Culture

Music returns to the Rabei 'Spring' Theater in Mosul after 18 years of silence

Mosul, Apr 8 (EFE / EPA) .- Iraqi Mohamed Mahmoud, conductor of the Watar (Strings in Arabic) Orchestra played the violin Thursday during his first performance at the Rabei 'Spring' Theater in Mosul.The Watar orchestra, which was formed only five months ago, performed for around 1,000 people, in what was the first show at the theater in 18 years. The theater was built in 1969, Arab and international artists performed in it for years until the airstrikes by Allied forces in 2003.The theater was built in 1969 and Arab and international artists performed there until the 2003 allied forces airstrikes of the Iraq War. In 2014, when the Islamic State took over the city of Mosul, it used the theater as one of its headquarters. The Mosul artists Union said that the militant group had also stolen most of its furniture, air conditioners, sound system, and other apparatus which they saw useful to them. The Rabei fell victim to airstrikes, then ransacking by looters and more looting by the IS. Some parts of the theater are charred burned and a hole in its roof bears witness to its damages but it did not prevent its first show to go on (Camera: OMAR ALHAYALI)SHOT LIST: THE RABEI 'SPRING' THEATER IN MOSUL, IRAQ.