Post by : Badri Ariffin

This November, the Abu Dhabi Festival Abroad enchanted audiences in the United States by showcasing Emirati artistry in renowned cultural venues. Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the festival's cultural diplomacy initiative organized concerts and discussions that united Middle Eastern and Western musical traditions.

Three major highlights defined the programme. In New York, attendees enjoyed the American premiere of Shams Wujoudi, a creation by Faraj Abyad that reinterprets Syrian folk music and muwashahat using Eastern maqams intermingled with Western orchestrations. The performance, held at the Peter Jay Sharp Theatre, featured curated visual art from the Barjeel Art Foundation and introduced the newly established Athar Orchestra.

Carnegie Hall was the venue for the world premiere of the opera A Journey to the New World, performed by the Reina Sofía School of Music Symphony Orchestra. Led by Maestro Andrés Orozco-Estrada, the orchestra presented works by Albéniz, Barber, and Dvořák, featuring Emirati cellist Elham Al Marzooqi, violinist Renaud Capuçon, and members of the Colombian Youth Philharmonic.

Alongside musical presentations, the festival stimulated dialogues on cultural exchange. The Arts in Embassies discussions took place in New York on November 14th and in Washington, D.C. on November 18th, engaging artists like Al Marzooqi, Abyad, Kinan Azmeh, and Kate Seely. These exchanges emphasized music’s significant role in fostering intercultural understanding and inspiring collaborative creation.

Through these global showcases, the Abu Dhabi Festival is committed to elevating Emirati talent while cultivating impactful cultural connections, giving audiences overseas insight into the UAE’s burgeoning artistic presence on the world stage.

#Abu Dhabi News #UAE News