Manama : The Bahrain National Theatre hosted “Waheed Alkhan – Voices”, a concert led by Bahraini composer and maestro Waheed Alkhan, featuring the Saint Petersburg Orchestra and Manama Singers, alongside musicians from the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Russian Federation. The concert was part of the 35th Bahrain International Music Festival, organised by the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities.
The concert brought together Bahraini musical heritage and international orchestral traditions, featuring selections from maestro Waheed Alkhan’s new album, “Spring of Colors”, alongside vocal compositions specially prepared for Manama Singers, marking the choir’s first performance with the orchestra.
Maestro Waheed Alkhan summed up his artistic vision in the words: “My goal is to show Bahrain to the world through music.” This vision extends beyond holding concerts abroad to building collaborative relationships with musicians and orchestras from different cultures and nationalities, strengthening the presence of Bahraini music on the international stage and highlighting its ability to interact with international musical styles through creative exchange and cultural openness.
Bahraini musical heritage was one of the most prominent features of the concert, interacting with the orchestral arrangements in a musical dialogue that reflected the ability of local heritage to evolve and engage with different musical styles and traditions without losing its distinctive character and identity.
The concert reflected the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities’ approach to supporting Bahraini creative works rooted in cultural heritage while exploring wider forms of artistic expression. It also highlighted music as a shared human language capable of building bridges between peoples and cultures, as well as the importance of investing in national artistic talent and providing opportunities for it to engage with international experiences, strengthening the presence of Bahraini creativity on the international cultural stage.
