The UNESCO International Orchestra of Peace, led by Valery Gergiev, will perform on January 4, 2011 at the Emirates Palace Hotel at the opening of the annual Abu Dhabi Festival, one of the central events in the cultural life of the United Arab Emirates. This will be the first concert of the orchestra in the countries of the Arab world.
Maestro Valery Gergiev, renowned conductor of the International Peace Orchestra, enthusiastically responded about the upcoming performance: "I am pleased to accept the invitation of the Abu Dhabi Festival and come to the Emirates, accompanied by the unique UNESCO World Orchestra, to give the first concert in the Arab country. We want this the New Year’s concert became a real celebration of music and helped to overcome the borders dividing countries and peoples, and also united us and our listeners in a single rush of recognition, understanding and harmony. " At the Abu Dhabi Festival, top-level musicians from 30 countries under the direction of Valery Gergiev will perform famous classical works, including the overture to the opera William Tell by Rossini, Prokofiev’s First Symphony and Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony.
Recall that this annual Festival has been held since 2004 by the Abu Dhabi Foundation for Music and Art, whose goal is to turn Abu Dhabi into the world cultural capital of the 21st century. "We are pleased that the first performance of the UNESCO International Orchestra of Peace under the direction of Valery Gergiev in the Arab countries will take place at the Abu Dhabi Festival," said Huda al Khamis Kanu, founder and artistic director of the Festival. “The concert will open the Abu Dhabi Festival, the main theme of which is“ harmonization of humanity. ”This is symbolic, because music and art in general represent that force that can bring together and unite different people.”
The International Peace Orchestra was recently awarded the title "UNESCO Artists for Peace". This title is given to world-famous artists who contribute to the dissemination and implementation of UNESCO's high ideas. Created in 1995 by the late Sir George Sholty, the orchestra gathers only for individual performances, which are always devoted to the theme of peace and humanitarian transformation. “My late husband, Sir George Solti, created this unique orchestra in 1995 to mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. After surviving two world wars, my husband was convinced that we should reflect on the lessons of the past and build a bright future on this basis.” said Valeria Solti, patroness of the International Peace Orchestra. “This will be the first concert of the orchestra in the countries of the Arab world. We are very grateful to the organizers of the Abu Dhabi Festival for giving us the opportunity to once again appeal to fight for world peace.”
