With the tenth edition of the Abu Dhabi Festival set to commence, the nation’s capital is entrenching itself as a world leader in celebrating fine arts and education. Since its inception in 2004, the festival has reached out to cultural and educational organisations all around the world and has acted as a beacon, bringing world class performances to the city.
The event starts March 3 and will actually take place in various locations across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Al Ain and Al Gharbia and will bring together world class acts with student and amateur performances. Events will range from free workshops to Dhs800 high-end performances. Proceeds from tickets sold for the main programme performances and concerts will benefit UNESCO’s Global Partnership for Girls’ and Women’s Education. Over the past ten years, the festival has sought to underscore the pivotal importance of education in the success of individuals and nations.
The Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation (ADMAF) is the driving force behind the Abu Dhabi Festival, and the president and patron of ADMAF, HE Sheikh Nahayan bin Mabarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, spoke passionately at a press conference in October about this year’s event. His Excellency spoke about the importance of maintaining Arab culture and heritage, while introducing elements of western fine arts. While this festival does in fact branch out to western performances of fine arts, Arabs should also remember their own influences and traditions.
The festival itself was conceptualised and is driven by the tireless efforts of HE Hoda Al Khamis-Kanoo. As the founder of ADMAF, Mrs. Kanoo is outspoken about the centrality of art in unlocking the creative potential of a nation. As a non-profit organisation, ADMAF has been involved in promoting music and art events across the UAE since 1996.
Mrs. Kanoo on ten years of the festival
How does it feel to look back at the first festival and see how the event has progressed over ten years?
It’s been a remarkable experience. The festival has grown in size and stature over the past decade and it’s continued to present innovative works, embrace cultures, and nurture creations that inspire, inform and excite. When the first duet walked onto the stage of the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation back in 2004, we could not have imagined that the festival would grow into such a beacon for arts and culture and be a major player on the international festival circuit. As a homegrown initiative that reflects the cultural vision of the UAE capital, the festival today is a unique hub for Arab artistic expression, incubating talent across the region. It has also become a gateway where artists choose to make their regional debut.
How pivotal do you feel the festival has been in bringing fine arts to the public?
The festival has been pivotal in increasing audiences for many forms of arts and creating unforgettable experiences. It has brought the public, national and regional talents together with the leading international figures – not only to perform but to share, exchange and discuss. The festival has forged a reputation for presenting innovative exhibitions by some of the region’s most pioneering artists, such as Dia Al Azzawi, Adam Henein, Rachid Koraichi and Hassan Massoudy.
What can we expect this year?
In partnership with Institut du Monde Arabe, we present the regional premiere of the exhibition 25 Years of Arab Creativity. Created to commemorate the 25th anniversary of this world renowned institute, the unprecedented exhibition presents the most exhaustive panorama of contemporary Arab art to date, and features painting, sculpture, photography, video and installations, as well as special commissions and works by numerous UAE artists including Karima Al Shomely and Ebtisam Abdulaziz. The exhibition runs for 23 days and like the workshops, family art studio, and guided tours, entry is free and all are welcome.
What do you envision for the festival’s 20th anniversary?
My vision has always been to create a festival that would bring people together through a love of arts and culture and would echo the legacy of Sheikh Zayed. For the 20th anniversary, I see the festival continue to uphold its enduring commitment to nurturing cultural expression and inspiring artistic creativity across the seven emirates, across the region and across the world.
What are some of the biggest obstacles faced in bringing such a festival to life?
Whilst the festival has grown bigger, one of the main challenges has been to remain humble and balanced in our vision. The more popular the event becomes the more we must respect the foundations of the festival and remain accessible to the local communities.
It is vital we maintain our commitment to the nurseries, schools and universities as well as the communities with whom we work. By creating access to the arts for all, by bringing life to learning and giving joy to those in need, the arts become the soul of the societies in which we live. The Abu Dhabi Festival is more than a festival. It is a centre for expression and a voyage of discovery. As we continue to honour the past and inspire the future, artists as well as audiences from near and far shall continue to reap the rewards.
Oussama Rahbani
What do you have in store for the festival?
We did a concert in Zaha Hadid Pavillion in 2011, and this year it is a pleasure for us to participate again in the festival, since Mrs. Kanoo came up with an idea to perform a tribute for the Rahbani Brothers [legendary Lebanese musicians and songwriters, most known for their work with Lebanese icon Fairuz]. So we decided to make this tribute ‘The Rahbani Legacy’ with the national symphony orchestra of Ukraine, conducted by Vladimir Sirenko, along with a choir of 20, and seven stars who are considered the best voices in the Middle East and who worked with the Rahbani brothers and Mansour Rahbani: Ghassan Saliba, Ronza, Fadia Tomb, Hiba Tawaji, Simon Obeid, Nader Khoury, and Elie Khayat. The songs performed will vary between patriotic songs, love songs, dabke, duets and songs taken from many musical plays by the Rahbani brothers, all re-orchestrated and adapted by my brother Ghadi and me.
Anything else?
I will also be performing on the piano. There will also be a lecture about the Rahbani brothers and Mansour Rahbani, and an exhibition will take place in Emirates Palace where you will find many belongings of the Rahbani brothers.
How did you decide to embark on a musical career?
I have always been raised in an environment full of music and arts. I always had the passion and talent for it. I studied music and piano with great teachers and attended many workshops in the United States, mostly in Berklee College of Music.
If you had to choose another career, what would you like to do?
I relate a lot to the artistic field, so it would also be related to arts. Directing is something I am also interested in; sports and especially football is a passion for me, a passion that really touched my life.
What hopes do you have for this festival?
I hope everyone will enjoy the programme, what we are presenting is of a high level. This festival is a great way to mingle many cultures together and to bring people together over great cultural events.
Yundi
Do you have anything special planned for the programme?
I will be performing a programme of Chopin and Beethoven. Chopin is the composer I feel closest to, so I am very happy to be opening my recital with two of his nocturnes. The final piece in the programme is his ‘Andante spianato et Grande Polonaise brillante’, which is a lyrical as well as majestic work. In between these pieces are Beethoven’s ‘Appassionata’ and ‘Pathetique’ sonatas. Beethoven lived before Chopin, but these
two sonatas are deeply romantic, so I feel they link really nicely with the outer works in the programme.
How did it all begin? How did you start your career as a pianist?
It started after I won the International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw in 2000.
If you had to do something else, what career path do you think you’d choose?
I have not really thought about this – not playing the piano has never crossed my mind!
Who had the biggest influence on you while you were growing up?
One of the most important was definitely my teacher Zhaoyi Dan at the Shenzhen Arts School. He remains a key figure in my life to this day.
Do you ever get stage fright and if you do, how do you cope with it?
I do not really get stage fright but, sometimes, I get a little nervous. I think a bit of nervous energy is good, though. It makes me more alert to everything around me.
What is the hardest thing about being a musician? What is the best thing?
I feel very fortunate that I’m a pianist as I get to do what I love most pretty much all the time. Being away from home for long stretches of time is not always easy, though.
Community events
The Abu Dhabi Festival Community Programme will run from March 5-28. It will bring truly unique experiences that highlight Arabic and Emirati traditions. Watch out for The Story Mile; an outdoor exhibition of Emirati tales that have been handed down through the generations – it will be led by master story teller Abdul Aziz Al Musallam, and will be hosted on the Corniche. There will also be events meant to bring the beauty of music and art to those who are suffering. The Music in Hospitals event will involve visits to Tawam Hospital in Al Ain, the Imperial College London Diabetes Centre and Sheikh Khalifa Medical City. Performers will visit patients and bring melodies to soothe injuries and traumas.
When old meets new
Local Abu Dhabi performers The Resuscitation Theatre will bring to life an old Shakespearean play, Cymbeline, during the festival. Entitled Al Malik, the piece will marry dance and drama and introduce audiences to a mythical village called Wadi Al Hail, in the Hajar Mountains. The story takes place at a time before oil was discovered and follows the lives of Hind and Humaid, who have eloped. Shakespeare’s tale of treachery is told by a multi-cultural cast of eight nationalities, including two Emiratis. Al Malik is presented by Abu Dhabi Theatre, in collaboration with Emirates Writers Union and supported by Abu Dhabi Festival. Resuscitation Theatre’s creator Maggie Hannan, gives the lowdown on their participation in this year’s festival.
How does it feel to be a participant in the tenth edition of the festival?
It is incredibly exciting to be part of this wonderful and internationally acclaimed festival. I feel honoured to be included.
Why did you choose this particular piece?
The Resuscitation Theatre is always looking for good material to rework. We have done Shakespeare before, an all-female Hamlet, but that was primarily performed in the UK with a limited engagement at The Club in Abu Dhabi in 2009. Cymbeline afforded an excellent opportunity to create a piece for a wider audience, and also the chance to ‘Emiratise’ a Shakespeare play. Its themes of duty, as well as betrayal, lend themselves to the culture here. The heroine, Hind, is betrothed in an arranged marriage, but defies her father in marrying Humaid. Equally, Humaid, a simple, kind-hearted soul, is tricked into believing that Hind has been unfaithful. These themes of duty, loyalty and chastity sound a chord here.
How important is theatre to fine arts?
Theatre is a very important and integral art form. It provides an opportunity to explore and share ideas, and also delve into the human existence. By looking into the worlds of varying characters and life situations, the audience can better understand other cultures and ways of life, as well as evaluating their own place in the world. Theatre is also so important to the development of young students. Through the study of drama, interpersonal skills such as communication, negotiation and teamwork are built, not to mention self-confidence and initiative! To this end, I am thrilled to be leading workshops as part of an after-school programme with some young lads at Nukhba School in Mirfa in the Western Region. I feel honoured to be an ambassador for the performing arts.
Catch this performance from March 20-23 at 8pm at the Emirates Writers Union auditorium, mezzanine level of The National Theatre, opposite Abu Dhabi Media, airport Road and 17th Street. Tickets are Dhs75 from www.ticketmaster.ae.
The performers
Each year, the Abu Dhabi Festival branches out to bring talents for maiden visits and performances to the region. Hailed by critics all over the world as breathtaking and moving, the star-studded performances will include ballet, opera and orchestrated concerts at various times at Emirates Palace and the Abu Dhabi Theatre. With so many incredible stars making their way to the city, we spoke to master pianist Yundi and Lebanese composer Oussama Rahbani of The Rahbani Legacy about their upcoming performances.
The essential dates for your diary
March 3-4: Romeo & Juliet Globe Education, Shakespeare’s Globe at Abu Dhabi Theatre.
March 5-31: 25 Years of Arab Creativity, Institut du Monde Arabe at Emirates Palace.
March 14-15: Mariinsky Ballet & Orchestra Homage to Fokine at Emirates Palace.
March 20: Plácido at the Palace & the Czech Philharmonic at Emirates Palace.
March 22: Joshua Bell & the Czech Philharmonic at Emirates Palace.
March 23: A Taste of Brazil: Gilberto Gil at Emirates Palace.
March 24: Piano Passion: Yundi in Recital at Emirates Palace.
March 25: The Rahbani Legacy at Emirates Palace.
March 26: Festival Gala with Bryn Terfel and Bechara El Khoury: ‘Poème Orientale’ and the Czech Philharmonic at Emirates Palace.
Education
Running concurrent to the festival, this programme will include free workshops and lectures. The Carnegie Hall Music Residency will run a week long itinerary for talented young musicians from March 3-12. There will be many opportunities to showcase new talent, such as the Young Artists’ Day Evening Concert, which will feature 18 young musicians performing an original composition on March 9, from
7pm-8.30pm at the Abu Dhabi Theatre.
March 3-5: Globe Education ‘Romeo and Juliet’ Workshops and Performances.
March 3,4,6: Treasuring Traditions With Mubadala.
March 3-12: Carnegie Hall Music Residency III.
March 6: Ways of Seeing with Mubadala.
March 9: Young Artists’ Day.
March 10: Riwaq Al Fikr/The Festival Debates: Culture and Identity.
March 10: Riwaq Al Fikr / The Festival Debates: Festival Lecture.
March 12-April 6: Christo and Jeanne-Claude Award.
March 14-26: Festival in Focus with Mubadala.
March 14-27: Back To School With Mubadala.
March 17-21: Scottish Opera ‘Sensory O’.
March 18 & 20: Lest We Forget: Emirati Vernacular Photography.
March 27: Big Sing Abu Dhabi!
Riwaq Al Fikr/The Festival Debates: The Rahbani Legacy. The ADMAF Creativity Award. The Artists’ Studio.
For venue details and more information see www.abudhabifestival.ae.
March 5, 14, 16: UAE in Colour.
March 6-16: Jalal’s Art Trip Exhibition.
March 9: Dar Zayed On Tour!
March 10-29: The Story Mile.
March 10, 17, 18, 28: Bil Arabi.
March 12-14, 28: ARTastic!
March 12: ‘Carmen’ by George Bizet.
March 18-20: Music in Hospitals.
March 20: World Storytelling Day.
March 19-23: Emirates International Peace Music Festival.
March 20-23: ‘Al Malik’ by Resuscitation Theatre.
March 23: Let’s Make Art at Dar Al Ber!
March 23: Earth Hour – Switch off Your Lights!
March 25-27: Words of Wisdom.
For venue details and more information see www.abudhabifestival.ae.
