Celebrating 15 years since the establishment of Alexandria's Bibliotheca Alexandrina, French-Algerian singer Enrico Macias performed February 10 in the Bibliotheca's main hall.

The concert, given in celebration of "peace," was attended by a number of officials including Alexandria Governor Hany El-Messiry and Minister of Tourism Mohamed Yehia Rashed, along with a number of foreign diplomats, including representatives from the French Embassy.

Enrico Macias concert at Bibliotheca Alexandrina (Photo: courtesy of Bibliotheca Alexandrina)

Enrico Macias, born Gaston Ghrenassia in French Algeria's mountainous city of Constantine, performed for almost an hour and a half singing mainly in French and a few songs in Algerian Arabic. He also played guitar with his multinational band, producing his signature tunes, which combine oriental and western melodies.

Multiple generations were represented in the audience, who grew nostalgic with the songs Macias performed -- songs most of them knew by heart and joined in singing with the 80 year-old Macias, such as La Femme de mon Amie (the Woman of my Friend), J'ai Quitte mon Pays (I Left my Country), and Les Filles de mon Pays (the Girls of my Country), among others.

Enrico Macias concert at Bibliotheca Alexandrina (Photo: courtesy of Bibliotheca Alexandrina)

The French-Algerian singer rose to fame in the 1960s when his family moved from Algeria to Paris. Macias performs in nine languages: French, Italian, Spanish, Hebrew, Turkish, Greek, English, Armenian, and Arabic.

Macias won audiences’ hearts with music that carried Arab-Andalusian elements, performing first in cafes before ascending to the big stages of Paris and soon after to the international scene.

By the 1970s, Macias had performed in Paris' Olympia Hall, London's Royal Albert Hall, and New York's Carnegie Hall, among other prestigious venues.

Enrico Macias concert at Bibliotheca Alexandrina (Photo: courtesy of Bibliotheca Alexandrina)

Enrico Macias concert at Bibliotheca Alexandrina (Photo: courtesy of Bibliotheca Alexandrina)

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