Popular operatic pop group Il Divo will perform for the first time at a live concert in the UAE capital next month as part of the Abu Dhabi Festival 2010.

The show will kick off at Emirates Palace, West Park on April 2, said event organisers Flash Entertainment.

Il Divo was formed in 2004 as a multinational operatic pop vocal group, with members - David Miller from the US, vox populi Sebastien Izambard from France, tenor Urs Bühler from Switzerland, and baritone Carlos Marin from Spain.

The group has since become the most successful international break out story of the past few years, selling more than 25 million albums.

The talented quartet will showcase their most recent album;  ‘The Promise‘, with versions of Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s ‘The Power of Love’ and ABBA’s ‘Winner Takes It All’ alongside much loved classics such as ‘Amazing Grace’ and ‘Adagio’.

Combining all of the popular appeal of previous events such as Rihanna and Coldplay, along with the classical gravitas of Andrea Bocelli; the Il Divo concert promises to shatter preconceived ideas of music with a performance of romantic and popular songs in an operatic style, said John Lickrish, managing director of Flash Entertainment.

“We’re determined to keep raising the bar for entertainment in Abu Dhabi, with a wide range of acts and events throughout the year. This concert will bring something completely new to the capital, bridging the gap between classical music and pop culture and introducing the younger generations to a whole new style of music,” he  commented.

“Flash is committed to bringing the world’s leading performers to the capital, whether from the sporting arenas or the world of performing arts, to put Abu Dhabi on the map as a hub for entertainment and culture," he added.

The group, which has garnered over 150 gold and platinum awards in 33 countries, have performed for over 2 million people on their recent tours. They also won last year’s Billboard Breakthrough Award for having one of the year’s top grossing tours; playing 130 arena shows across six continents.
 
Sebastien Izambard from Il Divo said, "We’re really excited to be finally making it to Abu Dhabi and playing this special show."

"Our first experience in the UAE was in Dubai which we loved, and a couple of us have even been back for holidays, so we’re really keen to learn more about the community there and be part of this special arts and cultural festival," he noted.

Hoda Al Khamis Kanoo, founder of Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation, said one of the key missions of the festival was to encourage everyone to embrace culture and the arts, in order to lay a strong foundation for the development of Abu Dhabi as a cultural center for the region and a key player in the international arts world.

“Singers such as Il Divo, whose work spans the worlds of opera and popular music, provide a beautiful introduction to the joys of operatic technique. I look forward to working with Flash again this year to take the spirit of the Abu Dhabi Festival to a wider audience,” she added.-TradeArabia News Service