From classics to chants: Abu Dhabi Festival’s online Ramadan concert series begins
Abu Dhabi Festival has returned with its Ramadan series of online concerts this year.
Five concerts will be streamed over the course of the holy month, featuring a regional line-up of fresh and seasoned talents. Encompassing various styles, from Sufi chants to arias, all works performed will share the reflective spirit of Ramadan.
We take a look at what to expect:
Saudi Arabian tenor Marwan Fagi goes operatic
Saudi Arabian tenor Marwan Fagi teams up with the Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra for a concert titled Wajd
(Devotion). The Arabic operatic pieces and ballads in the programme touch upon various forms of human and spiritual connections, and should serve as a fine showcase for an artist representing the next wave of Saudi music talent. Fagi’s performance, which takes place today, will include Ateh Fik (I
Adore You), a piece he composed with music arranged by Rami Basahih.
Debut performance by Mohammed Al-Zahrani
Marking his first international festival concert performance, Mohammed Al-Zahrani will blend Saudi folk traditions with classical music, while also being backed by the Lebanese
Philharmonic Orchestra. Look out for the first-time performance of new song Aala Wa Amjad (More and More Sublime) written by Lebanese composer and poet Hiba Al Kawas. Al-Zahrani performs on Saturday.
Tamtam merges classical and spiritual traditions
More vibrant Saudi talent is on offer with soulful singer-songwriter Tamtam performing a repertoire of spiritual songs with a classical music twist. Accompanied by piano and violin, these traditional pieces are inspired by Arabic poetry and grounded in a central message of gratitude that befits the holy month. Tamtam performs next Monday.
A moment of prayer with Mayssa Karaa
Grammy-nominated Lebanese-American singer Mayssa Karaa will perform Doua’a
(Prayer). Sharing the stage with Indian singer Javed Ali, the duo will perform pieces taken from the Sufi tradition, with its chanting messages of tolerance, love for one another and the divine. They perform next Thursday.
An evening of Arabic classics with Mahmoud El Tohamy
If you weren’t able to attend last year’s Ramadan concert series, then you are in for a treat. Egyptian devotional singer and master of Sufi chants Mahmoud El Tohamy will close this year’s series with a new programme of classical Arabic poems backed by traditional and western musical accompaniments. It doesn’t matter if you don’t understand the words or the significance of the pieces, as El Tohamy’s aim has always been to simply move people with his singing. He performs on Sunday, May 2.
Saeed Saeed
All concerts will be streamed from 9.30pm on the Abu Dhabi Festival social media channels including YouTube.