Neil Rutman strikes the right note

ABU DHABI - A concert by renowned American pianist Neil Rutman, organised by the Abu Dhabi Music Foundation in collaboration with the US Embassy at the Abu Dhabi Hilton Hotel, held audiences enthralled, with the organisers admitting that the 'house-full' Liwa Ballroom was an indication of its success.

By A Staff Reporter

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Published: Fri 7 Feb 2003, 6:39 AM

Last updated: Wed 1 Apr 2015, 10:24 PM

Mr Rutman performed to over 400 enthusiastic music lovers on Tuesday, with the guest-list constituting a veritable who's who of Abu Dhabi, including Shaikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Patron of the ADMF, Dr Hanif Hasan Al Qasimi, Vice-President of Zayed University, Winifred Thompson, Chancellor of the American University of Sharjah, ministers and dignitaries.

Nearly 15 ambassadors including those from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Oman, and Turkey, all of whom had contributed material to the music library that is being put together at the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation, attended the concert. Hoda Khamis I. Kanoo, Chairperson of the ADMF, in her welcome address, thanked the diplomats and dignitaries for their efforts at enriching the music library.

Mr Rutman commenced the programme with El Puerto by Issac Albeniz, and then went on to give a short description of the next two pieces: The Maiden and the Nightingale, and Fandango by Candlelight From Goyescas by Enrique Granados.

He then performed Sonata in E Flat Major by Joseph Haydn. He opened the second session with Jubilee Stomp by Duke Ellington and then followed this with Ballade No. 1 in G minor, OP.23 and Polonaise in A Flat Major, and Op.53 by Frederic Chopin. The pianist received a standing ovation, leading to an encore of The Flight of the Bumblebee by Rimsky-Korsakov.


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