press releases

The NSO Symphony Orchestra (‘NSO’) is launching its new season of Friday Night Galas with the event ‘A Night at the Symphony’ on Friday 17th November.

The concert, which will be held at the Emirates Palace Auditorium in Abu Dhabi, will feature critically-acclaimed guest conductor Giuseppe Lanzetta and international violinist Daria Nechaevan, alongside local talents such as Emirati cellist Elham Al Marzouqi. The orchestra will be performing some of the most inspiring orchestral music ever written, such as Mendelssohn’s mighty Hebrides Overture, Brahms’s virtuosic Violin Concerto in D and one of the most popular orchestral classics, Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5.

The new season is a result of the NSO Symphony Orchestra new partnership with twofour54, Abu Dhabi’s media and entertainment hub. The two organisations have partnered to promote music and grow a thriving music industry within Abu Dhabi. The partnership includes developing the UAE’s next generation of musicians and producers by providing a wide range of music education programmes and opportunities to show case local talent. One of these opportunities was with the Cartoon Network (‘CN’), a twofour54 partner. The NSO worked with local children to create music that was used by some of CN’s shows, providing a unique experience for these children.

H.E. Maryam Eid AlMheiri, CEO of the Media Zone Authority – Abu Dhabi and twofour54, said: “Our mission is to nurture and help grow the media industry in Abu Dhabi by enabling and inspiring the most creative and innovative content in all of its formats. We do this by supporting organisations such as the NSO and raising awareness amongst the youth of all the opportunities available for them in the creative industries.

“Unlike other industries, music is open to people of all ages and backgrounds, providing a diverse set of career opportunities and contributing significantly to the local economy. But music also plays a critical role in the society as it supports the development of individual, group, cultural and national identities. We are very proud to partner with the NSO and look forward to the new season.”

The NSO Symphony Orchestra, which was founded in 2011, aims to capture the imagination of its audiences through performances, educational offerings, community service and partnerships that bring people together across the UAE. It seeks to engage and inspire the local community through its series of classical and contemporary concerts each year, all featuring Emirati artists and international guests.

Janet Hassouneh, Founder and Executive Director of the NSO FZ LLC, said: “The NSO and twofour54 share a similar vision and we are committed to developing local talent and providing them with opportunities to help strengthen their experience and promote them. Without the support of our partners, such as twofour54, it wouldn’t be possible to fulfil the programme of activity that we do in the UAE.”

As part of the Friday Night Gala series, the orchestra will be holding ‘A Night at the Opera’ on February 9th, 2018 and ‘A Night at the Movies’ on February 27th, 2018. Both events will also be supported by twofour54.

The NSO is made up of more than 100 professional musicians who all reside in the UAE. Its cultural make-up is drawn from more than 20 nationalities and their repertoire includes the ability to cover musical genres such as classical and romantic orchestra, Arabic music, motion picture soundtracks, Broadway hits and jazz.

For more information on the events, visit the NSO website.

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