Daniel Alhaiby: A Visionary Lebanese Musician

Daniel Alhaiby: A Visionary Lebanese Flutist Returns Home for a Landmark Concert at Casino du Liban

On September 10, 2025, acclaimed Lebanese musician and composer Daniel Alhaiby will take center
stage at Casino du Liban for a one-night-only solo concert that promises to challenge expectations and
captivate the senses.
Known for his unique ability to reinvent the role of the flute, Daniel’s sound is a bold fusion of tradition
and innovation. His music weaves together influences from East and West, merging classical
sophistication with the pulse of jazz, rock, and oriental melodies. Each performance is a narrative--
evocative, boundary-pushing, and emotionally charged.

A standout talent from an early age, Daniel honed his craft at some of Paris’s most prestigious music
institutions, where he rose quickly among his peers, earning recognition as one of the most dynamic
flutists of his generation. Out of thousands of global applicants, he was chosen for elite performances and
honors. Notably, he became the youngest Lebanese composer to be featured at the Cannes Film Festival,
an achievement he repeated for three consecutive years. His career has also seen collaborations with
world-renowned artists, including virtuoso pianist Lang Lang.
​

Alhaiby became the youngest Lebanese composer to be featured at the Cannes Film Festival, an achievement he repeated for three consecutive years.

          "I want my music to inspire hope and resilience. To remind people that even in difficult times, there’s light to be found through expression and connection. No matter who you are or where you come from, your experiences are important. Music helps us share those experiences and find a common ground that unites us all." - Daniel Alhaiby

You’ve been featured at the Cannes Film Festival three years in a row—what was that
experience like as a young Lebanese composer?

It was surreal. Ever since I was a kid, I used to watch the Cannes Film Festival on TV and
imagine myself there. So when I got the chance to perform for the first time, it honestly felt like
a dream. I couldn’t believe I was on that stage, playing in front of icons like Sharon Stone and
Juliette Binoche. I was filled with amazement.

But by the second and third year, the excitement was still there but it was mixed with something
deeper, pride. I started realizing what it meant to be there not just as a musician, but as a
Lebanese composer. Being the first from my country to be invited three years in a row turned
into a responsibility. It wasn’t just about the magic of the moment anymore, it was about
showing the world where I come from and carrying my culture with me, every time I stepped on
that stage.

Performing alongside someone as legendary as Lang Lang must have been
unforgettable. Can you share what that collaboration meant to you?

Performing with Lang Lang was a moment I’ll never forget. His presence on stage is incredible,
he has this energy that fills the room. Sharing that space with him made me feel proud, not just
because I was standing next to someone I’ve admired for years, but because I knew I had worked
hard to be there. It was one of those quiet moments where you realize you’re exactly where
you’re meant to be.

Your work spans genres—from classical and jazz to oriental and rock. How do you
approach composing such diverse music?
​
For me, music isn’t really about sticking to one genre, it’s about emotion. I listen to what the
piece wants to say, and I let it guide me. Sometimes it comes out as a jazz groove, sometimes a
maqam, or even a touch of rock. I believe music is a universal language, we’re all speaking the
same language, no matter the style or tradition. That’s why I see fluidity as a strength. It lets the
music breathe, connect, and reach people in the most natural way.

You’re known for blending Eastern and Western sounds in your music. How did this
cross-cultural style develop in your work?
​
Growing up between Lebanon and Paris, I was constantly surrounded by two musical worlds that
couldn’t be more different. Fairuz, Wadih El Safi, and Zaki Nassif were the soundtrack of my
childhood, just as much as Debussy, Bach, and Piazzolla. Over time, this mix of East and West
stopped being a contrast, it became my natural voice.
At some point, I got the idea to make the flute speak both languages. I didn’t want to just play
the music, I wanted the instrument itself to carry that fusion in its sound.

What first drew you to the flute as your primary instrument?

The flute came to me almost by accident, but the first time I heard its voice, something shifted
inside me. I grew up in a family with a deep love and refined taste in music, and from a very
young age, I was drawn to music. It was actually my family who encouraged me to take up the
flute, an instrument they cherished for its elegance and emotional depth.
From the moment I started playing, it just felt natural. The flute is one of the rare instruments
that can whisper and cry in the same breath. I fell in love with how closely it mirrors the human
voice. It quickly became more than just an instrument, it became my voice, especially when
words fell short.
And the deeper I went, the more obsessed I became. I wanted to take the flute to its limits, to
understand it fully, to discover everything it was capable of, and to push it far beyond its
traditional image.

How has studying at top music institutions in Paris shaped your musical voice?

Paris opened my ears and widened my world. I was lucky to study in a place where the level of
artistry, discipline, and creativity constantly pushed me to grow. It wasn’t always easy, but it
gave me the tools I needed, not just to become a better musician, but to find my voice, both as a
performer and as a composer.
At the same time, Paris became my window to the international music world. It gave me access
to things I simply couldn’t reach back home in Lebanon. There were certain levels, certain
opportunities, that just didn’t exist around me, and Paris was there, waiting with open doors. It
didn’t just shape me technically, it helped me dream bigger, and believe those dreams were
possible.

You were selected from over a thousand international musicians early in your career.
What do you think set you apart?

I think what set me apart was honesty. I wasn’t trying to impress anyone, I was just being myself
and sharing my story through music. I believe people can feel when something is real, when it
comes from the heart and not just from trying to be perfect.

Above, at the Cannes Film Festival,  Daniel Alhaiby with Lang Lang.

Many say you’re redefining what the flute can do. Do you consciously set out to
challenge its traditional image?

In a way, yes, but not in a calculated way. I never set out thinking, “I want to reinvent the flute.”
But ever since I took on the challenge of orientalizing it, I’ve been passionate about pushing its
limits and showing what it can really do. People often see the flute as soft or reserved, but to me,
it can also carry fire, soul, mystery, even anger when the music calls for it. It’s far more powerful
and versatile than most people expect, and I love revealing that side of it.

Where do you draw inspiration for your melodies and arrangements?
Inspiration comes to me from life itself. From the people I meet, the stories I hear, the emotions I
live through. Sometimes it’s a memory, a passing moment, a bit of silence, or a simple phrase
someone says that stays with me. I’m very visual when I create, I often picture a scene or feel a
mood before the music even starts to form.

Lebanon, in particular, is always present in my work. Its energy, its contradictions, its beauty and
struggle, it all inspires me. The chaos, the colors, the poetry of it… it somehow always finds its
way into my melodies.

Where do you draw inspiration for your melodies and arrangements?

This concert is a culmination of everything I’ve been building over the years. It’s not just a
performance, it’s a collection of moments, emotions, and stories that shaped me. I’ll be playing
some of my original works, personal interpretations of pieces that marked different chapters of
my journey, and music that’s followed me across countries and stages. It’s going to be honest,
emotional, and full of little surprises that reflect who I am today and most importantly, it will
deliver a message to every single person in the audience.

How does it feel to perform a major show in your home country, after building such a
strong international presence?
​
It’s a deeply emotional moment for me. Coming back to Lebanon after all these years and
performing at a place like Casino du Liban feels like life coming full circle. I’m bringing
everything I’ve learned, everything I’ve experienced abroad, and offering it back to the place
where it all began. There’s something incredibly meaningful about sharing this chapter at home.

---

You mentioned this concert is about more than music—it’s a kind of evolution. Can
you tell us more about that vision?
This concert represents something new, especially in the world of the flute. It’s not just a
performance, it’s a reflection of years of exploration, composing, and reshaping how this
instrument can sound and feel. I’ve been working to take the flute somewhere unexpected, to
give it a new voice, a new role, a new soul. This concert brings all of that to life. It’s the
beginning of a fresh chapter, where everything I’ve created and discovered finally comes
together in one place.

What’s next for you after this concert? Any upcoming collaborations, recordings, or
tours?

Definitely. I have new compositions ready to be recorded and some exciting international
projects in the works. I’m also in talks for a few collaborations, with artists from both the Arab
world and Europe. And yes, touring is a big part of the plan.
​
What message do you hope people take away from your music?

I want my music to inspire hope and resilience. To remind people that even in difficult times,
there’s light to be found through expression and connection. No matter who you are or where
you come from, your experiences are important. Music helps us share those experiences and find
a common ground that unites us all.