Bollywood legend A R Rahman has called Dubai’s all-female Firdaus Orchestra “groundbreaking” for challenging misconceptions about the Middle East.
The Firdaus Orchestra, which is mentored by the Oscar-winning composer, is celebrating its second anniversary in July.
It is made up of 55 musicians hailing from 25 different countries and features Middle Eastern string instruments such as the qanun and oud.
We have to make Firdaus the best orchestra in the world
A R Rahman
The Firdaus Orchestra's latest performance, The Reinvent Series, interprets the works of legendary composers – such as Johannes Brahms – with a Middle Eastern twist.
This has also been documented in a new 50-minute film released on YouTube to reach wider audiences.
But Rahman has told orchestra members they can achieve more.
“We hope to do much more,” Rahman told The National. “I was telling them that we have to make Firdaus the best orchestra in the world.
“We are pushing everybody so every project is of quality and there should be a surprise element of what comes next.”
Groundbreaking initiative
Rahman – whose work on director Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire won him Oscars for Best Original Score and Best Original Song in 2009 – put together the Firdaus Orchestra for Expo 2020 Dubai in 2021.
Rahman said the ensemble acts as a “collective statement” that smashes preconceived ideas of music and female musicians in the Middle East region.
“I think the whole idea of the Firdaus Orchestra is such a groundbreaking one,” he said.
“There are so many narratives about the Middle East and this whole attempt to have Firdaus in Expo City breaks it all and says, ‘No’ – it shows what this place is capable of.
It’s an inspiration because it’s about people from different countries and traditions, and they all come together to play music,” he said.
Rahman praised the UAE government for encouraging musicians to follow their dreams.
“There is security here and when people are secure, they create and perform well,” he said.
“All across the world, orchestras are packing up because there is no funding.
“Here, the government is hosting them so beautifully. The way they take care of the orchestra is one of the most important things.”
Unique sound
Firdaus means “paradise” in Arabic and the orchestra serves as a legacy of the world’s fair held in the UAE back in 2021.
Rahman hopes that the orchestra’s unique sound will draw in fans from around the world who are keen to listen to a combination of classical and contemporary music that is rich in diversity.
Developing a distinct sound is also crucial for Monica Woodman, Firdaus Orchestra’s conductor.
“I want people to identify that it is the Firdaus sound and not just any orchestra,” she told The National.
“Firdaus is different from the rest.
"We want to show that classical music is not boring.”
Unlike traditional orchestras, Firdaus has an Arabic section, an Indian sitar, drums and an electric bass guitar that would normally be part of a band.
Woodman's goal is to reach beyond people who enjoy listening to classical music, and to tell young people that music as a career can sustain them.
“We want to merge these two worlds – the Middle Eastern and Oriental worlds – with the Western world and encourage younger generations to pursue music,” said the Cuban national.
“We want to say that your gender does not matter, and it doesn't matter where you come from. If you are passionate, you can commit to music and make a living from it.
“One of the big reasons that Firdaus exists is to change the history of music in the region.”
Growing popularity
Firdaus Orchestra has already secured impressive gigs, including sharing a stage with Beyonce in January.
The orchestra performed a specially arranged version of Spirit of Rangeela, from 1995 Bollywood movie Rangeela, with the global star at the grand preview of the Atlantis The Royal hotel at Dubai's Palm Jumeirah. This attracted A-list celebrities from around the world.
The musicians also accompanied Disney Princess – The Concert for five performances at Dubai’s Coca-Cola Arena in May. The show featured a cast of West End and Broadway performers.
Woodman hopes such high-profile appearances raise the orchestra's profile, so people in the UAE and overseas can discover the musicians’ talent.
“I hope the younger generation, older expats in Dubai, the UAE and the world get to know what Firdaus does,” she said.
“I hope our audience understands that it’s more than playing classical or pop music. We are trying to transmit a very big message about the language that is music.”
The view from The National
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20myZoi%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202021%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Syed%20Ali%2C%20Christian%20Buchholz%2C%20Shanawaz%20Rouf%2C%20Arsalan%20Siddiqui%2C%20Nabid%20Hassan%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2037%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Initial%20undisclosed%20funding%20from%20SC%20Ventures%3B%20second%20round%20of%20funding%20totalling%20%2414%20million%20from%20a%20consortium%20of%20SBI%2C%20a%20Japanese%20VC%20firm%2C%20and%20SC%20Venture%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Rain Management
Year started: 2017
Based: Bahrain
Employees: 100-120
Amount raised: $2.5m from BitMex Ventures and Blockwater. Another $6m raised from MEVP, Coinbase, Vision Ventures, CMT, Jimco and DIFC Fintech Fund
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7. Max Kanter (Ger) Movistar Team
8. Olav Kooij (Ned) Jumbo-Visma
9. Tom Devriendt (Bel) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux
10. Pascal Ackermann (Ger) UAE Team Emirate
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Power 165hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 240Nm @ 1,400rpm 0-100kph: 9.2 seconds
Top speed 420 kph (governed)
Fuel economy, combined 35.2L / 100km (est)
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Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
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Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
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The biog
Favourite hobby: I love to sing but I don’t get to sing as much nowadays sadly.
Favourite book: Anything by Sidney Sheldon.
Favourite movie: The Exorcist 2. It is a big thing in our family to sit around together and watch horror movies, I love watching them.
Favourite holiday destination: The favourite place I have been to is Florence, it is a beautiful city. My dream though has always been to visit Cyprus, I really want to go there.
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Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
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Soft power was first mentioned in 1990 by former US Defence Secretary Joseph Nye.
He believed that there were alternative ways of cultivating support from other countries, instead of achieving goals using military strength.
Soft power is, at its root, the ability to convince other states to do what you want without force.
This is traditionally achieved by proving that you share morals and values.
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What's in the deal?
Agreement aims to boost trade by £25.5bn a year in the long run, compared with a total of £42.6bn in 2024
India will slash levies on medical devices, machinery, cosmetics, soft drinks and lamb.
India will also cut automotive tariffs to 10% under a quota from over 100% currently.
Indian employees in the UK will receive three years exemption from social security payments
India expects 99% of exports to benefit from zero duty, raising opportunities for textiles, marine products, footwear and jewellery
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More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
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(Babar 62, Asad 43, Boult 4-54, De Grandhomme 2-30, Patel 2-64)
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1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
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Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
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