MESTO's next concert will be announced soon.
The orchestra will premiere works by Azzam
(Maryam for violin and orchestra,) Muhammad Abd al-Wahhab
(Amal Hayati) and Muhammad el-Mougi (Safini Marrah.)
Laila Lurad (Ana Albi Dalili) Sayyid Darwish (El-Hilwa
Die, reoechestration) and more
We are so proud to announce that MESTO has received an invitation
from Dr. Issam El-Mallah, advisor and director of
progams, to perform at newly built Royal Opera House
in Muscat, Oman in early 2012. Under the baton of Maestro
Azzam guest artists are Qanun virtouso Lilit Khojayan
of MESTO and also a star singer from the Middle East. Program
will be posted soon.
MESTO had two wonderful and successful concerts.
The Broad Stage on Friday, Dec. 3rd and in San Diego on Sunday,
Dec. 5th.
Thank you our supportive and dedicated audience. We love you
and will continue to provide you with high level music and
guest artists.
MESTO would like to thank our guest artists for their participation:
Jimbo Ross; Yvette Holzwarth; Suhail Bachour; Anna-Suzette
Eblen; Prof. Joanna Medawar-Nachef;
Dr. Irene Behnan and the Coptic Orthodox Choir; Ms. Hanna
Muluneh and the Ethiopian Tewahedo Church Choir.
Jimbo Ross happily opens the concert with Have Yourself
a Merry Little Christmas followed by Violinist/singer
Yvette Holzwarth who sang I'll be home for Christmas
and The Christmas Song (all arr. by John Graves)
Professor Joanna Medawar Nachef, soprano, sang Silent Night
and Ikhtaliti, a Lebanese tune (both in Arabic) while
maestro Azzam performed his violin copmosition The Crescent.
Sheikh Dr. Saleh Kholaki recites from the glorious Qur'an.
Dr. Raymond Jallow welcomes the audience on behalf of Friends
of MESTO.
Syrian-born singer and cantor Suhail Bachour with three eastern
hymns accompanie by MESTO (arr. Azzam)
Soprano Anna-Suzette Eblen with The Prayer (arr. J. Graves)
and Christmas Medley (arr. Shelly Cohen)
The Coptic Orthodox Choir of St, Peter and St. Paul in Santa
Monica under the direction of Dr. Irene Behnan with two songs:
Shere ne Maria (accompanied by Fahd Shaaban, 'ud) and
Eparthenos (arr. N. Azzam)
The Ethiopian Tewahedo Church Choir of Los Angeles performed
with MESTO two songs: Aman be-Aman and Elil Bey
Bethelehem.
MESTO has received so many phone calls, messages and e-mails
from members of the audience praizing our performances. Thank
you all for your unprecedented support for both concerts at
the Broad Stage and the Musuem of Contemporary Art in La Jolla.
The La Jolla concert: Photos to follow...
Our gurest artists, bassoonist Charlie Gould was received
in a great welcome and our guest singer Ms. Karima Skalli
electrified the audience.
Music director and conductor Azzam shined as always. He introduced
some of the pieces and the guest artists. More details later...
One of our sponsors wrote:
The annual Christamas concert: Los Angeles has never heard
such a variety of music!
San Diego concert: Well, let's put it this way...Not even
Arab orchestras perform at that level! Thank you MESTO and
Maestro Azzam who brought a high-class performance to San
Diego.
NEW style of presenting Christmas
music! It's MESTO style
"When music plays a social role and brings people together"
The Annual Christmas Concert
Friday, December 3, 2010
@ 7:30 pm.
Under the baton of maestro Nabil Azzam, music director
Program includes an unprecedented and unaccompanied
Recitation from the
glorious Qur'an by
Sheikh Dr. Saleh Kholaki
A special performances by choir members
of the
Ethiopian Orthodox Church
And choir members of the
Egyptian Coptic Church
St. Peter and St. Paul, Santa Monica
with guest artists
Anna-Suzette Eblen
Jimbo Ross
Yvette Holzwarth
Dr. Joanna Medawar Nachef
Suhail Bachour
Anna-Suzette Eblen
|
Jimbo Ross
|
Joanna Medawar Nachef
|
Yvette Holzwarth
|
For the first time at the new and prestigious concert hall
The Broad Stage
Performing Arts Center, Santa Monica College
1310 11th street, Santa Monica CA, 90401
Please reserve
your tickets now!
Sponsors $100 (front seats) $75 and $50
Call (310) 795-4280
The Eli and Edythe Broad Stage in Santa Monica
Program also includes: Eternal River, Scheherazade, As'aluka ar-Rahila,
Maribel, Watlz of the flowers, Trepak, The Crescent and more.
MESTO back in San Diego
Hosted and organized by Friends of MESTO
Sunday, December 5, 2010 @7:00 pm
Sherwood Auditorium
Museum of contemporary Arts, San Diego
700 Prospect St. La Jolla, CA 92037
Guest Star Singer
Karima Skalli
Performing songs of Asmahan, Umm Kulthum, 'Abd al-Wahhab
Sayyid Darwish and Farid el-Atrache
For tickets call;
(619) 840-1945 Mr. Ibrahim Dayeh
(619) 549--4110 Mr. Tayseer Odeh
(619) 227-1181 Mr. Victor Khouri
(310) 795-4280 MESTO tickets line
Sponsors $100; 75 and $50
MESTO goes
to Abu Dhabi 2010
MESTO was invited by the Abu Dhabi Authority of Culture and Heritage (ADACH) to perform in the Sounds of Arabia Festival on May 13th at the Abu Dhabi Theater.
Under the baton of music director maestro
Nabil Azzam, MESTO performed a series of Muhammad
Abd al-Wahhab masterpieces including al-Nahr al-Khalid
(Eternal River), `Ashiq al-Ruh, Andah Alaik,
Kallimuni Tani, and Unshudat Al-Fan.
In addition, MESTO entertained their audiences with other
MESTO favorites like Muhammad Abdu's Leila Leila,
Lahn al-Khulud by Farid al-Atrash, and The
Leopard, an original composition by Nabil Azzam.
The concert included three vocal pieces Ya Habibi Ta'ala,
La' Mush Ana, and Inta 'Umri featuring the golden
voice of guest artist Karima Skalli.
MESTO conducted by Nabil Azzam at Abu Dhabi Theater
MESTO featuring Karima Skalli
MESTO in front of Emirates Palace (Abu Dhabi's 7-Star Hotel)
Coming soon! MESTO's new CD
Full Mooon
selection of world music
Nabil Azzam met with master musician Mikis Theodorakis at his
residence in Athens. Mr. Theodorakis is holding a special baton
that Nabil presented to him. It's made out of olive wood from
Nazareth especially made for him. Mr. Theodorakis promised to
compose a new piece for MESTO to be premiered this year!
Nabil Azzam at the Sheikh Zayid Mosque in Abu Dhabi and a kind
invitation to the Presidential Palace
The Honorable Mr. Zaki Nusseibeh in his office at the Presidential
Palace in Abu Dhabi. Advisor of Ministry of Presidential Affairs;
Vice Chairman, Abu Dhabi Authority of Culture and Heritage.
With Mrs. Noura Joumblat, President of Beiteddine Festival,
Lebanon.
Nabil Azzam with his friend star singer Tony Hanna
and his band.
With composer/arranger and poet Mr. Elias Rahbani and
an invitation to hear the new musical Eela with
start singer Abeer Nehmeh. Jan. 30, 2010
Amazing Stars of MESTO, October 25, 2009
Zipper Hall, Los Angeles
Nabil Azzam, music director, conductor
Guest artist: Karima Skalli (Morocco)
Charlie Gould, bassoon
Lilit Khojayan, qanun
Star singer Karima Skalli
Nabil Azzam conducts MESTO
Lilit Khojayan performed Carnival of Venice by Paganini
Lilit Khojayan, qanun vistuoso and Charlie Gould is so loved
by the audience> Charlie performed two Arab songs specially
arranged for bassoon and orchestra by Nabil Azzam 
The Composer's Award is presented to Mr. Shelly Cohen in recognition
to his numerous arrangements for MESTO for almost ten years.
Salute!
Our great wind section: Laura Halladay, Armen Khatchatryan,
Mandy Fey-Carota, Tom Jones and Marzena Nabours (while Charlie
Gould performed his solo
Group photo: Mr. Sami Asmar, Nabil Azzam, Dr. Jihad Racy, Karima
Skalli, Dr. Barbara Racy and Dr. Munir Beken
October 17, 2009
MESTO at the Max Fisher Concert Hall in Detroit as part of the
6th Annual Gala
Arab-American National Museum (Dearborn)
Karima Skalli "The Golden Voice" shines in front of
great audience
The first half was dedicated to instrumental compositions of
Abd al-Wahhab, Farid El-Atrache, Rahbani Bros. and Baligh Hamdi
Nabil Azzam performs Bahlam Biek for violin and orchestra
Karima sings with MESTO under Nabil Azzam songs of Umm Kulthum,
Fairouz, Asmahan, Abd al-Wahhab and Sayyid Darwish
Nabil Azzam is back from, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Amman, Beirut
and Nazareth...
Honoring legendary singers Wadie al-Safi (right) and
Sabah (below)
Poet Henri Zoghaib, Sabah and Nabil Azzam
@ Casino Libnan, May 30-2009
Host of the event Lebanese Minister of Tourism Mr. Elie Marouni
At the home of Maestro Elias Rahbani: Ghassan Fahoum, Nabil
Azzam, Elias Rahbani and
Prof. Elie Kesrouani
Lebanese Star Singer Tony Hanna...generous invitation
at a great restaurant
TV show host Tony Khalifa.. an interest in MESTO
Dubai...Hotels are super clean...
Nabil and son Salim Azzam, Esq. in Dubai
(more photos click on 'news' above)
A Very Successful Concert! Feb.21, 2009
At UCLA, Schoenberg Hall
Karima Skalli
shines with MESTO under the baton of
Nabil Azzam
(Alakhbar)
Karima performed with mastery songs of great Egyptian singers
(S. Twair)
The audience loved the elegance of the music and the singer
(B. Winchell)
Flute virtuoso Laura Halladay performed Celtic Fantasia by Stephanie
Bennett
Halladay and Azzam acknowledging composer Bennett
Oud player Fahd Shaaban in his debut on guitar! The active audience
insisted on repeating the intro of the song of Umm Kulthum with
the perfected solos of Qanun virtuoso Lilit Khojayan and Shaaban
on the guitar, Leola Wagner, violin...Maestro Azzam was so accommodating
with his prompt action. He stopped the orchestra and started
the piece twice.
Singing With The Stars
Sat. Feb. 21, 2009 @7:00
UCLA
Schoenberg Hall (music department):
405 Hilgard Ave. Los Angeles CA 90024
Reserve your tickets early January 2009. Call tickets line (310)
795-4280
General admission $40 (Sponsors $100)
Her debut concert in the U.S
Featuring Middle-East Star
KARIMA
The fabulous Moroccan singer Karima Skalli has earned her fame
throughout the Middle East thanks to her success in performing
concerts of Arab musical traditions.
Repertoire includes: Inta Umri (song
of Umm Kultum;) La' Mush Ana (Abd
al-Wahhab;)
Layali al- Uns (Asmahan;) Ya Habibi
Ta'ala (Asmahan.) In addition to instrumental compositions;
Celtic Fantasia for flutes by Stephanie Bennett (soloist Laura
Halladay) Sama'i Farahfaza, Longa Shahnaz, Maribel (by Nabil
Azzam,) Min Fiotunak and Laila Laila (of Muhammad
Abdo) and more...
Also featuring MESTO's flute virtuoso
Laura Halladay
(Performing Celtic Fantasia by Famous American Composer Stephanie
Bennet)
Nabil Azzam
conductor and music director
MESTO just performed for the occasion!
Jan. 24 @USC
MPAC in support of Gaza
Wonderful concert
Wonderful audience
Humaniterian cause...Gaza
Star singer Woroud captivated the audience
Dr. Maher Hathout, Chairman of the Board of MPAC thanks Maestro
Azzam
and star singer Woroud
Cairo in Hollywood
October 26, 2008
Zipper Concert Hall @ Colburn School of Music
Los Angeles
HUGE SUCCESS and enthusiastic audience
RAVE REVIEWS
Thanks to Maestro Nabil
Azzam
Lilit Khojayan, qanun virtuoso
Anna-Suzette Eblen, our talented
soprano
Dalal Abu
Amneh, star-singer from
Nazareth
Talented and dedicated orchestra musicians
photo by Samir Twair
The orchestra performed variety of compositions from around
the world
Soprano Anna-Suzette; Star-singer Dalal Abu Amneh and Maestro
Nabil Azzam
photo by Fatima Atiyyah
Qanun virtuoso Lilit Khojayan performs "Jasmine" by
Nabil Azzam
dedicated to Dr. Tarek Shawaf
Talented soprano Anna-Suzette Eblen sings "Memory"
and "Besame Mucho"..she's the darling of the audience.
The orchestra in full...photo by Drew Kogon
Star-singer of the Middle East the fabulos Dalal Abu Amneh arrived
from Nazareth specially to perform with MESTO only one day before
her first performance in the US. Dalal captured the hearts of
the audience (Photo by: Samir Twair)
Dalal performing on of three songs: "Haddi ya Bahar,"
"Misru Allati," and "Fi Yum wi-Laila"
The audience gave MESTO and the soloists a standing ovation
Encore!!Dalal sings Egyptian song Biladi Biladi and Azzam accompanies
on violin photo by Fatima Atiyyah
MESTO is appreciated by a diverse audience typical of Los Angeles
Right before the concert Maestro Azzam with the two fabulous
singers Anna-Suzette and Dalal Abu Amneh of Nazareth (photo
by Fatimah Atiyyah)
NABIL AZZAM returns for the Middle East
Click on NEWS...
The latest...An official invitation to perform at the
17th Arab Music Festival and Conference in Cairo, November
1-10, 2008! Professor Ratiba El-Hefny "Our audience
loves MESTO!"
MESTO performs Tuesday, November 4th. (Cairo Opera)
Thursday, November 6th (Alexandria Opera)
Special guest singer
with MESTO in Cairo!
Who will enchant the audience?
NEW*** Youtube!! search for "Ahwak
MESTO"***
Sunday,
June 1st. 2008
@ 7:00 pm
"Babylon in San Diego"
Bravo...Bravo
Smashing success! Great repertoire, talented musicians,
warm audience. The concert was one of the best.
Al-Jazeerah TV covered
the event, will broadcast all-over the world.
Minutes before the concert, MESTO rehearsing with Samir
Rizq 
Nabil Azzam conducts the orchestra with mastery and
confidence
The audience was so responsive to and supportive of
the orchestra.
Guest star singers were fabulous
Woroud-and-Samir
Rizq
Sherwood Auditorium
The Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego
Baalbek
in Hollywood. Sunday, April 20, 2008
Zipper Concert Hall at The Colburn School of Music.
Los Angeles
The orchestra performed instrumental selection and
demonstrated mastery with Lebanese music performed by
star singer Woroud and star singer Maurice Raad.
The audience loved Woroud and Maurice Raad and our Qanun
virtuoso Lilit Khojayan
Raad-Singing al-Safi and Tony Hanna and Joseph Azar
with confidence and smile
Woroud with MESTO since its first concert! Artistic
performance of special repertoire that included great
songs of Fairouz, the Rahbani Brothers and Elias Rahbani
Conductor Azzam with both Woroud and Maurice Raad and
enthusiastic audience
Mr. Maurice Mitri receives the award Friend of MESTO.
On the stage Dr. Hassan Sassi (co-chair) Maurice Mitri,
Dr. Raymond Jallow and our Fahd Shaaban who was the
MC before the second half of the concert. Shaaban also
announced the 88th birthday of Mr. Charlie Gould (our
basson player)
MESTO sponsor Dr. Tarek Shawaf (middle) is the guest
of honor who flew from London specially to attend "Baalbek
in Hollywood." From left, Dr. Raymond Jallow (co-founder,
friends of MESTO) Nabil Azzam, Dr. Tarek Shawaf, Captain
Joseph John and Dr. Naji Jurdi (who commissioned Banadi
'Alaik of El-Atrache)
Very special guests: Representing the Asian community,
highly respected guests of our good friend Mrs. Chisako
Kanimaru (second from left.) The music of Lebanon appealed
to their ear!
By phone from Beirut
commenting on Baalbek in Hollywood this Sunday
Maestro Elias Rahbani to Nabil Azzam
"Your orchestra is promoting our music in the most
dignified way...Bravo"
Baalbek in Hollywood
Music of
Lebanon
Nabil Azzam-conductor
Zipper Concert Hall
200 South Grand Ave, Los Angeles CA 90012
For tickets call MESTO @ (310)
795-4280
general admission $30 (sponsors $100)
We accept payment with PayPal
(mestomusic@aol.com)
Sunday,April 20, 2008
@ 8:00 pm
Featuring
Star Singers
---------
Woroud--------Maurice
|
 |
|
|
