A spectacular three-week programme of world-class and innovative artistic talent unveiled for March 3-31 landmark showing.
March 20: Opera supremo Placido Domingo takes the stage for an evening of operatic arias. The Spanish tenor will be supported by Grammy Award winning soprano Ana Maria Martinez and accompanied by the renowned Czech Philharmonic and conductor Eugene Kohn.
March 14 & 15: The world famous Mariinsky Ballet, will perform ‘Homage to Fokine’ – an evening of four distinctive short ballets, all originally choreographed by legendary Michel Fokine: Chopiniana; Le Spectre de la Rose; The Dying Swan; and Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade.
March 3 & 4: The UK’s acclaimed Globe Education at Shakespeare’s Globe, will perform a new production of Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo & Juliet’, inviting all to a creative, fast paced interpretation of this classic romance.
March 22: One of our era’s most dynamic virtuoso violinists, Joshua Bell will perform Bruch’s lyrical and passionate Violin Concerto No.1 in G Minor, in a repertoire accompanied by the Czech Philharmonic conducted by Jiri Belohlavek.
March 23: Gilberto Gil in Concert: get ready for a taste of Brazil and a night of myriad styles - from samba to bossa nova and reggae to rock.
March 24: Yundi - one of world’s most dynamic pianists and the leading interpreter of Chopin’s music - will perform Chopin and Beethoven’s most romantic sonatas.
March 25: ‘The Rahbani Legacy’ by Lebanese composer Oussama Rahbani – an Abu Dhabi Festival 2013 commission - pays tribute to the musical legacy of the late Rahbani brothers – Mansour and Assi - and their unparalleled contribution to Arabia’s 20th century arts scene.
March 26 : An evening of beloved opera arias, popular favourites and traditional Welsh songs performed by the acclaimed baritone Byrn Terfel, alongside rising star Victoria Yastrebova and the Czech Philharmonic conducted by Jiri Belohlavek.
March 3-31: The festival’s community and education programmes invite families and young people across the UAE to a series of free-to-attend events, including the ‘Young Artists’ Day’ where aspiring musicians will perform alongside The Declassified ensemble selected by Carnegie Hall, or Scottish Opera’s ‘Sensory O’’ - a unique interactive musical experience for toddlers.
For more information, and full event schedule, please visit abudhabifestival.ae
Tickets are available online at
timeouttickets.com/abudhabifestival or by phone at +971 50 907 6158. An ‘Early Bird’ offer gives festival-goers a 25% discount on tickets booked before January 11, 2013. Students get a 50% discount.