Abu Dhabi Festival 2011 inaugurates its world-class programme of performances and concerts featuring a plethora of critically acclaimed international artists. On January 4th at the Emirates Palace the Festival will welcome the UNESCO Artists for Peace Maestro Valery Gergiev and the World Orchestra for Peace, for the first time in the Arab world. Embodying the Festival’s global reputation as a symphony of global cultures, the January 4th regional premier will herald the beginning of the eighth edition of the UAE capital’s foremost celebration of artistic excellence. Under the stewardship and direction of the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF), Abu Dhabi Festival reflects the Emirate’s vision of a global cultural capital of the 21st century. Tickets will go on sale from today for ‘The World Orchestra for Peace’, a magnificent concert that will include musicians from 30 countries and more than 62 international orchestras.

The 2011 theme of the Abu Dhabi Festival is “Harmony for Humanity”, and celebrates the capability of culture, the arts and music to bring people together in mutual appreciation and encourage a more harmonious way of living. Hosting the performance at the start of the New Year reinforces the spirit of the gift of music. Appropriately, the late Founder of the World Orchestra for Peace, Sir Georg Solti was a passionate believer in the “unique strength of music as an ambassador for peace” and it is in this spirit that the Abu Dhabi Festival has invited the Orchestra to perform.

“We are thrilled to welcome the celebrated UNESCO Artists for Peace Maestro Valery Gergiev and the World Orchestra for Peace to Abu Dhabi, for their debut appearance in the Arab world,” said Founder & Artistic Director of the Abu Dhabi Festival, Her Excellency Mrs. Hoda Al Khamis Kanoo.

“This unparalleled event marks a most opportune beginning to the new year, and also to the Abu Dhabi Festival, which in 2011 will celebrate the theme “Harmony for Humanity” in recognition of the powerful ability of music, arts and culture to transcend difference and bring people together.”

“The World Orchestra for Peace and the Abu Dhabi Festival share a common belief in the unifying spirit of music and arts, which so elegantly brings together human beings of different nationalities, cultures and traditions.

I sincerely hope that through this remarkable event, we may share with the people of the UAE the beauty of music in seeking greater cultural understanding.” She added

Comprised of the world’s finest orchestral players drawn from more than 62 international orchestras and representing 30 countries, the orchestra was recently designated UNESCO Artist for Peace, the first major orchestra to receive the honour. Formed in 1995 by the late Sir Georg Solti, the Orchestra comes together only on special occasions to promote peace or celebrate reconstruction, the essence of its special mission.

“My late husband, Sir Georg Solti, created this unique orchestra in 1995 as a gesture of world harmony in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. My husband, having lived through two world wars, believed that it was the duty of everyone to look forward and learn from the past to create a better future“, Said, Lady Valerie Solti, patron of the World Orchestra for Peace.

“This will be the first time the orchestra has performed in an Arab country and we are most grateful for the invitation to come to Abu Dhabi and have this further opportunity of spreading our mission of peace.” She added.

The Orchestra’s world-acclaimed conductor Valery Gergiev will lead the orchestra through a programme of popular classics including Rossini’s William Tell Overture, Prolofiev’s Symphony No 1 and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5 during the performance at the Emirates Palace.

Tickets for the event will go on sale to the general public from today. Prices start from AED 195 for Pearl tickets, up to AED 495 for Diamond tickets. Reflecting the Abu Dhabi Festival’s commitment to education and young people, students will be admitted for free. Tickets can be purchased online on www.timeouttickets.com as of today, and from the Emirates Palace ticketing desk as of December 20th.

Further information can be found at: www.abudhabifestival.ae

 

We accept Guest Posts

Download the Dubai City Guide iPhone mobile app

DubaiCityGuide.com is owned and managed by Cyber Gear