Omar Faruk Tekbelik & Ensemble, The Arab-Israeli Orchestra of Nazareth, Pharoah's Daughter August 4, 2004

Omar Faruk is one of the finest Middle Eastern musicians living in the U.S., brilliantly interpreting the Sufi, Folk and contemporary music of the Middle East. He is a virtuoso on several instruments, including the ney (a bamboo flute), the zurna (a double-reed oboe like instrument), the baglama (the long-necked lute) and percussion instruments, and he is a masterful performer on dozens more. The Arab-Israeli Orchestra of Nazareth was formed in 1990 by Suheil Radwan, whose been its director since its establishment. Its goals are to encourage appreciation of Arab music, to strengthen awareness of classical Arab music, to encourage original local talents and to promote concerts for the wider public. The orchestra features the finest musicians and singers specializing in classical Arab music from Nazareth, Haifa, Acre and the Galilee. Formed in 1993 by vocalist Basya Schechter, the Jewish folk ensemble Pharoahs Daughter (spelled like jazz saxophone legend Pharoah Sanders, not Egyptian pharaohs) is heavily influenced by both Eastern European klezmer and Middle Eastern Jewish music, as well as the sensibilities of Schechters orthodox upbringing. The groups instrumentation features woodwinds (flute, clarinet, crumhorn), guitar, cello, tabla and other exotic percussion. This performance is made possible with public funds from the New York-Israel Cultural Cooperation Commission, a joint venture of the State of Israel and the State of New York, George E. Pataki, Governor.