“We are honoured that the greatest ballerina of her generation, Svetlana Zakharova, and select Bolshoi Ballet stars will be amongst the participants this year, completing a spectacular Abu Dhabi Classics programme that will surely inspire and delight everyone who attends.”
Announcing Abu Dhabi Classics 2020
The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has announced the Abu Dhabi Classics 2020 season, which will be held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, will feature a performance by Ukrainian-born Svetlana Zakharova and a star-studded cast of dancers from the world-renowned Bolshoi Ballet company.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest ballerinas of her generation, Zakharova has gained international recognition as a prima ballerina performing the Russian ballet company’s classic repertoire under legendary choreographer Yury Grigorovich.
Elegance & Style in Motion
During Abu Dhabi Classics, Zakharova will star in ‘Modanse’, a brand-new double bill produced by MuzArts. In the first act the acclaimed performer will perform in ‘Come Un Respiro (Like a Breath)’, which celebrates the Baroque style of Handel’s music in a beautiful ballet complementing Mauro Bigonzetti’s choreography which, in turn, matches the elegant, stylish costumes designed by Helena de Medeiros.
That will be followed by a performance of Yuri Possokhov’s beautiful new ballet Gabrielle Chanel, – a tribute to fashion icon and designer, Coco Chanel with Zakharova in the title role. More than 80 costumes have been designed exclusively for the ballet by Chanel Creative Studio headed by Virginie Viard, Creative Director of Chanel Fashion House.
An étoile with Milan’s La Scala Theatre, Zakharova and a star-studded cast of Bolshoi Ballet company dancers will perform during a special Abu Dhabi Classics show at the Cultural Foundation in the UAE capital on January 31.
The Abu Dhabi Classics 2020 season will also mark the 250th birth anniversary of legendary composer Ludwig van Beethoven and pay homage to the German’s rich musical legacy in a series of specially curated performances featuring the maestro’s mellifluous creations.
Boasting a sterling international reputation for performances of works by Beethoven and celebrated Hamburg-native Johannes Brahms, the renowned Hamburg Symphony Orchestra will perform a Chamber Music Programme of Tchaikovsky and Brahms music at the Cultural Foundation on February 4. The next evening, the Orchestra’s 100-plus musicians and a chorus of 70 singers will perform Beethoven’s classic 9th Symphony at du Arena. Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, which marked a turning point in musical history and the beginning of the 19th century’s ‘Romantic’ period, represents the values of humanity, tolerance, and camaraderie.
Beethoven’s 9th Symphony represents the values of humanity, tolerance, and camaraderie.
Celebrated Musicians, Dancers and Vocalists
Celebrated pianist David Fray will open the 11-day classical music festival with ‘Bach Concertos for 2, 3 and 4 Pianos’. The performance will see the illustrious ‘David Fray and Friends’, featuring four of the world’s leading pianists – David Fray, Emmanuel Christien, Audrey Vigoreux, and Jacques Rouvier – play alongside the Geneva Chamber Orchestra at the Cultural Foundation on January 28.
On February 1, 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. De la Salle’s performance, named ‘Dances’, reflects a novel approach to classical music through the exploration of dance rhythms from various times and places. De la Salle’s concert will incorporate iconic works including Ravel’s ‘Valses nobles et sentimentales’, Stravinsky’s ‘Tango’, Bartok’s ‘Romanian Folk Dances’ and Debussy’s ‘Mazurka’, with distinct strains of Latin and a delightful melding of American dance culture elements.
Egypt’s Sanaa Nabil, the great grandniece of the legendary Arabic singer Umm Kulthum, who shot to fame on ‘Arabs Got Talent’ by winning the Golden Buzzer, has carved a reputation for her contemporary interpretations of complex songs. Nabil will perform ‘Laylat Saltana’ with members of Cordes Croisées, a group of elite Egyptian musicians, on February 6 at the Cultural Foundation.
Abu Dhabi Classics’ Grand Finale will see Magida El Roumi, one of the greatest female vocalists in the Arab World, wow audiences with her beautiful, crystal-clear voice and extraordinary vocal range at du Arena on February 7. An artist who commands enormous worldwide popularity, El Roumi was discovered at the age of 16 and has recorded numerous hits across a vast range of musical genres – from classical Arabic to modern Arabic pop.
A voice like crystal, Majida El Roumi
Tickets on Sale Now
Tickets for Abu Dhabi Classics 2020, which is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, 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 celebration for classical music lovers.
