Artists and performers from across the world will converge on the UAE capital for the month-long Abu Dhabi Festival 2012, which opens on March 11 under the theme ‘Connecting Cultures’.

Partnerships between festival organisers Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (Admaf) and organisations including the Royal Opera House (ROH), Manchester International Festival (MIF), Edinburgh Festival and Carnegie Hall amongst others, feature strongly on the 2012 programme.

The festival, which will run till April 6, will celebrate its growing network of global creative partners through the theme ‘Connecting Cultures’ and strengthen Abu Dhabi’s position as an international cultural destination. 

Speaking about the important role of partnerships on the Abu Dhabi Festival, Hoda I Al Khamis Kanoo, founder and artistic director of Abu Dhabi Festival, said: “Abu Dhabi Festival is truly a festival of partnerships. Building collaborative partnerships with some of the world’s most prestigious cultural and artistic organisations ensures that the festival continues to welcome world-class talent. Moreover, alliances enable the festival to further its aim of fostering artistic innovation and sharing diverse cultures through music and the arts.” 

Carnegie Hall’s Ensemble ACJW will be leading the festival’s Young Artists’ Day, giving youngsters the chance to work with some of the world’s brightest young classical talent. 

The performance of ‘Beloved Friend’, the story of composer Piotr II’yich Tchaikovsky and his muse and patron, Nadezhda von Meck, on April 2 marks the beginning of what the festival organisers hope will be a long term strategic partnership with the ROH.

“We are delighted to welcome the Royal Opera House to the Abu Dhabi Festival for the first time in 2012. It is through partnerships with such organisations that the festival is able to further foster artistic innovation and exchange. We are very much looking forward to what is sure to be a truly memorable experience.”

Speaking about the partnership between Abu Dhabi Festival and the Royal Opera House (ROH), Tony Hall, Baron Hall of Birkenhead, chief executive of the ROH, said: “Opera and ballet are global art forms and the Royal Opera House is very much a global organisation with dancers, singers, conductors, directors and choreographers from all over the world working with us.  This is what makes the Royal Opera House exciting.

“This is however the first time that ROH visits Abu Dhabi and we are pleased to be developing relationships and work in this part of the world.  ROH is committed to developing key relationships around the world with partners who share ROH's objectives of bringing the highest quality art to as wide as possible an audience.  Excellence and access are at the heart of everything that we do at ROH,” he added. - TradeArabia News Service