
Mahmoud El-Tohamy (Photo: El-Tohamy Facebook Page)
Renowned for his mastery of this ancient genre, Sheikh El-Tohamy has spent decades preserving and performing religious and spiritual songs deeply rooted in Islamic culture. His distinctive voice, coupled with his deep understanding of spiritual themes, is not only coupled with vocal excellence but also conveys a profound sense of devotion and connection to the divine.
Born in Egypt, El-Tohamy rose to fame across the Arab world, especially for his ability to bring traditional Islamic chants to contemporary audiences while maintaining their sacred essence. Through his work, El-Tohamy has not only contributed to the preservation of a vital cultural heritage but also played an instrumental role in promoting peace, harmony, and cultural dialogue across different communities worldwide.
El-Tohamy will take the stage in Abu Dhabi on the festival’s opening night on 7 February.
In the past decades, El-Tohamy has performed in many prestigious venues and events, collaborated with several Egyptian and regional musicians from various genres, and received many awards and recognitions.
In 2023, the UAE’s Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation (ADMAF), a body behind the Abu Dhabi Festival, honoured the chanter during the event’s 21st edition. The recognition was shared with Emirati composer Ihab Darwish and was awarded in recognition of the duo’s work Symphony of Three, commissioned by the Abu Dhabi Festival.
Abu Dhabi Festival
The 22nd Abu Dhabi Festival will run under the theme "Abu Dhabi – A World of Harmony," celebrating the participating artists' cultural diversity and artistic excellence. The festival focuses on delivering world-renowned performances catering to classical music lovers and cultural enthusiasts.
The ADMAF revealed that Japan will be the country of honour. The opening will feature the New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Yutaka Sado.
The festival will present more than a dozen performances and other activities.
The Japanese presence will continue with further concerts by the New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, featuring American tenor Jonathan Tetelman and Japanese pianist Kyohei Sorita.
Other highlights include a performance from the world-renowned Japanese Taiko ensemble Kodo, a recital by young pianist Yunchan Lim, who will perform Bach's iconic Goldberg Variations, and an evening with Kuniko Kato, a celebrated percussionist.
The line-up also showcases the Labèque sisters, renowned for their piano duo, and an opera gala with tenor Javier Camarena and soprano Jessica Pratt. The Korean National University of Arts Symphony Orchestra will also perform, led by conductor Toufic Maatouk, alongside a violin concert by Augustin Hadelich.
In addition to musical performances, the festival will showcase a series of visual arts exhibitions, including collaborations with the Seoul Museum of Art, which will tour across China, Japan, and Singapore.
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