"My appointment with Fairuz"

A long friendship that spanned generations linked my father, Badih Serbey, the Rahbani brothers, and the great star Fairuz. Their artistic beginnings coincided with my father’s journalistic beginnings. As I browse the archives, I see many pictures of Fairuz in our house at dinner parties that my father used to host, which included artistic, political, and social figures.

Al-Mawed and Fairuz is a long journey built on trust and respect, and my appointment with her had many stops. The first time I saw her was in the airport lounge, and we were traveling from Beirut to London. I saw my father talking at length with a blonde woman. She had wavy hair and wore dark glasses. When I asked my father about her, he said she was Fairuz. I saw her smiling and cheerful.

My second meeting with her was when she invited me and a group of fellow journalists to her house. I saw her as humble and polite. When she was serving us sweets herself, she noticed that I hadn’t eaten any of them. Her presence distracted me from any detail. Then she insisted that I eat, even a little. Fairuz’s treatment of her guests made me feel that despite the magic of stardom and her great place in history, conscience, artistic and cultural heritage, she is still at peace with all meanings of modesty and spontaneity.

The most beautiful meeting I had with her was when she invited me to her house in Al-Rawsheh and we were alone. The meeting lasted two hours, during which I talked to her without recording, paper or pen. For two hours, I flew with her above the clouds in the world of art, singing, melodies, morals, etiquette and kindness of the stars of the beautiful artistic era.

This photo was on the cover of Al-Mawed magazine, issue 908, from April 10 to 16, 1980.

This image has been converted from the original medium format film, resulting in a sharp and detailed image.

By May Serbey Chehab, from the Book "Boulevard of Stars: The Golden Age of Arab Entertainment".

Boulevard of Stars / "My appointment with Fairuz"