طرب / TARAB

An Ecstasy with Music by Umm Kulthum

© Murat Aslan

Still little known in the Western world, the singer Umm Kulthum – the “Callas of Egypt” – is one of the great icons of classical Arabic music. Her sometimes 45-minute-long, profound songs and her concerts, lasting up to four hours, took on epic dimensions in the second half of the 20th century and captivated audiences across the in the Arab world.

Not only is Umm Kulthum an example of a disadvantaged young woman who made it to the top within a patriarchally dominated artistic field, she also became a model of change and empowerment for women across the globe. Her influence, which helped inspire genuine social change and a sense of togetherness, extended into the political sphere: she engaged in vibrant solidarity and influential public actions, advocating for a society in which everyone can participate – just as in her songs.

Today, it seems more important than ever to activate the cross-border power of this extraordinary artist and to transport people in Berlin-Neukölln into a trance-like state of shared ecstasy. This is what is known in the Arab world as “tarab”: when bodies are infatuated and enchanted by music.

With طرب / TARAB, songwriter, singer, and cellist Nesrine Belmokh and director Sjaron Minailo create a collage of diverse Umm Kulthum songs. The three singer-performers Mireille Bittar, Rita El-Achkar, and Waed Bouhassoun take a musical journey through key stages of their own lives – all closely connected to Umm Kulthum’s songs –, which tell of affection, love, and farewell. While performing they undergo a transformation, refusing the eternal suffering that seems to be a female destiny. Accompanied by the Berlin-based ensemble transmusica, a performance emerges that weaves music through powerful scenography, movement and sensual dramatic languages into a unique stage experience. 

 

WITH Mireille Bittar, Waed Bouhassoun, Rita El-Achkar

MUSICIANS ensemble transmusica – Valentin Link (bass), Bernd Oezsevim (drums), Jehad Jazbeh (solo violin), Mari Sawada / Vera Kardos (violin I), Angelika Feckl / Meike-Lu Schneider (violin II), Kundri Lu Schäfer (viola), Zoe Cartier / Lea Rahel Bader (cello), Deniz Mahir Kartal / Yazan Alsabbagh (clarinette & ney), Tarek Charbel (oud)

ARTISTIC DIRECTION / COMPOSITION Nesrine Belmokh MUSICAL DIRECTION / ARRANGEMENT Frank Woeste STAGE DIRECTION Sjaron Minailo SET & STAGE DESIGN Shahrzad Rahmani STAGE ASSISTANT Satah Schimke DRAMATURGY Nora Amin, Dennis Depta DRAMATURGICAL ADVISOR Mieke Kolk PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT Joelina Spiess ENSEMBLE MANAGEMENT transmusica ensemble / MUSICAL ADVISOR Sofia Surgutschowa

 

LANGUAGES Arabic, with Arabic, German and English compact descriptions

Next date:

• Date Sunday, 07/June/2026 20:00 (12 more dates)
• Venue Neuköllner Oper
• Address Karl-Marx-Straße 131, 12043 Berlin-Neukölln