Abu Dhabi Festival 2019: What’s happening

The 16th edition of the Abu Dhabi Festival is set to return in March 2019 with more than 100 events, 18 productions and two commissions across 25 venues.

The month-long arts and culture fest will focus this time around on the Republic of Korea — which has been named the ‘country of honour’.

The central theme of the festival is ‘Culture of Determination’, which celebrates the positive impact people make even in the face of adversity.

More than 500 artists from 17 counties will take part in ADF, which will include performances by American mezzo-soprano Flamenco dancer Sara Baras. The Korean Symphony Orchestra. The Korean National Ballet.

Joyce DiDonato with Orchestra il pomo d’oro, directed by Maxim Emelyanychev; the Korean National Ballet; the Korean Symphony Orchestra; award-winning artist Justin Kauflin; Welsh bass-baritone, Sir Bryn Terfel; flamenco dancer and choreographer Sara Baras; and The Paris Opera Ballet.

The festival will also showcase Distant Prospects, an exhibition that delves into the history of European landscape painting from Liechtenstein, The Princely Collections.

Also running alongside the event will be an educational programme complete with panel discussions, guided tours and creative workshops. What’s more, a residency opportunity is on the offing that will see five Emirati artists visiting Vaduz and Vienna.

Tickets to Joyce DiDonato with Orchestra il pomo d’oro (January 24); Korean National Ballet (March 17); Korean Symphony Orchestra (March 8); Justin Kauflin (March 11 at NYUAD Arts Centre; Dh100); Tosca (March 15); Sara Baras (March 21) and The Paris Opera Ballet (March 29-30) start at Dh175. All ticket prices are reduced by 25 per cent until January 10.