Contents
Asmahan
Singing celebrated Arabic songs including Layali al-Uns fi Vienna.
Intisar al-Shabab · Gharam wa Intiqam
- Born
- c. 1912
- Birthplace
- Eastern Mediterranean
- Died
- 14 July 1944
More people
Asmahan
Asmahan was a Syrian-born singer and film performer who built her career in Egypt. Her small surviving body of recordings remains prominent in Arabic music, alongside the work of her brother Farid al-Atrash.
Early life
Al-Atrash family
Came from a Druze family with roots in southern Syria.
Move to Egypt
Her mother brought the children to Egypt, where their musical careers developed.
Career
- 1930s
Public performances
Established herself as a singer in Cairo.
- 1930s
Career interruption
Spent a period in Syria during her marriage before returning to performance.
- 1940s
Cinema
Combined recordings with leading roles in musical films.
Selected work
Intisar al-Shabab
Starred with her brother Farid al-Atrash.
Gharam wa Intiqam
Appeared in the musical drama completed around the end of her life.
Layali al-Uns fi Vienna
Recorded one of her most enduring songs.
Beyond work
Family
Had a daughter, Kamellia, with Hassan al-Atrash.
Early death
Died in a road accident in Egypt in 1944; later speculation about the crash has not established a definitive alternative account.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗BnF authority record ↗Photo: Unknown author Unknown author. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
