NIGHT OF A THOUSAND STARS
Russia’s Bravo music awards are coming to Abu Dhabi in November. Saeed Saeed reports from Moscow on the pleasures awaiting an Emirates audience
Abu Dhabi will host the colourful Russian music awards, Bravo, in November. The event, which runs twice a year, will bring Eurovision-style glamour to the capital for a ceremony that will feature the best of Russian talent and international pop, as well as classical music stars.
This was announced on Saturday in Moscow during a sold-out Bravo awards ceremony. The twonight event, which was held this weekend in Moscow, was sponsored by Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism.
The first half, which focused on pop, was held at the Kremlin State Theatre on Saturday night, while Sunday night was all about classical music, with the awards handed out at the prestigious Bolshoi Theatre. The more popular names were seen on Saturday with an eclectic list of performers, ranging from 1980s pop veterans Duran Duran, Rod Stewart and British soul man Seal to Russia’s pop singer Philipp Kirkorov and the UAE’s very own Hussain Al Jassmi.
The Emirati travelled to Moscow for his debut performance on Russian soil and to receive the award for Best Middle East Artist. Emerging from the car in the midst of a soft snow blizzard, Al Jassmi wore a thick navy blue kandoura with badges of the Emirati flag and Year of Zayed pinned on his chest.
“Don’t worry, I came prepared,” he told us before discreetly pulling up his sleeves to reveal that he was wearing thermals beneath.
“It is a pleasure to be here. I am not only coming here as a singer, but as a representative of my country and its capital city Abu Dhabi. It is also a chance to meet the wonderful Russian people – the weather is cold, but their hearts are warm.”
Indeed, more than 5,000 people braved the minus 8°C weather to fill the sold-out theatre, hovering at designated areas beforehand to see the stars roll up.
With the show broadcast live on the Russian public broadcaster, fans had the opportunity to see some of their favourite acts interviewed on the red carpet and in “The Abu Dhabi Studio” where guests were questioned about their Abu Dhabi experiences and knowledge.
“We just came from that part of the world,” said Duran Duran keyboardist Nick Rhodes. “We actually played a few weeks ago in Dubai as part of the jazz festival and that was a great crowd. Lots of energy. But before that we also visited Abu Dhabi, I would say four or five years ago.”
Russian Philipp Kirkorov was ecstatic about his Abu Dhabi experience, saying he went there for some downtime last year and enjoyed the fact he could visit Ferrari World and indulge in shopping without a trail of fans in his wake.
Meanwhile, vintage rockers Europe confirmed their interest in touring Abu Dhabi if the opportunity arises. Speaking to The National, front man Joey Tempest explained how the cancellation of a planned show at Du Forum last year had little to do with them: “It was a shame, man, because we were never booked,” said The Final
Countdown singer.
“We never knew about the gig at all and we never signed off on it. But we do hope to make it over there.”
But one thing is certain, when the Bravo awards eventually makes its way to the capital, one hopes the hosting venue has comfortable seats. Because if you thought the Academy Awards ceremony was long, you are yet to experience Bravo. Clocking in at just over five hours, the event was a test of endurance for the crowd and the hosts as well.
Two pairs of hosts were used and they interchanged every 90 minutes or so to ensure energy levels stayed high. Meanwhile, the crowds had the chance to stretch their legs and nourish themselves when the much-needed intermission arrived at the half-way mark.
Despite the duration, the event was packed with near back-to-back musical performances that would delight any Eurovision music lover.
There was “The People’s Artist of Russia” Nikolay Baskov, who was backed by a troupe of dancers dubbed The Queens, who looked as if they had just walked off the set of Xena: Warrior Princess. He delivered his signature brand of upbeat Barry Manilow-esque numbers. Then there was the fresh-faced young singer Vladimir, who kept his show delightfully 1990s with a Russian version of Bobby Brown’s
My Prerogative complete with boy-band dance moves.
Kirkorov was also true to form; joined by nearly 20 dancers wearing risqué outfits, the 50-year-old sang, rapped and mumbled his way through a high-energy dance track all the while carrying a gun that sprayed the stage with colourful Post-it notes.
The international acts brought us down to earth with slick performances. Seal’s raspy voice remains a marvel three decades into his career. He performed stripped-back takes of hits Kiss From A Rose and Crazy.
With Duran Duran touring for the past 12 months, they were a well-oiled machine on stage as they delivered the fan favourite Come Undone and the more recent release Pressure
Off. After Al Jassmi performed his biggest hit, Boshret Kheir, to an appreciative crowd, it was the British singer Rod Stewart who finished off the ceremony with his classic hits Forever
Young and Sailing.
Accepting a lifetime achievement award from a Department of Culture and Tourism official, the 73-year-old star was suitably chuffed.
“You know I didn’t know anything about this until I came to sound check this afternoon,” he said upon receiving his statue. “But I will take it. Thank you very much”
Meanwhile, the Sunday night ceremony was a high-brow classical music affair, with the Bolshoi Theatre red carpet hosting the Spanish tenor Jose Carerras as well as French actor Vincent Cassel.
They were joined by the cream of Russia’s classical music talent led by soprano Anna Netrebko and the Bolshoi Ballet’s prima ballerina Svetlana Zakharova.
Speaking to The National before the event, Carerras praised the UAE Government for its involvement with the Bravo awards, stating that cultural education is indeed a global effort.
“Anything that spreads arts, culture and understanding is not only important but necessary,” he says. “I can only congratulate the people and officials of Abu Dhabi for getting involved in this.”
The evening began on a sombre note with the ceremony paying tribute to the late Russian tenor Dmitri Hvorostovsky, who passed away in November after a battle with brain cancer.
With his Verdi: Rigolletto winning Classical Album of the Year, the crowd stood to applause as Hvorostovsky’s family members received the gilded statue before South Korean soprano and regular collaborator Sumi Jo delivered a moving performance of Caccini’s Ave Maria in tribute.
“He was a wonderful artist,” Jo told The National after stepping off the stage. “It was inspiring to work with him and I am glad I got the chance to perform here for him.”
A living legend was also honoured at the Bolshoi Theatre, with Carerras stepping on stage to rapturous applause. Awarding the young Russian violinist Dali Gutserieva with the Best New Discovery gong, the 71-year-old took to the podium to address all aspiring artists. “Many years ago I came on this very stage and I remember hearing my heart beating,” he said.
“I realised it was the happiest day of my life because I still had time to realise all my dreams. So my advice is to simply work hard and by that you will achieve incredible heights.”
The 46-year-old soprano Netrebko was also honoured for her 25-year career with the Global Start award – handed to her by Department of Culture official Afra Al Nuaimi – before returning to the stage with her husband and regular collaborator, the Azerbaijani tenor Yusif Eyvasov, to perform Franz Lehar’s Tu che m’hai preso il cuor (Yours is My Heart Alone) and Verdi’s Brindisi accompanied by the Bolshoi Theatre chorus.
Other local award winners included concert pianist Daniil Trifonov for Best Classical Composition in Contemporary Rendering, MusicAeterna for Orchestra of the Year and The Mariinsky Theatre’s Primorsky Stage in Vladivostok – in far eastern Russia – nabbed the Venue of the Year.
With such a wide span of music covered, we can expect the Abu Dhabi version of the Bravo awards to cater to all kinds of music lovers. The chaotic yet free-wheeling vibe of the pop music ceremony will be a guilty treat for pop culture vultures, while the refined classical music evening should be a welcome addition to Abu Dhabi’s operatic calendar. With some extra polish and potentially some generous editing, it should all make for great musical nights out in Abu Dhabi come November.