Abu Dhabi To World Premiere ‘Water in the Desert’

By Francisco Salazar

The UAE’s Ministry of Tolerance and The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi will create and perform an original opera in celebration of Year of Zayed.

The partnership between Cranleigh Abu Dhabi and the Office of His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan bin Mabarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance, is set to will deliver an ambitious youth project entitled “Water in the Desert: A Zayed Legacy.”

The work, which comes after the success of the school’s 2016 pilot opera project, “Beautiful World,” will be supported by the British Council as part of its legacy programme following its UK/UAE Year of Creative Collaboration 2017.

“Water in the Desert” is based on the late Sheikh Zayed’s vision and foresight into the importance of environmental conservation and sustainability, and his belief that water is the UAE’s most valuable resource.

“We are delighted to have our students take part in a unique and collaborative production. This experience will inspire and develop their understanding of the UAE’s heritage and history through performance and visual arts,” Michael Wilson, Cranleigh Abu Dhabi’s Headmaster, said in a press release. “We are deeply grateful for the support of His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan bin Mabarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance, on this project, which will commemorate the Year of Zayed in an original way showing tolerance, a strong work ethic, collective responsibility, and a deep respect for the UAE’s heritage and culture.”

The new opera will get its world premiere at The Red Theater as part of The Arts Center’s fourth season on Oct. 25, 2018 with a matinee reprise on October 26.

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