In its 18th edition and under the theme ‘The Future Starts Now,’ Abu Dhabi Festival (ADF) announces a unique concert at BOZAR in Brussels, Belgium on November 11th. The event, co-produced by the Abu Dhabi Festival in partnership with the Belgian Centre for Fine Arts, will present a fusion of classical Fasl and Arab-Andalusian music by stalwarts of each craft.
The audience is promised a night of great melodies and a sensational meeting of cultures from around the world. Morocco’s Mohamed Briouel, master of Arab-Andalusian music, is collaborating with Turkish Fasl specialist KudsiErguner,who is synonymous with Ottoman Sufi music. A performer and teacher, he is above all one of the greatest Turkish virtuosos of the ney, an oblique flute.
H.E. Huda Ebrahim Alkhamis, Founder of the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF) and Artistic Director of Abu Dhabi Festival, said: “Our support for Arab artists abroad, to bring the wonder and beauty of music from the Arab world to audiences around the globe, is at the heart of Abu Dhabi Festival. Mohamed Briouel, the leading figure in Arab-Andalusian music, and Ottoman music master KudsiErguner, coming together is a must-see encounter. Their creative collaboration celebrates the meeting of cultures through music and represents Abu Dhabi Festival’s efforts to build bridges of understanding between people and nations”
Aside from the Brussels Centre for Fine Arts, Abu Dhabi Festival’s partners for the show include BOZAR MUSIC, Darna Cultural Centre, Moussem Nomadic Arts Centre, Seyer Music, and the non-profit organization Takasim.
Arab-Andalusian and Ottoman music are fruits of intercultural encounters. Both genres have a long history of socially enriching and intellectually stimulating amalgamation. Within the former, there are flavors of medieval Spanish, Afro-Berber, and Arab tunes while the latter has been influenced by Turkish, Arab, Persian, Greek, Jewish, and Armenian melodies.
The concert at BOZAR Hall is a product of months of collaboration between musicians from Morocco, Turkey, and Belgium. The participating crew has undergone several workshops and masterclasses on the two classical music styles, which resulted in a captivating show.
The 18th edition of Abu Dhabi Festival is supported by its lead partner Mubadala Investment Company (Mubadala) and energy partner GS Energy.
The year-long programme for the 18th edition combines a unique hybrid schedule of virtual and in-person performances, exhibitions and events by over 500 artists from more than 50 countries. The festival will provide audiences with 16 exciting world premieres, 12 festival productions, eight global co-productions and four exclusive commissions, with 1 global music tour.
