Leading artistes from the United Arab Emirates will perform an evening of traditional Arab music and poetry dedicated to the rich cultural heritage of the country as part of the newly reintroduced Abu Dhabi Classics annual concert season.

Titled The Song of Heritage, the evening will bring eminent Emirati musicians and poets on stage at the Al Qattara Arts Centre in Al Ain, the heritage heartland of the UAE, on 27th October for one evening only.

Acclaimed master of the traditional oud stringed instrument Faisal Al Saari will be joined by poet Abdullah Al Heydah and Ali Mohammed Matar Helal Al Keebali, and expert on the rebabah, another stringed instrument, for a night of musical recitals interspersed with Arabic poetry.

Reintroduced by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) after a three-year break, the Abu Dhabi Classics season, from October until May, sees leading local and international musicians and orchestras perform at numerous venues across Abu Dhabi city, Saadiyat Island and the UNESCO World Heritage site of Al Ain, dedicated to the theme of The Traveller.

Al Saari taught himself to play the oud in 1986 and mastered the instrument at the Bait Al Oud musical academy in the oasis city of Al Ain, becoming one of the UAEs leading experts in his field.

I have always loved Abdullah Al Hedyahs poetry and I am really looking forward to see how his words and my music work together. We want to pay tribute to our country and to what makes up its real beauty - its heritage. I am also very proud to be part of this seasons Abu Dhabi Classics and represent Emirati musical accomplishment, Al Saari said.

Western classical music, especially Bach, is one of my most important sources of inspiration and I see it as part of my artistic goal to blend both Western and local musical traditions. Up to 12 concerts are planned for the Abu Dhabi Classics season featuring some of the worlds leading classical musicians and orchestras from more than 20 countries.

As part of the season we want to show that classical music is a universal phenomenon with no boundaries, stretching from East to West. This heritage performance of music and poetry will highlight Emirati culture at its best, said Dr Ronald Perlwitz, Head of Music Programme, Culture Sector, TCA Abu Dhabi.

We hope the success of the evening will lead to the Emirati musical experience being taken abroad and performed to enthrall audiences in other countries. We are also hoping to see collaborations taking place between local artistes and visiting international composers and musicians.
Dr. Perlwitz said that Grammy award winner Spanish composer Jordi Savall, who is due to perform his unique concert Ibn Battuta: Voyager of Islam at the Emirates Palace Auditorium as part of the Classics season on November 20, has already expressed an interest in working with the Emirati ensemble on a pioneering musical project.

The programme will be conducted outdoors and entry is free.