Natalie Cole, Maxim Vengerov in this year’s Abu Dhabi Festival line-up

Pushing boundaries and broadening minds is what organisers of this year’s Abu Dhabi Festival promise to achieve through a packed schedule of performances by Arab and international artists.
Some 90 per cent of performances during the festival, scheduled from March 11 to April 6, are to be offered free.
With a focus on classical music, theatre, performing arts, jazz, ballet and fine arts, the ninth edition will be held under the banner ‘Connecting Cultures’ with 18 countries participating in 168 events at 34 venues across all Emirates.
The line-up includes Natalie Cole (daughter of legendary American jazz singer Nat King Cole), and solo violinist Maxim Vengerov alongside the St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by internationally acclaimed Maestro Yuri Temirkanov.
From Germany, the ballet La Bayadere will be performed by SemperOper, having first been brought to stage in 1877 by the Imperial Ballet, Russia.
The Royal Opera House, London will host the Arab world premiere of ‘Beloved Friend’ telling the story of the Russian composer Tchaikovsky and his patron Nadezdha von Meck.
The festival’s founder and artistic director, Hoda Al Khamis Kanoo, said ADF 2012 is “more ambitious than ever”.
“The UAE is definitely at the forefront of leading the region’s artistic re-awakening – dubbed by many as a ‘renaissance’,” said Kanoo.
Under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, ADF is under the direction of the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation (ADMAF) – also founded by Kanoo.
As Abu Dhabi strives to become the cultural and artistic metropolis in the region, she said ADF is at the forefront in ensuring the capital reaches that goal.
“The Festival draws performers and artists of world-renown to the Capital, which brings cultural creativity to the forefront of public thought and awareness,” said Kanoo.
The diverse mix also includes a new dance work ‘Sutra’ choreographed by the Flemish/Moroccan Sidi Barbi Cherkaoui, featuring the skills of the monks of the Shaolin Temple and supported by Sadler’s Wells Theatre, London, blending Kung Fu, Tai Chi and contemporary dance.
ADF will also act as the platform for the world premiere of German composer Richard Wagner’s Ring Cycle as part of The Metropolitan Opera’s Emmy award-winning series The Met: Live in HD.
As for local offerings, the Sharjah-based traditional Hakawati storytelling troupe of actors, led by Ahmed Yousef, will bring to life the mythical characters of Arabia and tour the Western Region and Northern Emirates. An adaptation of Richard Sheridan’s ‘The Rivals’ will feature emerging Emirati actors from the Resuscitation Theatre.
The festival also presents the Emirates Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Premiere Music College of Prague Youth Symphony Orchestra as they tour the UAE as part of the 8th Emirates International Peace Music Festival.
Lebanese singer Fadel Shaker will perform during A Night of Legends, while the new initiative ‘Bayt Al Farabi’ will pay tribute to Abu Nasr Muhammad Al Farabi, teacher, composer and scientist – showcased by Anwar Abudragh and the Iraqi Maqamat Ensemble, Goksel Bagatir and Faisal Al Sari.
“Their creations, concerts and compositions reflect the Festival’s never-ending thirst for knowledge, so eloquently reflected in the region’s poetry and literature,” said Kanoo. “This March, we shall pay homage to the glory days of Arab cultural expression that stretched from Andalucía to China. The Golden Age left a legacy of scientific and artistic achievement, exceeding that of any other civilization.”
Iraqi artist and calligrapher Hassan Massoudy’s exhibition ‘Gestures of Light’ will feature in ‘Ways of Seeing’, a program of workshops and lectures.
Over the last nine years, she said, the festival proved successful in developing relationships with globally distinguished organisations, including the Royal Opera House – London, Manchester International Festival and Edinburgh International Festival.
ADF also aims to bring the arts to more schools and colleges through its education programs. The UK theatre company, Globe Education at Shakespeare’s Globe, will bring ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ and workshops.
The Manchester International Festival will also provide an education program through ‘Music Boxes’, while the BBC Philharmonic Maestro will offer an interactive musical experience for children.
“It has been shown that the arts are an effective tool in raising levels of academic performance and we are committed to supporting the development of an appetite for learning,” said Kanoo.
A series of leading experts including Lord Hall, the chief executive of the Royal Opera House, artist Hassan Massoudy, Amina Taher from Mubadala and Abdul Aziz Musallam, director of the Heritage and Cultural Affairs Department of Culture and Information, Sharjah, will explore cultural diplomacy, arts education and the legacy of Arab heritage during the ‘Riwaq Al Fikr/The Festival Debates’.
“It couldn’t be a better year to begin a partnership,” said Lord Hall. “For London 2012, it is about welcoming the best from around the world and showing off the best of British. This is the first time ROH visits Abu Dhabi and we’re excited to develop a lasting relationship. It’s important to connect with artists from various backgrounds and thats why ADF is important. This is only the third time in history ‘Beloved Friend’ is being performed.”
Mr Musallam said, the main mission is to “preserve our heritage and the new generation needs to revive it and build on it for the future”.
The ADF Award will also be given to university students who show outstanding contribution to arts.
For more information visit: www.abudhabifestival.ae
[email protected]