Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi Festival, in collaboration with the Peace and Prosperity Trust (PPT), premiered an extraordinary gala concert featuring Emirati and international artists at the prestigious Kensington Palace on 6th June. This event marked a significant milestone in the 'Abu Dhabi Festival Abroad' programme, emphasizing the festival's mission to build cultural capacities and foster global collaboration through music.
According to Emirates News Agency, the co-production was the culmination of an intensive three-week UK Artist Residency Programme, supported by the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation (ADMAF) in partnership with PPT. During this residency, Emirati artists engaged in rigorous training, rehearsals, and seminars with esteemed instructors across prestigious musical venues. The resulting performance presented a repertoire that blended Emirati traditions with global influences, underscoring the vital role of cultural exchange in shaping artistic conversations and inspiring new creative forms.
At the heart of the evening was the world premiere of "Ruins of Time," a powerful new composition exclusively commissioned by ADMAF from acclaimed Emirati composer Ihab Darwish. The programme also featured mezzo-soprano Fatima Al Hashimi performing masterpieces by Saint-Sa«ns, Mozart, and Jule Styne, and baritone Ahmed Al Hosani presenting celebrated works by De Curtis and Bizet, alongside international musicians from PPT. The concert was conducted by Toby Purser, Artistic Director of the Peace and Prosperity Trust, highlighting the immense talent emerging from the UAE and its meaningful contribution to the international creative landscape.
The concert followed the success of the Abu Dhabi Festival's pioneering 'Arts @ Embassies' cultural diplomacy initiative, held on 22 May at the UAE Embassy in London. The three exceptional Emirati artists took part in a panel discussion where they shared their artistic journeys and heartfelt reflections on heritage, identity, innovation, and discovery-narratives that are helping shape the future of music.
Huda Al Khamis-Kanoo, Founder of ADMAF and the Abu Dhabi Festival, remarked that the Kensington Palace Gala Concert, held under the patronage and in the presence of HRH Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, in partnership with PPT, and the 'Arts @ Embassies' panel discussion, marks the beginning of a new chapter in cultural diplomacy between the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. She emphasized that the performance by composer Ihab Darwish, mezzo-soprano Fatima Al Hashimi, and baritone Ahmed Al Hosani reflects a vision to promote knowledge exchange, cultural dialogue, and the global presentation of Emirati artistic and musical achievements.
Rajai Khouri, Founder of the Peace and Prosperity Trust, highlighted the uniqueness of the concert at Kensington Palace, noting it was the first-ever collaboration of PPT with ADMAF. He emphasized that the concert marked the world premiere of a composition by Ihab Darwish, created especially for the occasion, and praised the collaboration as a unique cultural brand.
Through the universal language of music, the collaboration between ADMAF and PPT promotes Emirati culture on a global stage and plays a vital role in raising the international profile of Emirati artists. This partnership fosters their professional growth and expands their exposure to new audiences worldwide. The Kensington Palace concert and the 'Arts @ Embassies' talk in the UK signal a new chapter in the ongoing journey of exchange and mutual respect between ADMAF and the United Kingdom.