Arts Canteen presents :

Arab Christmas By Candlelight.

A very rare opportunity to experience the atmosphere of Christmas in the Arab world as the Grand Junction in Paddington is gently lit by candles to hear Arabic, Syriac, Coptic and Byzantine chants, harking back to the time of Queen Zanubia’s Palmyra in the second century CE. The sound world of these chants is rich with quarter tones and virtuosic ornamentation.

Artists performing include oud virtuoso Joseph Tawadros, Iraqi oud player Attab Haddad, Lebanese singer Samar El Murr, Syrian violinist USTAVI (Bassel Hariri), liturgical Christmas chants from the Greek Orthodox with Najib Coutya, and accordion player Jon Banks, and Dr Rev Shafiq Abouzayd. Full line-up to be announced.

Arab Christmas 2024 is in memory of Elham Farah, a pioneering Christian Gazan music teacher. We will never forget the sound of your accordion and your piano. This event celebrates her life and legacy. Read more about Elham in the tab below.

The evening is presented by Arts Canteen in collaboration with Grand Junction.