By As part of its 19th edition held under the theme ‘Crafting the Emirates State of Mind: Creativity, Innovation and Joy,” in collaboration with Mons Arts de la Scène (Festival of Sacred Music – Mons), and with support from Hino Music Festival, Abu Dhabi Festival presents the second performance of Confluence by globally renowned composers Qoutayba Neaimi & Judith Adler de Oliveira. The performance follows the premiere last November and takes place at the inaugural season of the Namur Concert Hall in Namur, Belgium.
The 60-minute masterpiece depicts a journey from loss to hope and reconciliation, which begins with mourning for the victims of war, followed by an atonement filled with peace and cultural tolerance. The musical compositions and operatic text highlight the close relations between the musical and literary cultures of the Middle-Eastern and Occidental worlds.
“Now more than ever, as the world continues to cope with the disruption of peace, we must recognise the importance of upholding the values of tolerance and respect while highlighting the key role culture and the arts play in brining nations together to take a stand against violence and extremism” said Her Excellency Huda Ibrahim Alkhamis, Founder of the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation, Founder and Artistic Director of Abu Dhabi Festival.
“Peace and cultural understanding are at the heart of Abu Dhabi Festival, which is why we are proud to continue our support for Confluence, a powerful overture for peace and tolerance. The opera by promising composers Qoutayba Neaimi and Judith Adler de Oliviera brings together Eastern and Western musical traditions to show how linguistic barriers can be overcome to address the afflictions of the human soul”, Her Excellency added.
The opera encompasses 9 singers and 8 musicians both from the Middle East and the West, creating a vibrant musical homage to the founding civilisations of the Middle-Eastern and Occidental worlds. It celebrates their common roots and blends together the musical colors of the Arab and Western cultures, intertwining the timeless sonorities of six languages (Aramaic, Arabic, Hebrew, Latin, French and English).
“When preparing this unique piece, our main concern was to emphasise the significance of peace and tolerance in delivering cultural openness, and the role of arts and culture in illuminating hope to the lives of war victims, all beyond any language barriers,” Qoutayba Neaimi, inventor of the first polyphonic sound system that is applicable to all Oriental and Western music scales, said, describing his “Confluence”.
The 19th edition of Abu Dhabi Festival 2022, held under the theme “Crafting an Emirates State of Mind: Creativity, Innovation & Joy,” is being held under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Shamsa bint Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Assistant to His Highness the President of the Authority for Women’s Affairs, and Chairperson of the Higher Committee for Ataya Initiative, with support from its Lead Partner Mubadala Investment Company (Mubadala) and Energy Partner GS Energy.
The 2022 Abu Dhabi Festival programme is part of the contribution made by the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation to the UAE capital’s designation as a UNESCO City of Music, further bolstering its role as a world leading musical center and incubator of an innovation-based resilient and sustainable music ecosystem. Abu Dhabi Festival 2022 encompasses over 1,000 participating artists from around the world to present more than 300 live and digital events. The 19th edition will also include two world tours and 17 world premieres.
