Faraj Suleiman Announces Ziad Rahbani Tribute Concert in London

Renowned Palestinian composer and pianist Faraj Suleiman is set to bring the iconoclastic repertoire of late Lebanese musical master Ziad Rahbani to the stage in a sweeping new homage, leading a 20-piece ensemble at London’s Barbican Centre on 23 January 2027 for a landmark presentation organized by MARSM. The evening promises an expansive celebration of Rahbani’s vast musical catalog, which encompasses classical Levantine songwriting, mid-century jazz fusion, and biting socio-political satire.

The performance rests on a dialogue between Suleiman’s virtuosic piano work and the grandeur of a full-scale ensemble alongside a rotating roster of guest vocalists. Grounded in Rahbani’s original arrangements, Suleiman will build from delicate, nostalgic piano motifs into soaring orchestral crescendos to capture both the intimacy of Rahbani’s ballads and the defiant energy of his most celebrated anthems.

The show marks yet another milestone for MARSM, a platform that has long served as a vital cultural bridge introducing pioneering Middle Eastern and North African musical acts to UK audiences. By framing Rahbani’s legacy through such a monumental live staging, the event underlines MARSM’s ongoing commitment to showcasing the depth, complexity, and evolving narratives of modern Arabic music.