Tenors of the Time

Friday, March 10, 2000 | 9:25 a.m.

Who: "The Two Tenors of Arabic Music."

When: 8 p.m. Saturday.

Where: MGM Grand.

Cost: General admission, $50, $75, $150; VIP tickets, $250.

Information: Call 899-7777.

People whose image of the Middle East has been shaped by war stories on the evening news will see a different side of Arabia on Saturday night when some of the greatest musicians from that region perform together for the first time on stage.

The MGM Grand hotel-casino will present the "Two Tenors of Arabic Music," a show bringing together Wadi' Al-Safi, the "Voice of Lebanon," and Sabah Fakhri, called the "Classical Master Vocalist of Syria."

In addition to two of the most famous singers in the Arabic world, the internationally acclaimed Adam Basma Middle Eastern Dance Company will perform traditional folk dances, adding a colorful interlude to an evening rich in culture.

The 30-member dance troupe, which was formed in 1980 and has performed throughout the United States, presents authentic folk dances and, as part of their presentation, use traditional attire and props more than 100 years old.

The concert is being presented by the university, the Alumni Association of North America and the MGM Grand.

Simon Shaheen, a musician/composer/impresario originally from Galilee, is producing the historic musical event.

He and his "Qantara" band also will perform in the showcase for Arabian music culture.

Qantara is Arabic for "arch." Shaheen chose the name when he formed the group in 1995 because he envisions his musical career as one of building bridges between different worlds.

Shaheen's style is a blending of traditional Arabic, jazz and classical music. He is considered one of the most important Arabic musicians, composers and performers of his generation.

Shaheen, who lives in New York City but maintains close ties to the Middle East, said in a recent interview that the purpose of the "Two Tenors" concert is to introduce the Arabic music culture to those who may be unfamiliar with it. But, more importantly, the event is designed to raise badly needed funds for scholarships for students attending the American University of Beirut.

"I am very involved with the American University," Shaheen said. "I do a lot of concerts for them."

Shaheen calls it "an unprecedented national fund-raising event ... to raise scholarship funds for one of the premier educational institutions in the Middle East."

"All of the proceeds, after expenses, will go for the scholarship funds," Shaheen said. "I would say the cause is very good, a fantastic cause."

He praised the MGM Grand for its humanitarian undertaking. "This will show they are not only the money machine, but are also willing to support this kind of event, which is both educational and musical as well as beneficial to needy students," Shaheen said.

He acknowledged that it may seem strange to some that this sort of concert is being held in Las Vegas, but Shaheen said this is a forum from which artists can reach people from all over the world.

"This will be a great opportunity for music lovers to witness the performance of two of the greatest singers in the Arab world. This will have great repercussions all over the world," Shaheen said.

While praising the two tenors, Shaheen is modest about his own accomplishments.

Most recently he appeared at the Grammy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, where he arranged the violin section for Sting's live performance and also performed with Sting on the song "Desert Rose" from the Grammy-winning pop album "Brand New Day."

Shaheen is the son of a music professor from the Galilee region. He began playing an oud (a stringed instrument held similar to a guitar) at the age of 5, and a violin at the age of 6. In 1978 he graduated from the Academy of Music in Jerusalem and, in 1980, completed graduate studies at the Manhattan School of Music. He later studied at Columbia University.

In 1994 he received the National Heritage Award for his contribution to the arts as a performer, composer and educator.

Shaheen has scored music for films, including "Sheltering Sky" and "Malcolm X," and scored a one-hour documentary film in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Human Rights Charter of the United Nations.

Since 1994 Shaheen has produced the annual Arab Festival of Arts in New York.

Sabah Fakhri is considered to be one of the foremost master vocalists of the Arabic world.

He was born in Syria in 1933. At age 7 he began singing with the National Syrian Radio Orchestra and at 10 began performing concerts with the leading professionals of the time.

Fakhri is a student of classic Arabic songs. Over the years he has amassed a vast library of such music.

Wadi' Al-Sazif is one of the most prominent Arabic composer/singers of his time.

He was born in a village in Lebanon in 1921. In 1938 he moved to Beirut for formal vocal studies at the Lebanese National Conservatory of Music. He has composed more than 3,000 songs and his name has become synonymous with traditional Lebanese folklore music.