Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra at Abu Dhabi Festival 2026

This opera gala is part of Abu Dhabi Festival 2026 and is billed as a UAE premiere for the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra. It marks 125 years since the death of Giuseppe Verdi, and the evening is built as a concert tribute to the composer rather than a staged opera.

The orchestra plays under the direction of conductor Davide Crescenzi. Two soloists are announced alongside it: soprano Maria Agresta and tenor Giorgio Berrugi, both described as leading interpreters of Verdi's music today. The programme moves through some of his best-known works, from the grandeur of Nabucco and I vespri siciliani to the passion of Otello and La traviata. Overtures, arias and duets are woven together to show the range of his writing, from dramatic intensity to lyrical beauty.

The concert takes place at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental in Abu Dhabi, a large palatial hotel on the waterfront along the western end of the city's Corniche area, close to the Marina. It is a recognisable address for formal evenings and cultural events in the capital. If you live in Dubai, expect a drive of roughly an hour and a half each way, so it makes sense to plan the evening around the concert.

The format is a seated classical concert, best suited to anyone who enjoys opera, orchestral music or Italian repertoire, and to those who want to hear Verdi's most famous scenes in a single sitting. You do not need to know the operas in advance, since the selection leans on the pieces most often heard in concert halls.

Verdi is widely regarded as one of Italy's greatest opera composers, and his music continues to be performed around the world. This gala presents him through both the orchestral side and the voice, in line with his influence on opera and the symphonic tradition.