Abu Dhabi Festival
Photos courtesy of The Abu Dhabi Music and Art Foundation
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| Country and Region | United Arab Emirates — Abu Dhabi |
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| Type of Festival | Music |
| Location of Festival | Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates |
| Festival Address Information | Marilyne Morin, Communications Manager |
| Festival Description | The Abu Dhabi Festival 2010 offers a unique platform fusing world-class performances from the masters of the arts world today, cultural vision and a depth of community spirit, this year’s Festival will take place from March 20th to April 7th. Held under the patronage of His Highness General Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the Festival will be a feast of arts and culture with more than 40 events. It is a two-week manifestation of world-class performances in traditional, classical and jazz music, drama, fine arts, and ballet. An important visual art exhibition and rich community and education programs will assert the position of the festival as the emirate’s premier celebration of cultural expression and one of the first “Home Grown” brands with international cultural impact. The Festival has ambitious aims, not only to provide entertainment, but to be a platform where commissioning works, partnerships, world premieres and cross-cultural debates take place. Her Excellency Hoda I. Al Khamis-Kanoo, Founder of the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation, comments, “Year after year, the Abu Dhabi Festival has developed, and as well as having the world’s most prestigious performers, it now involves the whole community – not just in Abu Dhabi but across the seven emirates. Underpinning it all are the education and community programs which assert the festival legacy and a deeply rooted cultural strategy. The Festival has reflected over the years the determination of the Capital to lead in cultural understanding. Rapidly becoming an anchor for the cultural elite of the world, the festival will see the world’s most prestigious performers share the stage. Dedicated to arts education and knowledge and committed to community outreach, this year’s festival offers a vast program spanning performances to commemorate Chopin’s Bicentennial; traditional, classical and jazz music, drama, opera, ballet, Middle Eastern artists and a striking contemporary art exhibition”. |
| Festival Dates | March 20 - April 7, 2010 |
| Festival Links |
Festival Events:
Full schedule 2010:
- Saturday, March 20
- Opening Gala - Chopin Bicentennial Celebration
The National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra featuring Chopin virtuouso pianist Krzysztof Jablonski. Conducted by the prolific composer, Krzysztof Penderecki.
- Opening Gala - Chopin Bicentennial Celebration
- March 20 – April 7
- ‘Middle Eastern Modern Masters – Tanaavoli & Henein’
A joint retrospective exhibition of works by Parviz Tanavoli and Adam Henein, two of the greatest living masters of contemporary Middle Eastern art.
- ‘Middle Eastern Modern Masters – Tanaavoli & Henein’
- Tuesday, March 23
- ‘The Sound of Music’
Salzburg Marionette Theatre has charmed audiences for nearly a century. Their latest puppetry production transcends borders as well as language.
- ‘The Sound of Music’
- Thursday and Friday, March 25 & 26
- ‘La Boheme’
The Puccini Opera Festival makes its Middle East debut with a stellar cast including Ana Maria Martinez (Mimi).
- ‘La Boheme’
- Sunday, March 28
- Nobuyuki Tsujii – Chopin Bicentennial Celebration
A breathtaking concert by the acclaimed 22-year old pianist from Japan who won the 13th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2009.
- Nobuyuki Tsujii – Chopin Bicentennial Celebration
- Tuesday, March 30
- Night at the Ballet
An independent production by Maxim Beloserkovsky and Irina Dvorovenko, principal dancers of the American Ballet Theatre in a unique collaboration with a principal dancers from the Bolshoi Theatre and Mariinsky Theatre.
- Night at the Ballet
- Wednesday, March 31
- ‘Pictures Reframed’
Award-winning Norwegian classical pianist Leif Ove Andsnes joins artist Robin Rhode in a performance inspired by Mussorgsky’s epic ‘Pictures at an Exhibition’.
- ‘Pictures Reframed’
- Thursday, April 1
- Yundi Li – Chopin Bicentennial Celebration
Having played Carnegie Hall, the youngest musician to win the International Frederick Chopin Piano Competition makes his Middle Eastern debut.
- Yundi Li – Chopin Bicentennial Celebration
- Saturday, April 3
- Chopin in Arabia & Wadih El Safi
World premiere and Abu Dhabi Festival commission. A new adaptation of Chopin’s Concerto No. 1 by Hiba Al Kawas. Performed by the Cairo Symphony Orchestra and conducted by Walid Gholmieh. Followed by Lebanon’s Wadih El Safi accompanied by the Cairo Symphony Orchestra and members of the Lebanese National Orchestra. Conducted by Hiba Al Kawas.
- Chopin in Arabia & Wadih El Safi
- Sunday, April 4
- Oud Horizons – Concert for Humanity
World premiere. Naseer Shamma joins the Egyptian Philharmonic Society Chamber Orchestra in a masterful rendition of Pagnini’s Caprice 24 on the Arabic oud.
- Oud Horizons – Concert for Humanity
- Tuesday and Wednesday, April 6 & 7
- London Symphony Orchestra
The legendary principal conductor Sir Colin Davis and maestro Kristjan Jarvi join acclaimed soloists Arabella Steinbacher on violin and Wayne Marshall on piano.
- London Symphony Orchestra
Other Sources:
Articles and Reviews:
- 6th Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Festival announced (Xpress, November 10, 2008)
http://www.xpress4me.com/news/uae/abudhabi/20010437.html - Abu Dhabi festival to feature world premieres, by Porter Anderson (CNN, February 21, 2008)
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/02/21/abudhabi.fest/
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