|
The music of Omar Khairat has a special and distinctive
style. His music is considered to be a pioneering effort in bridging
the space between both eastern and western approaches to music.
His musical
influences range from arabic and european classical; egyptian,
african and north african traditional; to jazz, pop and blues . His
musical compositions and various works have found true appeal with
the masses, and a great respect and appreciation within the larger
classical music community in Egypt.
Omar Khairat was
born in Cairo and belongs to a family who is not only interested in
the arts, but who also actively engage in them.
His Uncle Abu Bakr
Khairat, a music composer, was the founder of the Music Academy and
was its first dean. In 1959, Omar joined the Academy and studied the
piano and musical theory. After graduating, he continued his studies
with Trinity College in London.
In parralel, he
became involved with international popular music and jazz and played
the drums for one of the top bands in Cairo,
"Les Petit Chats".
This experience added another dimension to his musical influences.
His career as a
pianist began in earnest in 1979, when his various works started to
gain recognition from both listeners and critics. His first major
work was the music score for the very popular film The Night of
Fatma's arrest. His music score was a hit and was widely
applauded by the public. It was the first time in Egypt for a film
score to be released on audiocassettes, and subsequently became a
milestone in the music industry in the Middle East in that
particular field.
He went on to
compose the music score for the famous television drama,
Bangles. In this work he introduced a Western harmonic
flair to the classic Arabic music structure. It was a new experience
for him and was acclaimed by the critics.
Another of his
significant works is The October Panorama, which he was
commissioned to compose as the theme music to accompany the mural
panorama show depicting Egypt's great victory in the 6th of October
war. This show has become a tourist attraction and is on constant
display in the heart of Cairo.
A song for
Egypt, and Journey
down the Nile are other musical images of his motherland.
Other compositions
include the music for two ballets : The Sorceress and the Magical
Perfumes, and the Nile ballet, and the music for two operettas,
A 100 years of Cinema and Al Amrana hill. All of these
were followed by his symphonic work, Arabian Rhapsody.
His most famous
film scores include: Aam Ahmed's case, The Sixth Day, Executing
the Dead, The Terrorist, Slumber in Honey, Tutankhamon, The
Forbidden Time, A Date with Fate, Love also dies, The
Grandchildren's' Conflict, Take care of your mind, The Housemaid,
Hell under water and The Vision.
Scores for
subsequent TV dramas included titles such as: Escape from prison,
Law in Islam, Abla Hikmet's conscience, A Second Meeting, Homes have
Secrets, Spring in the Storm, Little Wives, This Man,
and A Place in the Heart.
His most renowned
music albums are:
Fatma, Aam
Ahmed's case, Bangles, The Vision, The Sorceress and the Magic
Perfumes, Abla Hekmat's conscience,
The Second
meeting, A Modern Woman, Panorama and Arabian Rhapsody.
He was granted the
award for Best musician in 1989 by the Egyptian Society for Cinema
in appreciation of his music score for the film Runaway from
Alkhanka. The Film Society and the Egyptian Society for the
Cinema honoured him with the Best musician award for the music of
the film Slumber in honey. The Cairo Festival granted him the
Appreciation Certificate of Radio and Television for his music score
of Tutankhamon.
Omar Khairat's
name and popularity have spread over the years, and his works,
performances, and albums are awaited by his fans and admirers
throughout the Middle East.
Omar Khairat is
the personification of the true artist from Egypt.
Soon you can buy
the latest concerts or videos here...
| 
ArabiaTarab:
Surf
Music Store 
Movie Store 
