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Chopin’s Concerto to Set Tone of Abu Dhabi Festival Today

ABU DHABI - As she is finally ready to take her seat in the audience, Hoda Al Khamis-Kanoo, founder of Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation, who organises the annual Abu Dhabi Festival, described her efforts through the words of the great poet Al Mutannabi:

I sleep soundly — content with my vision

Free from the struggle of searching for truth.

And it all starts tonight. The curtain will rise over the sixth Abu Dhabi Festival to reveal 19 days of music, dance, arts, talks and storytelling.

The opening gala at the Emirates Palace tonight will celebrate the music of one of the world’s most unforgotten — Frederic Chopin.

It’s been 200 years since the birth of the Polish musician and the Abu Dhabi Festival will honour his anniversary with one of the Romantic composer’s most loved pieces — Piano Concerto in E minor Op.11 No. 1.

On the stage will be The National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra, conducted by the extraordinary Krzysztof Penderecki.

Also a composer and a Grammy Award winner, Penderecki will conduct some of his own pieces too during the night — Ciaccona for string orchestra and Serenade for String Orchestra.

On piano will be yet another Polish virtuoso, the Chopin International Piano Competition winner, Krzysztof Jablonski.

The programme will also include Schubert’s Symphony No. 5.

Throughout the festival, Chopin Bicentennial Celebration will keep returning with other concerts and masters of his music.

The audience will see Yundi Li who, at just 18 years, won the first prize of the Chopin International Piano Competition in 2000 and ever since, he has toured the world, conquering hearts of both critics and audiences, with his piano.

April 1 may be Fool’s Day, but not for anyone going to the Emirates Palace Auditorium, where Li will indeed perform a concert meant to be remembered, of six pieces by Chopin, including
some of the Nocturnes op. 9, Mazurkas op. 59 and the Polonaise ‘Military’ and ‘Hero’.

As it is customary with the festival, some of the very best of Arab music and musicians will blend in with the stars from the West for a truly full experience of music and cultural celebration.

Among them will be oud player and composer Naseer Shamma, “translating” violin into oud, as he will perform nothing less than Paganini’s Caprice 24. The Egyptian Philharmonic Society Chamber Orchestra will join him.

“Abu Dhabi Festival is the bridge between East and West. It is the glue that bonds artists of different disciplines and traditions. Together we are forging a new language for the world — a language that goes beyond borders and boundaries, a language that is truly universal,” said Al Khamis-Kanoo.

Over the years, the festival grew not just in artistic value, but in concept too. There is much more to it than really good music and ballet — there is a comprehensive education programme with school and university students; a community programme bringing music, arts and cultural events to all emirates; and, for the first time this year, there is a debate programme where festival pioneers from the Middle East and Europe will come together to talk about, well, what festivals should all be about.

For a full programme of Abu Dhabi Festival, check www.abudhabifestival.ae.

silvia@khaleejtimes.com