Sunday, February 9, 2025
Abu Dhabi Festival 2025 opens with the Arab world premiere of the New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, celebrating culture, harmony, and 50 years of UAE-Japan ties.
Under the Esteemed Patronage of UAE Leaders, Abu Dhabi Festival 2025 Begins Its 22nd Edition with a Celebration of Harmony and Diplomacy
The 22nd edition of the Abu Dhabi Festival, held under the honorary founding patronage of His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Shamsa bint Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, launched with the inspiring theme “Abu Dhabi – A World of Harmony.” Aligning with the UAE’s “Year of Community,” the festival marks over five decades of friendship and diplomatic ties between the UAE and this year’s country of honor, Japan.
Organized by the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF) under the leadership of its founder, Her Excellency Huda Al Khamis-Kanoo, the festival began on February 7, 2025, with an inaugural concert at Emirates Palace. The opening ceremony was attended by esteemed dignitaries, including His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, Her Excellency Dr. Maitha Al Shamsi, UAE Minister of State, and His Excellency Ken Okaniwa, Japan’s Ambassador to the UAE.
The festival’s inaugural Abu Dhabi Festival Award ceremony, presented in collaboration with Chopard, honored Japan’s Commissioner for Cultural Affairs, Mr. Shunichi Tokura, and the 2024 Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate, Riken Yamamoto. These prestigious awards, recognizing outstanding contributions to art, culture, and architecture, were presented by H.E. Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan and H.E. Huda Al Khamis-Kanoo.
The highlight of the opening concert was a groundbreaking performance by the New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, marking its Arab world debut under the baton of legendary conductor Yutaka Sado. The orchestra was joined by star tenor Jonathan Tetelman and celebrated pianist Kyohei Sorita, delivering two unforgettable performances on February 7 and 8, 2025. The repertoire included iconic works such as Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2, Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 and Symphony No. 5, and Puccini’s “What a Beautiful Woman” from Manon Lescaut.
In addition to its world-class performances, the festival emphasized education and youth empowerment through a series of initiatives. On February 6, 2025, Riken Yamamoto, recipient of the Abu Dhabi Festival Award, participated in a talk titled “Crafting Tomorrow: Riken Yamamoto’s Architectural Journey,” hosted by ADMAF in partnership with the NYU Abu Dhabi Institute. The discussion highlighted architecture’s transformative role in shaping communities.
From February 6–8, the New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra engaged with students through various educational activities. Highlights included an exclusive open rehearsal as part of Festival in Focus and a special Back to School event at the Japanese School Abu Dhabi featuring Maestro Yutaka Sado and Kyohei Sorita. Additionally, a member of ADMAF’s Young Media Leaders program had the rare opportunity to interview Jonathan Tetelman before the festival’s opening concert.
Masterclasses led by the orchestra’s cellist Samuel Ericsson and violinist Sohei Birmann offered four young musicians the chance to learn directly from world-class performers. The educational programming concluded with an encore performance of Hana (Flowers) by Rentaro Taki, performed by the New Japan Philharmonic alongside ten student musicians from the Abu Dhabi Youth Orchestra.
With its remarkable inaugural events, Abu Dhabi Festival 2025 continues to build on its reputation as a hub of cultural excellence and innovation. Over the coming months, audiences can look forward to a diverse lineup of performances, reaffirming Abu Dhabi’s status as a global center for artistic expression and cross-cultural collaboration.
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