Saudi Arabia’s Music Commission held a concert, “Masterpieces of Saudi Music”, at the Metropolitan Opera House Theater at Lincoln Center in New York, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Monday.
The event was held under the patronage of Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan and in partnership with the Saudi Theater and Performing Arts Commission.
The event was attended by Prince Turki bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Ambassador to the US Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan, and a large international audience.
The concert featured 80 musicians from the Saudi National Orchestra and Choir.
Kicking off the concert, Saudi Music Commission CEO Paul Pacifico said the Saudi National Orchestra and Choir was the first national cultural asset to be developed by the Commission, part of several initiatives to establish a comprehensive and sustainable music sector in the Kingdom in line with Saudi Vision 2030.
"This national event is of great importance to us, as we look forward to a musical night that will showcase some of Saudi Arabia's rich cultural and musical heritage, a blend of traditional and folk music, as well as dances from across the Kingdom's 13 diverse regions, each with its costumes, customs and musical traditions," he said.
The concert at the Metropolitan Opera House Theater was the third destination of the "Masterpieces of Saudi Music" performance, which started in Paris and moved to Mexico City before arriving in New York.
The concerts aim to familiarize the international community with the richness of Saudi music and performing arts and to boost cultural exchange, which is one of the strategic goals of Vision 2030.
