Abu Dhabi Festival 2025 Opens With New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra

The Abu Dhabi Festival 2025 opened with the New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Yutaka Sado, marking their first-ever performance in the Arab world. Held at Emirates Palace, the concert featured tenor Jonathan Tetelman and pianist Kyohei Sorita.

Organised by the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF), the opening event marks 50 years of UAE-Japan diplomatic relations. The event included the Abu Dhabi Festival Award ceremony, honouring Japan’s Commissioner for Cultural Affairs, Shunichi Tokura, and architect Riken Yamamoto.

The programme featured Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2, Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5, and Puccini’s Manon Lescaut. The festival also hosted educational initiatives, including masterclasses and open rehearsals with the New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, engaging young Emirati musicians.

The festival runs until April 2025, featuring standout performances such as Kodo’s Japanese drumming spectacle, Yunchan Lim’s UAE debut with Bach’s Goldberg Variations, and an All-Star Ballet Gala with dancers from the UK’s Royal Ballet and Germany’s Bayerisches Staatsballett.