On May 3 and 4, 1979, Paris held its breath. While Beirut was torn apart by civil war, Fairuz took the stage at the Olympia for the very first time. Two evenings that will remain etched in memory forever. Recorded live, these concerts would go on to become one of the most sought-after live vinyl records in the Arab world.
It is this legendary musical legacy that the Candlelight tribute revives today, reinterpreting the Lebanese diva’s masterpieces by candlelight in the heart of Paris.
21 November 2026 19:00 + more dates
Maison de l'Océan
The end of an era on Boulevard des Capucines
Behind the fervor of this Parisian triumph also lies a profound turning point. According to the archives of the Arab World Institute, these performances at the Olympia marked Fairuz’s very last appearance on stage under the baton of her husband, the musical genius Assi Rahbani. After 22 years of marriage, 500 songs, and 24 shared shows, one of the greatest partnerships in Arab music took its final bow.
Paris would thus mark the end of a legendary partnership, before becoming the stage for its rebirth: it was once again in the French capital, at Bercy in 1988, that Fairuz would begin a new chapter in her artistic career alongside her son, Ziad Rahbani. Her deep connection to France would earn her, over the decades, the title of Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters and, later, the Legion of Honor.
An Italian Renaissance setting just steps from the Sorbonne
47 years after that first historic performance, her melodies return to float over the Left Bank in an equally spectacular setting: the Maison de l’Océan, inaugurated in 1911 by Prince Albert I of Monaco at the corner of Rue Saint-Jacques and Rue Gay-Lussac.
Amid the Haussmann-style buildings of the 5th arrondissement, the building stands out in stark contrast with its dark brick and carved stone façade, designed by Henri-Paul Nénot (the architect of the nearby Sorbonne) and listed as a historic monument.
Candlelight: Tribute to Fairuz
21 November 2026 19:00 + more dates
Maison de l'Océan
Practical Details
For an hour, the string section delivers an instrumental reinterpretation of her greatest hits in a hall bathed in twilight and the glow of hundreds of candles.
- Next performance: Saturday, November 21, 2026, at 7:00 p.m.
- Schedule: 3 dates available through February 19, 2027
- Venue: Maison de l’Océan (Grand Amphitheater), 195 rue Saint-Jacques, Paris 5th
- Duration: Approximately 60 minutes (doors open 45 minutes before the show)
- Price: Starting at €19
This musical tribute is an independent instrumental production, organized without the direct involvement of the artist or her heirs.