Naseer Shamma returns to UAE National Orchestra with bigger ambitions for the oud

When Naseer Shamma first joined the UAE National Orchestra for their inaugural concert in January, the performance marked a celebration of the orchestra's potential. Nine months later, the Iraqi oud virtuoso is returning to the orchestra with a more ambitious program and a full season of concerts across the emirates behind him. Shamma will perform four of his compositions in new orchestral arrangements, including a concerto for oud and orchestra, at Friday's Harmony concert at NYU Abu Dhabi's Arts Centre.

According to Shamma, the orchestra has made significant progress since their initial performance, taking time for extensive rehearsals and discussions with musicians to develop a more profound program. Shamma, one of the Arab world's most influential oud players and educators, has been collaborating with the orchestra for nearly four decades, helping to develop a family of ouds, composing for film and theatre, and founding Bait Al Oud in Cairo.

He hopes to expand the oud's repertoire to provide future generations of players with more opportunities. Balancing the oud's unique sound with the symphony orchestra's instrumental range is crucial for Shamma, who emphasizes preserving the instrument's identity in a contemporary setting. His collaboration with the orchestra has also grown through his relationship with the musicians, who showed curiosity about his playing style during early rehearsals.

Some Emirati musicians trained at Bait Al Oud, which Shamma established in Cairo and Abu Dhabi, have joined the UAE National Orchestra, further strengthening the collaboration between the orchestra and the oud community. The Harmony concert featuring Shamma's new concerto will take place on October 16 at The Arts Centre, NYU Abu Dhabi, with tickets starting at Dh100.