The General Entertainment Authority announced on Sunday the start of the largest oud-related music festival in the Middle East, which will take place in the Music area of Riyadh Boulevard until March 30 as part of the Riyadh Season activities.
A three-day oud competition dubbed “King of Oud” will take place amongst ten contestants from various Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia.
Turki Al-Sheikh, a Saudi Royal Court adviser and head of the GEA, announced the competition on his official Twitter account on March 22.Candidates will perform in front of an audience and be judged by a jury of five oud experts. Hamad Brosli, Khaled Mohammed Ali, Mamdouh Al-Jabali, Abdullah Bahchwan, and Charbel Rouhana will be among the players and composers on the panel.
The festival is the largest gathering of oud players in the Arab world. The competition, according to the GEA, is aimed at embracing and restoring the Saudi community’s musical history through the medium of the instrument and traditional music.Two oud-related displays will be included during the event: a large collection of the world’s rarest ouds and an assortment of the world’s most famous and respected oud producers.
On the first and second days, contestants will perform from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., with the “King of Oud” being announced at 9:00 p.m. on the third day. A 90-minute closing show will follow the prize presentation.
The second Riyadh Season began in October 2021 and featured a variety of unique events, including theatre and movie performances, mass concerts featuring worldwide stars and bands, fine art exhibitions, and other leisure activities.