So, the festive season is upon us. Time to throw an extra log on the fire, order the biggest bird in the shop, gather around a lovingly decorated evergreen and say a silent prayer for your old Uncle Scrooge. Except, it’s not, because this isn’t the Victorian era and it certainly isn’t Ye Olde London.
Try telling that to the merry players of the UAE Philharmonic Orchestra, however. With the aid of their friends at Emirates Palace, the 55-strong ensemble (made up of 15 or 16 different nationalities, at the last count) is gearing up to stage a festive concert that would have Prince Albert himself climb the Christmas tree and act the fairy.
‘I remember growing up in England,’ recalls Quentin Curtis, whose wife plays cello in the orchestra. ‘Everyone enjoyed the Christmas carol concerts that took place in local halls and schools, and in more formal places such as the Royal Albert Hall. I thought it’d be nice to do that here.’
But is it the right place for an all out Yuletide rumble? Quentin thinks it is: ‘There’ll be a lot of expat families here over Christmas, and it’d be nice for them to have not so much a religious festival, more of a singing carols festival. So that’s what we thought we’d do.’
Adding to the festivities, the hotel itself will stage the switching on of its Christmas lights immediately before the concert, with the orchestra providing a brass band to oompah up the occasion. While mince pies have yet to be confirmed, Quentin says Emirates Palace has been extremely supportive, waiving the fee for use of the auditorium, as they always do for UAE Philharmonic Orchestra’s events.
The outfit currently runs without a dedicated patron or sponsor, which seems decidedly unfair considering the amount paid to bring well-known ensembles in from around the world. It doesn’t deter them however, and Quentin is quick to point out that they’re happy to keep soldiering on. They’re also on permanent lookout for likeminded musicians at a loose end. ‘The current members live all over the UAE,’ Quentin tells us, ‘in Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, but principally Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and they rehearse every Monday evening; one week in Abu Dhabi, one week in Dubai. This is all out of their own pocket. They just love to play. That’s why they keep going.’
For now, however, Yuletide merriment is the order of the day, and the upcoming programme is much as you’d expect. ‘Hark! The Herald Angels Sing’ and ‘Jingle Bells’ are there for the yodelling, with a number of highbrow classics thrown in for good measure. We’re particularly looking forward to hearing Handel’s ‘Ombra Mai Fu’ as sung by German soprano Maria Glück, a veteran on the UAE classical circuit, and the ‘Baroque Christmas Medley’ ought to sound spectacular in the opulent surrounds of the Emirates Palace auditorium.
So, if you’re in the mood to support a worthy local institution, relive nostalgic Christmases past, or get your kids involved in a bit of seasonal celebration, this is undoubtedly the event for you. Just leave Uncle Scrooge at home.
UAE Philharmonic Orchestra Christmas Concert. December 10, 8pm, preceded by the switching on of Emirates Palace’s Christmas lights. www.timeouttickets.com
