Elias Rahbani: Lebanese music icon music

The genius of Elias Rahbani, one of the most abundant composers in Lebanon, is clear in creating new voices by integrating traditional Arab music with Western popular types. His older brother was famous for working with Fayrouz, but Elias launched his own career and became a leading figure in Lebanese pop music. He also composed the pictorial music for films, topics for the famous Lebanese TV series, and music for commercial ads. This documentary series consisting of two parts tells the story of his exceptional career, through interviews with musicians, singers, his family and friends, who are interested in worrying with the Lebanese TV archive of some of the most famous Arab music names. They used to call him the “third bet”, but Elias became a real musical symbol itself.

The second part of the film takes the story after its career started and won international song competitions in Germany, France, Bulgaria and Austria. He composed the results of films, theater music, children’s songs, and television and radio ads. Finally, he achieved his dream of writing songs for the famous singer Fayrouz and emerged from the shadow of his famous brothers, Mansour and Abe. The film also provides a snapshot of life in Lebanon and its personality before the civil war. In subsequent years, Elias’s health fell, and he died due to complications from Covid-19 during the epidemic in January 2021.