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    Foundation for Modern Music Commission

    Beyond poems and prayers: Mohammed Fairouz's Akhenaten celebrates young peopleaffecting change and paying the price for it

    Joel Luks
    Mar 15, 2012 | 1:07 pm
    • Philip Glass' opera Akhnaten and Naguib Mahfouz's novel Akhenaten: Dweller inTruth influenced composer Mohammed Fairouz.
    • The Houston Grand Opera staged the American premiere of Philip Glass' Akhnaten,the culminating work of his biographical trilogy.
    • When Naguib Mahfouz died in 2006, Fairouz crafted an elegy for violin and cello.
    • On display at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston is a colossal statue of Akhenatenas part of Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs.
      Photo by Sandro Vannini

    Counterpoint is the musical idiom of a plural, global society. Unlike modulations, inversions, augmentations and retrograde manipulations, each line of the polyphonic texture safeguards its individuality.

    That's what New York-born composer Mohammed Fairouz posits, and his thesis has weight beyond music. A cosmopolitan community is stronger than the sum of its parts — not assimilated — working in euphony, not necessarily in harmony. Dissonance and cacophony are welcomed.

    Wise words written by the 26-year-old. His music will be the focus of a Foundation for Modern Music concert set for 8 p.m. Saturday at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts. The program includes the world premiere of Akhenaten, Dweller in Truth, scored as a concerto for cello, piano and orchestra. Hisdouble concertoStates of Fantasy for violin and cello, Chorale Fantasy for string quartet, For Victimsand The Poet Declares His Renown, both for baritone and string quartet, are also on the playbill.

    Fairouz's music reveals his tenet. Whether as a response to the Tahrir Square coup d'état or a reflection of unrest in the Middle East, languages intermingle in hopes of offering a different angle. His artistic point of view has contributed to his rise as one of the most in-demand composers of his generation, bridging history with current events and responding by virtue of art to give a mouthpiece to the vox populi and the voice of the individual, equally.

    ​"Akhenaten was a missionary, prophetic and heretic leader. In a way, the young pharaoh tried to destroy the way of life as people knew it. And that's a topic that really interests me."

    It was cellist Adaiha Macadam-Somer, daughter of FMM's board member and assistant programming director Karen Somer, who connected Fairouz with the nonprofit. After pianist and FMM's assistant music director Paul Boyd heard Fairouz's works, discussions led to the commission, which was shaped into a double concerto with Macadam-Somer and Boyd at the helm.

    Akhenaten, Dweller in Truth is Fairouz's first world premiere in Houston, fitting for the company's 25th anniversary season.

    CultureMap chatted with the Arab American composer by phone to unearth his journey with Akhenaten, his influences and his thoughts as a prominent artist of his generation.

    CultureMap: Aside from the mammoth Tut exhibit currently on display at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the character of Akhenaten is significant here. It was in 1984 when the Houston Grand Opera staged the American premiere of Philip Glass' minimalist opera Akhenaten, the culminating work of his biographical trilogy.

    Now it's your turn. Does your Akhenaten, Dweller in Truth nod to the opera? Were you influenced by Naguib Mahfouz's novel?

    Mohammed Fairouz: Both the opera and the novel influenced me. I knew Naguib Mahfouz quite well. I interacted with him when I was a teenager and through the last years of his life. I have been taken by his approach to prose since I first heard him read from one of his works. Akhenaten: Dweller in Truth was introduced to me by the author. Mahfouz is a magician.

    "Young people changing the fabric of society and sometimes paying the price for doing so, that fascinates me."

    When he died in 2006, I crafted an elegy for violin and cello — it has been performed many times. But I had yet to write a piece after one of his books. I suppose this is the first "collaboration."

    One significant point in Akhenaten — the novel —is that the pharaoh's own voice is not explored: Mahfouz profiles all the other characters around him. It's written from the perspective of after his death.

    Akhenaten was a missionary, prophetic and heretic leader. In a way, the young pharaoh tried to destroy the way of life as people knew it. And that's a topic that really interests me in general, one I explored in my first opera, Sumeida's Song (based on the play Song of Death by the Egyptian playwright Tawfiq al-Hakim).

    Young people changing the fabric of society and sometimes paying the price for doing so, that fascinates me.

    CM: And the Philip Glass opera?

    MF: Philip is a dear composer to me and was — and continues to be — one of my greatest influences. He has been very kind to me and a group of young composers. I saw his Akhenaten as a child. Though I am not quoting from Glass' music, his setting was present in my subconscious when crafting my Akhenaten.

    But it's more closely aligned with the novel.

    CM: With that title and the association, I would assume your Akhenaten is programmatic. Are you trying to retell the story or are you abstracting the subject?

    MF: The work is conceived as a dance piece. In a way, it's a miniature ballet. When I was writing it, I saw it like a rhythmically-driven Middle Eastern Appalachian Spring.

    "The ways of the past haven't landed us in the best possible situation. So it's time to look for another solution."

    My composition doesn't represent every character of the novel specifically. I've synthesized the tenor of the novel in one movement, and it works with or without dancers.

    CM: In your previous works, certain instruments carry symbolic meaning. In your Tahrir for Clarinet and Orchestra, the solo instrument evokes the voice of the individual amid the masses. In Poems and Prayers, the woodwind is the spirit of a deceased boy as he dialogues with his living mother.

    In choosing cello and piano for Akhenaten, what are you implying?

    MF: The instrumentation began with my friendship with the two performers. The piano and cello duel makes sense as there are two extreme characters in conflict: The High Priest of Amun and Nefertiti, Akhenaten's wife.

    The cello takes lyrical tender melodies while the piano acts as a percussion instrument, interjecting and interrupting what the cello tries to put forth. So yes, there's a real symbolic connection between the novel's characters and the solo instruments.

    The music world knows me as a composer of vocal music — I have written many art songs as I love setting text to the human voice. When I write something purely instrumental, it doesn't mean I am not writing with the human voice in mind.

    CM: In Poems and Prayers, there are intervals associated with certain words and ideas. The word "Yom" — meaning day in Hebrew, Arameic and Arabic — was assigned to a perfect fourth. In essence, you call on leitmotifs. Can we expect the same in Akhenaten?

    "I believe in the musical language of my generation. Without having to come from prominent political figures, our voice, in this day and age, is breaking down walls and barriers, and I feel optimistic about the future."

    MF: There are definitely leitmotifs associated with The High Priest of Amun and Nefertiti, but I don't want to ruin the experience by disclosing what those are. As a composer, I believe in the melody line's power to carry strong emotions.

    I have learned a lot from musical theater's greats including Stephen Sondheim and Jason Robert Brown when sketching a memorable melody, and how different lines can interject and interact with each other. The compositional approach will be apparent, at least I hope so.

    CM: Your music — and your writing — can be interpreted as having a political agenda. Is that your intention, or just a serendipitous ramification of the subject?

    MF: I am not a politician nor interested in politics, per se. What I am interested in are the voices of my generation as they enter into dialogue in hopes of moving towards a more cosmopolitan world.

    When Philip Glass choose the characters for his trilogy — Einstein (Einstein on the Beach), Gandhi (Satyagraha) and Akhenaten (Akhnaten) — he focused on those who changed the world in one way or another, people who affected tumult.

    I believe in the musical language of my generation. Without having to come from prominent political figures, our voice, in this day and age, is breaking down walls and barriers, and I feel optimistic about the future. The ways of the past haven't landed us in the best possible situation. So it's time to look for another solution.

    In collaboration with the Consulate General of Egypt and the Egyptian American Society, Foundation for Modern Music presents a concert of music by Mohammed Fairouz set for 8 p.m. Saturday at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets start at $30 and can be purchased online or by calling the Hobby Center Box office at 713-315-2525.

    Performers include Paul Boyd (piano), Adaiha Macadam-Somer (cello), Batya Macadam-Somer (violin), Raúl Orlando Edwards (baritone), and an orchestra led by conductor Clifton Evans.

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    Here are the 15 best things to do in Houston this weekend

    Craig D. Lindsey
    Jun 18, 2025 | 6:30 pm
    Morgan Wallen
    Photo courtesy of Morgan Wallen
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    Juneteenth is on Thursday, June 19, which means those who want to celebrate will find plenty of events happening across Houston this weekend. We’re talking about such gatherings as the Children’s Museum Houston’s Juneteenth celebration, the Juneteenth 160 Fest, and Club Sienna’s Juneteenth Jubilee, just to name a few.

    But we also have the all-star return of Comicpalooza, live performances from a country bad-boy and a neo-soul legend, a YouTube show getting an early jump on celebrating DJ Screw Day, and the 20th anniversary of a movie that we wish we knew how to quit.

    Thursday, June 19

    Buffalo Bayou Partnership presents Underground Sounds: Sarah Grace Graves - “Three Names”
    All this weekend, the Underground Sounds series in the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern returns, featuring Sarah Grace Graves performing her composition "Three Names," which is inspired by the vast, unique architecture of the Cistern and arranged especially for its natural acoustics. Graves is a composer and vocal performer working at the intersection between ritual and recital. She pulls inspiration from a variety of media, including classical literature and archival music recordings, to weave together stories through a blend of compositions and improvisation. 6 pm.

    Plot Swap Theater presents Pheromones
    Best friends Lucy and Vic slide into a downtown lounge, where Lucy unveils a slim vial she swears will make its wearer irresistible, putting their handsome waiter Danny in the crosshairs. Whether the pheromones ignite romance, trigger disaster, or expose deeper rifts between the friends is decided live by the audience. Pheromones is an intimately hilarious choose‑your‑adventure story, performed for only 10 guests per night. Through Thursday, July 24. 7 pm.

    The River Oaks Theatre presents When Houston Had the Blues
    When Houston Had the Blues focuses on the city’s rich (but sadly unheralded) history of great Black music. No other city can claim giants such as Lightnin' Hopkins, Big Mama Thornton, Clarence Gatemouth Brown, Bobby Blue Bland, Albert King, and Albert Collins, plus Black-owned labels like Duke and Peacock. The doc features new interviews with Billy Gibbons, CJ Chenier, Grady Gaines, and others. Producer Drew Barnett-Hamilton and Houston blues artists Trudy Lynn and Steve Krase will be around for a post-screening Q&A. 7:15 pm.

    Friday, June 20

    Comicpalooza
    The three-day pop culture con Comicpalooza is back, featuring vendors from all over the galaxy, programming covering a multitude of fandoms, special attractions intriguing the curious minds, panels featuring this year’s guests, and other geeky entertainment. Celebrity guests will include Hayden Christensen, Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong, Anthony Michael Hall, Patton Oswalt, Ming-Na Wen, WWE wrestlers, the cast of Resident Alien (including Alice Wetterlund, who will be at Punch Line Houston this weekend), and more. 1 pm (9 am Saturday and Sunday).

    Asia Society Texas Center presents AsiaFest
    AsiaFest celebrates the rich diversity of Houston’s Asian and Asian American communities through performances, art-making activities, food, live demonstrations, and more. The event will feature Asia's different regions' traditions, cultures, and food. Guests will get to interact with a dragon boat display on their front lawn, tour Asia Society Texas' exhibition "Hung Hsien: Between Worlds," and more. 5 pm.

    Morgan Wallen in concert
    Country star Morgan Wallen may not have dug hanging around at Saturday Night Live a few months back (he quickly bounced during the goodnights and later posted “Get me to God’s country” on his Instagram page), but he’ll be sticking around in Houston this weekend. He’ll be performing not one, but two shows at NRG Stadium, in support of his new album, I'm The Problem. Well, at least the man knows he’s got issues. 5:30 pm. (Saturday, 5:30 pm).

    Maxwell in concert
    The last time ‘90s neo-soul pioneer Maxwell performed here was in October, as his tour (which celebrated the 15th anniversary of his 2009 comeback album BLACKsummers’night) made a stop at the Toyota Center. Now, he’s returning to H-Town territory, preparing to rock the house over at Sugar Land’s Smart Financial Centre. So, if you conceived children while listening to his baby-making jams (or if you were conceived during a Maxwell song and you just wanna see what the hype is all about), Maxwell will be here to give you a little sumthin’ sumthin’. 8 pm.

    Saturday, June 21

    River Oaks District presents Motor Mornings with Post Oak Motor Cars
    River Oaks District invites car enthusiasts, collectors, and industry insiders to its Motor Mornings – presented by Post Oak Motor Cars – to see an extraordinary lineup of supercars and hypercars, including bespoke Bentleys, roaring Lamborghinis, and sleek Bugattis. Automotive aficionados can come together to enjoy a curated collection of some of the most coveted vehicles in the world to connect over shared passion and engineering perfection. This event is open to the public and will offer live music and complimentary coffee for attendees. 8 am.

    Kroger 70th Anniversary Celebration
    The nationwide grocery chain will mark 70 years of Houston operations with a party at its store in the Heights (1035 N. Shepherd). The first 70 customers through the door at 10 am will have the opportunity to buy seven items for just $0.70 each. Everyone else will enjoy wine tastings, gift card raffles, Winfield's Chocolate Bar giveaways, an appearance by the Texans cheerleaders, and activities for kids. To mark the occasion, Kroger will donate $35,000 to the Houston Food Bank. 10 am.

    Morgan Wallen
      
    Photo courtesy of Morgan Wallen

    Morgan Wallen is performing Friday and Saturday.

    Spin the Block at Screwed Up Records and Tapes
    Spin the Block, the new YouTube show where DJs and influencers take over a local Houston space and have a nice little kickback, will be at Screwed Up Records and Tapes this weekend, just in time for DJ Screw Day next weekend. Rock/hip-hop duo Blaze x Black will be performing as well as hosting, along with King Borris. DJ Pablo Barre will provide the beats, and food trucks and other vendors will be outside. Noon.

    Nate Jackson: Super Funny World Tour
    Stand-up comedian, actor, and viral sensation Nate Jackson is taking his signature high-energy comedy on the road with the Super Funny World Tour. His blend of sharp wit, relatable humor, and unmatched physical comedy has made him a favorite both on social media and in live performances, where he sells out comedy clubs and theaters across America. See him before his first Netflix special drops in July. 7 pm.

    Houston Symphony presents Disney and Pixar’s Up in Concert
    In Up, the quirky duo of Carl, a cantankerous 78-year-old balloon salesman, and Russell, an adventurous 8-year-old stowaway, embark on a laugh-out-loud and touching journey to a hidden world full of thrills and surprises. The 2009 Disney/Pixar tearjerker will be projected on a massive screen, accompanied by the Houston Symphony performing Michael Giacchino’s Academy Award-winning score live. 7:30 pm (2 pm Sunday).

    Sunday, June 22

    Laura Rathe Fine Art presents "A World Within" opening reception
    "A World Within," a group exhibition featuring Lucrecia Waggoner, Carly Allen Martin, Audra Weaser, and Sandrine Kern, is that quiet, internal space we all carry. A place shaped by memory, emotion, and the small moments that do not always have language. A world where past experiences and passing thoughts live side by side, building emotional landscapes that feel intimate and vast at the same time. Each artist offers a different entry point into this space, a glimpse into their inner world. Through Monday, August 4. Noon.

    The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents "From India to the World: Textiles from the Parpia Collection" opening day
    A celebration of artistic mastery and cultural exchange, "From India to the World: Textiles from the Parpia Collection" showcases the Museum’s recent acquisition of Indian textiles from the holdings of New York-based Banoo and Jeevak Parpia, who have assembled one of the most significant private collections of its kind outside India. This exhibition offers a rich cross-section of India’s textile traditions, from intricate court silks to boldly patterned cottons, dazzling tie-dyes, and masterfully woven ikats. Through Sunday, September 14. 12:30 pm.

    Alamo Drafthouse LaCenterra presents Brokeback Mountain: 20th Anniversary
    Winner of three Academy Awards including Best Director, Brokeback Mountain is a sweeping epic that explores the lives of two young men, a ranch hand and a rodeo cowboy, who meet in the summer of 1963 and unexpectedly forge a lifelong connection. The complications, joys, and heartbreak they experience provide a testament to the endurance and power of love. The late Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal deliver emotionally charged, remarkably moving performances. 6 pm (9:30 pm Sunday).

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