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Byline: Stars heading to the UAE for the Abu Dhabi Classics will visit schools to promote an awareness of classical music

Stars heading to the UAE for the Abu Dhabi Classics will visit schools to promote an awareness of classical music Abu Dhabi will welcome an extraordinary line-up of world-class artists in an annual event that launches the classical music season in the capital. Drawcards include the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, the Bayreuth Festival Orchestra, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta, Lorin Maazel, Christian Thielemann, Lang Lang, Misha Maisky, Arcadi Volods, Cecilia Bartoli, Marcelo Alvarez, and Bobby MacFerrin. The inaugural Abu Dhabi Classics will begin with two spectacular events at the Emirates Palace on Friday and Saturday. The season will continue until May 2009, combining educational programmes with musical performances. Till Janczukowicz, executive director of Abu Dhabi Classics, told tabloid!: "We are delighted to be part of this beautiful culture starting to boom in Abu Dhabi with its great museums and performing art centres." Janczukowicz produces recordings and manages tours throughout the world for solo artists as well as orchestras and opera companies. Initiatives He said that, after being in touch with the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH), "we decided to go big with its cultural initiatives so we put [together] a concert series for the whole year in order to do something for the public to make everybody aware of classic music". All the stars will be visiting local schools and will work with students on songs and music, and some musicians will stay on in Abu Dhabi for a while to help create awareness of classical music. For Abdulla Al Ameri, director of the arts and culture department in ADACH, "the purpose of the event is to build up a public interest in classical music starting with children". Among the events is the magical music of Walt Disney which children favour and easily understand. Praise for Arabic music Till Janczukowicz is very impressed by Arabic music. "It's very authentic" he said. "Music consist of three elements: rhythm, melody, and harmony and traditional Arabic music is based on rhythm and melody with less harmony, which is a very interesting thing." He said he was exploring the idea of bringing Arabic and European music together. A perfect host On Friday, the season will begin with the Opening Gala, Journey of Emotions, hosted by the Oscar- winning British actor Jeremy Irons. Irons will take guests on an unforgettable musical journey of passion, excitement and glamour, featuring some of the world's greatest musical artists from classical, gypsy, jazz and flamenco backgrounds. Beginning in India -- the birthplace of Abu Dhabi Classics conductor-in-residence Zubin Mehta -- and ending in Southern Spain with the flamenco group Arcangel, the journey will also include exhilarating performances by Hungarian violinist Roby Lakatos, Egypt's Musicians of the Nile, German jazz trumpeter Till BrE[micro]nner, Russian classical pianist Arcadi Volodos and American soprano Indra Thomas. The following evening, musical history will be made when the Bayreuth Festival performs the Wagner Gala in the Middle East for the first time. Led by one of the world's leading Wagner-conductors, Christian Thielemann, the orchestra will offer a concert of excerpts from Richard Wagner's Ring, a story about greed, power and heroes in an unparalleled exclusive musical encounter. In Europe, with a waiting time of seven to ten years for tickets, the Bayreuth Festival is a not-to-be-missed event, and will provide the perfect ending to the opening weekend of Abu Dhabi Classics. Don't miss it! Tickets are available at Virgin Megastores and can be purchased online at: www.timeouttickets.com Aaor by calling the toll free number 800--4669.

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