MAGIDA EL ROUMI JOINS ALL-STAR LINE-UP FOR ABU DHABI CLASSICS 2020

Abu Dhabi, UAE – 15 January, 2020: The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has announced that Magida El Roumi, one of the greatest female vocalists in the Arab World, will headline a diverse programme of classical and traditional music events in the forthcoming Abu Dhabi Classics 2020 season.

The ninth season of Abu Dhabi Classics, which is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, will take place across the UAE capital between 28 January to 7 February 2020.

“This season’s exceptionally talented Abu Dhabi Classics line-up features globally-renowned institutions, international musical talent and emerging stars from a diverse array of classic and traditional performance disciplines. Our special series promises to be an inspiring and fitting tribute to a maestro as eminent as Ludwig van Beethoven, whose 250^th birth anniversary we are proud to celebrate in Abu Dhabi,” said John Lickrish, CEO Flash Entertainment.

Taking place across various Abu Dhabi venues from January 28 to February 7, the 2020 season of Abu Dhabi Classics will welcome an eclectic line-up of global musical talent, including leading French pianist David Fray, the prestigious Hamburg Symphony Orchestra, the prodigious French pianist Lisa de la Salle, and, rising Egyptian singer Sanaa Nabil.

The Abu Dhabi Classics 2020 season will mark the 250^th birth anniversary of legendary composer Ludwig van Beethoven and pay homage to the German’s rich musical legacy in a series of specially curated performances featuring the maestro’s mellifluous creations.

Celebrated pianist Fray will open the 11-day classical music festival with ‘Bach Concertos for 2, 3 and 4 Pianos’. The performance will see the illustrious ‘David Fray and Friends’, featuring four of the world’s leading pianists – David Fray, Emmanuel Christien, Audrey Vigoreux, and Jacques Rouvier – play alongside the Geneva Chamber Orchestra at the Cultural Foundation on January 28, 2020.

On February 1, 2020, Fray’s compatriot Lise de la Salle will bring her captivating signature style to Abu Dhabi Classics with an exclusive performance at the Cultural Foundation. De la Salle’s performance, named ‘Dances’, reflects a novel approach to classical music through the exploration of dance rhythms from various times and places. De la Salle’s concert will incorporate iconic works including Ravel’s ‘Valses nobles et sentimentales’, Stravinsky’s ‘Tango’, Bartok’s ‘Romanian Folk Dances’ and Debussy’s ‘Mazurka’, with distinct strains of Latin and a delightful melding of American dance culture elements.

Boasting a sterling international reputation for performances of works by Beethoven and celebrated Hamburg-native Johannes Brahms, the renowned Hamburg Symphony Orchestra will mesmerise the audience at the Cultural Foundation on February 4, 2020 with a Chamber Music Programme for Tchaikovsky and Brahms music. On February 5, the Orchestra’s 100-plus musicians and a chorus of 70 singers will perform Beethoven’s classic 9^th Symphony at du Arena. Beethoven’s 9^th Symphony, which marked a turning point in musical history and the beginning of the 19th century’s ‘Romantic’ period, represents values of humanity, tolerance, and camaraderie.

Egypt’s Sanaa Nabil, who shot to fame on ‘Arabs Got Talent’ by winning the Golden Buzzer, has carved a reputation for her contemporary interpretations of complex songs. Nabil will perform ‘Laylat Saltana’ with members of Cordes Croisées, a group of elite Egyptian musicians, on February 6, 2020 at the Cultural Foundation.

Renowned for her beautiful, crystal-clear voice and extraordinary vocal range, El Roumi will wow audiences at du Arena on February 7, 2020. As an artist who commands enormous worldwide popularity, El Roumi, who was discovered at the age of 16, has recorded numerous hits across a vast range of musical genres – from classical Arabic to modern Arabic pop.

Tickets for Abu Dhabi Classics 2020, which is presented by DCT Abu Dhabi and produced by Flash Entertainment, the Middle East’s leading entertainment company, are selling fast on www.ticketmaster.ae and Virgin Megastores across the UAE. The diverse schedule of events and concerts represent the ideal festive gift for classical music enthusiasts.

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LISTINGS INFORMATION:

Tickets for the below events are on sale exclusively from www.ticketmaster.ae  and Virgin Megastores across the UAE.

For further information please visit www.abudhabimusic.ae and www.dctabudhabi.ae.

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NOTES TO EDITORS

ABOUT DEPARTMENT OF CULTURE AND TOURISM – ABU DHABI

The Department of Culture and Tourism conserves and promotes the heritage and culture of Abu Dhabi emirate and leverages them in the development of a world-class, sustainable destination of distinction, which enriches the lives of visitors and residents alike. The organisation manages the emirate’s tourism sector and markets the destination internationally through a wide range of activities aimed at attracting visitors and investment. Its policies, plans and programmes relate to the preservation of heritage and culture, including protecting archaeological and historical sites and to developing museums, including the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. TCA Abu Dhabi supports intellectual and artistic activities and cultural events to nurture a rich cultural environment and honour the emirate’s heritage. A key role is to create synergy in the destination’s development through close co-ordination with its wide-ranging stakeholder base.

ABOUT ABU DHABI CLASSICS

Now in its ninth season, Abu Dhabi Classics opened this season with the Grammy Award-winning Russian National Orchestra. Previously they have hosted the Bayreuth Festival, Camerata Salzburg Orchestra and City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the finest violinists in the world including Gidon Kremer and Renaud Capuçon, along with the No.1 harpist in the world Xavier de Maistre, award-winning pianist Khatia Buniatishvili and the Kremerata Baltica Chamber Orchestra. The Classics have also hosted the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra, Staatskapelle Dresden and South Korean pianist Seong-Jin Cho as well as the Le Corsaire Ballet with Bolshoi Soloists, Ivan Vasiliev and Maria Vinogradova, and a special appearance from Alia Al Neyadi, the first Emirati Ballerina.

A highlight in the UAE’s cultural calendar, Abu Dhabi Classics concert goers can expect a rich and diverse programme including orchestras from Europe, world renowned conductors and internationally acclaimed soloists. One of a kind ballet and classic operas will also be performed across the Emirate in a range of eclectic venues.

ABOUT FLASH ENTERTAINMENT

Flash Entertainment is the Middle East’s leading entertainment company, pioneering the future of events and experiences across sporting events, music concerts, community events and more.  Since launching in 2008, we have built our peerless global reputation by always putting fans first – hosting hundreds of major concerts, major sporting events and community and cultural events across more than thousands of event days for more than 7.5 million people.

A key partner in the development of Abu Dhabi tourism, we are leading the region’s rapidly changing entertainment landscape, bringing unmissable and unique moments to employees, fans and partners.

Flash Entertainment manages a multi-million-dirham portfolio of assets, including the du Arena and du Forum on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, and the soon to be launched Yas Bay Arena.

For more information visit www.flashentertainment.com