Fatma Said

Fatma Said born and raised in Cairo, where she attended the Deutsche Schule der Borromäerinnen Kairo.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.finalnotemagazine.com/an-authentic-sound-fatma-said/|title=An 'Authentic Sound': Fatma Said|first=Emer|last=Nestor|magazine=Final Note Magazine|date=19 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170827083538/http://www.finalnotemagazine.com/an-authentic-sound-fatma-said/|archive-date=2017-08-27|access-date=2023-07-26}}{{cite web|url=https://www.dsbkairo.de/fileadmin/user_upload/Jahrbuecher/JB_12_13.pdf|title=Deutsche Schule der Borromäerinnen Jahrbuch 2012/13|trans-title=Cairo Borromean German School Yearbook 2012/13|editor-first=Reinhard |editor-last=Grätz|pages=5, 128–131}} Her father, Ahmed Hassan Said, was the first president of the Free Egyptians Party founded during the 2011 Egyptian revolution.

Said's early focus was tennis, but following the recommendation of her school choir teacher she received her first singing lessons at the age of 14 with soprano Egyptian-French {{interlanguage link |Névine Allouba |lt=Névine Allouba |fr}}. In 2009 she got accepted to study classical singing at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin where she received her Bachelor of Music in 2013 and Master of Music in 2018 under Prof. Renate Faltin. She then received a scholarship at the Opera Academy of La Scala in Milan,{{cite video |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05795dn |title=From tennis player to opera singer |date=30 June 2017 |publisher=BBC Radio 3}}{{cite news |url=http://www.independent.ie/life/fatma-said-i-never-thought-id-be-singing-a-lead-role-in-la-scala-who-knows-what-the-future-will-bring-35120732.html |title=Fatma Said: 'I never thought I'd be singing a lead role in La Scala. Who knows what the future will bring?'|newspaper=Irish Independent |date=16 October 2016 |first=Clara |last=Dwyer }}

becoming the first Egyptian soprano to ever sing at La Scala.{{cite magazine |url=https://whatwomenwant-mag.com/a-rising-egyptian-opera-singer-marks-herself-on-the-international-scene/ |first=Suhayla |last=Al Sheikh |date=16 November 2016 |title=A Rising Egyptian Opera Singer, Marks Herself on the International Scene! |magazine=What Women Want |location=Cairo}} In 2016 she was seen as Pamina in Peter Stein's production of The Magic Flute at La Scala in Milan.{{cite web |date=2021-09-09 |title=Opus Klassik for Fatma Said as Young Artist of the Year 2021 |url=https://www.hfm-berlin.de/en/press/news/single/news/fatma-said-erhaelt-opus-klassik-als-nachwuchskuenstlerin-des-jahres-20210/ |access-date=2023-07-27 |website=Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin News}}{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/artists/806fafe5-e6b4-4b1c-b41f-f4776ded595c |title=Fatma Said |website=BBC |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171230062826/https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/artists/806fafe5-e6b4-4b1c-b41f-f4776ded595c |archive-date=2017-12-30 |url-status=dead}}

She has appeared on many international stages, including the Teatro San Carlo (Naples), Staatsoper Hamburg, Royal Opera House Muscat, Wexford Opera in Ireland, Gewandhaus in Leipzig, Vienna Konzerthaus, Royal Albert Hall, and Carnegie Hall.{{cite press release |url=https://www.warnerclassics.com/artist/fatma-said |title=Fatma Said |access-date=2023-07-30 |publisher=Warner Classics}} She played roles in the operas Falstaff, L'enfant et les sortilèges, La Cenerentola and The Barber of Seville. She sang at many well-known festivals such as the International Music Festival in Bad Kissingen, the Schumann Festival in Bonn and the 9th and 10th D-Marine Turgutreis International Classical Music Festival in Turkey.{{cite web|access-date=2023-07-28|date=2016|title=Fatima Said|url=http://www.der-lyrische-salon.de/2016/fatma-said-biografie.html|website=Der Lyrische Salon}} She was an artist-in-residence at the Konzerthaus Berlin in 2022/23.{{cite press release |url=https://www.konzerthaus.de/en/fatma-said |access-date=2023-07-30 |title=Artist in Residence: We are pleased to welcome Fatma Said to Gendarmenmarkt during our 2022/23 season |publisher=Konzerthaus Berlin}}

Said is also known for her social commitment. At TEDxCairo in 2011, she sang “The Day the People Changed”, a new song she participated in composing about the Egyptian revolution.{{cite web |url=http://www.aucegypt.edu/about/benefit-dinner/fatma-said |title=Fatma Said |website=The American University in Cairo |access-date=2023-07-30}} In 2013, she worked with composer Eugenio Bennato at the Teatro San Carlo on an educational project about the Arab Spring. She represented Egypt on Human Rights Day several times and appeared at the United Nations in Geneva together with Juan Diego Flórez{{cite web |url=https://www.fundaciononuart.es/en/events-and-projects/concert2014/ |access-date=2023-07-27 |publisher=ONUART Foundation |title=Concert for Peace and Human Rights, 10 December 2014}} where she committed herself to the musical education of children and young people. In 2016 she was the first opera singer to receive the Creativity Award from Egypt.

She was also honored by the National Council for Women that same year. On 25 September 2021 she performed at Global Citizen Live in Paris, along with Elton John, Ed Sheeran, and other well known stars.{{cite press release |url=https://www.askonasholt.com/fatma-said-performs-at-global-citizen-live-event/ |title=Fatma Said joins artists from across the music world for Global Citizen Live |date=23 September 2021 |publisher=Askonas Holt}}

In 2023, Fatma Said accompanied by the United Philharmonic Orchestra led by Conductor Nader Abbassi held a concert in newly opened Grand Egyptian Museum.{{Cite web |date=2023-01-20 |title=Egypt’s soprano Fatma Said along with acclaimed conductor Nader Abbassi to perform in the 1st concert at the Grand Egyptian Museum |url=https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/122032/Egypt%E2%80%99s-soprano-Fatma-Said-along-with-acclaimed-conductor-Nader-Abbassi |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=EgyptToday}} A number of public figures and foreign ambassadors attended the concert where she performed songs in Arabic and Egyptian dialect such as a delightful rendition of "Masr Heya Ommi"{{Cite web |last=Tabikha |first=Kamal |title=Fatma Said's opera concert at Grand Egyptian Museum delights fans |url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/music-stage/2023/01/22/fatma-saids-opera-concert-at-grand-egyptian-museum-delights-fans/ |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=The National |language=en}} receiving more than 2 million views on her YouTube channel.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfvpu6-_bfY |title=Masr Heya Ommi - مصر هي أمى by Fatma Said |date=2023-02-10 |last=Fatma Said |access-date=2025-01-05 |via=YouTube}}

• First Prize in the German Young Musicians’ Competition Jugend musiziert, 2006 and 2009 {{cite web |title=A young soprano who is developing a brilliant career in the opera |url=https://www.fundaciononuart.es/en/portfolio-item/fatma-said-2/ |access-date=2023-07-28 |publisher=ONUART Foundation}}{{cite news |last=Maged |first=Mira |date=17 January 2020 |title=Egyptian soprano artist Fatma Said signs with Warner Classics |publisher=Al-Masry Al-Youm |url=https://egyptindependent.com/egyptian-soprano-artist-fatma-said-signs-with-warner-classics/ |access-date=28 July 2023}}
• Winner of the Grand Prix of the 1st International Giulio Perotti Singing Competition, 5-11 February 2011 in Ueckermünde{{cite news |date=22 February 2011 |title=1. Internationaler Giulio-Perotti-Wettbewerb |trans-title=1st International Giulio Perotti Singing Competition |volume=15 |pages=15–16 |newspaper=Ueckermünde Stadtreporter |issue=2 |url=https://www.schibri.de/media/pdf/e6/64/b4/uec_2011_Ausgabe_02.pdf |issn=1439-1465 |trans-newspaper=Official Newsletter of the City of Ueckermünde}}
• 2nd prize and silver medal at the XVI. Robert Schumann International Competition for Pianists and Singers in Zwickau 2012
• 1st Prize and Doğuş Audience Prize at the Leyla Gencer International Opera Competition in Istanbul 2012{{cite news |date=21 September 2012 |title=Egyptian artist wins Leyla Gencer prize |newspaper=Hürriyet Daily News |location=Istanbul |url=https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/egyptian-artist-wins-leyla-gencer-prize-30691}}[http://www.leylagencer.org/en/2012/winners "7th Leyla Gencer Voice Competition Winners"], Leyla Gencer Voice Competition
• Egyptian State Creativity Award 2016{{cite news |date=27 Oct 2016 |title=Egypt's Sisi talks roles for youth at closing ceremony of national conference |newspaper=Ahram Online|location=Egypt |url=https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/246756.aspx |access-date=30 July 2023}}
• 1st prize at the 8th Veronica Dunne International Singing Competition in Dublin 2016{{cite web |date=2016-01-30 |title=Egyptian Soprano Fatma Said Wins International Singing Competition |url=https://egyptianstreets.com/2016/01/30/egyptian-soprano-fatma-said-wins-international-singing-competition/ |access-date=2023-07-27 |website=Egyptian Streets}}[https://www.vdiscompetition.com/past-winners/2016-winners/ "Veronica Dunne International Singing Competition – Our 2016 Prizewinners"]
• Honorary Award of the National Council for Women in Egypt 2016
• One of 2016's BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists{{cite web |date=2016-08-30 |title=BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists announced |url=http://www.classical-music.com/news/bbc-radio-3-new-generation-artists-announced |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=Classical-Music.com}}{{cite magazine |last=Cullingford |first=Martin |date=30 August 2016 |title=2016 BBC New Generation artists named |url=https://www.gramophone.co.uk/classical%20music%20news/article/2016-bbc-new-generation-artists-named |magazine=Gramophone}}
• 2021 BBC Music Magazine Newcomer of the Year and Vocal Award for her debut album, El Nour{{cite press release |url=https://www.askonasholt.com/fatma-said-wins-newcomer-of-the-year-at-bbc-music-magazine-awards/ |title=Fatma Said wins Newcomer of the Year at BBC Music Magazine Awards |date=14 Apr 2021 |access-date=30 July 2023 |publisher=Askonas Holt}}
• 2021 OPUS Klassik Young artist (vocals)][https://www.udiscovermusic.com/classical-news/opus-klassik-awards-2021/ "Opus Klassik Awards 2021: Winners Announced"] by Sharon Kelly, 11 October 2021, udiscovermusic.com
• 2021 Gramophone Classical Music Award for Best Song Album, {{cite magazine |last=Pullinger |first=Mark |title=Song: El Nour |url=https://www.gramophone.co.uk/awards/gramophone-classical-music-awards-2021/song |magazine=Gramophone |access-date=2023-07-30}} Young Artist of the Year{{cite magazine |last=Pullinger |first=Mark |title=Young Artist of the Year: Fatma Said |url=https://www.gramophone.co.uk/awards/gramophone-classical-music-awards-2021/song |magazine=Gramophone |access-date=2023-07-30}}
• 2023 Rafik Hariri Award for Artistic Excellence{{cite news |date=17 Feb 2023 |title=Egyptian soprano Fatma Said honoured with Rafik Hariri Award at the Kennedy Center |newspaper=Ahram Online|location=Egypt |url=https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/488238.aspx |access-date=30 July 2023}}[https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/menasource/fatma-said-meet-the-soprano-bridging-the-west-and-arab-world-with-her-voice/ "Fatma Said: Meet the soprano bridging the West and Arab world with her voice"] by Holly Dagres, 16 February 2023, atlanticcouncil.org

• 2017: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: The Magic Flute. From La Scala in Milan with Fatma Said as Pamina, directed by Peter Stein, conducted by Ádám Fischer. DVD / Blu-ray released by CMajor.{{cite magazine |last=Fisher |first=Neil |date=October 2017 |title=Mozart: Die Zauberflöte (Fischer) |url=https://www.gramophone.co.uk/reviews/review?slug=mozart-die-zauberfl%C3%B6te-fischer|magazine=Gramophone|access-date=2023-07-30}}
• 2018: Christoph Willibald Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice. From La Scala in Milan with Fatma Said as Amour, directed by John Fulljames and Hofesh Shechter, conducted by Michele Mariotti. DVD / Blu-ray released by Belvedere.{{cite magazine |last=Joncus |first=Berta |date=1 March 2020 |title=Gluck: Orphée et Euridice |url=https://www.classical-music.com/reviews/opera/gluck-orphee-et-euridice/ |magazine=BBC Music Magazine|access-date=2023-07-30}}
• 2020: Fatma Said – El Nour. (Warner Classics, originally released: 16 October 2020) French, Spanish and Arabic songs. Featuring Malcolm Martineau (piano), {{interlanguage link|Rafael Aguirre|lt=Rafael Aguirre Miñarro|es}} (guitar), {{interlanguage link|Burcu Karadag|lt=Burcu Karadag|tr}} (nay), {{interlanguage link|Tim Allhoff|lt=Tim Allhoff|de}} (piano) and the {{interlanguage link|vision string quartet|lt=vision string quartet|de}}.{{cite web |title=Fatma Said – El Nour |url=https://www.warnerclassics.com/release/el-nour |access-date=2023-07-30 |publisher=Warner Classics}}{{cite web |last=Serinus |first=Jason Victor |date=10 November 2020 |title=Introducing Fatma Said |url=https://www.sfcv.org/articles/review/introducing-fatma-said |access-date=28 July 2023 |website=San Francisco Classical Voice}}
• 2021: Featured on Jakub Józef Orliński's Anima Aeterna (Warner Classics, released 29 October 2021).{{cite web |title=Jakub Józef Orliński – Anima Aeterna|url=https://www.warnerclassics.com/release/anima-aeterna |access-date=2023-07-30 |publisher=Warner Classics}}
• 2022: Kaleidoscope – Fatma Said. (Warner Classics, released: 2 September 2022) Featuring Tim Allhoff (piano), {{interlanguage link|Christian Gerber|lt=Christian Gerber (Musiker)|de}} (bandoneon), Marianne Crebassa (mezzo-soprano), {{interlanguage link|Lucienne Renaudin Vary|lt=Lucienne Renaudin Vary|fr}} (trumpet), vision string quartet, Quinteto Angel, {{interlanguage link|Henning Sieverts|lt=Henning Sieverts|de}} (bass), Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra, and {{interlanguage link|Sascha Goetzel|lt=Sascha Goetzel|de}} (conductor).{{cite web |title=Kaleidoscope – Fatma Said |url=https://www.warnerclassics.com/release/kaleidoscope |access-date=2023-07-30 |publisher=Warner Classics}}
• Lieder. Released: 7 February 2025 {{Cite web |title=Fatma Said {{!}} Soprano |url=https://www.fatmasaid.com/ |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=Fatma Said {{!}} Soprano |language=en-US}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|https://www.fatmasaid.com/}}
• [http://operabase.com/a/Fatma_Said/21685/ Fatma Said page] on Operabase
• {{YouTube|handle=FatmaSaidMusic}}

{{Portal bar|Biography|Opera}}

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Category:Living people

Category:1991 births

Category:Egyptian operatic sopranos

Category:Singers from Cairo

Category:21st-century women opera singers

Category:21st-century Egyptian women singers