Sanaa Nabil follows in the footsteps of Umm Kulthum at Abu Dhabi Classics 2020

Abu Dhabi Classics will showcase the talents of a supremely gifted Arabic singing sensation at this year’s event, when Egyptian singer Sanaa Nabil performs at the Cultural Foundation stage on Thursday, February 6 accompanied by the “Cordes Croisées” Egyptian musical group.

Despite her young age, 17-year-old Sanaa has already gained a strong reputation among a huge audience of music lovers after an exceptional performance on the Arabs Got Talent reality TV show which earned the golden buzzer from judge and actor Ahmed Hilmi.

Sanaa will also attract a lot of attention due to her musical heritage. Her great grandmother was the sister of Umm Kulthum, arguably the most important singing figure ever in the Arab world. Sanaa was breathtaking when she sang classics such as ‘Ifrah Ya Albi’ (Rejoice My Heart), ‘Inta Omri’ (You Are My Life) and other major songs on the Arabs Got Talent show, delighting fans of the legendary ‘Kawkab Al Sharq’ (Planet of the East), as Umm Kulthum was known.

Sanaa started her musical journey as a student with Dr Ahmad Abdullah, a leading Egyptian Oud player, known in the Arab music scene. Her talent started to rise when she won accolades at the International World of Mugham competition in Azerbaijan for the category: under the age of 16.

Sanaa Nabil is collaborating with poet and composer Ahmad Al Shawki on her (Shuhra) ‘Fame’ project, where she will present a number of classical songs that highlight the deeply rooted singing culture of the Arab world. She will also introduce new songs that enrich the repertoire of Arabic classics.

For her Abu Dhabi Classics 2020 debut performance ‘Saltana with Sanaa Nabil’ at the Cultural Foundation on Thursday, February 6, Sanaa promises an exceptional program from Umm Kulthum’s repertoire but also from other iconic traditional singers such as Fayza Ahmed, Leila Mourad and a selection from the heart of the Arabic Tarab.

The young star’s concert highlights the rich and diverse programme that the ninth Abu Dhabi Classics is delivering. Celebrated French pianist David Fray will open the 11-day classical music festival with ‘Bach Concertos for 2, 3 and 4 Pianos’, a performance that will see four of the world’s leading pianists – Fray, Emmanuel Christien, Audrey Vigoreux and Jacques Rouvier – play alongside the Geneva Chamber Orchestra at the Cultural Foundation on January 28.

On February 1, Fray’s compatriot, Lise de la Salle, will bring her captivating signature style to Abu Dhabi Classics 2020 with an exclusive performance at the Cultural Foundation. De la Salle’s performance, named ‘Dances’, reflects a novel approach to classical music through the exploration of dance rhythms from various times and places. De la Salle’s concert will incorporate iconic works including Ravel’s ‘Valses nobles et sentimentales’, Stravinsky’s ‘Tango’, Bartok’s ‘Romanian Folk Dances’ and Debussy’s ‘Mazurka’, with distinct strains of Latin and a delightful melding of American dance culture elements.

On February 4, the Hamburg Symphony Orchestra will join Abu Dhabi Classics 2020 for a Chamber Music Programme featuring Tchaikovsky and Brahms at the Cultural Foundation. The week-long schedule will also celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of Ludwig van Beethoven with Hamburg Symphony Orchestra performing the German composer’s celebrated 9th Symphony at du Arena on February 5.

Abu Dhabi Classics’ Grand Finale will see Magida El Roumi, one of the greatest female vocalists in the Arab World, wow audiences with her beautiful, crystal-clear voice and extraordinary vocal range at du Arena on February 7. An artist with enormous worldwide popularity, El Roumi was discovered at the age of 16 and has recorded numerous hits across a vast range of musical genres – from classical Arabic to modern Arabic pop. Tickets for Abu Dhabi Classics 2020, which is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, presented by Department of Culture and Tourism and produced by Flash Entertainment, the Middle East’s leading entertainment company, are selling fast on www.ticketmaster.ae and Virgin Megastores across the UAE. The diverse schedule of events and concerts represent the ideal celebration for classical music lovers.