His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahyan Inaugurates the Abu Dhabi Festival 2015 Visual Arts Exhibition before joining the audience for an evening of infectious rhythms at Sergio Mendes’s sold-out Arabian Gulf Premiere (Abu Dhabi, UAE: March 21 2015): His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth & Community Development and ADMAF Patron, officially inaugurated the Abu Dhabi Festival 2015 Visual Arts Exhibition at Emirates Palace Gallery last night, before joining an upbeat crowd for an evening of bossa nova beats as Brazilian superstar, Sergio Mendes, made his Arabian Gulf Premiere at the Abu Dhabi Festival. Kicking off Abu Dhabi Festival 2015’s main programme of headline performances with a lively blend of Brazilian samba and jazz-infused pop hits, the versatile and charismatic Sergio Mendes took to the stage with his 10-piece band, performing some of his greatest hits - Mas Que Nada, The Fool on the Hill, The Look of Love, Magalenha, The Waters of March, and The Girl from Ipanema. Delighting his Abu Dhabi audience with his unique and eclectic mix of sounds, the three-time Grammy Award winner demonstrated why he has been loved worldwide for over four decades. Through the years, he has also collaborated with leading artists from across the world including the Black Eyed Peas and Justin Timberlake. Preceding Sergio Mendes’s headline performance, His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahyan inaugurated this year’s Visual Arts Exhibition at the Emirates Palace Gallery. Open for a month-long public viewing until April 20, the Exhibition presents a trio of diverse and stimulating artworks through three distinct themes, entitled View From Inside: Contemporary Arab Photography, Video and Mixed Media Art; the 2015 Festival Commissions; and Emirati Insights. Showcasing a selection of artworks from local and regional artists, the bespoke group exhibition channels the complexity, beauty and contradictions of life in the Middle East in a raw, yet poetic reflection on culture. Following the Visual Arts Exhibition inauguration and Sergio Mendes’ performance, H.E. Hoda I. Al Khamis - Kanoo, Founder of the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF) and the Abu Dhabi Festival, said: “Once again, Abu Dhabi Festival’s main programme has started in true celebratory style. We have a long tradition of brining world renowned artists to the UAE, and we are truly honoured to have welcomed Sergio Mendes to the 2015 Abu Dhabi Festival for his Arabian Gulf Premiere. “We are also overjoyed to have inaugurated this year’s Visual Arts Exhibition, and we thank Karin Adrian von Roques, Lead Curator of View From Inside, Wendy Watriss Co-Founder of FotoFest and Co-Curator of View From Inside, for this truly stunning and inspiring exhibition which delicately displays the diverse and shifting identities of people and places in Arab life today. The presentation of this exhibition affirms Abu Dhabi Festival’s role as a leading cultural event in the region.” HE Sheikh Nahayan was joined by H.E. Hoda I. Al Khamis - Kanoo, Founder of the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF) and the Abu Dhabi Festival, HE Giorgio Starace, Ambassador of Italy to the United Arab Emirates, Karin Adrian von Roques, Lead Curator of View From Inside, Wendy Watriss Co-Founder of FotoFest and Co-Curator of View From Inside, Frederick Baldwin, Co-Founder of FotoFest, Steven Evans, Executive Director of FotoFest, along with international Festival guests, ADMAF Advisors. The inauguration also saw the launch of ‘Art of the Emirates’ in association with Waha Capital - ADMAF’s first publication to be available across the Arabian Gulf. The luxury book offers a fascinating insight into the Emirati visual arts sector through the voices of its leading protagonists - the artists, foundations, galleries and educators who have played a major role in its continuing growth. The Abu Dhabi Festival’s 12th edition under this year’s theme ‘Idea: The Seed Of Invention’ is the UAE’s premiere cultural event, bringing the best in international and regional opera, music, and visual arts to the Emirates each year. The Festival began on the 02 March with a nationwide education and community programme. The main Festival programme this year celebrates Italy as the ‘Country of Honour’ and runs until April 02. Upcoming performances include; A Night at The Opera: Juan Diego Flórez & the Budapest Festival Orchestra conducted by Gábor Takács-Nagy (March 23), Beethoven Violin Concerto: Riccardo Muti conducts Anne-Sophie Mutter & the Luigi Cherubini Youth Orchestra (March 25), Piano Masterpieces Leif Ove Andsnes and the Budapest Festival Orchestra Conducted By Iván Fischer (March 26), Mozart’s The Magic Flute Opera production directed and conducted by Iván Fischer with the Budapest Festival Orchestra (March 30). The Festival will come to a close on April 02 with the grand finale performance by American-Lebanese singer Mayssa Karaa as she makes her international debut at the Abu Dhabi Festival with When Music Matters: Mayssa Karaa (April 2). View From Inside, Emirati Insights and the Abu Dhabi Festival Commissions will be open to the public from 21 March to 20 April 2015 at Emirates Palace Gallery (Sunday - Thursday: 12:00pm - 8:00pm; Friday - Saturday: 10:00am - 10:00pm). Admission is free.
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