Interest surges in Abu Dhabi Classics revival as curtain raiser sells out

Abu Dhabi (WAM): The re-launched Abu Dhabi Classics concert season has struck a chord regionally and internationally with tickets for the curtain raising opener selling out within a week of release. Tickets for French piano prodigy Lydie Solomon’s October 14th opening concert were sold out over the Eid al-Adha holiday, just a few days after going on sale, and tickets for Vivaldi's Four Seasons, performed by world-renowned violinist Gidon Kremer and the Kremerata Baltica chamber orchestra on October 28th, as well as the world premiere of a new concert by Spanish composer, Jordi Savall, on November 20th are selling extremely well. Dr. Ronald Perlwitz, Head of Music Programming, Culture Sector, Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), which is behind the series re-launch, said the pace of uptake has taken even the organisers by surprise. "Immediately following the launch, we were inundated with interest from media internationally, additional venues wishing to feature in future programmes and travel trade wanting to package around it. This all bodes extremely well for a series which has been well received on the classical music circuit," he said. Reintroduced by TCA Abu Dhabi after a three-year break, the Classics season, from October until May, sees a host of leading international musicians and orchestras perform under the theme of ‘The Traveller’ at numerous venues across Abu Dhabi city, Saadiyat Island and the emirate’s heritage heartland, the UNESCO World Heritage site of Al Ain. A season highlight will be Savall’s world premiere, ‘Ibn Battuta: The voyager of Islam’ being performed at the opulent Emirates Palace. He will be joined by Hesperion XXI, an ensemble of 16 musicians playing traditional Arabic instruments, as they take the audience on a musical journey following the travels of the legendary 14th century Arab explorer, Ibn Battuta. – Emirates News Agency, WAM – http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates/1395270597009.html