Ziad Rahbani

Ziad Rahbani, born 1956, is a Lebanese composer and writer for radio shows and theater. His compositions are well-known throughout the Arab world. He is the son of the Lebanese diva Fairuz and the famous composer Assi Rahbani.

Biography
Ziad Rahbani is the son of the Lebanese famous composer Assi Rahbani and Nuhad Haddad, the famous Lebanese female singer known as Fairuz. He composed many songs for his mother Fairuz, as well as other singers, and he has released his own music albums. Many of his musicals satirised the political situation in Lebanon during and after the civil war, often strongly critical of the traditional political establishment; others addressed more philosophical questions. He played the lead role in all his plays, and has generally been reluctant to allow the filming of his plays. Politically, Ziad Rahbani has a long standing relationship with Lebanese leftist movements, and is a self-declared communist. Being a Christian, his politics have meant that he has been at odds with some of his coreligionists. During the Lebanese civil war, Rahbani resided in mainly West Beirut.

Beginning Career
Rahbani's first known artistic work was "Sadiqi Allah" (My Friend God), a collection of writings between the years 1967 and 1968 when he was in his teens. In 1973, at 17, Rahbani composed his first music for Fairuz, his mother. Assi Rahbani, his father, was hospitalized and his mother Fairuz was to play the leading role in Al Mahatta by the Rahbani brothers. Mansour Rahbani, his uncle, who had written the lyrics of a song about Assi Rahbani's forced absence, gave Ziad Rahbani the task of composing its music. The song "Saalouni El Nass" (The People Asked Me) gained Rahbani recognition in the music world.

Theater Works Rahbani appeared for the first time on stage in Al Mahatta where he played the role of the detective. He also appeared later on in the Rahbani Brothers' Mays el Rim in the role of one of the policemen. Ziad Rahbani's first step into theatre was with the Bkennaya Theater in Sahriyyeh. He followed that with highly politicized string of plays. His theater works include: - Sahriyyeh (1973) - Nazl el Sourour (1974) - Bennesbe La Boukra Shou? (1978) - Film Ameriki Taweel (1980) - Shi fashel (1983) - Bikhsous el Karameh wel Cha3b el 3aneed (1993) - Lawla Fos7at el Amali (1994).

Music
Rahbani has written a large body of music for Fairuz, himself and others.

Music with Fairuz
After Fairuz's separation from her husband Assi Rahbani, Ziad Rahbani became her composer and wrote six albums for her. The albums were:
- Wahdon (1979)
- Maarefti Fik (1987)
- Kifak Inta (1991)
- Ila Assi (1995) a re-orchestration of Rahbani Brothers' songs
- Mich Kayen hayk Tkoun (1999)
- Beiteddine Concert 2000 (2001)
- Wala Kif (2001)

Music with Others Rahbani's work wasn't restricted to writing songs for Fairuz. Before, during and after the war, Rahbani released and co-released several albums like: Bi hal shakel, Abou Ali, Halleluja, Shareet Ghayr Houdoudi, Houdou Nesbi, Ana Mouch Kafer, Hakaya al Atfal, Bema Enno, Monodose (with singer Salma Mosfi) and Maaloumat Akidi (with singer Latifa). He has also written the music for singles performed by others like "Rafi2i Sobhi El Gizz", "Kifak", "Iza baddik" "Abban 3an Jidd". He has done some orchestrations for songs like "Madih el Zoll el Ali", "Ahmad el Zaatar" and "Moussakafoun noun". Rahbani has also mixed several albums such as Al ra2i el 3aam and Moussakafoun noun.

He has held concerts like the Oriental Jazz Concert in the BUC Irwin Hall, the Las Salinas Concert, the Forum de Beirut Concert, the Picadilly Concert, and "Mniha Concert" in Mont La Salle Ain Saadeh, the latter with his cousin Ghassan Rahbani. He is also performs live occasionally in pubs like "Medusa", "Mon Général" and the "Téatro".

Political Works Rahbani has also done many political shows on the radio like Ba3dna Taybeen Oulou Allah and El Akl Zeeneh and some music related shows. Since 2006, he has written a column for the Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar.

Personal Life Rahbani was married to Dalal Karam and had a son named "Assi Jr." with her. The couple later divorced. Rahbani composed various songs about their relationship, including "Marba el Dalal" and "Bisaraha".