BBC WORLDWIDE’S ‘BLUE PLANET’ RAISES CURTAIN IN STUNNING STYLE AT ABU DHABI’S VOLVO OCEAN RACE STOPOVER
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – 12th December 2014 - A rousing, open-air performance of BBC Worldwide’s Blue Planet in Concert launched Abu Dhabi’s Volvo Ocean Race (VOR) Stopover festivities in style last night.
The 75-piece National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) Abu Dhabi, led by five-times Oscar-nominated composer George Fenton, received a standing ovation after the show made its Arabian debut on the unique Skyline Stage at the Destination Village on Abu Dhabi’s Corniche Breakwater.
Playing to an enraptured capacity house Fenton and the NSO accompanied the amazing natural history images of the acclaimed BBC show displayed on a huge screen on the 440 metre ‘floating’ stage, with an evocative and emotional score.
Last night’s Arabian premiere was the first of two performances of a show that has played to sell-out audiences in the USA, Europe, the Far East and Australia, with tonight’s (Saturday’s) second performance close to sell out with tickets available from www.timeouttickets.com.
“This is a performance that will linger in the audience’s minds for well after the Volvo Ocean Race leaves town,” said Mohammed Al Zaabi of Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), which is behind the emirate’s VOR campaign. “It’s awe-inspiring, makes you want to put all your effort into protecting our seas with the music stirring the senses on. It’s easy to see why the BBC Worldwide series changed the face of natural history filmmaking. The use of music with images was masterful and admirably underscored the stories unfolding on screen. The show brings the wonders of the planet home to the audience.”
The show raised the curtain on three weeks of celebrations for the Volvo Ocean Race Stopover, with the free-to-enter Destination Village packed with further concerts and entertainment as well as many other activities promising something for everyone.
The hardy, round-the-world VOR fleet – including the emirate’s own entry Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing and its yacht Azzam (determination) - is due in the UAE capital within the next 24 hours to complete the 6,125 nautical mile Leg 2 from Cape Town.
The Destination Village will be open daily on weekdays from 12 midday until 9pm, and on weekends from 11am until midnight, until the VOR fleet leaves for Leg 3 of the world’s toughest endurance trail on January 3 bound for Sanya in China.
For more information about Abu Dhabi’s 2014/15 VOR Stopover please go to www.volvooceanraceabudhabi.com or visit our Facebook and Twitter pages at www.facebook.com/AbuDhabiOceanRacing and @ADORlog
