by arabnews.com —DUBAI: Lebanon’s Baalbeck International Festival is set to take place this month on July 5 despite the ongoing coronavirus, organizers announced this week. The renowned arts and culture event, however, will have no audience. It will broadcast live concerts from the heart of the Bacchus Temple, an ancient site in Lebanon’s Baalbeck at 9 p.m (Saudi time) on the festival’s Facebook and YouTube pages, MBC’s streaming service Shahid and a number of Lebanese TV channels like MTV, LBC and more. “The Bacchus Temple will harbour history, culture and arts as the City of the Sun opens virtually its gates for a one-of-a-kind live concert,” read the festival’s released statement. “The Sound of Resilience will serve as an example for future concerts to be held during the ongoing health crisis.” The program for the concert has not been revealed yet, but the festival stated that the event will celebrate Beethoven’s 250th birthday by presenting the German composer’s most famous pieces.

Launched in 1956, Baalbeck International Festival is the region’s oldest arts event. It presents classical music, opera, theater, dance and ballet by both local and international performers. Over the years, the festival has welcomed renowned artists onto its stage, including legendary Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum, Lebanon’s Fairuz, American jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald and Armenian-French singer Charles Aznavour.