The Portuguese Embassy in collaboration with Serena Hotels hosted on Wednesday ‘Soulful Strings: Portugal & Pakistan’ a great musical journey that brought together two remarkable traditions through the universal language of music.
The evening featured a mesmerizing performance by celebrated Portuguese classical guitarist Pedro Jóia and renowned Pakistani folk singer and musician known for his renderings of traditional Sufi poetry, Arieb Azhar.
Both of them captivated the audience with a soulful fusion of Portuguese guitar melodies and the spiritual depth of Sufi verse.
Besides, Kashif Ali (table player) and Zeshan Masood also left lasting impression on the audience.
In Ambassador Manuel Frederico da Silva’s words the event aimed at promoting cross-cultural ties and would go a long way in enhancing people-to-people ties.
Portugal, he said is an old country with rich traditions of music.
He also spoke highly of the Pakistani artists Arieb and his team for captivating the audience earlier in Lahore and now in Islamabad.
The event is part of the Portuguese ambassador’s efforts to promote and bring closer eminent persons from literary, cultural and artistic fields.
In Portugal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, there is ‘Cultural bench’ specifically set up to promote soft diplomacy, he informed.
Earlier this year in February, Portuguese novelist, playwright and poet José Luís Peixoto also visited Pakistan and discussed scope of cooperation between the writers and poets as well as literary organizations of the two countries.
The show was divided into two parts, first Pedro gave a solo performance and later Arieb joined him along with table player and flutist.
While expressing gratitude and appreciation, Pedro Jóia said since he was 15 or 16, he used to listen to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.
It was so different from the Portuguese music yet it seemed so close, he said.
“Today, I feel myself fortunate to be part of the Sufi music that is characteristic of this land,” he said.
The artistic collaboration highlighted the richness of both cultures and offered a profound, meditative experience to all in attendance.
In ambassador
The music performance was attended by members of the diplomatic community, along with distinguished representatives from the corporate sector and media personalities, all gathered to celebrate the power of music as a bridge between nations.
Mr.Aziz Boolani, CEO of Serena Hotels, remarked, “At Serena Hotels, we believe in the power of cultural diplomacy to create meaningful connections between people and nations.
Soulful Strings reflects our commitment to encouraging dialogue and harmony through art and music’’.
