"If Asmahan had lived longer, she would have equaled or even surpassed Om Kalsoum," says Egyptian musicologist Shafiq Abou Awf. But who was Asmahan? Asmahan was the stage name of Amal El Atrache, the younger sister of singer Farid El Atrache. She was born in 1918 and lived a royal life as the daughter of a prince from Syria, until disaster struck. Asmahan's father passed away and it appears that
… her mother, Alia, was expelled from the family. Alia took her children to Egypt and in order to survive she became a singer and lute player in nightclubs and parties. Asmahan and Farid received a solid musical education and later sang in clubs, on the radio and in movies. In the 1930s, Asmahan broke through with the song Aleik Salat Allah. Asmahan did not limit himself to a composer but built up a repertoire of songs by numerous composers, including those who also wrote for Om Kalsoum. With her dark-hued, sensual voice, Asmahan interpreted Arabic songs in a dramatic and passionate way, without losing the oriental character. In doing so, she bridged the gap between traditional Arabic singing technique and Western classical singing technique. Her tragic death in 1944 is shrouded in mystery: a car accident, drowned, murdered? It is clear that a great singer has been lost in the turbulent times of the Second World War. The album Le Coeur A Ses Raisons, with recordings between 1935 and 1944, bears witness to this. (SvdP) _ Asmahan's sensual voice performed Arabic songs dramatically and passionately, without losing the oriental character. In doing so, she bridged the gap between traditional Arabic singing technique and Western classical singing technique. Her tragic death in 1944 is shrouded in mystery: a car accident, drowned, murdered? It is clear that a great singer was lost in the turbulent times of the Second World War. The album Le Coeur A Ses Raisons, with recordings between 1935 and 1944, bears witness to this. (SvdP) _ Asmahan's sensual voice performed Arabic songs dramatically and passionately, without losing the oriental character. In doing so, she bridged the gap between traditional Arabic singing technique and Western classical singing technique. Her tragic death in 1944 is shrouded in mystery: a car accident, drowned, murdered? It is clear that a great singer has been lost in the turbulent times of the Second World War. The album Le Coeur A Ses Raisons, with recordings between 1935 and 1944, bears witness to this. (SvdP) _ drowned, murdered? It is clear that a great singer was lost in the turbulent times of the Second World War. The album Le Coeur A Ses Raisons, with recordings between 1935 and 1944, bears witness to this. (SvdP) _ drowned, murdered? It is clear that a great singer was lost in the turbulent times of the Second World War. The album Le Coeur A Ses Raisons, with recordings between 1935 and 1944, bears witness to this. (SvdP) _more
