ADMAF Presents Unique Performance With Celebrated Baritone Jose Van Dam’s Abu Dhabi Debut

- ADMAF’s special concert will see master performers taking the stage with young musical talents

The Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation (ADMAF) today announced that world-renowned bass baritone, José van Dam, will perform in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday 27 October in a unique concert under the patronage of H.H. Sheikha Salama Bint Hamdan Al Nahyan. The Belgian-born singer will be performing at Emirates Palace in honour of Their Highnesses Prince Philippe & Princess Mathilde of Belgium who are visiting Abu Dhabi.

The event comes to highlight ADMAF’s continuous efforts to build cultural dialogue between nations. Since its establishment 13 years ago, ADMAF has worked with embassies and communities in the UAE to enhance cultural communication between nations by supporting events that extend cultural bridges from the capital Abu Dhabi to the rest of the world.

The one-off concert is being presented by ADMAF in association with the Embassy of Belgium. José van Dam is one of the most celebrated interpreters of the bass-baritone repertoire and one of the four masters in residence of The Queen Elisabeth College of Music in Belgium. He will appear on stage in Abu Dhabi with leading European musicians including the highly acclaimed Romanian pianist, Dana Protopopescu, Belgian virtuoso violinist and winner of the prestigious Queen Elisabeth Competition, Lorenzo Gatto, and two exceptionally talented young singers from the College - Dutch soprano, Lies Vandewege, and French mezzo-soprano, Anne-Fleur Inizan.

The Queen Elisabeth College of Music, inaugurated in 1939, was the brainchild of keen violist, Queen Elisabeth of Belgium, and Eugene Isaÿe, one of the greatest violinists and composers of his time. The College has helped turn gifted students, such as Lorenzo Gatto, into world-renowned musicians. Along with the two current students, Abu Dhabi will see Gatto take to the stage alongside master in residence, José van Dam.

The evening at Emirates Palace will begin with Sonate n° 3 for violin and piano in D minor by Eduard Grieg followed by a programme of Mozart favourites including arias from Don Giovanni and Cosi Fan Tutte.

Her Excellency Hoda Al Khamis Kanoo, founder of ADMAF comments:

“We are extremely proud to host this special concert in honour of Their Highnesses Prince Philippe & Princess Mathilde of Belgium. And we are thrilled to welcome the brilliant baritone, José van Dam, the outstanding pianist, Dana Protopopescu, and the exceptionally talented musicians from the world-renowned Queen Elisabeth College of Music to Abu Dhabi.

“At ADMAF we share a mission for education with the Queen Elisabeth College of Music so we are very pleased to present educational components around this concert. We also have a common aim to support young talent and we greatly admire the college’s exceptional Queen Elisabeth Competition which has helped to uncover and nurture so many classical talents.”

Following in the footsteps of Abu Dhabi government, ADMAF is sparing no effort in creating ever-stronger relations with nations, embassies and communities in the UAE and abroad. The concert has been made possible through the collaboration with the Belgian Embassy in Abu Dhabi which has worked alongside ADMAF to create ever-stronger relations between Belgium and the UAE.

With the extraordinary José van Dam concert, ADMAF is continuing its mission to bring some of the finest contemporary artists, musicians and performers in the world to Abu Dhabi. ADMAF is also presenting an educational programme around the event, true to its aim to bring music and arts to the next generation in the UAE. Lorenzo Gatto will lead talented students from the British School in a masterclass while an open rehearsal will be attended by students and singers from three Abu Dhabi choirs - Al Khubeirah from the British School, Voices of Harmony and Blue Velvet.
 

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