UAE National Orchestra opens second season with three Emirati world premieres
The UAE National Orchestra is returning to the stage for its second season with an opening programme centred entirely on the country’s identity, history and musical heritage.
Titled To This Land, We Belong, the concert will feature three world premieres by Emirati composers Khalid Nassir, Ali Kano and Fayez Al Saeed, with poetry by acclaimed Emirati writer Arif Al Khajah. Performances will take place on September 18 at The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi and September 20 at Dubai Opera.
Three new works inspired by the UAE
The opening concert places music created in the Emirates at the centre of the orchestra’s return.
Each of the three newly commissioned compositions explores a different aspect of the UAE, from its founding story and landscapes to its musical traditions and sense of belonging.
The programme begins with The Founder’s Journey by Khalid Nassir, a composition inspired by the life, journey and philosophy of the UAE’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
It will be followed by Homeland Melodies, a concerto grosso by Ali Kano. The work draws inspiration from the landscapes and musical heritage of the Emirates while placing oriental instruments at the heart of the orchestral sound.
The final premiere, Lightning, Thunder & Longing, comes from Fayez Al Saeed and combines Emirati, Arabic and international musical traditions with words by poet Arif Al Khajah. The piece will be performed by both the UAE National Orchestra and Choir.
Together, the three works explore themes of memory, identity and the relationship between people and place.
A bigger second season
The concert launches the orchestra’s new season, Symphony On … And the Journey Continues, which will run into 2027.
After its inaugural season, the UAE National Orchestra is expanding its programme with more original commissions, international repertoire, guest artists and collaborations.
The goal is to continue developing a distinctive orchestral identity that reflects the UAE while bringing together musicians and musical traditions from different parts of the world.
Arabic and Western classical repertoire will sit alongside newly created music, giving audiences the opportunity to experience familiar masterpieces and original compositions within the same season.
Dubai Opera among major collaborations
The UAE National Orchestra will also participate in several significant cultural events during the season.
In September, the orchestra will perform as part of Dubai Opera’s Gala Concert celebrating the venue’s 10th anniversary.
It will then take part in the opening of Abu Dhabi Festival in October, before bringing music from the world of Harry Potter to UAE audiences through a concert series scheduled for February.
These collaborations will allow the orchestra to move beyond the traditional concert format and reach audiences through film music, major cultural events and special productions.
From Mozart to Mohammed Abdel Wahab
The first months of the season will also demonstrate how broad the orchestra’s musical direction has become.
Mozart’s Greatest will bring together three of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s best-known works, while An Evening of Mohammed Abdel Wahab will celebrate the legendary Egyptian composer and musician whose work helped reshape modern Arabic music.
Another programme, Harmony, will feature Iraqi oud virtuoso Naseer Shamma and Swiss-French composer Richard Dubugnon, exploring the meeting point between Arabic and Western musical traditions.
Younger audiences will have their own programme through Once Upon a Tune, featuring Sergei Prokofiev’s classic Peter & The Wolf as part of the orchestra’s family series.
The year will conclude with a Winter Concert, combining seasonal music and traditions from around the world.
Creating a sound rooted in the UAE
For the orchestra’s leadership, the three Emirati premieres represent more than an opening-night programme.
Managing Director Sheikha Alia bint Khalid Al Qassimi said the aim is to create a space where music from the UAE can be written, performed and carried forward to future audiences.
Artistic Planning Director Raff Wilson said the second season will move between different musical worlds, from Mozart and Mohammed Abdel Wahab to new compositions and cross-cultural collaborations.
Conductor Ahmed Farag also highlighted the importance of bringing oriental instruments into the centre of the orchestra, creating combinations of sounds that audiences may not normally hear together.
A national orchestra for a diverse country
The broader ambition is to develop an orchestra that is unmistakably connected to the UAE while remaining open to the many cultures and communities that make up the country.
That idea is particularly visible in the second season: Emirati compositions sit alongside Arabic classics, European masterpieces and major international collaborations.
With three new works receiving their world premieres and performances planned in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the UAE National Orchestra is beginning its second season by putting local creativity firmly at the centre of the stage.
