SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)

The UAE National Orchestra will open the 23rd edition of Abu Dhabi Festival 2026 on October 10 at Etihad Arena under conductor François López-Ferrer.

The programme features Suppé’s Light Cavalry Overture, Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 performed by Georgian pianist David Khrikuli, and Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8.

The three works offer contrasting musical styles and celebrate the UAE’s cultural spirit by bringing together national and international talent.

In a statement to Aletihad, the orchestra said the performance marks an important milestone in its second season, building on the festival’s 23-year contribution to Abu Dhabi’s classical music scene.

The festival created a new listening culture, the orchestra said, highlighting its growing role in the capital’s cultural landscape. "As for Abu Dhabi’s position, we take inspiration from the proud history of the Abu Dhabi Festival. A festival of its longevity and a new resident national orchestra are two parts of that story," it added.

On the significance of the occasion, the orchestra said: “The opening night of a festival is not a place to be timid,” noting that the programme is designed to showcase the orchestra’s musical capabilities.

While the opening concert features Western classical works, the cultural exchange is reflected in its musicians, who come from the UAE, the Arab world and beyond.

The wider season will feature original compositions connecting Eastern and Western traditions through world premieres, including works created for the unique instrumental lineup of the orchestra.

The orchestra said the three composers were selected for their distinctive musical identities, reflecting its own mission to draw inspiration from cultural heritage.

“Three composers delving into their own musical soil is not an accidental choice for an orchestra whose own mission is to do precisely that,” they said.

The three composers reflect their distinct musical traditions: Franz von Suppé’s Light Cavalry Overture combines Viennese and Hungarian influences, Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8 features Bohemian folk-inspired rhythms, and Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 opens with chords reminiscent of Russian bells.

On what audiences should listen for, the orchestra highlighted the distinctive musical features of each work, from Suppé’s energetic brass opening to Rachmaninoff’s interplay between piano and orchestra, and Dvořák’s expressive melodies.

“In the Rachmaninoff, of course the piano is the star, but the great tunes do not belong solely on the keyboard,” they said, noting that the melodies move between the clarinet, flute and strings.

In the second movement, the piano accompanies orchestral solos featuring the melody that inspired Céline Dion’s “All By Myself”.

Highlighting Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8, the orchestra added: “A favourite [moment] is the tender call and response between flute and strings which is at the heart of the second movement.”

On the collaboration with pianist David Khrikuli, the orchestra praised his lyrical musicianship and ability to bring out the concerto’s melodic qualities.

"What we hope for is a meeting of minds at the highest level – the chance to hear the performers adjusting to each other in real time – it is real ‘give and take’," it said, describing the collaboration as an opportunity for musicians to respond to one another during the performance.

Recognising that some audience members may be hearing the concerto live for the first time, the orchestra added: “Sharing this experience is a responsibility we take seriously.”

On the role of award-winning conductor François López-Ferrer, the orchestra said: “François López-Ferrer has a strong sense of structure and a light hand with this repertoire, and that combination is why he is on the podium for a concert of this significance."

The orchestra expressed hope that the performance would strengthen audiences’ connection to classical music and encourage them to return.

“A national orchestra is not proved on one night; we hope to do that over seasons,” it said.

They added that they hope the "audience leaves feeling that this music is theirs, too".