A Bridge Between Traditions: The Harmony Concert at NYU Abu Dhabi

We are invited to witness a transcendent evening where the musical traditions of East and West converge in perfect harmony. At The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi, last night’s Harmony concert presented an extraordinary celebration of cross cultural artistic expression, demonstrating music’s remarkable power to unite diverse traditions into a singular, resonant experience.

The evening opened with the world premiere of Richard Dubugnon’s Double Concerto for Ney and Cello, entitled ‘Sands of Love’, a work commissioned by the UAE National Orchestra. This significant premiere united the delicate, soulful tones of the ney with the rich depths of the cello, performed by cellist Sary Khalifé and ney player Rami Ourabi. The piece stands as a testament to the creative possibilities that emerge when Western classical composition embraces the ancient instruments of Arab musical heritage.

The concert’s second movement elevated the evening further when oud virtuoso Naseer Shamma joined the Orchestra, bringing the ancient stringed instrument into dialogue with the full symphonic ensemble. The performance encompassed an illuminating selection of works, including ‘Autumn Leaves’, ‘From the Memory’, ‘The Seven Lights’ and Shamma’s own Concerto for Oud and Orchestra, masterfully arranged by Kamal Ahmed Moustafa. Each composition revealed new dimensions of the oud’s expressive vocabulary, demonstrating the instrument’s profound capacity to speak within both traditional and contemporary musical languages.

The audience’s enthusiasm proved irresistible, and the evening concluded with a specially requested encore performance of ‘Ishraq’, offering guests an additional moment of musical transcendence. The Arts Center’s 2026 to 2027 season continues to unfold with further distinguished performances, inviting us all to partake in Abu Dhabi’s flourishing cultural landscape.