Majida Al Roumi, Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg and Teatro La Fenice debut in Al Ain
ADACH produces an opera of Mozart
Abu Dhabi -Under the patronage of HH Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Al Ain Classics Festival celebrates its 10th anniversary coming Wednesday at Al Jahili Fort in Al Ain with a diversified programme presenting some of the most distinguished Arabic and classical artists of our time.
His Excellency Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, chairman of Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage, said “Al Ain Classics Festival will continue to build bridges between cultures and traditions. The scenic oasis city of A1 Ain, viewed as the heritage pearl of the United Arab Emirates, plays a unique role in the cultural life of the region”.
the event, according to Abdullah Al Ameri, Director of Arts and Culture at ADACH, aims to reinforce the status of Al Ain city and Abu Dhabi emirates on the world cultural and artistic map and to promote the historical sights specially that most of the events are taking place at Al Jahili Fort in Al Ain. In addition to its historical back ground, Al Jahili fort became an important cultural sight after it eas renovated in December 2008.
The festival will further the integration of Arab and Western music traditions and performing arts.
“We are presenting two evenings that are only reserved for ladies; one evening with legendary Lebanese singer Majida AI Roumi on March 3 and one performance of a Mozart opera on March 13” Al Ameri said.
The festival is running from March 3 to April 17 in Al Ain’s beautiful Al Jahili Fort, opera performances will take place in the Municipality Theatre. Besides the concerts of Majida Al Roumi, highlights include the UAE debut of the superb Mahler Chamber Orchestra, led by young British star conductor Daniel Harding and Turkish pianist Fazil Say. Salzburg’s Mozarteum Orchestra will appear both in conceit and in opera. Led by young and upcoming conductor David Atkham, the orchestra performs Mozart and Schumann’s piano concerto with Palestine pianist Saleem Abboud Ashkar.
French conductor Guillaume Tourniaire is the musical brain behind Mozart’s opera, La Finta Giardiniera“which he especially adapted for this year’s Al Ain Classics Festival. ,,La Finta Giardiniera“ (The Pretended Girl Gardener) will be produced by ADACH and an international opera production team featuring a renowned Italian cast. Mozart composed the delightful opera buffa, an Italian comic opera, for the Carnival season in Munich. “The text will be sung in original Italian, the libretto is translated into Arabic, an Arabic actor will introduce the plot in Arabic and we will have Arabic subtitles, all in collaboration with KALIMA, the translation initiative of ADACH “,Al Ameri pointed out. Through this concept, the opera will be fully accessible for local and expatriates music lovers.
In the intimate courtyard of Al Jahili Fort, Ukranian-born pianist Valentina Lisitsa will perform a piano recital, celebrating the anniversaries of Schumann and Chopin.
The final performance takes place on April 17 with Orchestra and Choir of Venice’s historic opera Teatro La Fenice: “The Magic of Opera in Al Jahili” features the most beautiful Italian opera choirs and overtures.
Al Ain Classics Festival was launched in 2001 by a group of dedicated music lovers, who have since established “The Friends of Al Ain Classics Festival” under the chairmanship of Zaki Nusseibeh. The 2010 edition of this important annual cultural event will witness an enormous increase of this friend’s society and will actively involve the community of Al Ain.
Tickets
All performances starts at 8:00 pm. Tickets for all Al Ain Classics are available at www.timeouttickets.com ,toll-free : 800 4669, Virgin Megastores, House of Arts in Al Ain, Al Ain Rotana Hotel and at the evening box office. Tickets are available from 50 Dhs for adults and 30 Dhs for students and children, seats are not numbered, free seating.