Abu Dhabi Classics is committed to bringing the biggest names in the world of Arabic and Western classical music to the UAE capital, and this year’s edition promises something truly special as it celebrates the 250th anniversary, and the eternal musical talent, of acclaimed German composer Ludwig van Beethoven.
Beethoven’s name will forever be synonymous with great symphonies, and to celebrate its ninth edition, Abu Dhabi Classics will bring music fans a special performance of one of the most famous classical pieces of all time – Beethoven’s 9th Symphony.
Over 100 musicians from the internationally acclaimed Hamburg Symphony Orchestra will be joined by over 70 vocalists on stage on Wednesday February 5 for this unique performance of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony at a truly special concert venue – the du Arena on Yas Island.
Composed between 1821 and 1824, the 9th Symphony marks a turning point in musical history, signaling the culmination of the Vienna Classical Period and the beginning of the 19th century Romantic period. The piece represents something of a musical revolt against the traditions of the classics thanks to its fast transitions and first uses of voices in a symphony. With words taken from Ode to Joy, a poem by Friedrich Schiller at the end of the 18th century, Beethoven’s 9th still represents the values of humanity, tolerance and friendship to this day.
Through his life, Beethoven left to the world five piano concertos, 32 sonatas, 16 quartets, and an Opera, among 722 pieces of music composed over a 45-year period beginning when he was only 12 years old.
Celebrated pianist David Fray will open Abu Dhabi Classics 2020 with a performance titled ‘Bach Concertos for 2, 3 and 4 Pianos’ featuring four of the world’s leading pianists. Fray, Emmanuel Christien, Audrey Vigoureux, and Jacques Rouvier will play Bach’s Concertos for two, three and four pianos alongside the Geneva Chamber Orchestra at the Cultural Foundation on January 28. Elsewhere, Fray’s compatriot, Lise de la Salle, will bring her captivating signature style to Abu Dhabi Classics with an exclusive performance at the Cultural Foundation on February 1.
The Middle East will be represented by Magida El Roumi, one of the Arab world’s greatest female vocalists, who headlines Abu Dhabi Classics for the first time on February 7 at du Arena, while emerging Egyptian singer Sanaa Nabil will make her Abu Dhabi Classics debut by performing ‘Laylat Saltana’ with members of Cordes Croisées, a group of elite Egyptian musicians, on February 6 at the Cultural Foundation..
Tickets for Abu Dhabi Classics 2020, which is presented by DCT Abu Dhabi and produced by Flash Entertainment, the Middle East’s leading entertainment company, are selling fast on www.ticketmaster.ae and Virgin Megastores across the UAE. The diverse schedule of events and concerts represent the ideal festive gift for classical music enthusiasts.
