SOUK – Amsterdam Arabic Festival
SOUK - Amsterdam Arabic Festival celebrates the rich Arabic culture of the past and present. A full-length programme in all foyers and corridors around The Concertgebouw's Main Hall.
New this year: the first edition of SOUK Kids - Mini Arabic Festival for the whole family. On Saturday afternoon!
SOUK
The Concertgebouw will once again be transformed into a souk, full of music, stories, poetry and dance. Six hours of musical entertainment in the Main Hall and foyers, celebrating the rich Arabic culture of the past and present, and connecting it to Western culture. Which Arabic artists will shine in the Main Hall with the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra and the Dutch National Ballet remains a surprise for the time being...
Performances in the Main Hall
Join us on a journey in the footsteps of the great explorer Ibn Battuta. Battuta left Tangier, Morocco, in the early 14th century for an unprecedented journey of over 30 years through the Arab world. His colorful storytelling and his thirst for adventure take us on a musical exploration that brings together different cultures.
Netherlands Chamber Orchestra
In this musical journey, the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra meets with several well-known and surprising international artists. Led by Polish-Lebanese conductor Bassem Akiki, the orchestra gives a new, symphonic perspective to the music of the artists and dives into different musical traditions. Especially for SOUK, the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra will be expanded with Arab instrumentalists on the ud, qanun and darbuka. There will be authentic and nostalgic sounds as well as modern surprises. A new piece by the Dutch National Ballet, inspired by a destination on our journey, will also have its world premiere.
Extensive foyer program
You begin your evening wandering around in the foyers, which are transformed into a classic souk as you know it from the medinas of the Middle East and North Africa. Later in the evening, these spaces transform into a new world: a modern Arab-Western world souk. From the nostalgia of the past to the present of the youngest generations of the Arab diaspora in the Netherlands. Enjoy the diverse music, stories, poetry, art, dance, snacks and drinks.
20 years SOUK
In 2005, the first edition of SOUK took place. For 20 years SOUK has brought cultures together and brought many stars to The Concertgebouw, such as Nawal El Zoghbi, Asma Lmnawar, Carole Samaha, Assala Nasri, Mohamed Hamaki Abderrahim Souiri, Mustpha Bourgogne and many others...
SOUK 2023 in pictures:
SOUK Kids Festival
SOUK Kids is a small festival, a cultural journey through music, dance, fashion, film and poetry. During SOUK Kids, The Concertgebouw is transformed into a real souk, full of dance, music, stories, film, photography and poetry. Here you and your children will be immersed in a vibrant world of enchanting scents, vibrant colors and compelling sounds. The artists come from the vast Arab region between Morocco and the Middle East. Through the diverse program and the collaboration between great Arab artists and classical orchestras, SOUK creates an immersive atmosphere of discovery and surprise.
SOUK is a collaboration of The Concertgebouw, the SOUK Foundation and the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra and is made possible in part by Ammodo, The Concertgebouw Fund and Marmoucha.