On March 1, acclaimed Peruvian tenor, Juan Diego Flórez will kick off the 20th edition of Abu Dhabi Festival — a three-week long festivities that will feature the world’s most renowned performers and musicians.
Presented by Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation and held under the theme “The Will for Evolution”, the festivities will be held under the honorary patronage of His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
Abu Dhabi Festival 2023 will present exclusive commissions and productions, along with local, regional, and global premieres, in addition to a series of world-class events that include musical tours, panel discussions, and workshops. Additional information on the Abu Dhabi Festival programme and ticket booking details are available at abudhabifestival.ae/programme-2023/
The line up of performance will be as follow:
Juan Diego Flórez and Friends at Emirates Palace on March 1.
Acclaimed for his command of the high tenor range, Juan Diego Flórez gives a spectacular performance accompanied by an orchestra featuring a programme of opera arias followed by Latin American songs. In addition and as part of Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation’s ongoing commitment to providing opportunities for young artists to showcase their talent, Emirati singer and rising star Rashed Al Nuaimi will take the stage to open for the world renowned tenor .
De Scheherezade a Yo, Carmen at Emirates Palace on March 10
On 10 March, the Emirates Palace will host the Middle East premiere of De Scheherezade a Yo, Carmen. Throughout the mesmerising performance, Vanguard flamenco dancer and choreographer, María Pagés, transcends the legendary female character — Carmen, the gypsy cigarette girl from Mérimée’s novella.
Gregory Porter at Emirates Palace on March 11.
Two-time Grammy Award-winning Jazz musician Gregory Porter makes his UAE debut on March 11, performing a set of his smooth original tracks from his albums Liquid Spirit and Take Me to the Alley, as well as captivating renditions of the classics, joined by Chip Crawford on piano, Emanuel Harrold on drums, Tivon Pennicott on saxophone/horns, and Jahmal Nichols on bass.
Recital Series: Bruce Liu at NYUAD Arts Center on March 14
Winner of the 2021 International Chopin Piano Competition, Bruce Liu, will perform a captivating piano solo with classical and romantic highlights on 14 March at The Red Theatre at NYUAD Arts Center. Dazzling audiences at sold-out venues around the world, the international star pianist will present a selection of pieces by Rameau, Chopin and Liszt during the recital.
Recital Series: Haochen Zhang at NYUAD Arts Center on March 16
Acclaimed Shanghainese pianist, Haochen Zhang, will perform some of Beethoven’s most celebrated sonatas on 16 March at NYUAD Arts Center’s The Blue Hall. The gold medal winner of the Thirteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition promises a captivating solo performance.
From West to East: A Classical Odyssey by Tan Dun at Emirates Palace on March 17.
For the first time in the Middle East, the Emirates Palace will host From West to East: A Classical Odyssey on 17 March. Academy Award-winning composer Tan Dun conducts the Orchestra of Teatro Comunale di Modena Pavarotti-Freni, joined by world-famous Chinese cellist Jian Wang, in an unforgettable musical journey from West to East featuring an iconic classics repertoire of Mozart, Tchaikovsky, and Mussorgsky, followed by the UAE premiere of his original Pipa Concerto.
Buddha Passion by Tan Dun at Emirates Palace on March 18
Abu Dhabi Festival will present the Middle East premiere of Buddha Passion by Grammy and Academy Award-winning composer Tan Dun on 18 March. Spanning the boundaries of classical music and Eastern and Western traditions, the performance is a 95-minute oratorio illustrating six Buddha parables and stories, with the sixth being the Buddha’s ascension into Nirvana. The performance captures the ancient narratives of the Buddha’s teachings and the timeless, universal concepts of love, forgiveness and sacrifice.
Pearl Diver’s Daughter at Cultural Foundation on March 19
Blending cutting-edge technology with choreography, music and narrative, Pearl Diver’s Daughter takes audiences of all ages on a journey beneath the waves of the Gulf, taking place on 19 March at Cultural Foundation. In what will be the longest continuous augmented reality experience ever created, Emirati Writer Maitha Al Khayat and Emirati Composer Eman Al Hashimi join forces with American contemporary dance Company E to present a story of family, tradition, and the perils of the diver and the wonders of the sea.
Recital Series: Leia Zhu, Violin & Benjamin Engeli, Piano at NYUAD Arts Center on March 20.
Sixteen-year-old British-Chinese violin prodigy, Leia Zhu will be accompanied by versatile Swiss pianist, Benjamin Engeli to perform renditions of Mozart, Strauss, Debussy, Wieniawski and Sarasate on 20 March at The Blue Hall, NYUAD Arts Center.
Founded in 2004, the Festival was generously granted the patronage of the President, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, from 2007 to 2011. The first Abu Dhabi Festival was held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the then Minister of Information and Culture (currently the UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation).
Abu Dhabi Festival is the festival of “Bilad Al Khayr”, the land of blessings, the land of Zayed, and embraces the values of dialogue, tolerance, respect and peace.
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