press releases

Music Director Andrew Berryman will conduct the orchestra and chorus in a gala that will feature some of the most exciting orchestral music ever written for film: the iconic Star Wars title theme, the swashbuckling Pirates of the Caribbean, Offenbach’s toe-tapping Can-Can from Moulin Rouge, and Strauss’s hilarious Die Fledermaus opera overture used in Tom & Jerry’s A Night at the Hollywood Bowl.

Concert Master Nadine Artuhanava is the featured violin soloist for Ladies in Lavender, while the NSO’s Three Sopranos & Tenors will perform Brindisi from Verdi’s La Traviata. NSO’s rendition of Bill Whelan’s Riverdance will be accompanied by world champion Irish dancers.

The Chorus, made up of members of the Dubai Singers, will perform the stunning O Fortuna from Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, and the concert’s pièce de résistance and finale, the stirring chorus of Tchaikovsky’s powerful 1812 Overture.

H.E. Maryam Eid AlMheiri, CEO of Media Zone Authority – Abu Dhabi and twofour54, said: “We are delighted to be supporting the NSO and that Emirati composers Hamad Altaee and Eman Al Hashimi will be performing on the night, showcasing the incredible talent of our nation.
“This wonderful concert will be testament to the creativity that we have at twofour54 – the Capital for content creators.”

The gala will be enhanced by performances by Emirati Composers Hamad Altaee and Eman Al Hashimi, who will perform their pieces on piano, accompanied by the orchestra, and guest composer from Italy, Frederico Torri.

NSO Founder & Executive Director, Mrs Janet Hassouneh, said: “We are grateful for our loyal audiences of music lovers who have been coming to our concerts over the past seven years and we have strived to give great performances every time.

“However, with the abundance of concerts across the UAE, we have decided to have one last concert in public and NSO will continue to perform for government, corporate and private events across the emirates.”

Hamad Altaee is a pilot and, in his free time, plays piano and composes music. He finds his greatest inspiration to write music is when he’s flying and discovering the planet. Hamad says his goal is to share his happiness, simplicity and positivity with everyone he meets along the way.

Eman Al Hashimi is the first female Emirati composer, mixing Western and Arabic musical instruments in her works. She was the first pianist to play in ‘World Music Day’, which was hosted by the UAE in 2000, was the first pianist to represent the UAE abroad when she performed at Expo Milano 2015 and was the first Emirati pianist to perform at the Louvre Museum in Abu Dhabi. Her compositions include Martyr, for military band; a piece for the movie, Ghafa; and an operetta for the Mother of the Nation (HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak). Eman, who has a BA in Human Resources, is currently studying for her master’s in media.

Over the past seven years, NSO has performed superb orchestral pieces in concert, such as, Tchaikovsky’s 4th and 5th symphonies, Bernstein’s West Side Story Symphonic Dances, and a full production of the opera Hansel & Gretel.

The orchestra has also been contracted to accompany Andrea Bocelli when he sang for some 10,000 people at du Arena in 2016, and to perform live at the screening of Disney’s animated film, Frozen, in 2016, the BBC’s The Blue Planet with Sir George Fenton for the opening ceremony of the Volvo Ocean Race in 2014, at the World Skills event in 2017, and to worldwide TV audiences such as the World Cup horseracing extravaganza in 2014.

Although NSO Orchestra & Chorus will perform publicly for the last time on Friday 27 April, the NSO Music Agency will continue to supply the NSO Symphony Orchestra, classical and contemporary music ensembles and soloists for government, corporate and private events, as well as commercial brand launches, etc, and can be contacted at info@nsouae.org.

The evening gala on Friday 27 April is at 7.30pm; younger adults may like to attend the matinee at 4.30pm, which is also an ‘open rehearsal’, a fascinating opportunity to watch the orchestra and chorus at work and see how a piece of music is shaped and polished by Maestro Berryman and the musicians as they prepare for the gala evening.

NSO’s season finale is sponsored by Abu Dhabi media hub twofour54 as Presenting Sponsor, in addition to Platinum Sponsors Gulf Capital, Abu Dhabi Classic FM, and Emirates Palace Hotel. NSO is supporting the Make-a-Wish Foundation UAE, which will be present at the concert venue.

Back to news press listing