The sixth edition of the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Festival is set to feature a varied programme of ballet, opera, classical and Arabic music, a visual arts component and a strong educational programme which forms the festival’s backbone.

Organised by the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (Admaf), the two-week festival runs from March 21 to April 2 and is primarily hosted at the Emirates Palace.

Some of the celebrities who will perform at the festival include gifted opera singer Romanian soprano Angela Gheorghiu, who will be part of a special opera gala that opens the festival this weekend, oud virtuoso, Naseer Shamma who will perform with world music award winner Tunisian singer Latifa and Dia Al Azzawi, contemporary Arabic artist, whose work features in the visual arts element of the festival.

Held under the patronage of General Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the festival also feature a community programme reaching across all the Emirates under the theme of ‘Bilad al Khair’ or ‘land of blessings’.

The sixth Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Festival is presented by Admaf with executive producer IMG Artists, the world’s leading performing artist management company.

This year’s festival is also the first to involve collaboration with Flash Entertainment who, together with Admaf, is bringing Andrea Bocelli to Abu Dhabi for the first time.

“It is very exciting to be here in Abu Dhabi and to have the opportunity of opening the wonderful Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Festival as part of the opera gala,” said Angela Gheorghiu.

“I am very much looking forward to sharing the stage with Jonas Kaufmann, the talented German tenor with the Bolshoi theatre orchestra under the direction of Ion Marin.”

Dia Al Azzawi added: “It is a great honour to be invited to exhibit at the sixth Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Festival, one of the region’s most important cultural events. The works I am bringing are some of the most important pieces in my career so far. Much like the Festival itself, my pieces bring together influences from across the Arab world as well as the West.”

“Abu Dhabi is on an extraordinary journey of cultural development as it establishes itself as a centre of arts and music in the region and it is a pleasure to be a part of that and perform as part of this fantastic line-up of Arabic and Western artists,” said Naseer Shamma.

The festival is an integral part of Admaf’s year-long efforts to complement Abu Dhabi’s cultural vision. It aims to feature Abu Dhabi as a prominent cultural destination, while promoting the unique role of music and arts in cultural cooperation.

“Now we are at the eve of the festival, we are very excited about the feast of music and arts that Abu Dhabi will witness over the coming two weeks,” said Hoda I. Al Khamis-Kanoo, founder of Admaf.

“This is undoubtedly our most inspiring programme of international artists to date and each year we grow from strength to strength.

“But as important to us is the programme of educational and community activities, which are set to take place across the nation.  Developing culture from within the UAE is a founding principle of Admaf and we hope that these activities will inspire the next generation to great artistic achievement and appreciation,” she added.

Admaf has also organised a special program for children with special needs by the talented musicians of Live Music Now (LMN).

LMN is the largest provider of live music to the UK's welfare, educational, justice and health sectors, with a unique resource of specially trained musicians. The program will include workshops and performances by children with special needs. – TradeArabia News Service