Abu Dhabi's premiere arts and culture event returns for its 16th edition with an expansive programme.
The Abu Dhabi Festival, to be held between March 7 and March 30 2019, will feature performances ranging from lavish opera and ballet productions to an intimate jazz concert. Much of the festival will be held at Emirates Palace.
With the Republic of Korea as the festival's guest of honour, the country will showcase its fine arts talents with a performance from two of its most esteemed institutions. The Korean National Ballet will mark their debut Middle Eastern appearance on March 7 with their staging of Giselle; while the Korean Symphony Orchestra will appear the following night with acclaimed soloist and pianist Jae-Hyuck Cho.
After wowing audiences with an intimate recital performance at Dubai Opera last year, Welsh baritone Bryn Terfel returns to the UAE on March 15 to star in Puccini's much loved opera Tosca.
This year, the festival will take place under the theme of "culture of determination". The event’s artistic director Huda Alkhamis-Kanoo says it is in tribute to the Special Olympics World Games, which will also run in Abu Dhabi during the festival, from March 14 to 21.
"Culture defines humanity and when it was decided that Abu Dhabi was to host the Special Olympics World Games in 2019, during the same month that the Abu Dhabi Festival was to take place, the connection was clear," Alkhamis-Kanoo told The National. "At the Abu Dhabi Festival we feel a strong affinity with them, in so much as we have also had to face and overcome challenges of our own, to build trust with the public, the government, and internationally, to enable us to get to where we are today."
With over 500 artists from 17 countries, Alkhamis-Kanoo says the Abu Dhabi Festival’s strength is in celebrating cultural diversity: “Every year we challenge ourselves to bring an incredibly varied and diverse range of performances that crosses genres, cultures and disciplines.”
Tickets for all shows are available now from the festival website www.abudhabifestival.ae
In addition to the major concerts, more announcements will be made soon including the Festival in the Park concert series held at Umm Al Emarat Park. There will also be art, film and theatre workshops and the Riwaq Al Fikr cultural discussion series.
For now, here is the Abu Dhabi Festival major performance programme:
Joyce DiDonato: In War & Peace: Harmony Through Music (pre-festival performance)
Named after her latest album In War and Peace, the celebrated US mezzo soprano DiDonato will feature compositions created in times of both joy and turmoil, and looks at how composers like Handel and Purcell reflected both serenity and conflict in their work. She will be supported by one of the world's most sought after baroque orchestras: formed in 2012, Il Pomo d'Oro Orchestra has been nominated for this year's prestigious Gramophone Orchestra of the Year Award.
When: Thursday, January 24
Where: Emirates Palace Auditorium
Korean National Ballet – Giselle
Choreographed for the company by the former celebrated French dancer Patrice Bart, the program will serve as a fine introduction to the Korean National Ballet. Founded in 1962, the company grew to a troupe of 90 dancers that have gone on to spread their love of dance to neighbouring countries in Asia, as well as conducting high profile tours of the US, Europe and Russia.
When: Thursday, March 7
Where: Emirates Palace Auditorium
Classics at the Festival: Korean Symphony Orchestra
The Abu Dhabi Festival always features a lush orchestral performance by esteemed ensembles; for the latest edition it will be the players from the Korean Symphony Orchestra taking their seats at the Emirates Palace stage. Under the baton of the country's popular conductor Chi-Yong Chung, and featuring pianist Jae-Hyuck Cho, the program will feature a trio of works: Franz List's Piano Concerto No.1 in E-flat Major and S.124, and Antonín Dvořák's Symphony No.8, Op.88.
When: Friday, March 8
Where: Emirates Palace Auditorium
Jazz at the Festival: Justin Kauflin
After a successful two-month residency at Q's Bar and Lounge in Dubai last year, the young American pianist and jazz prodigy will make his Abu Dhabi debut as part of the festival. Mentored by jazz great and Abu Dhabi Festival Award winner Quincy Jones, Kauflin will take the stage at NYU Abu Dhabi's Arts Centre where he will showcase his latest album Coming Home. To know more about Kauflin, dig deep into your Netflix catalogue and unearth the gem that is the music documentary Keep On Keepin' On.
When: Monday, March 11
Where: The Arts Centre, NYU Abu Dhabi
Tosca: The Art of Sir Bryn Terfel with Sinfonia Cymru
Abu Dhabi Festival audiences know all about Terfel and his awe-inspiring cavernous voice,; the Welsh singer performed as part of the 2013 edition with a sold out concert. This time around, he returns to the Emirates Palace Auditorium for a semi-stage production of Puccini's Tosca. With a full cast of vocal soloists and choir, Terfel will take on the role of Scarpia in this classic tale of love, intrigue and murder. Providing the score is Sinfonia Cymru, a young chamber orchestra based in Wales.
When: Friday, March 15
Where: Emirates Palace Auditorium
Sombras by Sara Baras
After dazzling UAE audiences with her Dubai Opera performance in 2016 – where The National described Baras as "an instrument, transmitting emotions, joy and heartbreak," – one of Spain's leading flamenco dancers will bring her latest show to the Abu Dhabi Festival. With Sombras (Shadows), Baras celebrates her two-decade career with a range of flamenco dances, rhythms and cadences. She will be joined on stage with guest performer Jose Serrano, and six dancers, as well as a seven-piece flamenco band.
When: Thursday, March 21
Where: Emirates Palace Auditorium
The Paris Opera Ballet – Jewels
Ballet and fashion meet in this production by George Balanchine. With the late French choreographer's main inspiration being old Hollywood glamour, Jewels is inspired by the work of French jewellery designer Claude Arpels. With each of the three acts named after a different jewel – Emeralds, Rubies and Diamonds – the ballet recalls the 19th century dances from the French Romantics to the grandeur of imperial Russia.
When: Friday and Saturday, March 29 and 30
Where: Emirates Palace Auditorium
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RESULTS FOR STAGE 4
Stage 4 Dubai to Hatta, 197 km, Road race.
Overall leader Primoz Roglic SLO (Team Jumbo - Visma)
Stage winners: 1. Caleb Ewan AUS (Lotto - Soudal) 2. Matteo Moschetti ITA (Trek - Segafredo) 3. Primoz Roglic SLO (Team Jumbo - Visma)
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
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The bio
Who inspires you?
I am in awe of the remarkable women in the Arab region, both big and small, pushing boundaries and becoming role models for generations. Emily Nasrallah was a writer, journalist, teacher and women’s rights activist
How do you relax?
Yoga relaxes me and helps me relieve tension, especially now when we’re practically chained to laptops and desks. I enjoy learning more about music and the history of famous music bands and genres.
What is favourite book?
The Perks of Being a Wallflower - I think I've read it more than 7 times
What is your favourite Arabic film?
Hala2 Lawen (Translation: Where Do We Go Now?) by Nadine Labaki
What is favourite English film?
Mamma Mia
Best piece of advice to someone looking for a career at Google?
If you’re interested in a career at Google, deep dive into the different career paths and pinpoint the space you want to join. When you know your space, you’re likely to identify the skills you need to develop.
The years Ramadan fell in May
AUSTRALIA SQUAD
Aaron Finch, Matt Renshaw, Brendan Doggett, Michael Neser, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine (captain), Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Jon Holland, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup – Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
The Bio
Favourite holiday destination: Either Kazakhstan or Montenegro. I’ve been involved in events in both countries and they are just stunning.
Favourite book: I am a huge of Robin Cook’s medical thrillers, which I suppose is quite apt right now. My mother introduced me to them back home in New Zealand.
Favourite film or television programme: Forrest Gump is my favourite film, that’s never been up for debate. I love watching repeats of Mash as well.
Inspiration: My late father moulded me into the man I am today. I would also say disappointment and sadness are great motivators. There are times when events have brought me to my knees but it has also made me determined not to let them get the better of me.
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
Mazen Abukhater, principal and actuary at global consultancy Mercer, Middle East, says the company’s Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index - which benchmarks 34 pension schemes across the globe to assess their adequacy, sustainability and integrity - included Saudi Arabia for the first time this year to offer a glimpse into the region.
The index highlighted fundamental issues for all 34 countries, such as a rapid ageing population and a low growth / low interest environment putting pressure on expected returns. It also highlighted the increasing popularity around the world of defined contribution schemes.
“Average life expectancy has been increasing by about three years every 10 years. Someone born in 1947 is expected to live until 85 whereas someone born in 2007 is expected to live to 103,” Mr Abukhater told the Mena Pensions Conference.
“Are our systems equipped to handle these kind of life expectancies in the future? If so many people retire at 60, they are going to be in retirement for 43 years – so we need to adapt our retirement age to our changing life expectancy.”
Saudi Arabia came in the middle of Mercer’s ranking with a score of 58.9. The report said the country's index could be raised by improving the minimum level of support for the poorest aged individuals and increasing the labour force participation rate at older ages as life expectancies rise.
Mr Abukhater said the challenges of an ageing population, increased life expectancy and some individuals relying solely on their government for financial support in their retirement years will put the system under strain.
“To relieve that pressure, governments need to consider whether it is time to switch to a defined contribution scheme so that individuals can supplement their own future with the help of government support,” he said.