DOHA: Several new works by distinguished Qatari composer Wael Binali (pictured) will have their Scottish premiere tomorrow at the Musical Celebration of Qatar UK Year of Culture 2013 show featuring the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO).
To be held at Edinburgh’s Usher Hall, the concert to be conducted by maestro Paul Goodwin will also premiere a composition by David Heath.
The evening’s special guest: The talented British cellist Guy Johnston will be performing the passionate Cello Concerto by Elgar. International pianist Amira Fouad will play David Heath’s exciting new piano concerto El Hedeiya - The Gift with percussionist Gary Kettel, conducted by the composer. Artistic Director, Amira Fouad, who was born in Glasgow but lived in Canada, the UK and Qatar for several years, has always enjoyed working with international musicians to foster a cultural exchange.
“We are delighted to be able to bring together two prominent composers from Qatar and the UK, Wael Binali and David Heath, in this cultural collaboration exchanging musical ideas with a great spirit of openness and mutual understanding. We are very excited to have these two composers’ works showcased by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and we are honoured to perform with great British artists – cellist Guy Johnston and the distinguished conductor Paul Goodwin,” said Fouad.
Wael Binali’s Earth and The Oryx and the Unicorn will have Scottish premieres with the RSNO and several of his works will be arranged and linked together by David Heath. Both composers have expressed a great sense of excitement and honour to be working together dedicating their works to the Qatar UK 2013 Year of Culture.
For Binali “Scotland has a special place in my heart. Apart from it being a stunning country with its wild landscape, it’s where my love for music was really born and developed. I’ve sailed past the Hebrides, climbed the Cairngorms and swam in Loch Ness. As a teenager how can those experiences not invoke feelings where music can then take root and grow from?” Heath says that he has been on an “eight-year long mission to promote friendship and understanding between the religions by honouring faiths other than my own in my music”. The audience will also hear the Choir of St Mary’s Cathedral perform Handel’s majestic Zadok the Priest. The Peninsula
