A new programme of city-wide events have been announced for the returning Abu Dhabi Festival.
Now in its seventeenth year, the arts and cultural festival will comprise a total of 46 events showcasing 380 international artists, under the theme of Unity: Celebrating the Cultural Foundation (in recognition of the reopening of the Abu Dhabi institution).
The programme features three world-premieres and four Arab-world debuts, with a mix of artists and genres across poetry, theatre, opera, ballet, orchestral performances and jazz.
Taking place between March 31 and April 9 2020, the festival will hold events at locations across Abu Dhabi including Emirates Palace and NYUAD, as well a number of international events in Europe.
Some of the big events this year include a return for cellist Yo Yo Ma, a debut by US jazz musician Gregory Porter and two performances from the American Ballet Theatre and the Cleveland Orchestra, who will present Romeo and Juliet.
The festival begins with the preview concert on January 24 where a multi-media poetry and theatre performance Departed, by Emirati Reem Almenhali, will be staged at NYUAD.
Kicking-off the festival proper, The Cleveland Orchestra will take to the stage on March 31 at Emirates Palace to perform Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Opus 64 accompanied by British baritone Simon Keenlyside.
Musical maestro Yo Yo Ma will make his festival return on April 1 with The Silk Road Ensemble and the Cleveland Orchestra to perform Dvorak’s Cello Concerto in B Minor, Opus 104 and Schubert’s Symphony No. 9 in C Major ‘The Great’, D 944.
On April 3 and 4, The American Ballet Theatre will bring Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet to the Emirates Palace accompanied by the Cleveland Orchestra.
Bringing the festival to a close on April 9, Grammy Award-winner Gregory Porter will take to the stage at Emirates Palace.
From Dhs100. Locations and times vary. March 31-April 9 2020, www.abudhabifestival.ae
