Abu Dhabi Festival stages gala concert at Kensington Palace, premiering Emirati composition

📷WAM

LONDON, June 10 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – The Abu Dhabi Festival, in collaboration with the Peace and Prosperity Trust (PPT), premiered a gala concert on June 6 at Kensington Palace, spotlighting Emirati and international talent in a landmark event for the ‘Abu Dhabi Festival Abroad’ programme, organisers said.

The concert featured the world premiere of Ruins of Time, a composition by Emirati composer Ihab Darwish commissioned by the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF), alongside performances by mezzo-soprano Fatima Al Hashimi and baritone Ahmed Al Hosani. The programme included works by Saint-Saëns, Mozart, Bizet, and others, and was conducted by Toby Purser, Artistic Director of the PPT.

The gala followed a three-week UK Artist Residency Programme supported by ADMAF in partnership with PPT, during which Emirati artists received intensive training and participated in rehearsals and seminars with leading musicians across prominent UK venues.

Huda Al Khamis-Kanoo, founder of ADMAF and Abu Dhabi Festival, said the Kensington Palace event—held under the patronage and in the presence of HRH Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester—marked a new chapter in cultural diplomacy between the UAE and the UK. The initiative, she noted, also reinforced the UAE’s position as a creative hub for global artistic collaboration.

“This world premiere reflects our vision to promote knowledge exchange, cultural dialogue, and global recognition of Emirati artistic achievements,” Al Khamis-Kanoo said. “The arts are the bridge that unites us, creating bonds that transcend borders.”

Rajai Khouri, founder of the Peace and Prosperity Trust, said the collaboration was the first of its kind and praised the performance for its fusion of operatic and Arabic musical traditions.

The concert was preceded by the fourth edition of the Festival’s Arts @ Embassies initiative, held at the UAE Embassy in London on May 22. The panel discussion, moderated by Emirati filmmaker Noor Kanoo, featured the three Emirati artists who reflected on their creative journeys and the role of heritage, identity, and innovation in their work.

Organisers said the Kensington Palace concert and cultural diplomacy panel underscore the Abu Dhabi Festival’s long-standing commitment to fostering international artistic partnerships. Since 2007, ADMAF has supported a wide range of UK-based collaborations inspired by the cultural legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.