ABU DHABI // Six-year-old Rio Ishi has been playing the piano for only three months, but the budding virtuoso has already been bitten by the classical music bug.
"He can only play a few songs, but he very much likes music, especially classical," said his mother Yuka Ishi, 45. The little boy practically dragged her to see the renowned conductor and pianist Daniel Barenboim last night as part of the Abu Dhabi Classics Festival.
"I couldn't say no," said Mrs Ishi, who moved to Abu Dhabi from Japan four years ago.
Ms Ishi and her son were among hundreds who filled the Emirates Palace Auditorium last night for the mid-winter concert.
Now in its third season, the Abu Dhabi Classics Festival draws hundreds of classical music lovers to its year-long catalogue of concerts, performances and presentations.
The Barenboim concert, in which he conducted Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony and played Mozart's 26th Piano Concerto, drew fans from all over the world, from the connoisseur to the casual listener.
Renate Pfeiffer said she never misses an Abu Dhabi Classics concert. "When I lived in Berlin, I heard this orchestra quite often, and I'm very happy to have the chance to hear them here," said Mrs Pfeiffer, 60, who now lives in Abu Dhabi. "I just love classical music. I go to every concert."
Barenboim, an Argentine-born Israeli musician who made his concert debut in 1950 at the age of seven, is known for his work with the West-Eastern Divan orchestra, an ensemble composed of musicians from across the Middle East. But Friday night was the first trip to the Gulf for the Staatskapelle Berlin orchestra, which he has conducted for the past 20 seasons.
Today Barenboim will conduct Tchaikovsky's Fourth Symphony in a special Young People's concert at the Emirates Palace hotel.
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Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
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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.”
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Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
