Chinese-American cellist Yo-Yo Ma, jazz legend Wynton Marsalis and Spanish guitarist Tomatito are all here for the capital’s celebration of art and music in March

March 14 – Mohamed Abdo

Saudi Arabia is the country of honour at this year’s festival, so it makes perfect sense that the prolific Saudi singer Mohamed Abdo will start proceedings with a concert dubbed One Moonlit Evening. The singer was given the nickname ‘Artist Of The Arabs’ by former Tunisian president Bourguiba and first performed in the UAE in the early 1970s.

Emirates Palace Auditorium, West Corniche Road, Abu Dhabi, 8pm, Dhs125 to Dhs350. Tel: (050) 1299103 Taxi: Emirates Palace. abudhabifestival.ae

March 18 – Juan Pérez Floristán

Hosted as part of the Festival Recital Series, which is free to attend with prior reservations, Spanish pianist Juan Pérez Floristán will perform an intimate concert at the NYU Abu Dhabi campus on Saadiyat Island. The 23-year-old up-and-coming musician began his training at ten years of age under his mother and currently studies in Berlin with Uzbek classical pianist Eldar Nebolsin.

The Arts Center, NYU Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, 8pm, free to attend but reservations required in advance. Tel: (050) 1299103. Taxi: NYU Abu Dhabi campus. abudhabifestival.ae

March 19 – Tarek Yamani

Another concert that won’t dent your wallet, Lebanese jazz pianist Tarek Yamani has been commissioned by the Abu Dhabi Festival to create a new work, Portraits In Khaleeji Rhythms And Jazz, that explores the similarities and differences between these two genres of music.

The Arts Center, NYU Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, 8pm, free to attend but reservations required in advance. Tel: (050) 1299103. Taxi: NYU Abu Dhabi campus. abudhabifestival.ae

March 23 – Tomatito

Collaborating with artists like Elton John and Frank Sinatra, Spanish flamenco guitarist Tomatito’s ‘nouveau flamenco’ style of music is a mixture of sounds including jazz, gypsy, Brazilian and even Turkish influences. Don’t miss this five-time Grammy award winner’s free concert.

The Arts Center, NYU Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, 8pm, free to attend but reservations required in advance. Tel: (050) 1299103. Taxi: NYU Abu Dhabi campus. abudhabifestival.ae

March 24 and 25 – China’s National Centre for the Performing Arts Orchestra

They’ll be hosting two concerts as part of the festival in March. Conducted by Yi Zhang, the first concert features selections from Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov. The next concert will feature Bach, Prokofiev and The Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto from Chinese composers He Zhanhao and Chen Gang.

Emirates Palace Auditorium, West Corniche Road, Abu Dhabi, 8pm, Dhs125 to Dhs350. Tel: (050) 1299103. Taxi: Emirates Palace. abudhabifestival.ae

March 27 – Wynton Marsalis

First performing at the Abu Dhabi Festival in 2010, Wynton Marsalis returns to the capital this year. The only artist to ever win Grammys for both jazz and classical records (he currently has nine), the American jazz trumpeter will perform with his ensemble for one night only.

Emirates Palace Auditorium, West Corniche Road, Abu Dhabi, 8pm, Dhs125 to Dhs350. Tel: (050) 1299103. Taxi: Emirates Palace. abudhabifestival.ae

March 29 – Mariza

Fans of global sounds will want to check out a concert by Mariza, a Portugese singer best known for performing fado music. The genre, which received the Unesco Intangible Cultural Heritage And Humanity status in 2011, features expressive songs about the harsh realities of everyday life, usually accompanied by a ten- or 12-string guitar and viola.

Emirates Palace Auditorium, West Corniche Road, Abu Dhabi, 8pm, Dhs250. Tel: (050) 1299103. Taxi: Emirates Palace. abudhabifestival.ae

March 31 – Yo-Yo Ma

And last but certainly not least, the Chinese-American cellist Yo-Yo Ma will close the festival. The one-time child prodigy performed for American presidents Dwight D Eisenhower and John F Kennedy at the age of seven and currently has 17 Grammy awards to his name. He’ll be accompanied by The Silk Road ensemble, a collective of diverse musicians and composers hailing from more than 20 countries.

Emirates Palace Auditorium, West Corniche Road, Abu Dhabi, 8pm, Dhs125 to Dhs350. Tel: (050) 1299103. Taxi: Emirates Palace. abudhabifestival.ae

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