Beirut, the largest city in Lebanon, has long been a thriving metropolis, known, especially in a period immediately following World War 2, for its European-style art and intellectualism. Several female singers emerged in this period, most famously including Fairuz, a Christian Maronite from Beirut. During the seventeen year civil war, most of the Lebanese music stars moved to Cairo or Paris, with a large music scene in Beirut only returning after 1992. Modern stars include Rageb Alama and Walid Tawfiq.
References
- Badley, Bill and Zein al Jundi. "Europe Meets Asia". 2000. In Broughton, Simon and Ellingham, Mark with McConnachie, James and Duane, Orla (Ed.), World Music, Vol. 1: Africa, Europe and the Middle East, pp 391-395. Rough Guides Ltd, Penguin Books. ISBN 1-85828-636-0
