Website: http://www.albustanfestival.com/

Date: February 17 to March 21, 2010
Country: Lebanon


The Al Bustan International Festival of Music and the Arts was founded in 1994 and has launched a unique tradition of a winter music season in Lebanon. The theme for this year’s festival is Italy: Prima la Musica, presenting various Italian Baroque pieces, operas and other chamber and orchestral works. There are various performing artists and troupes include The Lebanese National Philharmonic Orchestra and the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma. Celebrated pianist Yundi Li will perform an all-Chopin programme after recently signing a recording contract with EMI. Taiwanese-Australian Ray Chen, the young winner of the International Yehudi Menuhin Violin Competition in 2008 and the Queen Elisabeth Violin Competition in 2009, will showcase his talent with Mendelssohn’s violin concerto. A special programme, 200 Candles for Chopin, will celebrate the 200th birthday of Chopin on the 1st of March together with young pianists of the National Conservatory.