ABU DHABI-Â Â Five times Oscar nominated composer, George Fenton, is to perform with the highly acclaimed Blue Planet in Concert, which opens the Abu Dhabi stopover of the 2014/15 Volvo Ocean Race (VOR) on December 12.
Fenton is best known for his work in film and television, having written scores for over 100 films and collaborating with some of the world’s most influential filmmakers. His film work ranges widely, from Groundhog Day with Bill Murray to Gandhi with Ben Kingsley.
In 1990 he composed the score for the BBC Natural History series, Trials of Life, and went on some years later to write the music for the Earth Trilogy: The Blue Planet, Planet Earth and Frozen Planet. This trilogy has changed the face of natural history filmmaking, masterfully using music to underscore the stories unfolding on screen and bringing the wonders of the planet to mass audiences worldwide.
Following the success of The Blue Planet, Fenton created the show, The Blue Planet in Concert, which has been performed by the world’s leading orchestras. Throughout his career his work has been recognised with numerous awards, receiving 5 Oscar nominations, multiple Ivor Novello, BAFTA and Emmy awards; a Classical Brit; the Nina Rota award at Venice; a Lifetime Achievement award from the Royal Television Society and a Fellowship of The Royal College of Music and the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (BASCA).
“I’ve been lucky enough to perform the Blue Planet concert across the world in some of the most iconic venues from the Hollywood Bowl to Sydney Opera House,” commented George Fenton, “but the prospect of playing for the first time in Arabia, with a 78 piece orchestra on a floating stage beneath a ten metre screen, promises to be the show’s most spectacular setting yet. It’s going to be very special and a stunning way to experience the natural wonders of the oceans”.
Hosted by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), the stopover festival will take place in a 40,000 square metre, purpose-built VOR Destination Village on the UAE capital’s Corniche Breakwater, packed with edutainment and entertainment highlighting Abu Dhabi’s union with the sea and its maritime heritage. There’ll be dhow racing, pearl diving showcases, traditional sea shanty performances, ocean conservation exhibitions and activities such as beach clean-ups and turtle conservation talks.
“Very few people in the region get the chance to see The Blue Planet in Concert together with George Fenton,” said Sultan Al Dhaheri, Acting Executive Director – Tourism, TCA Abu Dhabi. “Opening the Stopover with this one-off experience will get the three week celebration of Abu Dhabi’s marine heritage off to the perfect start.”
Up to 200,000 people are expected to visit Abu Dhabi’s VOR Destination Village, which will be open to the public from December 12 until January 3, when the race fleet departs for its next endurance sailing leg to Sanya, China.