May Arida (Arabic: مي عريضة; 1926–2018) was a Lebanese socialite who helped found the Baalbek International Festival, for which she served as president from 1973 to 2016.[1][2]
She was born May al-Khoury Saadeh (Arabic: مي الخوري سعادة) in Beirut, Lebanon in 1927, to Habib al-Khoury Saadeh (Arabic: حبيب الخوري سعادة) and his wife Marie Saab al-Khoury Saadeh (Arabic: ماري صعب الخوري سعادة).[2] She married Ibrahim Sursock in 1942.[1] They had three daughters, Amal, Jumana, and Linda.[3] By 1950, they had separated, and she had married Carlos Arida.[1]
She was elected president of the Lebanese Water Skiing Federation from 1953 to 1961.[1][2][4] In 1955, Lebanese president Camille Chamoun initiated the founding of the Baalbeck International Festival to foster international appreciation of Lebanese arts, and Arida was tasked with organizing the music and ballet components.[4] She became the president of the festival in 1973.[1][2] The Lebanese Civil War, beginning in 1975, disrupted the festival,[1] though Arida said that the committee continued to meet and "never slowed its activities... even in times of war" ("n’a jamais freiné ses activités... même en période de guerre").[4] The war ended in 1990, and in 1997 the festival was revived.[1]
In 2013, she was the subject of a biography written in French by Nabil el-Azan, titled May Arida: Le rêve de Baalbeck ("The Dream of Baalbeck").[5][3]
She resigned from the Baalbek International Festival in 2016.[2] Arida died in 2018.[1][2]
Referencesedit
^ abcdefghi"Jewels from the Splendid Aristocratic Collection of May Arida". Sotheby's. 2018-11-02.
^ abcdef"صنعت عزّ بعلبك ومجدها... مي عريضة وداعاً ("She created great Baalbeck and its glory... goodbye May Arida")". An-Nahar. 2018-05-13. Retrieved 2019-12-01.
^ abZebawi, Mahmoud (November 9, 2013). . An-Nahar. Archived from the original on May 16, 2018.
^ abcArida, May (June 1997). "Jamais un seul nom n'aura évoqué autant de valeurs, autant de souvenirs: beauté, culture, cosmopolitisme … et la mémoire d'un festival qui embrassait les colonnes de Baalbeck". Prestige (Interview). No. 49. Interviewed by Baria'a Sreih.
^Zalzal, Zéna (2013-10-29). "" May Arida. Le rêve de Baalbeck " de Nabil el-Azan" (in French). Retrieved 2019-12-01.
January 01, 1970
arida, arabic, مي, عريضة, 1926, 2018, lebanese, socialite, helped, found, baalbek, international, festival, which, served, president, from, 1973, 2016, born, khoury, saadeh, arabic, مي, الخوري, سعادة, beirut, lebanon, 1927, habib, khoury, saadeh, arabic, حبيب,. May Arida Arabic مي عريضة 1926 2018 was a Lebanese socialite who helped found the Baalbek International Festival for which she served as president from 1973 to 2016 1 2 She was born May al Khoury Saadeh Arabic مي الخوري سعادة in Beirut Lebanon in 1927 to Habib al Khoury Saadeh Arabic حبيب الخوري سعادة and his wife Marie Saab al Khoury Saadeh Arabic ماري صعب الخوري سعادة 2 She married Ibrahim Sursock in 1942 1 They had three daughters Amal Jumana and Linda 3 By 1950 they had separated and she had married Carlos Arida 1 She was elected president of the Lebanese Water Skiing Federation from 1953 to 1961 1 2 4 In 1955 Lebanese president Camille Chamoun initiated the founding of the Baalbeck International Festival to foster international appreciation of Lebanese arts and Arida was tasked with organizing the music and ballet components 4 She became the president of the festival in 1973 1 2 The Lebanese Civil War beginning in 1975 disrupted the festival 1 though Arida said that the committee continued to meet and never slowed its activities even in times of war n a jamais freine ses activites meme en periode de guerre 4 The war ended in 1990 and in 1997 the festival was revived 1 Arida received a number of international honors for her patronage of the arts and international exchange including the Gold Medal of Lebanese Merit in 1976 Knight of France s Legion of Honour in 1978 Commander of Lebanon s National Order of the Cedar in 2000 Commander of the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity in 2005 and Commander of Spain s Order of Isabella the Catholic in 2009 1 In 2013 she was the subject of a biography written in French by Nabil el Azan titled May Arida Le reve de Baalbeck The Dream of Baalbeck 5 3 She resigned from the Baalbek International Festival in 2016 2 Arida died in 2018 1 2 References edit a b c d e f g h i Jewels from the Splendid Aristocratic Collection of May Arida Sotheby s 2018 11 02 a b c d e f صنعت عز بعلبك ومجدها مي عريضة وداعا She created great Baalbeck and its glory goodbye May Arida An Nahar 2018 05 13 Retrieved 2019 12 01 a b Zebawi Mahmoud November 9 2013 صحن القمر Satellite Dish An Nahar Archived from the original on May 16 2018 a b c Arida May June 1997 Jamais un seul nom n aura evoque autant de valeurs autant de souvenirs beaute culture cosmopolitisme et la memoire d un festival qui embrassait les colonnes de Baalbeck Prestige Interview No 49 Interviewed by Baria a Sreih Zalzal Zena 2013 10 29 May Arida Le reve de Baalbeck de Nabil el Azan in French Retrieved 2019 12 01 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title May Arida amp oldid 1181205368, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
