UAE National Orchestra opens new season with three Emirati premieres
The UAE National Orchestra is opening its second season with three new Emirati compositions, giving audiences the opportunity to hear the works performed publicly for the first time. Titled To This Land, We Belong, the opening concert takes audiences through a musical interpretation of the UAE, touching on its founding story, landscapes, traditions, memories and ideas of identity and belonging.…
The UAE National Orchestra is set to launch its second season with three brand-new compositions by Emirati composers Khalid Nassir, Ali Kano and Fayez Al Saeed. Titled To This Land, We Belong, the opening concert takes listeners on a musical journey through the UAE, encompassing its founding story, landscapes, traditions, memories and ideas of identity and belonging. Tickets are available at a price range of Dh100 to Dh200 for both performances.
The concert will showcase each composer's unique perspective on the nation's story. Nassir's The Founder's Journey is a six-part composition inspired by Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan's journey and philosophy, moving through stages such as departure, discovery and return. Kano's Homeland Melodies is a concerto blending oriental instruments with the orchestra, while Al Saeed's Lightning, Thunder & Longing is a suite for orchestra and choir, featuring poetry by Emirati poet Arif Al Khajah.
The performers will be guided by conductor Ahmed Farag, presenting the three compositions live for the first time as part of the orchestra's repertoire. The concert will run for 90 minutes, including an interval.
The UAE National Orchestra will first present the new works in Abu Dhabi at The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island, on September 18, 2026. The performance will then continue in Dubai at Dubai Opera, Downtown Dubai, two days later, on September 20, 2026.
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