The curtain opened on a new eight-month-long season of Abu Dhabi Classics last night in front of more than 900 people at Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi with a debut performance in the UAE of one of Australia’s most prestigious orchestras.

The West Australian Symphony Orchestra (WASO), conducted by Sir Richard Armstrong and accompanied by star New Zealand-born operatic tenor Simon O’Neill, performed a Richard Wagner Gala Night to thrill the audience for the opening night of the international concert season.

Guests at the event included His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nayhan, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), His Excellency Zaki Nusseibeh, Cultural Advisor at Ministry of Presidential Affairs, along with numerous foreign ambassadors and dignitaries.

The concert is the first of many international, regional and Emirati orchestras, ensembles and individual musicians who will perform at venues across the emirate as part of TCA Abu Dhabi’s 2016/17 Classics programme under the theme of 1,001 Nights.

Spectacular venues including Emirates Palace, Bin Hamooda Fort in Al Ain, Al Jahili Fort and Manarat Al Saadiyat on Saadiyat Island will all host Music performances until May 2017.

HE Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak said: “Witnessing such a wonderful and inspirational performance from a world class ensemble of musicians to launch our Abu Dhabi Music programme season was a privilege for me and everyone else in attendance. One of TCA Abu Dhabi key mandates is to engage the community in diverse artistic expressions and to host in Abu Dhabi performing arts world experts to perform in Abu Dhabi and to conduct educational workshops for our youth.

“Over the next eight months we have a superb line-up of some of the world’s leading orchestras and musicians coming to Abu Dhabi that we hope will inspire future generations of music lovers across all the Emirate communities.” He added.

Highlights of the eight-month-long season include a performance by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra - currently regarded as the best and most prestigious orchestra in the world - and the return to Abu Dhabi of award-winning Catalan composer Jordi Savall; accompanied by his ensemble of Arab and Western musicians Hesperion XXI, with his interpretations of famed traveller Ibn Battuta’s journey from India to China in the 14th Century.

Other highlights for the season include the return of the Symphony Orchestra of India as part of the successful Umsiyat series; and the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse from France in Abu Dhabi city and Al Ain. Another special night will feature Grammy and Academy Award-nominated composer and pianist, Stephan Moccio, who is considered today one the most prominent names in the music world as he has written and produced some of the biggest pop hits of the last 20 years.

TCA music programme will include the Abu Dhabi Classics season, the Umsiyat Series under the patronage of HH Sheikha Shamsa bint Hamdan Al Mubarak, the Voice of the Emirates diverse performances and the Bait Al Oud concerts.

Abu Dhabi Classics continues on Monday night with a solo piano recital by celebrated French musician Hélène Grimaud at Manarat Al Saadiyat on Saaidyat Island.

With her first appearance in the capital, Grimaud will present pieces from her new album – Water, which combines music from nine composers from the 19th and 20th century that are linked by transitions and draw various musical cultures together in one performance.

For a full calendar of AD Classics events see www.abudhabiclassics.ae>

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