Expo 2020 Dubai: How 50 women came together to form Firdaus Orchestra

Dubai - Mentored by A.R. Rahman, a pioneering women’s ensemble, Firdaus Orchestra, jet-sets to shake up the musical landscape of the Arab world

Picture this. 50 women. 23 nationalities. One stage. Over two years of unwavering hard work has culminated into an all-women’s orchestra, pioneered by the Academy-award-winning Indian composer, A.R. Rahman, which performed as part of the grand opening ceremony of Expo 2020 Dubai, on September 30.

Ready to light up the world stage with their musical notes, the Firdaus orchestra, premiering on October 23 with their first official performance, will perform at all major events and celebrations at the Expo. While attending the orchestra may require us to loosen our purse strings elsewhere in the world, this one comes at no extra cost, other than that of Expo’s standard entry ticket.

“Our first show is going to be around the theme of space day, in line with the Expo’s theme that week. All our main shows are aligned with the overarching themes at the Expo,” says Noura Sulaiman, the official spokesperson for the orchestra. “The repertoire they’ll play will include space-themed songs,” she adds.

Giving us a glimpse of the musical spectacle, Yasmina Sabbah, who’s the conductor of the orchestra, mentions, “You’ll be able to hear the sound of Firdaus. We’ll take pieces known to the public and add in our very special arrangements bringing all these different instruments together that we’re proud of featuring,” she says.

An all-women feat

What sets this orchestra apart is the message it aims to drive home, with an all-women ensemble. Sulaiman, 27, who’s been the bridge between the corporate management and the creative curation of the orchestra, bringing it together, recounts a “spirit of sisterhood” encompassing the rehearsals. “Everyone was so collaborative, there was no competitiveness. They all wanted to help each other,” she mentions.

“The great thing about the orchestra is we have a balanced mix of abilities. So, you can naturally see a spirit of mentorship come through,” says Sulaiman, adding that the youngest musician in the orchestra is just 15 years old. “She’s just so passionate. It’s so amazing to see such talent and ambition at a young age.”

An alumnus of University of Cambridge, the Lebanese orchestra conductor has directed several choirs and orchestras back home, such as the Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra. “At the end of the day, if you’re a good musician — that’s that. It doesn’t matter if you’re male or female,” says Sabbah, who’ll be conducting an all-women’s orchestra for the first time at the Expo. “The point of having an all-female orchestra is to send a message of empowerment across the world. A message that really strives to break the stereotypes associated with women in this region — fostering an open and inclusive mindset — through the power of music,” the 33-year-old conductor adds.

Not a typical orchestra

With 23 nationalities on board, the Firdaus Orchestra thrives on its cultural diversity, bringing musical minds from all across the world on the Expo stage. “The best part of working with so many nationalities is the different perspectives they all bring — the different flavours of how they learned their instruments and what kind of music they listen to,” says Sulaiman, an Emirati. “We have a violinist from France, who’s originally Moroccan. She plays the violin in a classical way but can also play the traditional Andalusian and Moroccan style,” she adds.

And while the cultural blend brings forth new perspectives, it also gives way to a creative spark, ignited through a cross-cultural understanding of music, creating sounds that are fresh and intriguing. What particularly makes the journey special is the diverse range of instruments the musicians bring to the fore, says Sabbah. “All these musical styles and instruments, lead to a fusion of unique beats, which has created new sounds for this orchestra,” she adds. “We have Arabic instruments like Qanun, Buzuq, Oud and Ney blending beautifully with oriental instruments. We can play classical music but we can play it with Qanun!” Sulaiman adds.

The future: Firdaus Studio

The orchestra, set to perform at every special occasion at Expo 2020 Dubai will transform into a resident orchestra once the Expo draws its curtains. Named after the orchestra, Firdaus Studio will be the first recording studio in the UAE, capable of recording a full orchestra performance, all at once.