Grammy winner returns to Abu Dhabi celebrating Voyager of Islam

Abu Dhabi - For more than 50 years, Savall has rescued musical gems from obscurity.

Award-winning Catalan composer Jordi Savall is returning to Abu Dhabi this month for two highly anticipated concerts, as part of the Abu Dhabi Classics concert season.
The Grammy winner, who performed a world premiere of 'Ibn Battuta: Voyager of Islam' in 2014 in Abu Dhabi and returned due to its success in 2015 to continue the famed explorer's story, is set to bring back his Hespèrion XXI ensemble of Arabic and Western musicians on 13 January at Emirates Palace and 15 January at Bin Hamooda Fort in Al Ain.
For more than 50 years, Savall has rescued musical gems from obscurity. A tireless researcher into early music, he interprets and performs the repertoire both as a viola player and a conductor. His activities as a concert performer, teacher, researcher and creator of new musical and cultural projects, have made him a leading figure in the reappraisal of historical music.
Savall has recorded and released more than 230 discs covering the Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque and Classical music repertories, with a special focus on Hispanic and Mediterranean musical heritage, receiving many awards and distinctions, such as the Midem Classical Award, the International Classical Music Award and the Grammy Award.
For the new concerts, titled 'Ibn Battuta: The voyager of Islam II, Travels through India and China', Savall will replicate the music Ibn Battuta would have heard as he travelled during the 14^th Century on his epic journey from India to China.
Leading Emirati musician Saeed Al Salem, who specialises in playing the Oud, will also be featuring in both concerts, which are brand new adaptations of Ibn Battuta's epic journeys.
Sara Al Shakar, Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority said: "Like no other artist, Jordi Savall embodies the faculty to find in music the roots of a common humanity reaching beyond cultural differences."
She noted that Savall's Ibn Battuta project, represents not only a unique voyage in time and space, but also delivers a true message of tolerance.
"By rediscovering the music of past times, he also rediscovers the incredibly rich dialogue that already linked the cultures of the Eastern and the Western world more than 600 years ago."
Savall said his fellow-musicians that will be joining him in UAE's Capital come from all corners of the world, including India, China, Armenia, Greece, France, Afghanistan, Turkey and Spain.
"I love this city which is considered the cultural capital of the Middle East, remarkable for its architecture and its proximity to the large stretches of dunes of the desert, where treasures of art and history are hidden," Savall added.

• Abu Dhabi