On the stage of the Emirates Palace, last Friday, the Abu Dhabi Festival organized the show “From West to East .. A Classic Odyssey” led by Tan Dun, the Oscar-winning composer and Grammy Award, within the framework of the activities of its 20th session, which ends today, in the presence of a group of the most prominent international musicians.
Tan Dun led the orchestra of the Théâtre Comunale di Modena Pavarotti-Frini, and was accompanied by world-famous Chinese cellist Yan Wang on a concert tour featuring classics by Mozart, Tchaikovsky and Mussorgsky, followed by the first performance in the UAE of his original piece, the Pippa Concerto.
The founder of the Abu Dhabi Group for Culture and Arts, the founder and artistic director of the Abu Dhabi Festival, Huda Ibrahim Al-Khamis, emphasized the role that music plays in bringing people together and unifying their aesthetic vision of life and human existence, adding: “Since its establishment in 2004, the Abu Dhabi Festival has contributed to enriching the cultural vision of the capital.” And the consolidation of its global position through the efforts of cultural diplomacy, which is strengthened through the work of co-production and exclusive commissioning.
She added, “The work (From West to East .. A Classic Odyssey), which is presented for the first time in the Middle East, is a cultural encounter with distinction between East and West, and a dazzling journey in the worlds of art and imagination, with the participation of one of the most prominent international composers, Tan Dun, winner of two Grammy and Oscar awards. Accompanied by the famous cellist Jian Wang, they gave the festival audience the opportunity to enjoy international masterpieces, and Tan Dun’s original compositions such as the Pippa Concerto, with an amazing performance by the prestigious Italian orchestra of the Theater of Comunale di Modena Pavarotti – Freini.
Known for his talent in classical music and western and eastern traditions, Tan Dun is considered one of the world’s leading performers of classical pieces. And his star shined in Hollywood in 2001 following winning an Academy Award. It is noteworthy that the festival is organized under the patronage of Sheikha Shamsa bint Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Assistant to the President of the Emirates Red Crescent Authority for Women’s Affairs and Chairperson of the Supreme Committee of the Ataya Initiative, and enjoys the support of its main partner, Mubadala Company, and celebrates its historic session that coincides with the 20th anniversary of its founding. .
Huda Al-Khamis:
• «Music plays a major role in the rapprochement between peoples, and the unification of their aesthetic vision of life and human existence».