In an evening filled with the joy of reunion and the sense of a city finding its pulse again, the Beirut Holidays festival opened its 11th season under the slogan “And Lebanon Remains.” Abeer Nehme headlined the opening concert, performing for 90 minutes and moving between her own songs and timeless works by Fairuz and Zaki Nassif. Thousands gathered on the waterfront in the Antelias-Naccache area to join her in celebrating a city trying to catch its breath and beginning to shake off the dust of war. Lebanese and foreign political figures were also in attendance. The crowd erupted in applause as Nehme walked onto the stage with her band, dressed in white. She opened with “Ahwe,” written and composed by Charbel Rouhana, expressing her longing to reunite with her Lebanese audience after a long wait. She followed with “Li Beirut,” as the stage gave way to a striking visual spectacle. Illuminated drones traced a map of Lebanon across the sky, shifting in formation with the lyrics. At one moment, they formed a heart; at another, they created symbolic scenes of embraces hovering above the audience. The display added a powerful visual dimension to the concert, catching spectators by surprise and prompting many to raise their phones to record the moment. Nehme extended her tribute to the capital with “Habibati” (Beirut), a song carrying a message of love and hope. Nehme said she was delighted to meet her Lebanese audience again after an absence and thanked those who had traveled long distances to attend the concert. The heat did little to weaken the crowd’s enthusiasm. Audience members clapped, waved and sang with her throughout the evening, in a scene that reflected the sense of longing shared between performer and public. She performed “They Say Love Kills Time,” composed by the late Ziad Rahbani (Asharq Al-Awsat) The concert unfolded through a series of surprises, with Nehme presenting a program that crossed several musical styles. She welcomed Algerian artist Amine of Babylone, paid tribute to the late Zaki Nassif and moved smoothly between French chanson, classical Arabic music and her own work. Her varied musical choices and the energetic pace of the performance kept the audience engaged until the final moments. In one of the evening’s lighthearted surprises, Nehme invited Amine to the stage. When he was slow to appear, she called out to him several times, drawing laughter from the crowd. Once he joined her, the two performed a distinctive duet of his well-known song “Zina.” After Nehme performed “Waynak,” the stage setting changed and images of the late Zaki Nassif filled the giant screens. She honored him with two songs from his repertoire, “Naqqili Zahra” and “Ishtaqna Ktir Ya Habayeb.” As the music began, the audience rose, applauding and singing along. The moment blended nostalgia with joy, as an entire generation revisited memories shaped by Nassif’s enduring songs. Nehme then performed “Bi Oulo El Hob Bi Oqtol El Waqt,” composed by the late Ziad Rahbani, before moving toward pianist Mark Naoum, who accompanied her in a performance marked by romance and musical harmony. She followed with her song “Amal,” then sang “Hymne à l’amour” by celebrated French singer Edith Piaf, one of the leading stars of the 1950s. Red hearts lit up the stage backdrop, deepening the romantic mood. Nehme’s vocal abilities stood out throughout the concert. Her performance of “Ya Tara,” a song about the changes that reshape a love relationship, held the audience’s attention and left a clear emotional impression. Before leaving the stage, Nehme performed “Bala Ma Nhess” and “Bi Saraha,” two songs that have become fixtures at her concerts. She closed with “Byeb'a Nas,” delivering a message of gratitude and loyalty to those who have accompanied her on her artistic and personal journey. The evening ended on a note of joy and hope, reaffirming music’s ability to bring Lebanese people together around a shared moment of life.
