THE TEMPLE OF JUPITERS AUDIENCE AND COFFEE MAKER, TRADITIONAL DANCERS PERFORM; PHILEMON WEHBE -- LEBANESE ACTOR; SABAH -- LEBANESE SINGER; DANCERS ON STAGE.




Initials IF/VS/MGT/JG



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Background: THE ANCIENT LEBANESE CITY OF BAALBEK OPENED ITS 10TH INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL ON WEDNESDAY (AUGUST 9). IT IS A RATHER SHORTENED VERSION OF THE USUAL FESTIVAL, MANY OF THE PLANS HAVING SEEN CANCELLED AS A RESULT OF THE HOSTILITIES OF THE ARAB-ISRAELI WAR.

THE FESTIVAL IS STAGED IN THE CLASSICAL RUINS OF BAALBEK'S TEMPLES OF JUPITER AND BACCHUS. THE FIRST NIGHT CELEBRATIONS INCLUDED A PERFORMANCE OF A FOLKLORE SHOW ENTITLED 'LEBANESE NIGHTS'. THIS MUSICAL PLAY HIGHLIGHTS MANY OF THE IMPORTANT EVENTS IN THE LEBANON'S HISTORY, AND STARS THE WELL-KNOWN LEBANESE SINGER SABAH. NADIA JAMAL, THE DANCER, AND PHILEMON WEHBE. THE LEBANESE COMEDIAN, ARE ALSO APPEARING. ALL THE PROCEEDS FROM THIS FIRST-NIGHT PERFORMANCE WILL GO TO VICTIMS OF THE ARAB-ISRAELI WAR.

DURING THE COMING WEEKS THERE WILL BE MORE MAJOR ATTRACTIONS -- RECITALS BY THE LEIPZIG RADIO ORCHESTRA, AN ARABIC VERSION OF SHAKESPEARE'S 'HAMLET' ACTED BY THE LEBANESE TROUPE DE THEATRE MODERNE, AND THE KATHAKALI INDIAN DANCE TROUPE PERFORMING THE SACRED DANCES OF INDIA.