Syrian clarinetist Kinan Azmeh will perform in Abu Dhabi with his CityBand. Photo: NYU Abu Dhabi
Syrian clarinetist Kinan Azmeh will perform in Abu Dhabi with his CityBand. Photo: NYU Abu Dhabi
Syrian clarinetist Kinan Azmeh will perform in Abu Dhabi with his CityBand. Photo: NYU Abu Dhabi
Syrian clarinetist Kinan Azmeh will perform in Abu Dhabi with his CityBand. Photo: NYU Abu Dhabi

Kinan Azmeh on channelling Syrian culture through the clarinet


Saeed Saeed
  • English
  • Arabic

Kinan Azmeh likes to keep it moving.

The Syrian clarinetist and composer, 46, is defined both for the breadth of his work as much as for the quality of it.

His trip to Abu Dhabi to performan at the NYU Abu Dhabi Arts Centre on Wednesday is a case in point.

It follows the successful debut of new opera Songs for the Days to Come on June 4, which is currently running at Theatre am Domhof in Osnabruck, Germany until July 8. His Abu Dhabi gig is less lavish but equally vital.

Backed by his CityBand, the quartet is set to play a dynamic instrumental set blending virtuosic jazz with the tender folk melodies of Syria.

The fast and loose approach of the band's performances is a far cry from the labour-intensive demands of the opera, but Azmeh says they all stem from the same source.

"I like to do different things but they all have a shared purpose. The Abu Dhabi show, for instance, will be an intimate one and I look at it as inviting people to my lab," he tells The National.

"It is here where I experiment with different elements of jazz, electronic and Arabic music.

“Sometimes these pieces will flow on to be performed in a future album with an orchestra or other projects."

At times, it is the other way around.

The Abu Dhabi performance could feature reworked songs from latest album Flow (2021), a collaboration with Germany’s NDR Big band.

It's a sumptuous piece of work and howcases Azmeh's approach to the clarinet: soulful, playful and full of vigour.

"I am too close to the instrument to say what I love about it, but I do find it comes close to the sound of the human voice," he says. "It has a character and a dynamic range and register that allows you to go to many places."

Born in Damascus, Azmeh studied the clarinet at a local music conservatory before graduating from the prestigious Juilliard School in New York.

Cultural exchange has been at the forefront of his oeuvre. Azmeh recorded with Daniel Barenboim's West-Eastern Divan Orchestra in addition to Yo-Yo Ma's Grammy Award-winning Silkroad Ensemble.

"I wouldn't necessarily describe my work as fusion, as that word implies that it is a form of watering down," he says. “My music is inspired by several traditions without being limited by any of them.

"If I can get a little philosophical about this, I don’t look at myself as building bridges because the bridges are already there. What matters is how we use them and how we communicate with others and I am doing that in an artistic way."

Syria remains a key inspiration throughout his work. The aforementioned Songs for the Days to Come features poems by contemporary Syrian artists set to chamber music, melding Arabic and western traditions.

Meanwhile the evocative Daraa, a key track from Flow, is inspired by an old Syrian folk tune.

"There are many artists from Syria who are travelling and bringing their music to all corners of the world," he says. "I do hope the collective effort we make will make people become more curious about our part of the world and its culture, history and art.

"I hope that people make that effort as opposed to just getting a summary of our culture. If you want to know the Syrian story, for example, you have to listen to 24 million people telling their stories.

“It's the same with Syrian music, you will have to listen to as many Syrian artists as you can to get a real appreciation of it and I am happy to be one of them.”

Kinan Azmeh City Band plays at the NYU Abu Dhabi Arts Centre on Wednesday at 8pm. Tickets are Dh52.50 from nyuad-artscenter.org

Scroll through the gallery below for concerts and events coming to Abu Dhabi

  • Comedian Mo Amer will play his biggest UAE show yet in Abu Dhabi in March. Getty Images
    Comedian Mo Amer will play his biggest UAE show yet in Abu Dhabi in March. Getty Images
  • Bollywood film producer and director Karan Johar will co-host the International Indian Film Academy Rocks event in February. AFP
    Bollywood film producer and director Karan Johar will co-host the International Indian Film Academy Rocks event in February. AFP
  • British singer-songwriter Sting will play his hits in Abu Dhabi in January. AFP
    British singer-songwriter Sting will play his hits in Abu Dhabi in January. AFP
  • Junk Kouture aims to engage and inspire young designers to create works from rubbish around them. A fashion show will take place in Abu Dhabi in January. Photo: Junk Kouture
    Junk Kouture aims to engage and inspire young designers to create works from rubbish around them. A fashion show will take place in Abu Dhabi in January. Photo: Junk Kouture
  • The musician Shujaat Khan will perform at the Cultural Foundation in December. Photo: Saffron Media
    The musician Shujaat Khan will perform at the Cultural Foundation in December. Photo: Saffron Media
  • Le Trio Joubran are at the Cultural Foundation in December. Photo: Youness Hamiddine
    Le Trio Joubran are at the Cultural Foundation in December. Photo: Youness Hamiddine
  • Yemeni-Emirati singer Balqees Fathi will perform at Al Jahili Fort, Al Ain, in December. AFP
    Yemeni-Emirati singer Balqees Fathi will perform at Al Jahili Fort, Al Ain, in December. AFP
  • Emirati singer Hussain Jassmi will perform a National Day concert in Abu Dhabi. Satish Kumar / The National
    Emirati singer Hussain Jassmi will perform a National Day concert in Abu Dhabi. Satish Kumar / The National
  • K-pop group Blackpink bring their Born Pink world tour to Abu Dhabi in January. Getty Images
    K-pop group Blackpink bring their Born Pink world tour to Abu Dhabi in January. Getty Images
  • Award-winning, Nigerian-Romanian will perform in the UAE as part of Abu Dhabi Classics. Photo: DCT Abu Dhabi
    Award-winning, Nigerian-Romanian will perform in the UAE as part of Abu Dhabi Classics. Photo: DCT Abu Dhabi
  • The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra will be performing their Gala Concert in December. Photo: Abu Dhabi Classics
    The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra will be performing their Gala Concert in December. Photo: Abu Dhabi Classics
  • Post Malone will perform at Etihad Park on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi in December. AP
    Post Malone will perform at Etihad Park on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi in December. AP
  • Imagine Dragons will perform at Abu Dhabi's Etihad Arena on January 26, 2023. Photo: Eric Ray Davidson
    Imagine Dragons will perform at Abu Dhabi's Etihad Arena on January 26, 2023. Photo: Eric Ray Davidson
  • The Lion King will be on stage at Etihad Arena throughout December. Photo: Disney
    The Lion King will be on stage at Etihad Arena throughout December. Photo: Disney
  • An installation by artist Daniel Popper as part of the last Mother of the Nation Festival. The event returns to the Corniche later this year. Photo: Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    An installation by artist Daniel Popper as part of the last Mother of the Nation Festival. The event returns to the Corniche later this year. Photo: Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • British comedian Jimmy Carr will take to the Etihad Arena stage in January. Getty Images
    British comedian Jimmy Carr will take to the Etihad Arena stage in January. Getty Images
  • Scottish stand-up comedian Kevin Bridges will perform at Etihad Arena in January. Getty Images
    Scottish stand-up comedian Kevin Bridges will perform at Etihad Arena in January. Getty Images
if you go

Getting there

Etihad (Etihad.com), Emirates (emirates.com) and Air France (www.airfrance.com) fly to Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport, from Abu Dhabi and Dubai respectively. Return flights cost from around Dh3,785. It takes about 40 minutes to get from Paris to Compiègne by train, with return tickets costing €19. The Glade of the Armistice is 6.6km east of the railway station.

Staying there

On a handsome, tree-lined street near the Chateau’s park, La Parenthèse du Rond Royal (laparenthesedurondroyal.com) offers spacious b&b accommodation with thoughtful design touches. Lots of natural woods, old fashioned travelling trunks as decoration and multi-nozzle showers are part of the look, while there are free bikes for those who want to cycle to the glade. Prices start at €120 a night.

More information: musee-armistice-14-18.fr ; compiegne-tourisme.fr; uk.france.fr

MATCH INFO

Fixture: Thailand v UAE, Tuesday, 4pm (UAE)

TV: Abu Dhabi Sports

Thor%3A%20Love%20and%20Thunder%20
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The%20Beekeeper
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDavid%20Ayer%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJason%20Statham%2C%20Josh%20Hutcherson%2C%20Emmy%20Raver-Lampman%2C%20Minnie%20Driver%2C%20Jeremy%20Irons%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Chatham House Rule

A mark of Chatham House’s influence 100 years on since its founding,  was Moscow’s formal declaration last month that it was an “undesirable
organisation”. 

 

The depth of knowledge and academics that it drew on
following the Ukraine invasion had broadcast Mr Putin’s chicanery.  

 

The institute is more used to accommodating world leaders,
with Nelson Mandela, Margaret Thatcher among those helping it provide
authoritative commentary on world events. 

 

Chatham House was formally founded as the Royal Institute of
International Affairs following the peace conferences of World War One. Its
founder, Lionel Curtis, wanted a more scientific examination of international affairs
with a transparent exchange of information and ideas.  

 

That arena of debate and analysis was enhanced by the “Chatham
House Rule” states that the contents of any meeting can be discussed outside Chatham
House but no mention can be made identifying individuals who commented.  

 

This has enabled some candid exchanges on difficult subjects
allowing a greater degree of free speech from high-ranking figures.  

 

These meetings are highly valued, so much so that
ambassadors reported them in secret diplomatic cables that – when they were
revealed in the Wikileaks reporting – were thus found to have broken the rule. However,
most speeches are held on the record.  

 

Its research and debate has offered fresh ideas to
policymakers enabling them to more coherently address troubling issues from climate
change to health and food security.   

 
THE DETAILS

Kaala

Dir: Pa. Ranjith

Starring: Rajinikanth, Huma Qureshi, Easwari Rao, Nana Patekar  

Rating: 1.5/5 

Company%20profile
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The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%0D%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4.0-litre%20twin-turbo%20V8%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E666hp%20at%206%2C000rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E850Nm%20at%202%2C300-4%2C500rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E8-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EQ1%202023%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Efrom%20Dh1.15%20million%20(estimate)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

'Tell the Machine Goodnight' by Katie Williams 
Penguin Randomhouse

Meghan%20podcast
%3Cp%3EMeghan%20Markle%2C%20the%20wife%20of%20Prince%20Harry%2C%20launched%20her%20long-awaited%20podcast%20Tuesday%2C%20with%20tennis%20megastar%20Serena%20Williams%20as%20the%20first%20guest.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20Duchess%20of%20Sussex%20said%20the%2012-part%20series%2C%20called%20%22Archetypes%2C%22%20--%20a%20play%20on%20the%20name%20of%20the%20couple's%20oldest%20child%2C%20Archie%20--%20would%20explore%20the%20female%20experience.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ELast%20year%20the%20couple%20told%20Oprah%20Winfrey%20that%20life%20inside%20%22The%20Firm%22%20had%20been%20miserable%2C%20and%20that%20they%20had%20experienced%20racism.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%22I%20don't%20ever%20remember%20personally%20feeling%20the%20negative%20connotation%20behind%20the%20word%20ambitious%2C%20until%20I%20started%20dating%20my%20now-husband%2C%22%20she%20told%20the%20tennis%20champion.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Company%C2%A0profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ELeap%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMarch%202021%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ziad%20Toqan%20and%20Jamil%20Khammu%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPre-seed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Undisclosed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeven%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MATCH INFO

Liverpool 4 (Salah (pen 4, 33', & pen 88', Van Dijk (20')

Leeds United 3 (Harrison 12', Bamford 30', Klich 66')

Man of the match Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

Tu%20Jhoothi%20Main%20Makkaar%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ELuv%20Ranjan%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERanbir%20Kapoor%2C%20Shraddha%20Kapoor%2C%20Anubhav%20Singh%20Bassi%20and%20Dimple%20Kapadia%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Key developments

All times UTC 4

Real estate tokenisation project

Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.

The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.

Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.

Forced%20Deportations
%3Cp%3EWhile%20the%20Lebanese%20government%20has%20deported%20a%20number%20of%20refugees%20back%20to%20Syria%20since%202011%2C%20the%20latest%20round%20is%20the%20first%20en-mass%20campaign%20of%20its%20kind%2C%20say%20the%20Access%20Center%20for%20Human%20Rights%2C%20a%20non-governmental%20organization%20which%20monitors%20the%20conditions%20of%20Syrian%20refugees%20in%20Lebanon.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%9CIn%20the%20past%2C%20the%20Lebanese%20General%20Security%20was%20responsible%20for%20the%20forced%20deportation%20operations%20of%20refugees%2C%20after%20forcing%20them%20to%20sign%20papers%20stating%20that%20they%20wished%20to%20return%20to%20Syria%20of%20their%20own%20free%20will.%20Now%2C%20the%20Lebanese%20army%2C%20specifically%20military%20intelligence%2C%20is%20responsible%20for%20the%20security%20operation%2C%E2%80%9D%20said%20Mohammad%20Hasan%2C%20head%20of%20ACHR.%3Cbr%3EIn%20just%20the%20first%20four%20months%20of%202023%20the%20number%20of%20forced%20deportations%20is%20nearly%20double%20that%20of%20the%20entirety%20of%202022.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ESince%20the%20beginning%20of%202023%2C%20ACHR%20has%20reported%20407%20forced%20deportations%20%E2%80%93%20200%20of%20which%20occurred%20in%20April%20alone.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIn%20comparison%2C%20just%20154%20people%20were%20forcfully%20deported%20in%202022.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Violence%20
%3Cp%3EInstances%20of%20violence%20against%20Syrian%20refugees%20are%20not%20uncommon.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EJust%20last%20month%2C%20security%20camera%20footage%20of%20men%20violently%20attacking%20and%20stabbing%20an%20employee%20at%20a%20mini-market%20went%20viral.%20The%20store%E2%80%99s%20employees%20had%20engaged%20in%20a%20verbal%20altercation%20with%20the%20men%20who%20had%20come%20to%20enforce%20an%20order%20to%20shutter%20shops%2C%20following%20the%20announcement%20of%20a%20municipal%20curfew%20for%20Syrian%20refugees.%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%9CThey%20thought%20they%20were%20Syrian%2C%E2%80%9D%20said%20the%20mayor%20of%20the%20Nahr%20el%20Bared%20municipality%2C%20Charbel%20Bou%20Raad%2C%20of%20the%20attackers.%3Cbr%3EIt%20later%20emerged%20the%20beaten%20employees%20were%20Lebanese.%20But%20the%20video%20was%20an%20exemplary%20instance%20of%20violence%20at%20a%20time%20when%20anti-Syrian%20rhetoric%20is%20particularly%20heated%20as%20Lebanese%20politicians%20call%20for%20the%20return%20of%20Syrian%20refugees%20to%20Syria.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Quick pearls of wisdom

Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”

Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.” 

HWJN
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Yasir%20Alyasiri%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Baraa%20Alem%2C%20Nour%20Alkhadra%2C%20Alanoud%20Saud%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid

When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Four tips to secure IoT networks

Mohammed Abukhater, vice president at FireEye in the Middle East, said:

- Keep device software up-to-date. Most come with basic operating system, so users should ensure that they always have the latest version

- Besides a strong password, use two-step authentication. There should be a second log-in step like adding a code sent to your mobile number

- Usually smart devices come with many unnecessary features. Users should lock those features that are not required or used frequently

- Always create a different guest network for visitors

Updated: June 28, 2022, 2:19 PM