Jack_Campin - 5-11-2007 at 04:00 AM
I will be in Syria for the first half of next month (starting in Aleppo, finishing in Damascus, hopefully visiting Palmyra in between). How do I find
out what concerts are on? - classical or traditional folk; NOT IN THE LEAST interested in electro-pop. I don't read Arabic, though I should at least
be able to work out names by the time I get there.
damascene_oud - 5-12-2007 at 03:01 AM
Hi Jack,
Welcome to Damascus 
For that period, you can refer to the website of Damascus Opera.
It's celebrating its annual anniversary, there are some really very interesting shows going on, western classic and arabic classics as well.
Few days ago they presented commemoration performance for Mohammed Abdulwahab the great Arab musician, singer and composer, it was superb.
You can check the opera house website at:
http://www.opera-syria.org
they usually post all events gooing on there.
However i heard that they might present a big concert for a big Turkish band in commemoration of the Suffi musician Sheik Jalaluldin Alroumi's 800th
anniversary, and this is very much anticipated by local public in Syria.
Welcome to Damascus,
Izzat
Jack_Campin - 5-12-2007 at 02:59 PM
Thanks!
Unfortunately the schedule on the website only goes up to the end of this month, but I can look at it again when I'm there.
Are there music shop districts in Aleppo and Damascus, comparable to the area round the Tunel in Istanbul? If so where are they?
damascene_oud - 5-12-2007 at 11:54 PM
Do you mean by music shops, shops selling music recordings or instruments?
If you mean shops for recordings:
In Aleppo there are a few in Baron Street and Baghdad Station areas.
In Damascus they are concentrated in Sha'alan area.
But also depends on what kind of music you are looking for.
Jack_Campin - 5-13-2007 at 06:57 AM
I was thinking more of instruments and sheet music, but recordings too.
damascene_oud - 5-14-2007 at 04:57 AM
For professinal quality instruments and sheet music,
Damascus: Sha'alan area, there are few shops selling musical instruments of good quality as well as sheet music. Also there you can find
recordings.
In Aleppo:
Baron Street, Baghdad Station area.
But if you are looking for premium quality professional ouds while in Aleppo, i highly recommend you paying Mr. Ibrahim Sukkar a visit to his workshop
and have a look at his ouds. They are truely equivalent to Fadel's Ouds but on a modern scale.
If interested i can give you Ibrahim Sukkar's address and contact information.
Ibrahim also makes other types of high quality professional music instruments like Qanoon and Bozuk, but oud is his passion.