Nai Barghouti & Amsterdam Andalusian Orchestra

A natural talent has landed in Amsterdam: 21 year-old Palestinian singer Nai Barghouti has previously performed for sold-out venues in, among others, Egypt, Lebanon and Kuwait, and at a very young age she already managed to convince audiences with her interpretation of Arabic songs. Critics have called her a ‘classical diva’ and have compared her to legendary singer Umm Kulthum. She has developed herself as a flautist and composer as well, and currently she studies the relation between Arabic singing and jazz, at Conservatorium van Amsterdam.

Amsterdams Andalusisch Orkest is an ensemble dedicated to Arabo Andaluso music, which finds its origins between the 9th and 15th century on the Iberic peninsula and which connects various Mediterranean countries. Since 2011 young musicians from Amsterdam and Morocco form the orchestra, which could be heard in a variety of theaters in The Netherlands and Morocco. Three repertorys are included: the classical tarab, the more folkish chaabi andalusi and the mystical sufi andalusi, alongside crossovers with other Andalusian genres such as malhoun and flamenco. The orchestra has previously collaborated with renowned musicians such as Marcel Khalife, Omar Bashir and Tony Overwater. The orchestra is conducted by Abderrahim Semlali (violin) and Ahmed El Maai (qanun).

The NRC responded enthusiastically to the recent collaboration with Omar Bashir:

‘With guests as bass player Tony Overwater, Bashir explored the boundaries of Arabic music, jazz and gypsy music. In the final piece, about the roots of flamenco, qanun player Ahmed El Maai from the Amsterdam Andalusian Orchestra impressed with a brilliant solo.”