The stars – well, some of them – were out last night at Hay Festival Abu Dhabi.
To conclude the second day of the festival, world music and harp duo Catrin Finch and Seckou Keita performed a well-received set at Abu Dhabi’s Manarat Al Saadiyat.
While the cloudy conditions made us all rug up in the outdoor Garden Stage, the star power was apparent on the ground.
If you were a bookworm, the concert was the place to be: Scottish travel writer William Dalrymple sat in the back alongside Man Asian Literary Prize winner and nominee Miguel Syjuco and Tahmima Anam, respectively.
Meanwhile, up front were British Nigerian playwright Inua Ellams and English historian Jerry Brotton.
It may seem like an unlikely bunch, but a few minutes into Finch and Keita’s set you understand why. Their music is made to stir the imagination.
After all, it was that quality that formed the group in the first place. After an impromptu jam session back nearly eight years ago, Welsh artist Finch and Senegal’s Keita discovered their blend of harp-play produced an alchemy that was nothing short of inspiring.
When it comes to the former; it seems cliche to state that the harp sounds celestial. But it just does – in Clarach and Teranga-Bah, the duo takes the audience to an elevated mental plane. Our eyes are closed, our shoulders swoon and we take it all in with every deep breath.
Then, in pieces like Bach to Baisso and 1677, we are back on earth. Keita, who plays the elaborately stringed West African indigenous instrument called the Kora – which he describes as "the African harp" – roots the compositions with his earthy tones, meanwhile Finch's western styled harp sails on top as she delivers a vibrant array of riffs. By this stage we are tapping our toes, while some clap – we are listening to two harps but it feels like guitar driven blues.
Any other expectation we have of these “delicate” instruments is blown away by the last epic number, which was basically an extended rock session. Both Finch and Keita took turns as they delivered dizzying solos that any guitarist would be proud off. It was intense, groovy and enough for Dalrymple to get up and do a little jig towards the end.
The duo then left the stage to a standing ovation, with their mission accomplished.
“It normally happens this way,” Keita says after the show. “People come to the show not knowing what to expect and they are curious. By the end it people walk away surprised and very happy.”
What is next?
Two generations of Arabic music artistry come together for a tribute to a cultural giant tonight. Lebanese singer and oud virtuoso Marcel Khalife will be joined by his son, Bachar Mar-Khalife (on piano and vocals), as they perform songs inspired by Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish. Expect some of the pieces presented in a new way, however, with the younger Khalife leading a young and cracking band of jazz and electro music players.
Show runs from 9.30pm to 11pm. Etihad Garden Stage. Tickets are sold out but you can register your interest on www.hayfestival.com
