Saturday, March 20
Opening Gala – Chopin Bicentennial Celebration
The National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra featuring Chopin virtuouso pianist Krzysztof Jablonski. Conducted by the prolific composer, Krzysztof Penderecki.
Tuesday, March 23
The Sound of Music
Yes, that Sound of Music, but with puppets. The Salzburg Marionette Theatre has charmed audiences for nearly a century. Now it’s your turn.
Tuesday, March 30
Night at the Ballet
An independent production by Maxim Beloserkovsky and Irina Dvorovenko, principal dancers of the American Ballet Theatre perform in a unique collaboration with principal dancers from the Bolshoi Theatre and Mariinsky Theatre.
Wednesday, March 31
Pictures Reframed
Award-winning Norwegian classical pianist Leif Ove Andsnes joins artist Robin Rhode in a performance inspired by Mussorgsky’s epic Pictures at an Exhibition.
Thursday, April 1
Yundi Li – Chopin Bicentennial Celebration
Having played Carnegie Hall, the youngest musician to win the International Frederick Chopin Piano Competition makes his Middle Eastern debut.
Saturday, April 3
Chopin in Arabia & Wadih El Safi
World premiere and Abu Dhabi Festival commission. A new adaptation of Chopin’s Concerto No. 1 by Hiba Al Kawas. Performed by the Cairo Symphony Orchestra and conducted by Walid Gholmieh. Followed by Lebanon’s Wadih El Safi accompanied by the Cairo Symphony Orchestra and members of the Lebanese National Orchestra. Conducted by Hiba Al Kawas.
Sunday, April 4
Oud Horizons – Concert for Humanity
World premiere. Naseer Shamma joins the Egyptian Philharmonic Society Chamber Orchestra in a masterful rendition of Pagnini’s Caprice 24 on the Arabic oud.
Tuesday and Wednesday, April 6 & 7
London Symphony Orchestra
The legendary principal conductor Sir Colin Davis and maestro Kristjan Jarvi join acclaimed soloists Arabella Steinbacher on violin and Wayne Marshall on piano.
Sunday, March 28
Nobuyuki TsujiiChopin Bicentennial Celebration
The blind, acclaimed 21-year old pianist from Japan tells us his plans
At the tender age of 21, you’ve already achieved so much. What is your personal crowning achievement?
I think my proudest moment so far was winning first prize in the Van Cliburn Competition. Apart from the personal satisfaction, it also has brought me many wonderful chances.
How is preparation going for your Abu Dhabi performance?
2010 is the 200th anniversary of Chopin’s birth, so I have been putting a great deal of effort into Chopin this year. In January I recorded pieces by Chopin, which I am going to perform in Abu Dhabi, for my new CD (coming out this month), so I hope I’ll be able to give good performances of these works for the festival’s audience.
When you sit down at a piano, do your fingers naturally start playing a specific tune?
Sometimes I play the piano very freely. I stop following the notes that were written by the composer and I make an improvisation or just move my fingers naturally and freely. I enjoy it. Sometimes I try to describe with the piano an impression of something I heard, or touched, or felt. In fact I have composed some piano pieces that are my impressions of, for example, the Christmas tree in New York, or the sound of a stream.
What would you be doing if music hadn’t found you?
I cannot even imagine it. Being a musician is my vocation, not a job.
