As yet another successful edition of Abu Dhabi Classics draws to a close, acclaimed Chinese pianist Ran Jia prepares to take to the stage for her Middle Eastern debut on Friday, April 19, at Manarat Al Saadiyat with a specially designed programme of romantic works
October 12 last year saw the UAE capital usher in a brand new season of classical music. Soulful strains of the violin were met with thunderous applause, a fitting opening to the ninth season of Abu Dhabi Classics, the most popular music festival on the emirate’s cultural calendar.
On opening night, violin virtuoso Renaud Capuçon joined the prestigious Camerata Salzburg Orchestra at Emirates Palace Auditorium, inviting audiences to journey through the evolution of music over the years with popular works from the Viennese Classical Period to the New Music Era including Mozart’s Violin Concertos 4 and 5 and Satie’s Gnossiennes.
Every year, an ever-expanding roster of internationally acclaimed artists brings soul-stirring experiences to audiences in the emirate. The packed line-up this season featured renowned French harpist Xavier de Maistre and also saw talented ballet dancers from La Scala Academy Rising Stars make waves with their captivating performances.
But one performance that made history this season was The Valkyrie. Abu Dhabi Classics played host to the world-renowned Bayreuth Festival troupe earlier this year, marking the famed ensemble’s international opera debut – the first outside of Germany. The artists brought Richard Wagner’s iconic production to the UAE for the first time, led by Wagner’s great-granddaughter Katharina Wagner herself.
As the season draws to a close, the spotlight turns to Chinese pianist Ran Jia, who is all set to amaze classical music purists with a solo piano recital on April 19 at Manarat Al Saadiyat. The award-winning musician will make her Middle East debut with a programme of romantic works.
For the finale, audiences can look forward to Ran Jia’s modern renditions of Austrian composer Franz Schubert’s works including his Sonata in D major D850 and Sonata in B flat major 960. The artist will also perform Three Preludes for Solo Piano produced by her father Daqun Jia, a leading Chinese contemporary composer.