Under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage, Al Ain Classics was inaugurated yesterday, Thursday 5 March, 2009. The Warsaw Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra performed before a packed house in the breathtaking Al Jahili Fort.
His Excellency, Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage, opened the Al Ain Classics Festival, where he was joined by His Excellency Zaki Anwar Nusseibeh, Chairman "The Friends of the Al Ain Classics Festival" and Vice Chairman of Abu Dhabi Authority for Cultural & Heritage.
Zbeigniew Graca, the resident conductor of the Warsaw Chamber Opera since 1989 and of its annual Mozart Festival since its founding in 1991, conducted the highly acclaimed Warsaw Philarmonic Chamber Orchestra in this concert of masterpieces by Beethoven, Mozart, Mendelssohn and Schubert.
The event saw the pairing of two greats: Jan Lewtak on the Violin, accompanied by Marek Marczyk on the Viola. Lewtak is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Warsaw Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, and a soloist of international renown. Marczyk, also a soloist, has been the head of the viola section of the Warsaw Philharmonic since 1983, a member of the reactivated Warsaw Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra since 2002 and professor of viola and chamber music at the Chopin Music Academy in Warsaw.
The evening began with Beethoven’s formidable and elaborate ’Egmont’ Overture and continued with Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante for violin, viola and orchestra, led by two virtuosos , Lewtak on violin and Marczyk on viola, supported by the orchestra.
The musical adventure continued with Mendelssohn’s somber but gripping Hebrides Overture, including the famous Fingal’s Cave, which he composed in 1830.
The final performance of the evening was of Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony Number 8, which he began composing in 1822.
Al Ain Classics will continue until March 20, 2009 and will offer further highlights including Mozart’s opera The Marriage of Figaro sung in Arabic on 6 March, concert by singer Amal Maher and the Selim Sahab Orchestra on 12 March, ending with Shakespeare’s play Richard III in Arabic on 20 March.
All performances start at 20:00 hours. Tickets for the Al Ain Classics are available at www.timeouttickets.com, toll-free at 800 4669, Virgin Megastores, House of Arts Al Ain, Al Ain Rotana Hotel and at the evening box office. Tickets are priced at 50 Dhs for adults, 30 Dhs for students and children. Seats are not numbered, free seating.
