One Thousand and One Nights
in the late 18th century, the then-teenager was immediately enchanted by the short story collection’s fictional narrator, Scheherazade.
Years later, the acclaimed French composer attempted to create an opera revolving around Scheherazade s life.
Taking the stories, settings and atmosphere from the page to the stage, however, proved an insurmountable task.
What remains of the project is the 1904 three-song cycle, also titled
Scheherazade, which comes with lyrics lifted from the poetry of French writer Tristan Klingsor.
These works open Fatma Said s debut album,
El Nour.
While Ravel didn’t complete the project, the Egyptian soprano says his dream of fusing cultures speaks to both the heart of her album and her career goals.