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The Metropolitan Opera, New York’s highly acclaimed opera company performed Donizetti’s tragic romance Lucia di Lammermoor for full house in Abu Dhabi’s Marina Mall Cinestar movie theatre last night (Sunday 20th) as part of the Abu Dhabi Festival 2011, held under the patronage of His Highness General Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. The broadcast formed part of the Emmy-award winning ‘The Met Live in HD’ series. Now entering its fifth year, the series broadcasts into more than 1,500 movie theatres in over 46 countries.
Her Excellency Mrs. Hoda I Al Khamis Kanoo, Founder of the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation and Artistic Director of the Abu Dhabi Festival said: “I am thrilled that the Abu Dhabi Festival is participating in a series of broadcasts that will connect us with countries and people all over the world. The Abu Dhabi Festival is about sharing in the unique spirit of music and the arts to bring people together. This performance is a true reflection of that spirit – broadcast in Abu Dhabi from New York, a diverse and accomplished cast, performing an opera in the Italian language. This is a true celebration of the ability of the arts to transcend the barriers between us and unite us in appreciation and shared enjoyment.”
Music notes
Premiered in Naples, Italy in September 1835, this hit production by Mary Zimmerman of Gaetano Donizetti’s tragic romance Lucia di Lammermoor tells the story of Lucia, an innocent young girl forced into a political marriage. Based on the novel The Bride of Lammermoor by Sir Walter Scott, the Italian Libretto was written by Salvadore Cammarano.
Natalie Dessay, who previously opened the Met’s 2007-08 season returns to this fantastic production in the title role, leading a stellar cast of Met performers. Starring opposite Joseph Calleja as her lover, Edgardo, and Ludovic Tézier as her ruthless brother, Enrico, Natalie and the cast will be led by conductor Maestro Patrick Summers, Music Director of the Houston Grand Opera and Principal Guest Conductor of the San Francisco Opera.
Abu Dhabi Festival 2011
From the 19th March to 4th April 2011, the Abu Dhabi Festival will bring Abu Dhabi and the seven emirates of the UAE alive with new and exciting opportunities to engage in the arts. Including classical music and jazz, ballet and contemporary dance, opera, traditional Arabic music, visual arts and spoken word, with thriving education and community programmes, the Festival is truly the Festival of the People of Abu Dhabi.
Tickets are still available from www.timeouttickets.com or through the Emirates Palace box office. For more information about the Abu Dhabi Festival please visit www.abudhabifestival.ae or call the Festival hotline on 050 9076158.
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