Chat Iskandaria

Fairuz is a living legend and one of the greatest divas of the Arab world. For more than sixty years, she has been at the heart of Arabic music, releasing landmark albums since the early 50s and performing on stages around the globe. Fairuz rose to prominence through her collaboration with the Rahbani Brothers (Assi and Mansour), a creative partnership that began in the 1950s and flourished through the 1970s, producing a vast repertoire of timeless songs that remain beloved across the Arab world and beyond.

In the late 1970s, Fairuz shifted to a more modern sound with albums such as Wahdon (1979) and Maarifti Feek (1986), produced by her son Ziad Rahbani, blending jazz, funk, and other contemporary influences into her music. However, Chat Iskandaria, released in 1987, marks a return to her classic Rahbani sound, offering a more traditional yet captivating approach to Arabic music. The album sees Fairuz interpreting a selection of Rahbani Brothers compositions in their signature theatrical and orchestral style, with themes ranging from nostalgia and love - including a heartfelt homage to the city of Alexandria - to the passage of time, central motifs in much of their work The legendary poet Saïd Akl contributes to two songs, "Min Rawabina Al Kamar" and "Fattehhon Alay."

Unlike her more experimental collaborations with Ziad Rahbani, Chat Iskandaria stays firmly rooted in traditional Lebanese and Levantine musical aesthetics. Rich in melody and poetic imagery, it showcases Fairuz at her most evocative, supported by the refined orchestral arrangements that defined her golden era with the Rahbanis.

Chat Iskandaria is a must-have for lovers of classical Arabic music and a poignant reminder of the enduring artistic bond between Fairuz and the Rahbani Brothers. Wewantsounds is pleased to release the album on vinyl for the first time since its original 1987 release, featuring its beautiful gatefold sleeve, remastered audio and a new bilingual introduction by Mario Choueiry (Institut du Monde Arabe).