China National Symphony Orchestra steals spotlight

The Abu Dhabi Festival 2024 closed with the Arab World Premiere of the China National Symphony Orchestra (CNSO), a spectacular performance that took place at the majestic Emirates Palace on Saturday, 14 December 2024, at 8 pm.

This historic evening, co-presented by Abu Dhabi Festival and the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the United Arab Emirates, showcased an unforgettable celebration of symphonic music, blending Eastern and Western traditions.

The China National Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1996, is renowned for its innovative approach to symphonic music and has performed on prestigious stages worldwide, including Vienna, London, and Tokyo.

Under the baton of world-renowned conductors, the orchestra has earned a multitude of accolades for its vibrant sound and refined performances. The China National Symphony Orchestra performed in Abu Dhabi to a sold-out audience led by internationally acclaimed conductor, Jing Huan, who is best known for her dynamic energy and masterful interpretations.

Jing Huan’s performance with CNSO also marked a historical moment as she becomes the first female conductor to grace the stage at Abu Dhabi Festival. To conclude the Festival in rousing style, CNSO presented a programme that spanned a range of cultural and emotional depths.

Huda Ibrahim Al Khamis-Kanoo, Founder of Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation and Founder of the Abu Dhabi Festival, emphasised the importance of the historic celebration of the 40th anniversary of the establishment of China-UAE diplomatic relations as an indication of the status and depth of bilateral ties between the two countries.

She commented: “The exceptional presence of the Chinese National Symphony Orchestra (CNSO) for the first time in the Arab region and the Middle East includes Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s classical music masterpieces from Scheherazade’s rich cultural heritage One Thousand and One Nights, the Violin Concerto for The Butterfly Lovers by leading Chinese composers He Zhanhao and Chen Gang, and Ya Bahr from the heritage of the Emirati Sea, by international Emirati composer Ihab Darwish, with the participation of 12 Emirati musicians.”