Hiba Michel Tawaji ( born December 10, 1987) is a Lebanese soprano coloratura singer (4 octave vocal-range), actress, and director. She played the main female role in some of the most known Rahbani musicals. She also participated in the fourth season of France's version of The Voice, in which she was coached by Mika. She sings in Arabic, English and French. After The Voice, she signed up with Mercury Records in 2015. On 30 May 2016, it was announced that Tawaji will join the cast of Notre-Dame de Paris as Esmeralda in the revival of the musical. She also has 4 Arabic musical albums produced by Oussama Rahbani.
Early life and education
Born in Achrafieh, Beirut to a Lebanese Orthodoxy father and a Palestinian mother, she grew up in Elissar, in the Matn District. She learned music at a young age, however, she avoided to sing in front of her parents at home. From 1990 and until 2005, Tawaji studied in Athenee de Beyrouth School and got her BA in French literature.
From 2002 until 2007, she took singing lessons and solfeggio at Ecole des Arts Ghassan Yammine. Then she went to Saint Joseph University of Beirut, IESAV, and majored in audio-visual and cinematographic studies, earning her B.A. in 2010.
Since 2007, she has been developing vocal techniques and interpretation with Lebanese producer and composer Oussama Rahbani. As well as taking vocal lessons with Lebanese singer and vocal coach Wadih Abi Raad. She also took private opera lessons with Galina Khaldeeva.
Between May and July 2010, she took vocal lessons with Emmy Award winner Gwen Conley in New York. In that same period, she followed a three-month intensive acting workshop at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York.
The Voice
In 2015, Tawaji took part in the fourth season of The Voice: la plus belle voix, France's version of The Voice. In the blind auditions, she auditioned with "Les Moulins de mon cœur" by Michel Legrand with all four judges, Mika, Florent Pagny, Jenifer and Zazie turning their chairs. Tawaji opted to be in Team Mika. The blind audition was broadcast on day 3 of the auditions on 24 January 2015.
On 7 March 2015, in the Battles Round, Mika put her against Nög, another contestant in his team, both co-singing in "Mon amie la rose" from Françoise Hardy. Mika chose to keep Tawaji to the next round, with Nög being stolen by coach Zazie.
On 28 March, during the "L'Épreuve ultime" round, she interpreted "Fighter", a song by Christina Aguilera. She ended up staying in the Top 3 of Team Mika alongside Sharon Laloum and Yann'Sine Jebli, with David Thibault being stolen by Mika from Team Florent Pagny as a fourth new member of Team Mika.
In the live rounds, she sang "Everytime" from Britney Spears and was saved by public vote as top pick from Team Mika. In the second live round, she sang "Amoureuse" from Véronique Sanson again ending as public favourite from Team Mika with the biggest number of votes. Mika also opted to keep David Thibaut as Top 2 in his team.
On the semi-finals held on April 18, she confronted David Thibault in a bid to represent Team Mika in the final. She sang "Pas là" from Vianney, but lost to Thibault in the public vote, with the latter going to the 25 April 2015 final. Tawaji ended up finishing joint 5th to 8th place for the season.
Discography
Albums
2009 – Sayf 840 "صيف 840" (Highlights and the complete version) by Mansour Rahbani
show2012 – La Bidayi Wala Nihayi "لا بداية ولا نهاية", (Oussama Rahbani feat. Hiba Tawaji) show2011 – Don Quixote (by Marwan, Ghadi & Oussama Rahbani) show2014 – Ya Habibi "يا حبيبي"
2015 - We Love Disney (best of)
2016 - Notre Dame de Paris (the album)
2017 - Hiba Tawaji 30 double album, produced by Oussama Rahbani
April 2017 - Track "Solidarité" in Mathieu Chedid's album Lamomali
Christmas album "Hallelujah" produced by Oussama Rahbani (2017)
Filmography
2013 - "The rope" Al Habla - directed by Hiba Tawaji
2014 – "Al Rabih al Arabi" - concept by Hiba Tawaji, Oussama Rahbani & Ghadi Rahbani (video clip as a short movie).
Music, lyric & dancing videos
2008 – Metl el rih, "متل الريح" – Directed by Joe Bou Eid | Produced, composed and orchestrated by Oussama Rahbani | Written by Mansour Rahbani for the musical play "عودة الفينيق" The Return of the Phoenix
2012 – Helm, "حلم" – Directed by Hiba Tawaji | Produced, composed and orchestrated by Oussama Rahbani | Lyrics by Ghadi Rahbani | Taken from the album La Bidayi Wala Nihayi "لا بداية ولا نهاية"
2012 – Aal Bal Ya Watanna, "عالبال يا وطنّا" – Directed by Hiba Tawaji | Produced, composed and orchestrated by Oussama Rahbani) | Lyrics by Ghadi Rahbani | Taken from the musical play Don Quixote by Marwan, Ghadi and Oussama Rahbani
2011 – Machyi w ma baarif la weyn, "ماشية وما بعرف لوين" – Directed by Marwan Rahbani| Produced, composed and orchestrated by Oussama Rahbani | Lyrics by Ghadi Rahbani | Taken from the stage performance in the musical play Don Quixote
2011 – Min elli byekhtar, "مين اللي بيختار" – Directed by Marwan Rahbani | Produced, composed and orchestrated by Oussama Rahbani | Lyrics by Ghadi Rahbani | Taken from the stage performance in the musical play Don Quixote
2011 – Elli ya habibi oul, "قلّي يا حبيبي قول" – Directed by Marwan Rahbani | Produced, composed and orchestrated by Oussama Rahbani | Lyrics by Ghadi Rahbani | Taken from the stage performance in the musical play Don Quixote
2011 – Lamouni Ktir, "لاموني كتير" – Directed by Marwan Rahbani | Produced, composed and orchestrated by Oussama Rahbani | Lyrics by Ghadi Rahbani | Taken from the stage performance in the musical play Don Quixote
2011 – Kasik Ya Madini, "كاسك يا مديني" – Directed by Marwan Rahbani | Produced, composed and orchestrated by Oussama Rahbani | Lyrics by Ghadi Rahbani | Taken from the stage performance in the musical play Don Quixote
2013 – Zat El Lafti music video | directed by Hiba Tawaji .
2013 – La Tkelli music video | directed by Hiba Tawaji .
2013 – Al-Murtazaka
2013 – Libertango
2013 – Awlad al Chawareh (Rami Zeineddine)
2014 – Khalas, "خلص" – Directed by Fabrice Begotti | Produced, composed and orchestrated by Oussama Rahbani | Lyrics by Ghadi Rahbani | Taken from the album Ya Habibi "يا حبيبي"
2014 – Al Rabih Al Arabi, "الربيع العربي" – a video clip as a short movie Directed by Serge Oryan | Concept by Oussama Rahbani, Hiba Tawaji, Serge Oryan | Produced, composed and orchestrated by Oussama Rahbani | Lyrics by Ghadi Rahbani | Taken from the album Ya Habibi "يا حبيبي"
2014 – Metl El Chajar Mazrou3in, "متل الشجر مزروعين" – Directed by Joe Bou Eid | Concept by Oussama Rahbani & Ghadi Rahbani | Produced, composed and orchestrated by Oussama Rahbani | Lyrics by Ghadi Rahbani | A tribute to the Lebanese Army on its 69th anniversary
2014 – Aria Queen of the Night, by Mozart, taken from the live show "Ya Habibi" | concept by Hiba Tawaji, Mozart, Oussama Rahbani, directed by Marwan Rahbani .
2014 – Trois jeune tambours taken from "Ya Habibi" live show directed by Marwan Rahbani.
2014 – I Have Nothing, by Hiba Tawaji . cover, taken from the live show "Ya Habibi" | directed by Marwan Rahbani .
2015 – Vole, by Hiba Tawaji - cover | directed by Hiba Tawaji .
2016 – La Omri directed by Hiba Tawaji
2016 – Bghannilak Ya Watani (بغنيلك يا وطني) Directed by Hiba Tawaji and produced by Oussama Rahbani
2017 – Wahdi La Hali (وحدي لحالي) directed by Mokhtar Beyrouth, produced by Oussama Rahbani
2017 – Disney: Haza Zamani
2017 _ Silent night (directed by Nicolas Tussing) for the christmas album Hallelujah.
2018 _ lyric videos for "ebni yasouh" & "Lezem Ghayer El Nizam"
2018 _ Tarik (music video for the soundtrack of the Ramadan series)
2018 _ Tala Al Badrou aalayna
2018 _ Jayi Ta Salli Bfayatak (filmed at the Cedars of god 2017)
2018 _ Sallem Aala Maser (directed by Nader Mousally)
2018 _ 2nd music video for "Min Elli byekhtar" directed by Nader Mousally (international women's day version)
2018 _ 3rd music video for "Min Elli Byekhtar" directed by Hiba Tawaji (Saoudy Women Can drive version)
2018 _ Tir W Alli dancing video (choreographed by Alexandre Lacoste)
2017 _ Silent night (directed by Nicolas Tussing) for the christmas album Hallelujah.
2018 _ lyric videos for "ebni yasouh" & "Lezem Ghayer El Nizam"
2018 _ Tarik (music video for the soundtrack of the Ramadan series)
version2017)
2018 _ Sallem Aala Maser (directed by Nader Mousally)
2018 _ 2nd music video for "Min Elli byekhtar" directed by Nader Mousally (international women's day version)
in Elli Byekhtar" directed by Hiba Tawaji (Saoudy Women Can drive version)
2018 _ Tir W Alli dancing video (choreographed by Alexandre Lacoste)
Musicals
2008 – Byblos International Festival: "عودة الفينيق" The Return of the Phoenix (by Oussama Rahbani),
2008 – Dubai: "عودة الفينيق" The Return of the Phoenix (by Oussama Rahbani)
2008 – 2009 – Casino du Liban: "عودة الفينيق" The Return of the Phoenix (by Oussama Rahbani)
2009 – Byblos International Festival: "صيف 840" Summer 840 (by Mansour Rahbani)
2009 – 2010 Casino du Liban: "صيف 840" Summer 840 (by Mansour Rahbani)
2010 / 2016 – Quatar :"ملوك الطوائف" Moulouk Al Tawaef and tannourine festivals/Tannourine festivals
2011 – Byblos International Festival: Don Quixote (by Marwan, Ghadi and Oussama Rahbani)
2016/2017/2018/2019 – Notre dame de Paris (paris-Taiwan-Geneva-junieh-all French cities-Brussels-Moscow-Istanbul-stPetersburj-All Canadian Cities-London-Korea-China)
Concerts
Easter concert
March 2011 – Abu Dhabi Festival: "An evening with Oussama Rahbani", Zaha Hadid Pavilion, Oussama Rahbani feat. Hiba Tawaji & Wadih Abi Raad
August 2011 – Ehdeniyat festival: "Oussama Rahbani feat. Hiba Tawaji & Wadih Abi Raad"
November 2011 – Palais des congrès Dbayyeh – Lebanon: "La bidayi wala nihayi", "Oussama Rahbani feat. Hiba Tawaji & Wadih Abi Raad"
February 2012 – Saint Joseph Church Monot – Lebanon: "Synergy" a symphonic piece by Oussama Rahbani. Conducted by Maestro Michel Khairallah, performed by The Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra, Hiba Tawaji (Soprano) & the NDU Choir.
September 2012 – Palais Des Congres Dbayyeh – Lebanon: "Lana wa lakom al hayat" A Concert for "Gebran Tueini Foundation" 2012 By Oussama Rahbani & Hiba Tawaji. Music by Oussama Rahbani, Mansour Rahbani, Lyrics by the Great Mansour Rahbani, Ghadi Rahbani .
July 2014 – Festival International De Hammamet – Tunisia: Oussama Rahbani presents Hiba Tawaji in concert at Festival International De Hammamet.[10]
March 2013 – Abu Dhabi Festival: With the NSOU National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine. Conducted by Maestro Vladimir Sirenko. Produced & Orchestrated by Ghadi & Oussama Rahbani.
July 2013 – Byblos International Festival – Lebanon: "Rahbani Summer Night". With the NSOU National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine. Conducted by Maestro Vladimir Sirenko. Produced & Orchestrated by Ghadi & Oussama Rahbani.
Bahrin International Festival (Rahbaniat)
April 2014 – Oman ROH (Royal Opera House Muscat) – Oman: 2 concerts, with the NSOU National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine. Conducted by Maestro Vladimir Sirenko. Produced & Orchestrated by Ghadi & Oussama Rahbani.
2014 – a concert at meziara Lebanon
August 2014 – Batroun International Festival – Lebanon: "Ya Habibi" – Hiba performed songs taken from the albums "Ya Habibi", "La bidayi wala nihayi", "Don Quixote" among other hit songs. Concept by Oussama Rahbani & Hiba Tawaji, Lyrics by the Great Mansour Rahbani & Ghadi Rahbani, Composed, Arranged & Produced by Oussama Rahbani, Directed by Marwan Rahbani
November 2014 – Casino du Liban – Lebanon: 2 concerts, "Ya Habibi" – Hiba performed songs taken from the albums "Ya Habibi", "La bidayi wala nihayi", "Don Quixote" among other hit songs. Concept by Oussama Rahbani & Hiba Tawaji, Lyrics by the Great Mansour Rahbani & Ghadi Rahbani, Composed, Arranged & Produced by Oussama Rahbani, Directed by Marwan Rahbani.
2015 – Balamand University 2015, oussama rahbani presents hiba tawaji in concert .
2015 – Paris, France 2015, oussama rahbani presents hiba tawaji in concert .
2015 – Live show at Byblos Lebanon
2015 – The concert of the voice France 2015 . ( the voice tour )
2015 – Performing at tripoli festival, Lebanon .
2015 – Abu Dhabi _ hiba tawaji and oussama rahbani.
2015 – Les moulins de mon cœur _ hiba tawaji, oussama rahbani and ibrahim maalouf.
2016 – Taratata France, hiba tawaji and ibrahim maalouf.
2016 – Private concert for SGBL bank.
2016 – Notre dame de paris concert.
2016 – Ibrahim Maalouf concert : 10 ans de Live, 16 December 2016
2017 – Concert at Sharjah World Music Festival, United Arab Emirates, 13 January 2017
2017 – 2 concerts in Morocco, March 2017
2017 – Live show at Arz Festivals, 5 August 2017 (TEN)
2017 – Live show Zahle Festivals, 12 August 2017
2017 – 2 concerts at Beirut (Hadath and Adha festivals)
2017 _ first women ever to be performing at Saudi
2017 _ french musical gala concert / china
2018 _ sawt music presents Hiba Tawaji in a synphonic concert conducted by Hani Hasan at Cairo, Egypt
2018 _ performing at Mawazin festival / Morocco
2018 _ Carthage Festival / Tunisia
2018 _ Hammamet Festival / Tunisia
Concerts with the NSOU
Performing with the NSOU (National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine), conducted by Maestro Volodimir Sirenko. Produced & Orchestrated by Ghadi & Oussama Rahbani.
March 2013 – Abu Dhabi Festival: With the NSOU National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine. Conducted by Maestro Vladimir Sirenko. Produced & Orchestrated by Ghadi & Oussama Rahbani.
July 2013 – Byblos International Festival – Lebanon: "Rahbani Summer Night". With the NSOU National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine. Conducted by Maestro Vladimir Sirenko. Produced & Orchestrated by Ghadi & Oussama Rahbani.
April 2014 – Oman ROH (Royal Opera House Muscat) – Oman: 2 concerts, with the NSOU National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine. Conducted by Maestro Vladimir Sirenko. Produced & Orchestrated by Ghadi & Oussama Rahbani.
Other Rahbani concerts
Bahrain International festival (Rahbaniat)
2016 – Rahbani Summer Night – Dead Sea Festival, Jordan
Ya Habibi "live show"
2014: Ya Habibi – big concert "show" – Oussama Rahbani presents Hiba Tawaji in concert, sounds, lights, dance & visuals
August 2014 – Batroun International Festival – Lebanon: "Ya Habibi" – Hiba performed songs taken from the albums "Ya Habibi", "La bidayi wala nihayi", "Don Quixote" among other hit songs. Concept by Oussama Rahbani & Hiba Tawaji, Lyrics by the Great Mansour Rahbani & Ghadi Rahbani, Composed, Arranged & Produced by Oussama Rahbani, Directed by Marwan Rahbani.
November 2014 – Casino du Liban – Lebanon: 2 concerts, "Ya Habibi" – Hiba performed songs taken from the albums "Ya Habibi", "La bidayi wala nihayi", "Don Quixote" among other hit songs. Concept by Oussama Rahbani & Hiba Tawaji, Lyrics by the Great Mansour Rahbani & Ghadi Rahbani, Composed, Arranged & Produced by Oussama Rahbani, Directed by Marwan Rahbani.
Hiba Tawaji 30
Hiba Tawaji 30 is a lebanese album by Hiba Tawaji Produced by Oussama Rahbani (2017) it is consists of 30 songs shared on 2 CDs ... the first CD contains 15 completely new songs most of them written by Ghadi Rahbani with 5 songs written by the great Mansour music by Oussama Rahbani
While CD2 contains 15 songs most of them were already released as singles by Hiba as "metl l reeh" , "yemken habaytak" & "metl l chajar" and the others were either covers from famous arabic stars like "enta omri" for um kalthum & "ahou dalli sar" by Said Darwich or songs taken from rahbani musicals like "eza feek tghayer aklal" from molok el tawaef & "matrah ma bi waddi l sawt" from Awdat el phiniq
That specialize this album is the new way of songs making used in this album by Oussama Rahbani with the help of many imternation and arabic musicians like Michel Khairallah, Vladimir Sirenko, Fred Savio, Roger Abi Akl, jose Fernendez, wadih abi raad & many more
For example we can recognize the additional electronics in the songs "Yala Nerkos" and "Hkini" by Fred Savio and "enta habibi" & "tir w alli" by roger abi akl in addition to the orchestral songs either by the Nationlal Ukrainian Orchestra conducted byby vladimir sirenko or by the Lebanese Orchestra conducted by Michel Khairallah
Jose fernendez's Guitar added magic to some songs like "enta l falayt" & "lashou ta ehtam" while Wadih Abi Raad participated by singing with hiba in the duet "eza kel adyan l aalam"
The last song in the album was produced by disney ... it's "Haza Zamani" from the series "Elana of avalor" a music video for this song was releases few weeks later
The album came after a music video for the song "bghanilak ya watani" showing the old lebanon and how it is today and how we dream to be by the cemera of director Hiba Tawaji with the help of Emile Adaimy
The album also contained a nice cossy photosoot session in paris and another romantic music video "Wahdi lahaly" directed by Mokhtar Beyrooth
The album was released at the 30 of march 2017 at Virgin Mega Stores , Lebanon and then to the rest of the arabic countries (being number 1 most saled musical CD for a full month)
It was named as "30" for different reasons other than holding 30 songs ... one of them is that oussama was prefaring his day to be consists of 30 hours and not just 24 and so he could get some break after a day full of work
list of songs :
Aarafta Am La
Tir W Aalli
Wahdi La hali
Khalli El Waet Yehki
Enta Habibi
La Twakhzouna
Enta L Fellayt
Yalla Norkos
Aylan
Hkini
Eza Rejih W Alli Bhebbik
Hayda Chaabi
La Chou Ehtam
Bghannilak Ya Watani
Eza Kel Adyan El Aalam
Ahou Da Li Sar
Al Nizam Al Jadid
Enta Omri/Elli Ya Habibi
Bkhatrak
Yemken Habaytak
Kel Ma Mnerjaa
Balad Al Tanaod
Awlad Al Chawareh
Eza Fik Tghayer Aklak
Metl El Rih
Sayf W Sahra
Matrah Ma Bi Waddi El Sawt
Metl Chajar Mazrouiin
Haza Zamani-My Time (Disney- Elena Of Avalor)
La Omri
TEN & other live shows
Hiba & Oussama have brought a new kind of theatre arts to the arabic world which is the live show that makes music, dancing, acting & singings to be mixed in 1 show by make a beautiful image toof every song
After their first show "ya habibi" Hiba and Oussama made many shows in lebanon and arabic world like the great show at Byblos Festicvals 2015 that was published as dvd later in 2016 ... and the show at Zahle festivals and the International show done in Saudi (for the first time) for the arabic women and the synphonic show at Egypt 2018
But the greatest one was TEN that concludes ten years of work from hiba and oussama
It was at the fifth of august 2017 (the 10th year for Hiba as a singer) at the Cedars festivals
It was done with the lebanese orchestra conducted by Oussama Rahbani and a team of dancers choreographed by Pascale Sayegh Zgheib
All the audience hold candles as one of the most beautiful images from that night in remembering of an old situation happened at the same place when Fayrouz used to make a concert with the rahbani brothers and the audience was holding candles for unclear reasons related to Electricity.
Awards
November 2011 – BIAF – Beirut International Award Festival in Pavillon Royal/Biel – Beirut
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