London Symphony Orchestra Concludes Abu Dhabi Festival 2010 On A High Note

Internationally acclaimed conductor Sir Colin Davis and the London Symphony Orchestra, celebrate 50 years of success in an astonishing performance

In a fitting finale for one of the region’s premiere cultural events, the Abu Dhabi Festival 2010 came to a close tonight with a celebration of the fifty year association between one of the world’s most respected maestros, Sir Colin Davis, and one of its greatest orchestras, the London Symphony Orchestra, featuring a true star of classical music, violinist Arabella Steinbacher.

The concert began with one of the most popular of Mozart’s works, the overture from the opera The Marriage of Figaro. The piece, which was composed just two days before its first performance, is a bold, operatic composition, played out to the delight of the Emirates Palace audience, including His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al-Nahyan, the UAE Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and President and Patron of the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation, Her Excellency Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, the UAE Minister for Foreign Trade, ambassadors and dignitaries.

The first half also showcased the prodigiously talented violinist Arabella Steinbacher, performing a Mendelssohn concerto – Violin Concerto in E minor­ – possibly the most popular violin concerto of all. The rich, lyrical piece, with its soaring dynamic solos, was the perfect work to demonstrate technical skill and mastery, and Arabella’s performance here did not disappoint.

The concert finished with a unique treat – Sir Colin Davis’ iconic interpretation of Hector Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique, a five movement symphony, which brings to life the vivid, passionate emotions of an artist in love. Sir Colin, who has performed this work with some of the world’s finest orchestras, and is featured on recordings for the LSO Live series, delivered a dramatic and emotional interpretation of this deeply evocative piece, as he brought the Abu Dhabi Festival to a thrilling conclusion.

This was the second performance by the LSO as part of Abu Dhabi Festival 2010. On Tuesday, they appeared under the baton of young conductor Kristjen Järvi, performing alongside solo pianist Wayne Marshall in a concert including pieces from Leonard Bernstein, George Gershwin and Sergei Rachmaninov.

The Abu Dhabi Festival 2010 is held under the patronage of His Highness General Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. It began on 20 March and ran until 7 April. This year’s Festival is a feast of arts and culture with more than 90 events over three weeks, fusing world-class performances in traditional, classical and jazz music, drama, fine arts, and ballet and rich community and education programs.

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