DUBAI, 20 October 2021 – British composer, multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, arranger and producer Sami Yusuf will bring an epic production of music, poetry and magical imagery to Expo 2020 Dubai’s Al Wasl Plaza this weekend in an exhilarating reimagination of the UAE’s artistic legacy and the lands of the Silk Road.
Yusuf and a slate of master musicians from around the world will present ‘Beyond the Stars’, which will begin at 2030 GST on 22 and 23 October in an ecstatic dialogue between distinct traditions, each with its own highly-developed musical language.
Yusuf, whose largest outdoor concert ever attracted 250,000 attendees in Istanbul, has drawn on music and poetry from Andalusia and North Africa to Arabia, Turkey, Central Asia and beyond, creating a 75-minute showcase, which will feature eight new works written exclusively for his live performances.
Guo Gan – a master of the erhu, a traditional two-stringed Chinese instrument, who has performed with the likes of film score megastar Hans Zimmer – will join Yusuf onstage, alongside celebrated Indian sitarist Asad Khan, whose music can be heard in numerous movies, including blockbuster Slumdog Millionaire.
Prominent Moroccan vocalist Nabyla Maan and renowned Azerbaijani mugham singer Teyyar Bayramov will also perform as soloists on both nights.
Yusuf said: “I’m truly honoured to be performing at Expo 2020. I’ll be premiering many brand-new compositions written exclusively for this live event, along with unique new arrangements. With a brilliant ensemble of international musicians under my direction, we aim to make the lands of the Silk Road come alive through a spellbinding reimagining of their most exciting musical traditions.
“On the production design side, it’s a real pleasure to be working with a team of unparalleled skill and imagination to deliver a mesmerising and immersive audience experience. This promises to be a one-of-a-kind magical event, and I hope to see you all there.”
Known for his innovation and ability to authentically transcend musical boundaries, Yusuf’s substantial body of work reflects influences from Western classical and contemporary sounds to traditional music of the lands of the Silk Road and beyond. To date, he has performed on six continents, with combined music downloads topping more than 1 billion.
Visitors wishing to attend Sami Yusuf’s ‘Beyond the Stars’ are advised to arrive early.