Cultural body launches festival of classical music in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi, July 4, 2008 (WAM) - A new classical music festival, titled Abu Dhabi Classics, was yesterday unveiled by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH).

Abu Dhabi Classics will span over half a year
-from October 24 this to May 7, 2009. According to ADACH Deputy Chairman
Zaki Nusseibeh, the new festival will not quite take over the Abu Dhabi
Music and Arts Festival or Al Ain Festival, which have so far been providing
major classical concerts in the emirate of Abu Dhabi every spring. "We will
work with them to provide an integrated programme that will be part of the
cultural brand of Abu Dhabi," explained Nusseibeh.

Apart from great music from all parts of the world, Abu Dhabi Classics will
also focus on music education, especially in the form of workshops for
school children.

The programme, a blend of classic, symphony, jazz and ethnic music, includes
a Wagner Gala; London Philharmonic Orchestra with a Shostakovich and
Tchaikovsky programme; the Magical Music of Walt Disney -a children's
concert; a gypsy music concert with violinist Roby Lakatos and his band;
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra; a recital by Chinese pianist Lang Lang; a
Spanish-Russian Night with the Comunitat Valenciana performing Mussorgsky's
Night on a Bare Mountain; and Till Bronner with a jazz programme.