Orchestral and percussion performances, as well as a ballet gala, are on the bill for Abu Dhabi Festival next year. Running from February until April, the programme will feature events at venues across the capital, including Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental and the NYU Abu Dhabi Arts Centre.
In celebration of over 50 years of diplomatic relations with the UAE, Japan is the country of honour. So expect some of the nation's best musicians and ensembles to feature at the event, under the theme Abu Dhabi – A World of Harmony.
An international programme, titled Abu Dhabi Festival Abroad, will also take place, including a world premiere of the opera Pelleas et Melisande at the Opera National de Paris. This co-production with the renowned French institute will be directed by Canadian-Lebanese writer Wajdi Mouawad, with further details to be revealed soon.
"The 22nd edition of the Abu Dhabi Festival gathers us under its inspiring theme, Abu Dhabi – A World of Harmony, to embody the position of the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, as a city that brings together endless cultures to meet, communicate, and exchange ideas, opportunities, and potential, in harmony and unity,” said artistic director Huda Alkhamis-Kanoo.
Here are some highlights:
The New Japan Philharmonic orchestra, February 7 and 8
The festival begins with two concerts by the celebrated orchestra, founded in 1972 by influential conductors Seiji Ozawa and Naozumi Yamamoto. With American star tenor Jonathan Tetelman as a special guest, the opening show’s programme will feature arias from Puccini’s operas Turandot and Manon Lescaut.
The following night will showcase Japanese pianist Kyohei Sorita performing Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No 1 before the orchestra plays Japanese composer Yasushi Akutagawa’s 1953 masterpiece Triptyque for Strings Orchestra.
From 8pm; Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental
Kodo, April 8 and 9
Drumming meets theatre in this performance by the seasoned Japanese troupe. Since their debut international show in 1981, the ensemble has given about 7,000 performances in more than 50 countries. Meaning "heartbeat" in Japanese, Kodo’s Abu Dhabi show will be an intricate and dazzling display of percussion prowess. The largest drum used in the show weighs up to three tonnes and is made from the trunk of a single tree.
From 7.30pm; The Red Theatre, The Arts Centre at NYU Abu Dhabi
Yunchan Lim, April 11
The youngest-ever gold medal winner of the prestigious Van Cliburn International Piano Competition will make his UAE debut at the festival. Achieving the feat in 2022 at the age of 18, South Korea’s Yunchan Lim’s performance is expected to affirm the industry buzz surrounding him, with his interpretation of Bach’s epic Goldberg Variations.
From 7.30pm; The Red Theatre, The Arts Centre at NYU Abu Dhabi
Kuniko Kato, April 14
Renowned as a musical prodigy, Japanese percussionist Kuniko Kato – who plays various instruments, from the xylophone to the marimba – will present a programme of traditional and contemporary works. These include interpretations of works by modern composers Iannis Xenakis, Steve Reich, Arvo Part and Unsuk Chin.
From 7.30pm; The Blue Hall, The Arts Centre at NYU Abu Dhabi
Katia and Marielle Labeque, April 16
The French siblings are at ease playing with major international orchestras and baroque music ensembles. Favourites of influential US composer Philip Glass, they will present a cinematic programme featuring works by Glass and others, inspired by director and poet Jean Cocteau’s 1946 film version of Beauty and the Beast.
From 7.30pm; The Red Theatre, The Arts Centre at NYU Abu Dhabi
Korean National University of Arts Symphony Orchestra, April 18 and 29
The group has woven itself into South Korea’s cultural fabric since its founding in 1993. The first performance programme features works by Brahms and Tchaikovsky, in addition to an excerpt from the ballet Princess Bari by South Korean composer Geon-Yong Lee. The follow-up concert will feature US soprano Jessica Pratt and Mexican tenor Javier Camarena, performing aria duets from composers Bellini, Donizetti and Verdi.
From 7.30pm; The Red Theatre, The Arts Centre at NYU Abu Dhabi
All-Star Ballet Gala, April 22
Experience the excellence of some of the world’s most talented dancers, representing esteemed companies such as the UK’s Royal Ballet and Germany’s Bayerisches Staatsballett, in a repertoire of popular classic and contemporary pieces.
From 7.30pm; The Red Theatre, The Arts Centre at NYU Abu Dhabi
Unique Encounters with Rising Stars, April 26
Palestinian violinist Yamen Saadi returns to the festival for a concert alongside Spanish violinist Sara Ferrandez and star cellists Kian Soltani from Austria and Pablo Ferrandez from Spain. Expect a varied repertoire of pieces to be performed with precise technique and charm.
From 7.30pm; The Red Theatre, The Arts Centre at NYU Abu Dhabi
Riley Mulherkar, April 29
The US trumpeter is known for co-founding the Westerlies, an important New York brass band that performs a mix of jazz, modern classical music and folk. A 2020 winner of the Lincoln Centre’s Emerging Artist Award, Mulherkar will showcase his skill as a composer and arranger.
From 7.30pm; The Black Box, The Arts Centre at NYU Abu Dhabi
Tickets for shows are priced separately and will be available soon
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Important questions to consider
1. Where on the plane does my pet travel?
There are different types of travel available for pets:
- Manifest cargo
- Excess luggage in the hold
- Excess luggage in the cabin
Each option is safe. The feasibility of each option is based on the size and breed of your pet, the airline they are traveling on and country they are travelling to.
2. What is the difference between my pet traveling as manifest cargo or as excess luggage?
If traveling as manifest cargo, your pet is traveling in the front hold of the plane and can travel with or without you being on the same plane. The cost of your pets travel is based on volumetric weight, in other words, the size of their travel crate.
If traveling as excess luggage, your pet will be in the rear hold of the plane and must be traveling under the ticket of a human passenger. The cost of your pets travel is based on the actual (combined) weight of your pet in their crate.
3. What happens when my pet arrives in the country they are traveling to?
As soon as the flight arrives, your pet will be taken from the plane straight to the airport terminal.
If your pet is traveling as excess luggage, they will taken to the oversized luggage area in the arrival hall. Once you clear passport control, you will be able to collect them at the same time as your normal luggage. As you exit the airport via the ‘something to declare’ customs channel you will be asked to present your pets travel paperwork to the customs official and / or the vet on duty.
If your pet is traveling as manifest cargo, they will be taken to the Animal Reception Centre. There, their documentation will be reviewed by the staff of the ARC to ensure all is in order. At the same time, relevant customs formalities will be completed by staff based at the arriving airport.
4. How long does the travel paperwork and other travel preparations take?
This depends entirely on the location that your pet is traveling to. Your pet relocation compnay will provide you with an accurate timeline of how long the relevant preparations will take and at what point in the process the various steps must be taken.
In some cases they can get your pet ‘travel ready’ in a few days. In others it can be up to six months or more.
5. What vaccinations does my pet need to travel?
Regardless of where your pet is traveling, they will need certain vaccinations. The exact vaccinations they need are entirely dependent on the location they are traveling to. The one vaccination that is mandatory for every country your pet may travel to is a rabies vaccination.
Other vaccinations may also be necessary. These will be advised to you as relevant. In every situation, it is essential to keep your vaccinations current and to not miss a due date, even by one day. To do so could severely hinder your pets travel plans.
Source: Pawsome Pets UAE
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Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
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In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.
Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.
A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.
The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.
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Started: 2020
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Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
