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Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: The 20th edition of the Abu Dhabi Arts Festival was a huge success, with the event honoring His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Held under sponsorship from March 1-20, 2023. The festival takes place at Emirates Palace, Cultural Foundation and NYU, and showcases a range of fascinating performances.
This year’s festival saw record attendance as more than 20,000 art, culture and music lovers came together to celebrate the power of the arts. The festival hosted nine performances and plans to host 10 more later this year, making it its largest to date. Abu Dhabi Music Festival 2023 brings together some of the world’s most renowned artists, composers, tenors, musicians and more for unforgettable performances over the first three weeks of March.
The historic 20th Abu Dhabi Festival under the theme “The Will to Evolve” was organized under the patronage of His Highness Sheikha Shamsa Bint Hamdan Al Nahyan, Assistant to the President of the Emirates Red Crescent Society and Senior Director of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Ataya Initiative Chairman of the committee. Through its innovative commissions and productions, Abu Dhabi Festival 2023 has enhanced its status as one of the region’s most important and influential cultural events. This year, the festival expanded its reach and audience through a partnership with the US Embassy in Abu Dhabi, achieving a dynamic fusion of music and culture, demonstrating the festival’s continued commitment to promoting cultural exchange and diversity. The festival also went out of the traditional venue, the Emirates Palace, and held a series of recitals at the Art Center of New York University, including Liu Xiaolong, the champion of the 2021 International Chopin Piano Competition, Zhang Haochen, a famous Shanghai pianist, and Leia Zhu, a violinist.
Juan Diego Flórez with friends at Emirates Palace Hotel
On Wednesday, March 1st, the festival kicked off with a performance by the famous Peruvian tenor Juan Diego Flórez. Accompanied by the orchestra, the singer gave a wonderful performance that included operatic arias and Latin American songs. The Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation has been committed to providing opportunities for young artists to showcase their talents, and Emirati singer and rising star Rashed Al Nuaimi gave a captivating performance on the festival’s opening night.
From Scheherezade to Yo, Carmen of the Emirates Palace
On Friday, March 10, the Emirates Palace hosted the Middle East premiere of The Arabian Nights. Pioneering flamenco dancer and choreographer MarÃa Pagés surpasses the legendary female character Carmen, the gypsy cigarette girl in Merimee’s novella, in this riveting performance.
Gregory Potter at the Emirates Palace
Two-time Grammy Award-winning jazz musician Gregory Porter made his UAE debut on Saturday 11 March. He performed a smooth set of original tracks from the albums Liquid Spirit and Take Me to the Alley, as well as a riveting rendition of classics, with Chip Crawford on piano, Emanuel Harrold on drums, Tivon Pennicott on saxophone/horn, and bassist Jahmal Nichols .
From West to East: Tan Dun’s Classic Odyssey and The Passion of the Buddha at the Emirates Palace
On Friday, March 17, Emirates Palace hosted West to East: A Classic Odyssey for the first time in the Middle East. Oscar-winning composer Tan Dun conducts the Orchestra of the Municipal Theater of Modena Pavarotti-Freni, together with the world-renowned Chinese cellist Wang Jian, on an unforgettable musical journey from the West to the East, including Mozart, Chai Kowski, and Mussorgsky, who subsequently premiered his original Pipa Concerto in the UAE.
The Abu Dhabi Festival also hosted the Middle East premiere of Grammy and Academy Award winning composer Tan Dun’s The Passion of the Buddha on Saturday 18 March. Straddling the boundaries of classical music and Eastern and Western traditions, the performance is a 95-minute oratorio that tells the parables and stories of six Buddhas, the sixth of which is his ascension to nirvana. The performance captures the ancient narrative of the Buddha’s teachings and the timeless, universal concepts of love, forgiveness and sacrifice.
pearl fisherman’s daughter
On 19 March, Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation hosted the world premiere of the immersive Pearl Fisherman’s Daughter as part of the Abu Dhabi Festival. Abu Dhabi Festival is co-produced with the US Embassy in Abu Dhabi and produced in collaboration with Emirati writer Maitha Al Khayat and Emirati composer Eman Al Hashimi. Together with American contemporary dance group Company E and Lebanese singer-songwriter Mayssa Karaa, they weave a magical story told through narration, music and movement.
Abu Dhabi Festival continues its commitment to fostering cultural exchange and understanding and looks forward to inspiring and delighting audiences in future editions.
For more information on Abu Dhabi Festival, please visit: https://abudhabifestival.ae/programme-2023/
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About Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation (ADMAF):
Founded in 1996, ADMAF is one of the oldest non-profit cultural organizations in the Arabian Gulf region. It pioneers new artistic practices aimed at deepening global intercultural dialogue and sparking renewed interest in creativity in the UAE and the Arab world. It delivers multidisciplinary initiatives for people of all ages, backgrounds and nationalities, often in partnership with leading national and international organisations, through festivals in Abu Dhabi, year-round youth platforms and community programmes.
For more information, visit the ADMAF website: www.admaf.org
About Abu Dhabi Festival
Founded in 2004, Abu Dhabi Festival was generously sponsored by President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan from 2007 to 2011. Minister of Information and Culture at the time (currently UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation).
Abu Dhabi Festival is the festival of ‘Bilad Al Khayr’, the Blessed Land, the Land of Zayed, and embraces the values ​​of dialogue, tolerance, respect and peace.
For more information, visit www.abudhabifestival.ae
About Mubadala
Mubadala Investment Company is a sovereign investor managing a global portfolio to generate sustainable financial returns for the Government of Abu Dhabi.
Mubadala’s US$284 billion (AED1,045 billion) portfolio spans six continents, across multiple industries and asset classes. We leverage deep industry expertise and long-term partnerships to drive sustainable growth and profits, while supporting the continued diversification and global integration of the United Arab Emirates economy.
For more information on Mubadala Investments, please visit: www.mubadala.com
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