What’s On previews the Emirates NBD Classics series and the the live concert in Dubai by cellist Sol Gabetta at Ductac Mall Of The Emirates.


Argentinian cellist Sol Gabetta will perform in Dubai for the first time. She was just ten when she won her first music competition and has since won many awards for her work. Gabetta is constantly travelling as she performs dozens of concerts with the world’s best orchestras.

This recital will see Gabetta perform great works for cello and piano by Beethoven, Schumann, Mendelssohn, Chopin and Servais.

I currently give about 130 performances per year, which is wonderful. But it’s tricky to combine travel, rehearsals, interviews and a private life. My life is exciting and intense and I love what I do, so I wouldn’t want to change a thing.

Awards are important of course, because they acknowledge my work. But rather than the prize, what I value is the recognition for hard work and dedication. I am very grateful for that.

This profession requires a lot of discipline, passion and commitment. We have to earn success day after day, concert after concert. I think what drives us forward is the search for our true potential.

One of the reasons I am a musician is to reach out to people. I want to spread my music as a sort of ‘vaccine for the soul’ to make people more spiritually fulfilled and confident.

My mother is a pianist and my brother is a violinist. He and I have created our own baroque ensemble called Cappella Gabetta, and we perform and record together regularly. I still play with my mother sometimes. The rest of my family does completely different things.

My great inspiration was the Polish/American cello queen, Christine Walevska. She was my first cello teacher in Argentina, and during those two years I learnt much from her. I was spellbound by her beauty and her magical sound.

May 22
Ductac, Mall Of The Emirates, Dubai, 8pm, Dhs50. Tel: (04) 3414777. Metro: Mall Of The Emirates. ductac.org

ALSO IN TOWN…
The Syrian classical concert pianist Malek Jandali will perform two concerts of his own composition in Dubai this month. The piece is titled Syrian Symphony and Jandali first performed it at New York’s famous Carnegie Hall in January. The award-winning musician and composer will be joined on stage by Laura Metcalf on cello and Abdulrahim Alsaid playing the oud.

May 16 and 17
Madinat Theatre, Souk Madinat, Dubai, 8pm, Dhs200. Tel: (04) 3666546. Taxi: Souk Madinat. madinattheatre.com