One of the world's best orchestras, Germany's Staatskapelle Dresden, will perform an outdoor concert in the magnificent surroundings of Al Jahili Fort in Al Ain this week, the second time the venue has hosted a performance during this season's Abu Dhabi Classics international concert series.
The orchestra, led by world-renowned conductor Christian Thielemann, is playing two concerts in the emirate, the first on Tuesday, February 17th at Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi, and the following night in the UAE's heritage heartland of Al Ain.
The UK's prestigious City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra last month played a highly successful concert at the same venue in Al Ain to a sell-out crowd.
Universities and schools in Al Ain are being approached by representatives of Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, TCA Abu Dhabi, the organisation behind the Classics season, offering discounted tickets for their students to witness the concert which will feature music from Liszt and Richard Strauss' dramatic tone poem, 'A Hero's Life'.
Dr. Ronald Perlwitz, Head of Music Programme, TCA Abu Dhabi, said, "We are extremely keen to open up this concert to young students in Abu Dhabi, but in particular Al Ain, as this is a rare opportunity to witness one of the finest ensemble's in classical music in the truly magnificent setting of Al Jahili Fort. These are formative years for the students and a wonderful opportunity to appreciate classical music at its very best which could stay with them for a lifetime." Voted Orchestra of the Year in 2013, the Staatskapelle Dresden was founded in 1548 and is one of the oldest orchestras in the world, steeped in tradition. In a ceremony in Brussels, Belgium in 2007, the orchestra became the first to be awarded the European Prize for the Preservation of the World's Musical Heritage.
German TV station MDR is travelling to the UAE to film the Al Ain concert for broadcast in Europe, while a special DVD will be released of the performance for sale at a later date.
Source: WAM