Wed, October 22, 2025 at 7:30 PM
WAED BOUHASSOUN & ENSEMBLE
A Tribute to Umm Kulthum
Pierre Boulez Saal
Egyptian singer and actress Umm Kulthum (1898–1975) is among the most revered voices of the Arab world. Often referred to as the “Star of the East” and the “Fourth Pyramid of Egypt,” she left a lasting mark on 20th-century music with her unique style. Her repertoire, consisting of extended songs with a prominent role for improvisation, continues to influence artists around the world. Commemorating the 50th anniversary of her death, Syrian singer and oud player Waed Bouhassoun presents a concert in tribute to this legendary musician, performing with a takht, a traditional small ensemble, reflecting the musical groups that were common before the rise of large orchestras inspired by Western music.
Artists
Voice
Oud and Musical Direction
Violoncello
Violin
Percussion
Qanun
EVENT TIMELINE
the artists
Waed Bouhassoun was born near the city of Suwayda in the south of Syria and grew up in a music-loving family. She has been playing the oud since the age of seven. As a child, she lived in Yemen with her parents for two years, discovering the local music at an early age. She received her professional education at the Damascus Conservatory, which at the time was strongly influenced by Western classical music. Her highly personal musical style draws on all these diverse influences. She quickly made a name for herself with her first public appearances in Aleppo and soon received invitations to the Maison des Cultures du Monde and the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris. Since then, she has performed throughout Europe, in South Korea, Canada, and Columbia. Her award-winning debut album La Voix de l’amour was released in 2009, followed by L’Âme du luth in 2014 and La Voix de la passion in 2016. In addition to her solo career, she regularly appears with Jordi Savall and his ensemble Hespèrion XXI and as artistic director of the Orpheus 21 project. She has also given workshops for refugees and displaced children cut off from their cultural roots. Waed Bouhassoun has been a regular guest at the Pierre Boulez Saal since her debut as part of the 2019 Arabic Music Days. In 2018, she was made a Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French government. She resides in Paris and received her Ph.D. in ethnomusicology in 2020 with a thesis on funeral songs of the Druzes of southern Syria.
The Palestinian Galilee Quartet consists of siblings Mostafa, Gandhi, Tibah, and Omar Saad. They perform both on classical instruments of the European string quartet and traditional instruments from their homeland, combining Western and Arabic musical influences. Their repertoire includes classical and romantic string quartets as well as original compositions. In 2025, the four musicians began their master’s studies at the Paris Conservatoire and participated in the Verbier Festival Academy as ensemble in residence.
Tunisian-born Yassine Zghal trained as a pianist before switching to the qanun and completing his studies with a national diploma. In his music, he combines Western harmony with performance practice and playing techniques from the Arab world, thus broadening the musical horizon of his traditional instrument.
YOUR VISIT
How To Get There
Pierre Boulez Saal
Barenboim-Said Akademie
Französische Straße 33d
10117 Berlin
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Public Transport
U-Bahn U2 Hausvogteiplatz, U5 Museumsinsel, U6 Unter den Linden
S-Bahn S / U Friedrichstraße
Tram M1, 12 Mitte / Am Kupfergraben
Bus 147 Werderscher Markt; 100, 300, N5 Staatsoper
Bicycle
Bicycle racks are available on the street “Hinter der Katholischen Kirche.”
Car
Q-PARK parking garage Unter den Linden / Staatsoper
Bebelplatz 2
10117 Berlin
Theater rate (5.30 pm – 11.30 pm, paid in advance): €10
Please note there is a construction site across from the hall on Französische Straße. The street is narrowed, and cars or taxis are not allowed to stop in front of the Pierre Boulez Saal entrance.
Opening Hours
Box Office
Monday to Friday 2 pm to 6 pm
Closed on weekends and holidays
On performance days, the box office opens one hour prior to an event on weekdays and two hours on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
Papagena Call Center
Ticket hotline +49 30 4799 7411
Monday to Saturday 9am to 8pm
Sunday and public holidays 2pm to 8pm
Food & Drinks
Casalot Catering welcomes Pierre Boulez Saal visitors before and after concerts, serving a variety of dishes of Arab cuisine.
On concert nights, the bar opens one hour before the start of an event and remains open after the performance. You may also place pre-orders for intermission right at the counter.
More informantion on our catering can be found here.
Coat Check
Small bags up to a maximum size of A4 (21x30 cm) and jackets may be taken into the concert hall. Luggage, helmets, large umbrellas, and other bulky items must be stored at the coat check.
The coat check is free and located behind the staircase in the foyer, on the left-hand side.
Accessibility
To book wheelchair-accessible seating, other seats for visitors with disabilities, or companion seats, please contact us directly.
+49 30 4799 7411
tickets@boulezsaal.de
All wheelchair seats are accessible by elevator. All visitors, including patrons using a wheelchair, will enter the Pierre Boulez Saal through the main entrance. Tickets will be checked at the hall doors.
In order to make access as easy as possible, we kindly ask that you inform us of your requirements when booking your tickets.
Restrooms for visitors with disabilities are located in the basement and on the balcony level and are accessible by elevator.
Four parking spaces for visitors with disabilities are available on the street Hinter der Katholischen Kirche.
