Oslo World: Marcel Khalife - Promises of the Storm

A Lebanese legend opens Oslo World. The Lebanese oud player, singer, and composer Marcel Khalife is a folk hero in the Arab world.

With a career spanning six decades, he has combined effortless mastery of his instrument with political outspokenness and poetry. When he first set the words of the great Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish to music, he had no idea it was the prelude to a meeting that would forge a deep and enduring friendship between the two men a few years later—even as the songs themselves resonated across the globe.

Promises of the Storm was influenced by Arab-Andalusian traditions and contemporary Middle Eastern politics. Channelling the poetry by Darwish and his Palestinian compatriot Izzidine Al Munassrah, Khalifé sang in colloquial Arabic.

It was his way of dignifying the common people. The album became iconic in the Arab community and beyond, and to mark the fiftieth anniversary, Marcel Khalife has re-recorded it as a solo project.

To have Marcel Khalife opening our festival has been a dream for many years. We are proud to present him this year, in a format stripped down to its bare essentials: his magnificently seasoned tenor voice accompanied solely by his most faithful companion, the oud.

After the concert in the Chateau Neuf Auditorium, the Swiss/Moroccan multi-instrumentalist Sami Galbi will play at Betong, where the opening party continues. All tickets for Marcel Khalife automatically include entry to Sami Galbi's concert at Betong later that night.

Please note: The concert with Sami Galbi has an 18+ age limit, with no guardian exception.