After following her husband here in 1984, Janet Hassouneh has not only become one of the UAE’s most prominent singers and musical educators she has now turned her talents and sheer enthusiasm towards creating and developing the UAE’s first symphony orchestra. We caught up with her to discuss why the United Arab Emirates National Symphony Orchestra is set to take the classical music scene here by storm.
How did you come to be in the UAE?
I was just getting ready for my Masters Degree vocal recital in New York, when my future husband announced he had been offered a job in the UAE. Suddenly, I found myself not only nervously preparing for my finals, but arranging our wedding and organizing a move to the other side of the world. After settling here I joined the Ambassadors of Opera Worldwide, first helping with the organising of their concerts, then later singing. In fact, during my first concert I was pregnant and didn’t realise the effects of a baby on the diaphragm until I had begun!
How did the idea for the orchestra come about?
I think it was really about the right people coming together at the right time. Primarily it was meeting Jennifer Brooks and Andrew Berryman (musical director). Andrew, the former principal trombone with the Ulster Orchestra and trombone professor at the Royal Northern College of Music, is now resident here in the UAE. You could say it’s a meeting of the right people at the right time. Andy was actually just leaving the UAE
but I persuaded him to stay and here we are.
Tell us about the players?
All our musicians, who represent over 15 nationalities, are based here in the UAE and have day-jobs; they play for us part-time and voluntarily. But don’t mistake this to mean they are not accomplished or recognised. We have some amazing musicians based here; take our principal violinist Min Yang who’s played with the London Symphony Orchestra and the BBC Philharmonic. We’re also very lucky to have leadership from Andrew Berryman, whose special ability to communicate with the players and his approachable personality means he lacks all the stuffiness usually associated with conductors and conducting. His talent has given us
the dynamic leadership we need. Not only does he inspire his musicians, he also uses his unconventional methods to draw the audience in; he chats with and engages them, especially children. He is truly unique.
In fact the only instrument we don’t have now is the French horn, and we have to import a player for our performances. So if there are any French horn players out there, we want to hear from you!
What are your plans for this autumn?
Well our first big event of the winter is An Arabian Night gala concert on September 28. I’m really excited about this one, it’s an eclectic and vibrant fusion of east meets west. Our first piece is by 20th century composer Albert Ketelbey, who apparently penned the composition on returning from a visit to a Persian Bazaar. This not-oft played piece includes our brass section like you’ve never heard them before: hollering the various calls of the market traders.
The eclectic and energetic programme continues with talented young Emirati Sarah Al-Kaabi on the piano and an oud solo by Faisel al Saary, also Emirati. Andrew has arranged some Scottish favourites with bagpipes accompanying the orchestra and then the finale, our very own Min Yang’s violin solo: –
October 12 is our Mostly Mozart gala concert, we are exceedingly proud to have Emirati Sara Al-Qaiwani flying in from London for a special operatic performance, amongst others. This coincides with our Young Artists Concerto Competition (YACOCO) on the same day, which has seen two dozen children between the ages of seven and 17 battle it out in the first piano competition of its kind here in the UAE; the winner will be accompanying the orchestra during this concert.
What about later this year?
November sees the launch of our concert series. The idea is to engage audiences more intimately with sections of the orchestra and the fabulous musicians behind them. Each concert will highlight different instruments and composers, the first of which will be on November 9. This sees our woodwind gang take centre stage playing music from Poulenc to Mozart. This is followed on November 23 by cello, violin and piano, with more dates to be decided later.
Then our National Day concert on November 30 promises to be an extravaganza of musical and cultural proportions the like of which the UAE has never seen before. There’s also our open rehearsal programme at the Brighton College and much more planned. You’ll just have to keep an eye out!
An Arabian Night gala concert takes place in the H.H. Sheika Fatima Bint Mubarak – Mother of the Nation Hall, Zayed University, Khalifa City. Ladies’ matinee at 5pm, Dhs50, and Gala Concert at 8pm, Dhs100, on September 28. Tickets are available from www.timeouttickets.com.
