Further details of the Abu Dhabi Festival 2018 (ADF18), the monthlong festival celebrating arts and culture, have been revealed, bringing nearly 500 artists from across the globe during its 18th edition from February 1 to March 30.
Spearheading the cultural bonanza are a string of solid acts including violinist Nicola Benedetti with UK’s Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, sarod master Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, The Merchants of Bollywood theatrical extravaganza celebrating Indian dance and the world premiere of Emirati composer Ihab Darwish Waves of my Life performed by Beethoven Academy Orchestra conducted by Stoyan Stoyanov.
Also, watch out for soprano Deborah Voigt’s performance accompanied by Lebanese tenor Bechara Moufarrej, Palestinian singer Omar Kamal who will acquaint you with the world of jazz, swing and Arabic classics and a concert by Pink Martini.
ADF18 will also recognise outstanding achievements in the music industry through the Abu Dhabi Festival Awards. This year’s recipients will include Polish composer Krzysztof Penderecki in celebration of his prolific career as a composer and conductor, Philip Glass for his contributions in redefining the parameters of contemporary classical music and Sir Antonio Pappano, music director of the Royal Opera House, London and Principal Conductor of Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia — Rome.
“Shaikh Zayed once said ‘knowledge and culture are the cornerstones of civilisation, progress and nation-building’. We celebrate the year of Shaikh Zayed not only to honour a beloved leader from the past, but because his spirit lives on in us as an appeal to the future. Shaikh Zayed built a nation by practicing tolerance, hope and inclusion rather than fear and rejection and we honour this legacy by continuing this wonderful message,” Huda Al Khamis Kanoo, founder of ADMAF and Artistic Director of ADF, said in a statement earlier.
Other highlights including the classical Indian Dance by Tanusree Shankar Dance Academy, where an interpretation of Sufi poet Rumi’s Human Being will be brought to life through the expressive art form of classical Indian dance; and the ballet Don Quixote, which tells the story of Miguel de Cervantes’ romantic knight Don Quixote, brought to life in this vibrant interpretation choreographed and directed by Jose Carlos Martinez.
Tickets and details about the festival are available on the ADF website.
