With music from Latin America popular in the global pop charts, now is an opportune time for one of opera's leading tenors to release a crossover album.
Peruvian opera star Juan Diego Florez has returned to the studio to record an extensive collection of South American songs, only his inspirations span back nearly a century.
In 2021 he released Trialogando, an ambitious new version of late Peruvian singer Chabuca Granda's 1968 masterpiece Dialogando.
The project had Florez, a tenor known for his expressive and acrobatic vocal range, singing a duet alongside Granda's original vocals, over new yet faithful arrangements.
The ambitious project came after 2018's Besame Mucho, another tender selection of classic songs by various Latin American artists from Peru, Colombia and Venezuela.
Tying these albums together is the memory of Florez’s father, the late singer Ruben Florez, who sang these songs on stage and at home.
Florez Jr tells The National that he is excited to present some of these works, as well as selections from classic operas Carmen and La Boheme, at Abu Dhabi Festival’s opening concert at the Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental on Wednesday.
"These are very special projects for me because of how personal they are," he says.
"These are songs that my father loved but also performed by artists that influenced my journey. Because of that I was very careful in doing it in a way that is deeply respectful."
Both albums are defined by their authenticity.
With Trialogando, Florez obtained the master recordings featuring Granda’s original vocals and recorded his contributions in the same studio in Peruvian capital Lima that she used.
"We even used the same microphones that she did, which made it even more special," he says.
"But at the same time, it was a challenge more for me than the sound technicians.
"While we managed to layer new guitars and percussion with her voice, I had to sing in a way that it felt like we were together in the studio."
With Besame Mucho, Florez wanted to show the variety and richness of music coming from South America.
The most popular is the 1940 title track, a global hit by Mexican singer Consuelo Velazquez.
Other gems include La Pollera Colora, a Colombian folk song popularised by singer Wilson Choperena in 1962, and La malaguena, a well-known traditional Mexican song attributed to songwriters Elpidio Ramirez and Pedro Galindo in 1947.
Despite their importance to the continent’s cultural heritage, Florez says their significance is not fully appreciated at present.
“Many of these songs are known in Latin America but not necessarily by the new generation, and that is understandable,” he says.
“Some of these songs go back to the 1930s, so this is a great opportunity to reintroduce these works again.
"And for those unfamiliar outside of the region, this is a great way to hear them for the first time.”
Such a perspective underlines the importance Florez gives to his solo career.
A star of the opera world, his recital performances are rare because of commitments to large opera productions that require months of preparation.
Florez is set to star in a new production of Gaetano Donizetti's opera Lucia di Lammermoor at Milan's La Scala theatre in April, followed by Giuseppe Verdi's Rigoletto in Italy's Arena di Verona in July.
"Operas are great but they demand so much of your time," he says.
"With recitals you can travel more and show people the best of your repertoire. It is a way to show the core of who you are as an artist."
As for his Abu Dhabi Festival return, Florez knows he will perform to a receptive crowd.
"The last time I was at the festival was in 2015 and I played two concerts," he recalls.
"It was such a great experience on stage and for me personally, because I felt like I was contributing to the development of the cultural scene over there through classical music.
“That is important to the festival and me, and I am glad the whole region is growing when it comes to classical music concerts and events.
"It just shows music is a universal language that everybody can understand."
Juan Diego Florez performs at Emirates Palace on Wednesday. Show starts 8pm with tickets from Dh75 at www.abudhabifestival.ae
Who is also performing at Abu Dhabi Festival?
March 10: De Scheherazade A Yo, Carmen at Emirates Palace
Choreographed by flamenco star Maria Pages, the arresting production pays tribute to formidable women of literature and the stage, ranging from the title character of Bizet’s 19th-century opera Carmen to Scheherazade from One Thousand and One Nights.
March 11: Gregory Porter at Emirates Palace
The two-time Grammy Award-winning jazz musician is set to perform original tracks from his albums Liquid Spirit (2014) and Take Me to the Alley (2017).
Porter’s smooth eclectic jazz style, which is rooted in gospel influences, has earned him a reputation for enigmatic and mesmerising live performances.
March 17: From West to East: A Classical Odyssey at Emirates Palace
Academy Award-winning composer Tan Dun will conduct the Orchestra of Teatro Comunale di Modena Pavarotti-Freni and will be joined on stage by world-famous Chinese cellist Jian Wang.
Together they will take audiences on a musical journey encompassing classic repertoires of Mozart, Tchaikovsky and Mussorgsky, followed by the UAE premiere of his original Pipa Concerto.
All shows start at 8pm with tickets from Dh75 www.abudhabifestival.ae
THE BIG THREE
NOVAK DJOKOVIC
19 grand slam singles titles
Wimbledon: 5 (2011, 14, 15, 18, 19)
French Open: 2 (2016, 21)
US Open: 3 (2011, 15, 18)
Australian Open: 9 (2008, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21)
Prize money: $150m
ROGER FEDERER
20 grand slam singles titles
Wimbledon: 8 (2003, 04, 05, 06, 07, 09, 12, 17)
French Open: 1 (2009)
US Open: 5 (2004, 05, 06, 07, 08)
Australian Open: 6 (2004, 06, 07, 10, 17, 18)
Prize money: $130m
RAFAEL NADAL
20 grand slam singles titles
Wimbledon: 2 (2008, 10)
French Open: 13 (2005, 06, 07, 08, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20)
US Open: 4 (2010, 13, 17, 19)
Australian Open: 1 (2009)
Prize money: $125m
Chef Nobu's advice for eating sushi
“One mistake people always make is adding extra wasabi. There is no need for this, because it should already be there between the rice and the fish.
“When eating nigiri, you must dip the fish – not the rice – in soy sauce, otherwise the rice will collapse. Also, don’t use too much soy sauce or it will make you thirsty. For sushi rolls, dip a little of the rice-covered roll lightly in soy sauce and eat in one bite.
“Chopsticks are acceptable, but really, I recommend using your fingers for sushi. Do use chopsticks for sashimi, though.
“The ginger should be eaten separately as a palette cleanser and used to clear the mouth when switching between different pieces of fish.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The years Ramadan fell in May
INFO
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Man of the Match: Djibril Sidibe (Everton)
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How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP FIXTURES
September 30
South Africa v Australia
Argentina v New Zealand
October 7
South Africa v New Zealand
Argentina v Australia
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%202-litre%20direct%20injection%20turbo%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%207-speed%20automatic%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20261hp%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20400Nm%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20From%20Dh134%2C999%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
SPEC SHEET
Display: 10.9" Liquid Retina IPS, 2360 x 1640, 264ppi, wide colour, True Tone, Apple Pencil support
Chip: Apple M1, 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
Memory: 64/256GB storage; 8GB RAM
Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, Smart HDR
Video: 4K @ 25/25/30/60fps, full HD @ 25/30/60fps, slo-mo @ 120/240fps
Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR, Centre Stage; full HD @ 25/30/60fps
Audio: Stereo speakers
Biometrics: Touch ID
I/O: USB-C, smart connector (for folio/keyboard)
Battery: Up to 10 hours on Wi-Fi; up to 9 hours on cellular
Finish: Space grey, starlight, pink, purple, blue
Price: Wi-Fi – Dh2,499 (64GB) / Dh3,099 (256GB); cellular – Dh3,099 (64GB) / Dh3,699 (256GB)
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The years Ramadan fell in May
SANCTIONED
- Kirill Shamalov, Russia's youngest billionaire and previously married to Putin's daughter Katarina
- Petr Fradkov, head of recently sanctioned Promsvyazbank and son of former head of Russian Foreign Intelligence, the FSB.
- Denis Bortnikov, Deputy President of Russia's largest bank VTB. He is the son of Alexander Bortnikov, head of the FSB which was responsible for the poisoning of political activist Alexey Navalny in August 2020 with banned chemical agent novichok.
- Yury Slyusar, director of United Aircraft Corporation, a major aircraft manufacturer for the Russian military.
- Elena Aleksandrovna Georgieva, chair of the board of Novikombank, a state-owned defence conglomerate.
Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
If you go...
Etihad Airways flies from Abu Dhabi to Kuala Lumpur, from about Dh3,600. Air Asia currently flies from Kuala Lumpur to Terengganu, with Berjaya Hotels & Resorts planning to launch direct chartered flights to Redang Island in the near future. Rooms at The Taaras Beach and Spa Resort start from 680RM (Dh597).
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Company profile
Name: Fruitful Day
Founders: Marie-Christine Luijckx, Lyla Dalal AlRawi, Lindsey Fournie
Based: Dubai, UAE
Founded: 2015
Number of employees: 30
Sector: F&B
Funding so far: Dh3 million
Future funding plans: None at present
Future markets: Saudi Arabia, potentially Kuwait and other GCC countries
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Pros%20and%20cons%20of%20BNPL
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THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
