The Middle East International Film Festival (MEIFF) – being held from 10th to 19th October – will support the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage’s ‘Abu Dhabi Classics’ Wagner Gala by screening one of the most influential opera films at 12pm on Thursday 16th October at Marina Mall. “As a high-end classical music event, aimed at bringing the most renowned music events of its genre to the region, ‘Abu Dhabi Classics’ has a natural artistic synergy with MEIFF,” said Mohamed Khalaf Al Mazrouei, MEIFF’s Vice Chairman of MEIFF and Director General of ADACH. “Together as partners, it is our ambition to bring the world to Abu Dhabi and to showcase the nation’s capital as an emerging regional centre of excellence for the arts and culture.” The 16th October screening of Richard Wagner’s opera Das Rheingold - created in honour of the centennial of Wagner’s opera in 1976 - will be introduced by Dr Ronald Perlwitz, Professor for German Studies at Sorbonne University – Abu Dhabi. The 1976 Bayreuth production was directed by Patrice Chéreau under the musical direction of Pierre Boulez. Polarising fans and critics around the world, Chéreau set the opera during the 19th-century Industrial Revolution, and was thought to have emphasised the dramatic rather than the musical elements of the works. His influence on opera productions around the world has been increasingly visible ever since the milestone production. Expanding on the natural synergies between the two cultural events, MEIFF Director Nashwa Al Ruwaini said: “We share the same vision and have common long-term goals – that is, adding value to the existing dialogue and interaction between diverse cultures and people. “Both ‘Abu Dhabi Classics’ and MEIFF are highly regarded as major events integral to the cultural master plan of Abu Dhabi, which has been designed to enhance the regional arts scene of Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates.” ‘Abu Dhabi Classics’ will present its Wagner Gala featuring the Bayreuther Festspiele (Beirut Festival Orchestra), with conductor Christian Thielmann, on Saturday 25th October at 7pm in the Auditorium of Emirates Palace as part of its 2008 / 2009 festival season. They will be performing Das Rheingold - the relatively succinct prelude in Wagner’s ‘Der Ring des Nibelungen’ saga. For more information on MEIFF’s screening of the 1976 Beyreuth Das Rheingold film by director Patrice Chéreau, visit www.meiff.com.

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