World-renowned composer and pianist Steve Barakatt releases Motherland
A new musical creation that expresses his love for Lebanon
Beirut – November 22, 2022 – On this Lebanese Independence Day, world-renowned composer and pianist Steve Barakatt is pleased to unveil Motherland, a musical homage to his Lebanese origins, accompanied by a music film.
Lebanon’s remarkable landscapes and amazing people—the Lebanese population at home and all around the world—have inspired the artist to create this composition, which evokes the unique spirit of Lebanon in a vibrant and uplifting fusion of Eastern and Western musical influences.
Released globally by Universal Music MENA, Motherland features performances by several renowned Lebanese musicians, including Rony Barrak (percussion), Wissam Abdelnour (oud) and Joseph Karam (nay). The recording also features the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by British conductor & orchestrator Nic Raine with recording by Grammy-winning engineer Jan Holzner.
“For me, Motherland has been a passion project like no other,” says Steve Barakatt. “The idea came to me two years ago, on the 100th anniversary of the creation of Greater Lebanon. As I began working on it, the initial idea of composing an anthem evolved into something much more personal and emotionally resonant. My Lebanese ancestors nourished my passion and love for life and music, and creating Motherland has been a deeply meaningful journey back to my roots. My heartfelt wish is that the music and its accompanying film bring love and hope not only to Lebanese people but to everyone who hears it.”
The Motherland music film highlights the unique joie de vivre and passionate hearts of the Lebanese people. Directed by Lebanese director Badry Moujais and featuring Lebanese actors Rhéa Mahfouz and Carl Yammine, it tells an inspiring story of a man in search of his roots, driven by love.
Many of the scenes were filmed at Domaine des Tourelles, Lebanon’s oldest wine company, which created the special cuvée Motherland, a unique wine and music collaboration that pays tribute to the 100th anniversary of Greater Lebanon.
About Steve Barakatt
Born and raised in Canada from a family of Lebanese decent, internationally acclaimed composer, pianist, singer, producer, and creative director Steve Barakatt has collaborated with top artists, studios, and organizations on hundreds of artistic projects. The world’s most recognized composer of anthems, Barakatt is the man behind “Lullaby, The UNICEF Anthem”, the Saemangeum MegaCity anthem “One More Heart, One More Dream”, anthems for Fairmont Le Château Frontenac and the world’s 66 Royal Golf Clubs, and compositions for numerous other prestigious organizations and TV broadcast events such as the FIFA World Cup and the F1 Grand Prix. His career as a concert pianist has spanned five continents and over 500 performances. He has sold more than 5 million albums worldwide and his music catalogue has exceeded 200,000,000 views on YouTube.
In 2021, Steve Barakatt has been named in Top 100 successful Lebanese personalities in the diaspora by MTV’s “Saro Miyyeh”.
Watch MOTHERLAND: