CAIRO, 4 September 2006 — Egyptian actress Ruby has decided to return to cinema as the heroine of a film directed by Sharif Sabri. She believes that her decision will be a surprise but at present, the remainder of the cast has not yet been chosen, the Al-Riyadh newspaper reported yesterday.
The actress did, however, deny a rumor that she would play a dancing teacher who teaches girls dances that she herself has created in a new film “Raqsa Ruby Al-Majnuna.”
Her past films have included Yusuf Shaheen’s “Sukut Hansur,” and Sharif Sabri’s “Waraqat Kotshina,” though neither of them were box office successes.
Fairuz to Present Her Work at Baalbek Festival
BEIRUT, 4 September 2006 — Fairuz, one of the most famous singers of the Middle East and a legend in her own time, will return to Beirut to participate in the annual Baalbek Festival where she will present her four musical plays according to a statement from the festival committee. Her programs will also include the highly popular “Sehh Al-Noum,” the Al-Watan daily reported yesterday.
The recent Israeli aggression into Lebanon forced the festival committee to cancel it this year while it was postponed last year following the assassination of Prime Minister Rafik Al-Hariri.
Born and educated in Beirut, Fairuz began her musical career in the chorus of the Lebanese Radio Station.
In the late 1950s her talent as a singer was fully acknowledged and her early songs featured a distinct vocal timbre and lyrics expressing romantic love and nostalgia for village life.
They meshed with a delicate orchestral blend in which certain Arab instruments figured prominently but which proved to be suitable for Western instruments as well.
By the early 1960s, Fairuz had become one of the main attractions at the annual Baalbek Festival, which was well-known spread throughout the Arab world as well as in Arab communities in Europe and the Americas.
Abdullah Rashad Set to Launch Satellite Channel
DAMMAM, 4 September 2006 — Saudi singer Abdullah Rashad will launch the trial run of his satellite channel, Oscar, next March from Dubai, the Al-Watan daily reported yesterday. The channel, which will feature cultural and artistic programs has made agreements with several correspondents in Saudi and Gulf cities.
Rashad told Al-Watan that, with an estimated $5 million budget, he hoped the venture would be a success. He has already recruited a number of Saudi cultural and artistic personalities including Lujain Al-Imran, Waleed Al-Judaie and Yahya Mofreh Zaraigan, the newspaper reported.
Rashad also hopes that his channel will be able to join the Saudi establishments that promote Gulf culture and art. He affirmed that he would not be prejudiced toward or against any particular artist. He also disclosed his plans to appoint several academics as consultants for cultural and artistic programs, which will be featured on the channel.
