An Evening with Conductor Xu Zhong - UAE National Orchestra

The UAE National Orchestra presents an evening celebrating the meeting of great musical traditions, welcoming Maestro Xu Zhong, one of China’s most distinguished conductors and pianists, for a concert of shared artistry and cultural exchange.

The program opens with Dance of the Yao People, a vibrant work that evokes landscapes of light and movement while reflecting the spirit of Chinese musical heritage. It then moves to Brahms’s Double Concerto for Cello and Violin, performed by Eric Picard from Orcheste des Paris and UAENO Concermaster Nicolas Koeckert, where the dialogue between the two soloists and the orchestra becomes a powerful expression of musical conversation and balance.

The evening concludes with Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, a masterpiece whose famous opening motif continues to resonate across centuries as a symbol of determination and triumph. Under Maestro Xu Zhong’s direction, the work takes on renewed energy, bringing the concert to a powerful and uplifting close.

Program:

• Liu Tieshan and Mao Yuan - Dance of The Yao People
• Johannes Brahms - Concerto for Violin and Cello in A Minor, Op. 102
• Ludwig Van Beethoven - Symphony No.5

UAE National Orchestra

The UAE National Orchestra (UAENO) is a groundbreaking cultural initiative, with a mission to build our nation’s orchestra on the foundations of Emirati musical heritage, connected across its diverse community, and exploring connections with musical traditions from around the world.

Under the visionary leadership of Chairperson Her Excellency Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the UAE National Orchestra will enrich the nation’s artistic landscape, providing career opportunities for professional musicians. It will honor the UAE’s musical heritage while embracing modern multiculturalism – developing a distinctive style and sound that reflects the country’s cultural diversity of the modern nation.

Through dedicated capacity-building programmes and international partnerships, the orchestra will provide training, support, and mentorship for emerging musicians, enhancing the local musical ecosystem and fostering future generations of artists. Through this orchestra, the UAE reaffirms its dedication to becoming a beacon of cultural excellence on the global stage.