Theatre for Palestine: Umm Kulthum door Marmoucha Orchestra

• Date: 26 September
• Time: 20:00 - 21:15
• Location: Theater aan het Spui, Zaal 1

In 2025, we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the passing of Umm Kulthum (1898–1975), the unparalleled Egyptian star often referred to as “the Fourth Pyramid.” As the iconic face of Pan-Arabism, she touched the hearts of millions.

In honor of this legend, Marmoucha Orchestra presents a special tribute: The Phonograph Changed Me, a performance that combines music, storytelling, visuals, and sound design to bring Umm Kulthum’s Egypt to life and shed light on her life and artistic vision.

Umm Kulthum and Palestine
During her fifty-year career, Umm Kulthum wrote and performed no fewer than 320 era-defining songs. Beyond her music, she also lent her voice to the struggle and hope of the Palestinian people. She openly supported the Palestinian cause and was at the heart of the first large-scale fundraising concerts after 1967. To this day, her music remains beloved, especially in Gaza, where her voice can be heard daily in cafés, barbershops, and taxis.

We cannot imagine a more fitting program for this weekend of solidarity, humanity, and hope, and we are honored to welcome the Marmoucha Orchestra.

Theater for Palestine
This performance is part of a weekend-long program at Theater aan het Spui dedicated to Palestine. We hand the stage to the voices and stories of Palestinian (and Dutch) theater makers, using theater as a space for solidarity, humanity, and hope.

All proceeds from ticket sales will be donated, in collaboration with the creators, to the Palestinian Arts and Culture Solidarity Collective.

The Phonograph Changed Me
Rather than simply revisiting her greatest hits, this performance zooms in on the early years of Umm Kulthum. Her statement, “The phonograph changed me,” highlights how the innovation of the phonograph allowed her to share her extraordinary talent with the world. From the intimate live performances of her youth to the groundbreaking steps that made her a global sensation, this performance explores the music and influences that shaped her artistic journey.

Under the direction of Toni Geitani and artistic leader Arin Keshishi, Marmoucha Orchestra presents this tribute as a continuous musical performance that engages all the senses. The expressive voice of Dutch-Syrian soprano Mireille Bittar will bring Umm Kulthum’s early work vividly to life.

This performance is not only a tribute to Umm Kulthum but also a journey through a crucial period in Arab and global music history. Be swept away by the stories, voices, and images that defined an era, and discover how Umm Kulthum’s extraordinary vision made her into the immortal icon she remains today.

Experience Umm Kulthum as you never have before—a musical and visual celebration of a life that continues to inspire generations.

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