Sharjah

A special operetta will resound across Sharjah’s Flag Island on National Day featuring Hussain Al Jasmi and other artists.

The Emirati superstar will perform ‘The Story of the Nation,’ written by renowned Emirati poets Rashid Sharar and Nasser Al Shanfari. He will be accompanied by artists Fayez Al Saeed and Jasem Mohammad on Friday at 8pm.

Abdullah Al Shehi, Ali Naqbi and Ahmad Radhwan will compose the music. The operetta will feature seven musical performances that highlight the citizens’ love for their nation and the sacrifices made for its glory. It depicts the country’s position as a place where its people find security, unity and tranquillity.

The operetta also shows the vision and purpose of the founding fathers and tells the story of the rise of the UAE and the pride of its people under the wise leadership of the nation — its past glories, its present triumphs and the spectacular future for coming generations.

The musical will also be performed by Dr Habib Galoum, artist Ali Jamal and a host of young artists. It will be prepared by Assistant Director Habib Al Oufi and directed by Dr Mohammad Yousuf. With the television version directed by Nasser Mohammad Al Mal and Majid Shoman, the musical performance is written and supervised by Wahida Abdul Aziz. Students from Sharjah Educational Zone’s schools will also participate in some parts of the show.

“Sharjah’s celebrations of the UAE’s 45th National Day will connect present generations to the founding fathers. The operetta underlines the spirit of the UAE and its role as national cradle where society is united under one banner,” Khalid Jasem Al Midfa, Chairman of the Committee, said.

The first part of the musical performance, ‘The Authentic Past’, exemplifies the UAE’s great history, while the second — A Nation’s Story — highlights the country’s shared visions.

The third act, ‘Nothing but the Nation’ depicts the strength, bravery and resilience of the UAE people, while the fourth one, titled ‘We Sacrifice Our Lives for Our Country’ exemplifies the great love of Emiratis for their country and calls on everyone to stay united and act as one body to safeguard the nation. The fifth, ‘A Nation of Happiness and Tolerance’ is focussed on the exceptional leaders who have made the UAE the nation it is today.

The sixth musical titled, ‘Shaikh of Humanity’ is dedicated to His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, who has established the Smiling Emirate as a beacon of science and culture, focussed on knowledge as a key to human development by paying special attention to children and young adults.

The operetta will culminate in its seventh and last musical performance — ‘The Nation of Flags’.