THE AL-KINDI ENSEMBLE

Founded in 1983 by the French virtuoso of the Arab zither Julien Jalal Eddine Weiss is currently rated among the best formations devoted to classical Arab music, owing to the quality of its interpretations and to the rigor and respect with which it has built upon the classical musical traditions of the near and middle east.
The Ensemble presents various repertoires of classical songs, both profane and sacred, thus enabling us to rediscover the refined, complex musical art of these age-old-cultures. The concert is accompanied by the Whirling Derviches.
The Ensemble travels constantly all over Europe. In 2001 it received the Arts & Letters Award from Catherine Tasca, the Culture French Minister.

JULIEN JALAL EDDINE WEISS

He was born in Paris; he is French of Swiss and Alsatian origins. He was converted to the Muslim faith in 1986. He received teaching from masters all over the Arab world – in Egypt, Tunisia, Turkey, the Lebanon, Syria and Iraq. He has become an absolute expert on the board zither. He is both a soloist and accompanist in his ensemble. In the concert world, his constant search for Arab vocalists to accompany or record, who are nevertheless unknown in the West, has turned him into a sort of ideal link between two worlds.