Unique Encounters with Rising Stars

Violinist Yamen Saadi returns to the Abu Dhabi Festival with a lineup of exceptional young talent, playing alongside the violist Sara Ferrandez and cellists Kian Soltani and Pablo Ferrandez.

Saadi, born in Nazareth, joined the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra at 11, became concertmaster at 17, and by 25 was leading both the Vienna State Opera Orchestra and Vienna Philharmonic; Sara Ferrandez from Madrid, also a member of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, has performed with the Berlin Philharmonic’s Karajan Academy and Anne-Sophie Mutter’s Virtuosi ensemble. Kian Soltani, born in Bregenz to a family of Persian musicians, gained global recognition after winning the Helsinki International Cello Competition in 2013 and recently earned the Innovative Listening Experience Award for his album Cello Unlimited. Pablo Ferrandez, praised for his technique, spirit, charm and authority as a soloist, received an Opus Klassik Award for his album, Reflections.

The programme:

Schubert Trio in B flat Major D471
Sibelius ‘Water Droplets’
Glière from Eight Pieces (Prelude, Berceuse, Canzonetta, Etude)
Schubert Erlkönig (arr for violin and viola)
Barrière Sonata for two cellos in G Major
Arensky String quartet No.2 in A minor