani |
| Jayi tezraa ahlam [28] جايي تزرع أحلام | Oussama Rahbani | Ghadi Rahbani | Oussama Rahbani |
| Jano al tawahin / Watan al hassassine جنو الطواحين – وطن الحساسين | Oussama Rahbani | Ghadi Rahbani | Oussama Rahbani |
| Ouverture المقدمة الثانية | Oussama Rahbani | ------------- | Oussama Rahbani |
- Musicals
"عودة الفينيق" The Return of the Phoenix (by Oussama Rahbani),[29]
- 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)[30]
- 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)[31]
- Concerts
- March 2011 – Abu Dhabi Festival
"An evening with Oussama Rahbani", Zaha Hadid Pavilion, Oussama Rahbani feat. Hiba Tawaji & Wadih Abi Raad.[32]
- August 2011 – Ehdeniyat festival
"Oussama Rahbani feat. Hiba Tawaji & Wadih Abi Raad" [33]
- November 2011 – Palais des congrès Dbayyeh – Lebanon
"La bidayi wala nihayi", "Oussama Rahbani feat. Hiba Tawaji & Wadih Abi Raad" [34]
- 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. [35]
Awards
- November 2011 – BIAF – Beirut International Award Festival in Pavillon Royal/Biel – Beirut
References
- ^ Official website Oussama Rahbani
- ^ Metl el rih V.C
- ^ Helm V.C
- ^ Aal Bal Ya Watanna V.C
- ^ Machyi w ma baarif la weyn V.C
- ^ Min elli byekhtar V.C
- ^ Elli ya habibi oulV.C
- ^ Lamouni Ktir V.C
- ^ La Bidayi Wala Nihayi SONG
- ^ Herban SONG
- ^ La tkelli innak mechtakli SONG
- ^ Zat ellafti SONG
- ^ Machyi w ma baaref la weyn SONG
- ^ Kell shabi fallou
- ^ Libertango SONG
- ^ Helm SONG
- ^ Khayfi koul SONG
- ^ Bel omr elli baki SONG
- ^ Almourtazaka SONG
- ^ Ftahli el bab SONG
- ^ Aalbal ya watanna SONG
- ^ Yemkin sarli aktar men daher SONG
- ^ Lamouni ktir SONG
- ^ Min li byekhtar SONG
- ^ Elli ya habibi SONG
- ^ Kasik ya madini SONG
- ^ Awlak leych mlahekni song
- ^ Jayi tezraa ahlam SONG
- ^ Byblos Festival 2008
- ^ Byblos Festival 2009
- ^ Byblos Festival 2011
- ^ Abu Dhabi Festival
- ^ Bokra.net Magazine
- ^ Bisara7a.com Magazine
- ^ Bisara7a.com Magazine