Prominent Iraqi singer Kathem El Saher is scheduled to hold a grand performance at the Albert Royal Hall in London on March 14, sponsored by the Melkonian Foundation and for which all proceeds will go directly to needy children in the Middle East.
El Saher held a performance at the Albert Hall and for the same charity in 2004.
According to the London based Elaph, Kathem recently took part in the Doha Seventh Music Festival. During his stay in Doha the singer was honored as the ‘Best Arab Singer’ by the Al Raya newspaper.
The Iraqi satellite channel filmed a special interview with the singer to be aired in the near future. Kathem gave several interviews to Qatari satellite channels and was honored by the Qatar local television channel as well.
El Saher is scheduled to film a new music video for the song "Intaha AL Mishwar" (The Journey is Over), written by Aseer El Shouq, that will mark the fifth clip he has filmed under Jordanian director Hussein Du’aibis.
El Saher refuses to hold any negotiations with the Egyptian Opera House after the theatre banned him from performing for the past two years.
The Opera House claimed El Saher canceled a prescheduled concert on the notion that he urgently had to leave Egypt, but that it was later discovered that he never left the country and had in fact held private concert for an Arab Princess.
Several Egyptian newspapers had supported the Opera House’s controversial decision to ban the singer at the time.
El Saher stated that the Opera House condemned him two years ago, not allowing him to sing, and made it a point to mention the incident as often as possible. He stated that after the Opera House announced their decision to ban him he felt very humiliated because they did not respect him or hear his side. For this reason, the singer asserted he will not attempt to make mends with the Opera House.
On a different note, Kathem revealed that he is 47 years old and is still searching for the perfect mate, whose characteristics consist of being caring, sweet, along with his mother’s patience.
He added that he does not mind getting involved with a young woman who is still in her twenties, and if he finds the right person he will not hesitate to cancel half of his concerts and travel for her sake. He confirmed that the rumor claiming he had an intimate relationship with Moroccan singer Asma Al Manour was false.
© 2006 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
