Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra Verdi Gala 2026 in Abu Dhabi

Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra Verdi Gala 2026 in Abu Dhabi is the orchestra’s UAE premiere, an opera gala at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental on Sunday 29 November presented as part of Abu Dhabi Festival 2026. Conductor David Crescenzi leads the orchestra with soprano Maria Agresta and tenor Giorgio Berrugi in a programme of overtures, arias and duets marking 125 years since the death of Giuseppe Verdi. Doors open at 7pm and the concert starts at 8pm.

For anyone who loves opera but rarely gets the chance to hear it with a full orchestra in the UAE, this is one of the season’s standout classical nights.

Why Verdi, and why now

Giuseppe Verdi died in Milan in January 1901, so 2026 marks the 125th anniversary of his death. The gala is billed as a tribute to his legacy and his influence on opera and the symphonic tradition, through music of dramatic intensity, lyrical beauty and deep humanity.

The programme draws on four of his best-known operas. Nabucco, the 1842 work that made his name, is famous for its chorus of Hebrew slaves and its grand overture. I vespri siciliani brings one of his most stirring overtures. La traviata, the story of the Parisian courtesan Violetta, holds some of opera’s most loved duets, and Otello, written late in his life, is Verdi at his most dramatic. The listing does not give the exact running order or individual numbers, but expect overtures woven together with arias and duets from these works.

The performers

Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra

The Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in 2007 by Sheikha Moza bint Nasser and is part of Qatar Foundation. Its 78 musicians come from 28 countries, and its home is the Opera House at Katara Cultural Village in Doha. The orchestra gave its first concert in October 2008 under Lorin Maazel, has toured Europe, Asia and the United States, and played the BBC Proms in London in 2016. Remarkably, given how close Doha is, this gala is its first appearance in the UAE.

Maria Agresta, soprano

Born in 1978 in Vallo della Lucania in southern Italy, Maria Agresta studied with the great soprano Raina Kabaivanska and made her breakthrough in 2011 as Elena in I vespri siciliani at the Teatro Regio di Torino, one of the very operas on this programme. She has since sung at La Scala, the Metropolitan Opera and the Royal Opera House, and her Verdi roles include Violetta in La traviata and Desdemona in Otello, so she brings real experience of these heroines to the stage.

Giorgio Berrugi, tenor

Giorgio Berrugi, born in Pisa in 1977, took an unusual route to opera: he was first a clarinettist, holding the solo clarinet chair of the Orchestra Sinfonica di Roma from 2002 to 2006, before studying voice and debuting as Rodolfo in La bohème at La Fenice in 2008. He has sung at La Scala, the Semperoper Dresden, the Arena di Verona and San Francisco Opera, and his Verdi roles include Alfredo in La traviata and Ismaele in Nabucco.

David Crescenzi, conductor

David Crescenzi takes the podium, leading the orchestra through the overtures and accompanying the singers in the arias and duets.

Abu Dhabi Festival and the venue

Abu Dhabi Festival, presented by the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation, was established in 2004 and is described as the largest classical arts event in the UAE. It commissions new works, often with international partners, and runs an education programme linking artists with UAE students.

Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental sits on its own stretch of coast in Al Ras Al Akhdar, at the western end of the Corniche, and is one of the capital’s grandest settings for a concert. The ticket page notes that the venue is accessible, with ramps and accessible seating, and asks guests with access needs to contact Platinumlist before booking. Parking is available at or near the venue. By bus, take the 9, 34 or 69 to the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud St / Emirates Palace Hotel stop and walk about 10 minutes.

Before you go

• Age: 10 and over.
• Seats are assigned, and guests are asked to arrive at least 30 minutes early. Latecomers are admitted only at a break and may not get their original seat.
• Dress code: classy or elegant attire is welcome but not required.
• No photography or recording during the performance, and phones must be on silent.
• ID: bring your ticket and valid photo ID such as a passport.

Who it suits

This gala suits opera lovers, classical music fans and anyone who knows Verdi’s tunes from film and television and wants to hear them sung live. With a 10+ age policy, it can also be a memorable first opera for older children. For more culture, see our art and culture listings, shows and theatre, what is on in November and more things to do in Abu Dhabi.