Firdaus Orchestra is an initiative of Expo City Dubai, an all-women ensemble based out of the United Arab Emirates. The orchestra is named Firdaus (meaning 'paradise' in Arabic).^[1][2]

History

Firdaus Orchestra is the brainchild of Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation & CEO Expo City Dubai and is mentored by Oscar-Winning Composer, A.R. Rahman.^[3]

Conducted by Monica Woodman, it is the first all-women's orchestra based out of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. First seen at the opening ceremony of Expo 2020 Dubai, the orchestra includes over 50 professional musicians from across the world, coming together to set a foundation for orchestral culture in the Middle East.^[1][2]

A.R. Rahman organized an orchestra by training a diverse group of musicians.^[4][5]

The orchestra plays a mix of classical, pop, and fusion music. They present performances and symphonic compositions by A.R. Rahman as well as Western orchestral harmonies and ancient melodies from the Orchestral Qawwali Project.^[6][7]

Firdaus Orchestra features Middle Eastern and Indian instruments such as the qanun, the buzuq, the ney, the oud, the daf, the darbuka and the sitar, along with Western orchestral instruments.^[8]

Since its debut performance, the Orchestra took stage at Expo 2020 Dubai with artists including Andrea Bocelli, Hussain Al Jasimi, Anoushka Shankar, The Qawwali Project, and mentor A.R. Rahman.

In its second season the Orchestra was joined by Nigerian artist Sunmisola Agebebi, Beyonce for the launch of the Royal Atlantis, "Asia's Vocal Supreme" Katrina Velarde of The Philippines, Atif Aslam and were selected to be a part of the Disney 100-year celebration taking the stage for the Disney Princess Concerts in Dubai.^[8]

Projects

• Debut of the recorded song 'Turkish March' on 22 September 2021.
• Expo 2020 Dubai Opening Ceremony performance at Al Wasl Plaza on 21 October 2021.
• The concert 'like Space, music is limitless' celebrating Space Day on 23 October 2021.
• Digital release of 'Moonlight Sonata' conceptualized by A.R. Rahman.^[9]
• Performance at Jubilee stage celebrating Space Day on 23 October 2021 alongside mentor A.R. Rahman
• Performance for 'Tolerance and Inclusivity Week' on 16 November 2021.
• Celebratory performance with Lydian Nadhaswaram and Khatija Rahman 20 November 2021 for Children's Day.
• Recorded for Why? The Musical for compositions of A.R. Rahman, directed by Shekhar Kapur.^[10]
• Collaborative Performance with Grammy-nominated sitar player Anoushka Shankar on 6 February 2022.
• Performance celebrating 'Themes of A.R. Rahman' on 25 February 2022.
• Performance for International Women's Day on 8 March 2022 with Qawwali Project, Solange, Nabyla Mann, Rakshita Suresh, Khatija Rahman, Raheema Rahman, Sucheta Satish.^[11]
• Expo 2020 Dubai Closing Ceremony at Al Wasl Plaza with Christina Aguilera, Nora Jones and Grammy Winner Yo Yo Ma.
• Recording for Madras Talkies movies directed by Mani Ratnam, PS I and PS II.^[12]

The Reinvent Series

The Reinvent Series was launched on World Music Day (21 June) with a 1-hour film featuring rearranged pieces of renowned German composer Johannes Brahms.^[11]

The Series' debut sees the all-women orchestra perform four of Brahms' compositions: Hungarian Dance, Clarinet Quintet in B minor, Symphony #3 and Variations on a Theme by Haydn.^[13]