Beiteddine Palace is a masterpiece of the early 19th Century Lebanese architecture built by Emir Beshir Chehab II on a headland, which overlooks a terraced mountainside. The Palace was once the headquarters of the moutassarifia and served later as the summer residence of the Lebanese Presidents.

It took 36 years to complete and decorate. The palace was a joint effort by the best talent available at the time. The design was conceived by Italian architects and built by the finest artists and craftsmen from the whole region.

Although an Oriental palace in its layout, Beiteddine also draws on all traditional forms of the Lebanese architecture and fits perfectly with its mountainous surroundings in the Chouf region of Mount Lebanon. The Palace is enriched by its glorious gardens.

During the civil war, the leader of the Progressive Socialist Party, Walid Jumblatt, decided "to offer the population another vision than that of violence by showing the cultural aspect of the country" (L"Orient-Le Jour of the 30th of July 1985). In the magical setting of the Beiteddine Palace, a festival grouping various artistic performances was held. Nora Jumblatt (wife of Druze leader Walid Jumblatt) and an executive committee have been responsible of the organization of the Festival since 1987.

The festival has taken place in a regular manner during the months of July and August of each year. Beiteddine Palace is about 45 km (28 miles) south east of Beirut and 900 meters (3000 feet) above sea level and is very easily accessible from Beirut and other parts of the country.

Beiteddine Festival 2005, Program Update

Ravi Shankar & Anoushka Shankar | Thu. 7, July

Ravi Shankar is the Godfather of World Music George Harrisson As a performer, composer, teacher and writer, Ravi Shankar is renowned throughout the world for his pioneering work in bringing Indian music to the West. He has been a cultural influence in the West for more than four decades as India’s most recognized and esteemed musical ambassador. Anoushka Shankar has established herself as a unique artist with a profound understanding of the great musical tradition of India. She is the only artist in the world to have been trained entirely by her father, the legendary sitar virtuoso and composer, Ravi Shankar

UB40 | Sat. 16, July

UB40's fortunes changed at the beginning of 1980. Having spent the previous years working live, and rapidly developing an instant "buzz" among the movers & shakers, they were asked to join The Pretenders' triumphant national tour. The Pretenders were then at the top of the charts, and very hot indeed. They could have hardly have chosen a hotter support act.

UB40, the renowned reggae group continues to give enormous pleasure to a public too vast to be defined by age, generation, tribe or fashion.

Mamma Mia | Wed. 20 to 27 july 2005*


The world's most successful musical.
"A production of tremendous warmth, vitality and technical excellence that offers an evening on unbridled fun. It is a tribute to the scriptwriting skill of Catherine Johnson that the ABBA songs are slotted so naturally into the storyline. While being swept along by the ingenious choreography and witty dialogue, I found myself examining ABBA's music in a new light." David Sinclair, THE TIMES, ENGLAND

* Note - The organizers of Mamma Mia have previously expressed concern over the volatile situation in Lebanon, and were considering postponing till 2006. However there are still reports that Mamma Mia will take place in 2005. More to follow...

Sara Baras | Sat. 30, July

Sara Baras, the spellbinding Flamenco dancer who has received Spain's most prestigious awards.

Chick Corea | Thurs 2, August

Chick Corea's four decade career is the stuff of jazz lore, an amalgamation of influential, limit-stretching musical experiences which have filled many a page in 20th century music history encyclopedias, and granted him eleven Grammy Awards. Born Armando Anthony Corea in Chelsea, Massachusetts on June 12, 1941, Chick was studying piano by age four and enjoyed a childhood home filled with the sounds of Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Bud Powell, Lester Young and Horace Silver - not to mention the likes of Beethoven and Mozart, who inspired Chick's compositional instincts.

After accompanying Sarah Vaughan, he rose to true prominence in the jazz world by joining Miles Davis' band playing electric piano.

Marcel Khalifé | Fri 5, August

Marcel Khalifé was born in 1950 in Amchit, Mount-Lebanon. He studied the oud (oriental lute) at the Lebanese National Conservatory. Ever since, he has been giving a new life to the oud. From 1970 to 1975, Marcel Khalifé taught at the Conservatory and other local institutions. During that same period, he toured the Middle East, North Africa, Europe and the United States giving solo performances on the oud.

Ya Libnan will continue to update you on the festivals. For ticket information please visit Beiteddine Festival web site for which we provided a link below.

Sources: Beiteddine Festival, UB 40, Ya Libnan