Damascus, Sept. 18 (SANA)Syrian singerAssala Nasrireturned to the stage inDamascuson Thursday after a 16-year absence, performing songs from her decades-long career and her new Syrian album before a large audience atal-Fayhaa Sports Hall.

Assala opened the concert with the patriotic song “Raise Your Head High,” “Erfa’ Rasak Fok’’ before performing a program that combined older hits with new material drawing on Syria’s musical heritage.

The concert marked her first official performance inSyriasince February 2010, when she appeared at the Damascus Opera House.

Assala performed selections from her new “Syrian Album,” a 14-song project inspired by the musical traditions and cultural heritage of Syria’s provinces.

TheInana Troupeaccompanied the performances with choreography drawing on dabke and other traditional forms, combining dance and folk rhythms with visual elements reflecting the heritage associated with the songs.

During the two-hour concert, led by maestro Adnan Fathallah and directed by Lebanese director Bassem Christo, Assala moved between songs from her earlier repertoire and recent releases.

She told the audience that performing in Damascus again was “a dream come true.”

Audience members sang along as Assala revisited songs from different stages of a career spanning more than three decades.

The concert brought Assala back to the city where she began her artistic career more than four decades ago.

Born in Damascus in 1969, Assala is the daughter of the late Syrian artist Mustafa Nasri. She began singing at an early age, including theme songs for television series and children’s programs, before launching her professional career with the album “Law Ta’rafou” in 1993.

She went on to record songs in several Arabic dialects and build a wide audience across the Arab world.

Syria remained a recurring theme in her work during her years away from the country, including songs expressing nostalgia and belonging and works released during the years of the revolution and after liberation.

Her latest Syrian album revisits local musical traditions through contemporary arrangements.

Jihad Mufleh, founder and director of the Inana Troupe, told SANA that the group accompanied Assala in performances of all 14 songs from the new album, which was released two weeks ago following intensive preparations.

The performances featured heritage-inspired scenes representing different Syrian provinces, he said.

Mufleh said the Damascus concert followed an earlier collaboration between the troupe and Assala at the closing of Riyadh Season, adding that the latest performance carried particular significance because Assala is “part of the Syrian fabric.”

Christo said the production team developed the concert’s lighting, sound, graphics, stage design and organizational elements to reflect the significance of Assala’s return to Damascus.

The number of cameras and other production equipment was increased to provide a more detailed experience for both the audience insideal-Fayhaa Halland viewers watching the concert on screens, he said.

The visual production combined Assala’s live performance with choreography and graphics to create an integrated stage presentation.

Syrian actor Maher Salibi welcomed Assala’s return, saying the return of Syrian artists to their homeland was important for restoring the country’s artistic and cultural presence.

He called for strengthening love, harmony and social cohesion among Syrians.

During the concert, Culture Minister Mohammad Yassin Saleh honored Assala on stage and welcomed her return to Damascus.Al-Saleh said her return represented “the return of Syria and of every free person.”

Several ministers, political and official figures and Syrian artists attended the concert alongside a large audience.