The Phonograph Changed Me

At the end of her life, Umm Kulthum was the icon of the entire Arab world; the voice that embodied the Arab soul and translated it into countless songs. This year, we commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of her death and remember the four million Egyptians who accompanied her to her final resting place.

In 'The Phonograph Changed Me', a performance by Marmoucha Orchestra in collaboration with composer, singer and filmmaker Toni Geitani, the listening environment and early career of Umm Kulthum are explored. Through an interdisciplinary concert they investigate her first influences and inspirations.