Convention

Virtuoso Georgian pianist Khatia Buniatishvili will make her debut appearance in Arabia when she performs as part of the Abu Dhabi Classics international concert season early next year. The soloist will play music from her latest CD - which draws on influences from her homeland - on the evening of Wednesday, January 7th at the Manarat Al Saadiyat arts and culture centre on Saadiyat Island. Khatias concert is part of the Abu Dhabi Classics 2014/15 season, which has been reintroduced following a three year break, and has attracted some of the worlds leading classical performers to sell-out venues across the emirate. It feels very exotic to be coming to Abu Dhabi and I love discovering new impressions and emotions. It will be my first time visiting and I am glad that this classical programme brings European music to Abu Dhabi. I on the other hand, am going to absorb the citys unique and colourful energy. I think it's a great idea to blend different cultures together, as a mix is a beginning of a new culture, Buniatishvili said ahead of her appearance in the emirate. As a three-year-old, Khatia first learned to play the piano and just three years later her extraordinary natural talent led her to perform as a soloist for the Chamber Orchestra in Tblisi, Georgia, subsequently being invited to play a series of international concerts across Europe and the US. It was crucial for us to invite Khatia to Abu Dhabi because her new CD Motherland wonderfully reflects this seasons theme of The Traveller and also because she has reached a musical definition of what a homeland can be, said Dr Ronald Perlwitz, Head of Music Programme at Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), which presents the series. She is certainly one of the most interesting pianists today. Shes a very passionate artist and an intellectual and has developed a true reflection about the role of music. Buniatishvili has given critically acclaimed solo recitals and chamber music concerts at renowned venues including Londons Wigmore Hall, Amsterdams Concertgebouw and the Musikverein in Vienna. In 2008 she made her US concert debut at Carnegie Hall (Zankel Hall) in New York, performing Chopins Second Piano Concerto. The musician, who speaks five languages and lives in Paris, France, has released three critically acclaimed albums to date her first a Listz recital, the second dedicated to Chopin and her third which draws on her musical influences from her native Georgia. Abu Dhabi Classics runs until May and brings some of the worlds best classical performers and orchestras from East and West to a host of venues throughout Abu Dhabi including Saadiyat Island and the historic Al Jahili Fort in the emirates heritage heartland of Al Ain. Buniatishvili is the second international solo pianist to play in this seasons Abu Dhabi Classics following the French prodigy Lydie Solomons sold out performance earlier this year when she launched the new season at the same venue. Tickets are available from www.ticketmaster.ae priced from AED 100 (US $27). Limited student tickets will also be available at AED 30 (US $8)

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