Mariam Tamari, the Palestinian-Japanese soprano, realized in the summer of 2015 her long-time dream when she performed her first solo recital in her father’s home country, singing in Ramallah. She mesmerized her audience in the packed hall of the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music. The following is the impression she left with a citizen of Ramallah:
“Mariam Tamari is bound to enrich the musical world with her unique Palestinian-and-Japanese heritage. From her Japanese roots, her soul was imbued early on in life with the serenity, tenderness, dignity, humility, and perfectionism of Japanese culture. From her Palestinian roots she has acquired artistic flair, talent, the fire and passion for freedom that drive the lives of her people, and a deep sense of compassion for human suffering – which she continues to witness first-hand in her father’s home land Palestine.
Moreover, Mariam Tamari has spread her wings to embrace many other cultures: she has studied in the US, lives currently in Paris, and has performed both in the East and West: Brazil, Indonesia, Egypt, Algeria, France, England, Italy… Whenever she performs, whether on stage or amongst children in refugee camps, her joy is to connect with her listeners and to share the beauty of music. She wins her audiences by her ability to communicate via her beautiful voice, with charm, and a charismatic presence not only on stage.”
Mariam has been praised by critics for the “crystalline quality” of her voice, her “polished technique,” “profound expression,” and “virtuosity,” as well as her skills as an actress. She has joined, in 2011, the Palestine National Orchestra in their debut concerts in Ramallah, Jerusalem, and Haifa; in 2012, tenor Sir Dennis O’Neill for a concert at the Cadogan Hall in London; in 2013, the Cairo Opera for their Silver Jubilee Gala; in 2014, the Palestine National Orchestra on its tour to Jakarta, Indonesia; in 2015, the Palestine Youth Orchestra on its tour to France – just to name some highlights. Her audience has included the Emperor and Empress of Japan, Japanese Prime Ministers, and the King and Queen of Jordan. And her repertoire spans from major operatic roles by Verdi and Puccini to musical theatre by Bernstein and to chamber music and art songs by Debussy, Fauré, Schubert, Strauss, Brahms, Mahler – to name just a few.
Growing up in Tokyo, Mariam’s calling to become a singer might have been prompted by an experience she had as a three-year-old on a visit to Palestine. When crossing from Jordan, her father was arrested by Israeli soldiers in a case of mistaken identity, blind-folded and handcuffed. With machine guns pointed at his head, the children instructed not to talk to him or the soldiers would shoot, Mariam’s mother managed to keep them calm by singing lullabies. When three days later a soldier brought her father home, little Mariam easily chatted with him, which surprised the soldier. But her father assured him that he will never teach his children to hate, only to love – and this philosophy shines through in every encounter with Mariam today.
In her recent visit to Palestine, Mariam for the first time visited the family home in Jaffa. Deeply moved she related her loss to the loss of “so many people [who] lost their homes” and expressed some relief that at least the building is put to good use as a clinic for the treatment of addiction. When she sang with and for children in the Shuafat refugee camp in Jerusalem, she was deeply moved when a small girl ran home to come back with a bracelet of the colors of the Palestinian flag – a gift. Mariam considers it one of her treasures.
» For more information, please visit the website www.mariamtamari.com as well as her official Facebook page. Videos and a beautiful documentary can be found on YouTube in Mariam Tamari’s name.
