Underscoring its commitment to hosting the world’s greatest talent from the world of the arts and culture, the Abu Dhabi Festival 2011, presented by the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF) and 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, looks set to pull out all the stops with a dazzling weekend of concerts ahead. Over the weekend of the 1st to the 3rd April, the Festival will seamlessly combine ballet, classical music and jazz. Concerts are set to include the Ballet Gala: Max and Irina Present Stars of the Bolshoi and Mariinsky, Bronfman and Brahms, and jazz legend Al Jarreau; culminating with Monday night’s Opera Gala starring Dmitri Hvorostovsky and Ekaterina Siurina.

 Her Excellency Mrs. Hoda I Al Khamis Kanoo, Founder and Artistic Director of the Abu Dhabi Festival, comments: “As organisers of the Abu Dhabi Festival, ADMAF are always looking to diversify the range and breadth of arts showcased throughout the Festival. The weekend ahead sums up this determination beautifully. Blending the world’s best ballet dancers with classical music impresarios and jazz legends is what the Festival is about. It is the Festival of the people, bringing people together to celebrate the diversity of the arts but also its unique unifying spirit in all its forms. I am thoroughly looking forward to the weekend ahead and I cannot wait to see so many people at the Emirates Palace enjoying these wonderful performances.”

 Getting the weekend off to an amazing start will be the sell-out Ballet Gala evening on Friday, 1st April in the Emirates Palace Auditorium. ‘Max and Irina Present Stars of the Bolshoi and Mariinsky’, is a rare opportunity to see the world’s best dancers from two of the greatest ballet companies performing together in what is sure to be a breathtaking performance featuring a selection of much-loved classics from Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty and Romeo and Juliet. Principal dancers of the American Ballet Theatre, Maxim Beloserkovsky and Irina Dvorovenko, will be joined by a selection of dancers from the Bolshoi and Mariinsky Theatres in Russia. Music will be provided by the Russian National Orchestra, the Festival’s resident orchestra in 2011, and conducted by Valery Ovsyanikov, the acclaimed ballet conductor at the Mariinsky Theatre.

 The following day (Saturday, 2nd April), the unmissable performance by Grammy Award-winning pianist Yefim Bronfman together with the Russian National Orchestra conducted by the Italian maestro Nicola Luisotti, will bring the Emirates Palace to life with the sounds of the concert ‘Bronfman and Brahms’. This unforgettable evening of music will celebrate three of classical music’s most exciting composers: Brahms, Beethoven and Verdi. Showcasing a repertoire of some of classical music’s greatest pieces, including Beethoven’s famous Symphony No. 5 in C minor, the concert looks set to thrill and delight a packed house.

 Rounding up the weekend and getting the third week of the Festival off to an amazing start on Sunday, 3rd April jazz returns to the Abu Dhabi Festival for a second successful year. Grammy and multi-award winning jazz legend Al Jarreau, is set to share his incredible musical journey through his Jazz Roots Concert. Described as one of the greatest vocalists of his generation, Jarreau will bring his trademark jazz improvisations to Abu Dhabi with a performance packed with career defining classics.

 The Ballet Gala, Max and Irina Present Stars of the Bolshoi and Mariinsky and Bronfman and Brahms will be preceded by exclusive pre-concert talks for ticket holders only. Taking place in the Emirates Palace room M001, the talks will be hosted by performers and Festival organisers the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation. The talks aim to give members of the audience a unique opportunity to learn more about the performance, repertoire and the participating cast and soloists.

 Abu Dhabi Festival 2011

The Abu Dhabi Festival 2011 has thrilled audiences, schools and community groups across seven the emirates over the last 10 days since the 19th March. The Festival runs until 4th April 2011.

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