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To mark the end of the 2014 Abu Dhabi Festival, Michel Fadel made his UAE debut in a traditional evening with an electronic twist. The award-winning musician’s indisputable talent entertained the Emirates Palace Auditorium with a stunning mix of infused traditional and modern Arabic music that included Fairuz favourites and a host of other memorable melodies including Western classics and original compositions, all performed in the inimitable Fadel style; a fitting closing to an exceptional ADF 2014.
Following The Asil Ensemble, in the second installment of the ‘Bayt Al Farabi’ series, Michel Fadel’s gifted musicality and unique interpretation of Arabic music, honoured the legacy of Abu Nasr Muhammad Al Farabi, the great 9th century musician, philosopher and scientist, to whom the Abu Dhabi Festival pays homage each year through its ‘Bayt Al Farabi’ series.
Following the performance, H.E. Hoda I. Al Khamis - Kanoo, Founder of the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF) and the Abu Dhabi Festival, said: “As one of the finest pianists and music arrangers in the region, we are honoured to have had Michel Fadel close this year’s Abu Dhabi Festival. Bringing his incredible talent to a UAE audience was a great achievement for us and I hope that the families who made up the Emirates Palace crowd will be inspired in the future by more Arab musicians who reach Michel Fadel’s heights of musical success.
“With a diverse Festival programme, we began and closed with Arabic music. The Bayt Al Farabi series represents one of the pillars of the Abu Dhabi Festival. To expose such incredible Arabic flair among the Festival’s spectrum of international talent echoed the overwhelming success of this year’s Festival.”
The award-winning musician from Lebanon has worked with Fairuz, Majida El Roumi, Julia Boutros and many, many others. Known to millions as a tutor on the hit TV show Star Academy, Michel Fadel has also been the music producer behind the MBC show, Arab Idol. Today, Fadel stands firmly in the spotlight of stardom, commanding large audiences throughout the region and beyond.
As a part of an initiative to give audiences a taste of the incredible talent flourishing right here in the UAE, prior to the performance, the Abu Dhabi Festival presented a very special prologue Ahmed Al Sheikh, Ali Al Sheikh and Sham Ghaleb Saloum, students of Bayt Al Oud Al Arabi, performed a melody made famous by the great Fairouz � ‘Saalouni El Nass’.
The Abu Dhabi Festival’s 11th edition under this year’s theme ‘Creative Innovation’ is the UAE’s premiere cultural event; bringing the best in international and regional dance, opera, music, and visual arts to the Emirates each year. The Festival began on the 2nd March with its nationwide education and community programmes. Its main programme of performances by The Asil Ensemble, Herbie Hancock, Renée Fleming, Milo Karadaglić, the American Ballet Theatre, European Union Youth Orchestra, and Michel Fadel have all taken place, with Bill Fontana’s World Premier Exhibition continuing until 20th April.
Information on tickets, schedules, venues and upcoming performances can be found on the festival website: www.abudhabifestival.ae
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