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A Night of Cultural Exchange Through Music: ‘Marvels of Saudi Orchestra’ Performs in London

The Saudi National Orchestra and the Choir will perform alongside the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Photo: The Music Commission
The Saudi National Orchestra and the Choir will perform alongside the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Photo: The Music Commission
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A Night of Cultural Exchange Through Music: ‘Marvels of Saudi Orchestra’ Performs in London

The Saudi National Orchestra and the Choir will perform alongside the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Photo: The Music Commission
The Saudi National Orchestra and the Choir will perform alongside the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Photo: The Music Commission

The ‘Marvels of Saudi Orchestra’ is set to enchant London with an evening of cultural and musical performances at the historic Westminster Central Hall on Saturday.

The event comes following performances at Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City, and Metropolitan Opera Theater at Lincoln Center in New York.

Th event is a unique celebration of the diverse musical heritage of Saudi Arabia, as well as an artistic and cultural collaboration with the United Kingdom.

The Saudi National Orchestra and the Choir will perform alongside the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in an evening extravaganza of intercultural collaboration. The orchestras will perform both traditional Saudi songs and British classical compositions, showcasing the musical heritage and cultural diversity of Saudi Arabia.

The performance will also include joint and solo performances, as well as a musical medley finale.

CEO of the Music Commission Paul Pacifico emphasized the significance of the event in sharing Saudi culture with the world: “The ‘Marvels of Saudi Orchestra’ concert series exemplify our commitment to cultural exchange on the world stage,” he said.

“Music is unique in its ability to communicate across languages and borders and to help foster mutual understanding and appreciation. I very much look forward to our collaboration with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and to the chance to introduce music from Saudi Arabia to a UK audience.”

The ‘Marvels of Saudi Orchestra’ is led by the Saudi Music Commission, one of eleven sector-specific cultural commissions under the Saudi Ministry of Culture.

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Culture

UK Police Hunt Suspects after 600 Items Relating to British Empire Are Stolen from Museum

This handout image of CCTV footage released by Avon and Somerset Police on December 11, 2025 shows men in the early hours of September 25 in the city of Bristol, south-west England outside a building which housed items from the Bristol Museum's British Empire and Commonwealth collection. (Photo by Handout / Avon and Somerset Police / AFP)
This handout image of CCTV footage released by Avon and Somerset Police on December 11, 2025 shows men in the early hours of September 25 in the city of Bristol, south-west England outside a building which housed items from the Bristol Museum's British Empire and Commonwealth collection. (Photo by Handout / Avon and Somerset Police / AFP)
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UK Police Hunt Suspects after 600 Items Relating to British Empire Are Stolen from Museum

This handout image of CCTV footage released by Avon and Somerset Police on December 11, 2025 shows men in the early hours of September 25 in the city of Bristol, south-west England outside a building which housed items from the Bristol Museum's British Empire and Commonwealth collection. (Photo by Handout / Avon and Somerset Police / AFP)
This handout image of CCTV footage released by Avon and Somerset Police on December 11, 2025 shows men in the early hours of September 25 in the city of Bristol, south-west England outside a building which housed items from the Bristol Museum's British Empire and Commonwealth collection. (Photo by Handout / Avon and Somerset Police / AFP)

More than 600 artifacts relating to the history of the British Empire and Commonwealth have been stolen from the collection of Bristol Museum, police said Thursday as they released images of four suspects.

The Avon and Somerset Police force said the items with “significant cultural value” were taken from a storage building in the early hours of Sept. 25.

The force said it wanted to speak to four men over the theft and appealed to the public for information.

It was unclear why the appeal was being made more than two months after the crime.

Bristol City Council said the stolen items include medals, badges and pins, necklaces, bangles and rings, decorative items such as carved ivory, silver items and bronze figurines, as well as geological specimens.

Philip Walker, the council's head of culture and creative industries at Bristol City Council, said the stolen items are part of a collection that documents two centuries of links between Britain and the countries that once formed its empire.

“The collection is of cultural significance to many countries and provides an invaluable record and insight into the lives of those involved in and affected by the British Empire,” The Associated Press quoted Walker as saying.

Det. Constable Dan Burgan, the investigating officer, said the theft “is a significant loss for the city.”

“These items, many of which were donations, form part of a collection that provides insight into a multilayered part of British history, and we are hoping that members of the public can help us to bring those responsible to justice.”

The port city of Bristol, 120 miles (195 kilometers) southwest of London, played a major role in the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Ships based in the city transported at least half a million Africans into slavery before Britain outlawed the slave trade in 1807. Many 18th-century Bristolians helped fund the trade and shared in the profits, which also built handsome Georgian houses and buildings that still dot the city.

It was the focus of international attention and debate in 2020, when anti-racism demonstrators toppled a statue of 17th-century slave trader Edward Colston from its plinth in the city and dumped it in the River Avon.

The vandalized statue was later fished out and put on display in a museum.

Culture

RCU Advances Preservation of AlUla Old Town under Cooperation Agreement with Pompeii

RCU Advances Preservation of AlUla Old Town under Cooperation Agreement with Pompeii
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RCU Advances Preservation of AlUla Old Town under Cooperation Agreement with Pompeii

RCU Advances Preservation of AlUla Old Town under Cooperation Agreement with Pompeii

The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) and the Archaeological Park of Pompeii continue to advance their joint work on the preservation of AlUla Old Town, under the cooperation agreement signed in January 2025.

The partnership aims to deepen research and protection efforts at this historic site and guide its development through a comprehensive heritage-led approach.

According to a press release issued by the RCU, a specialized team of archaeologists, conservators, architects and engineers is leading the project, applying rigorous scientific methodologies to study the town’s urban character and emphasize its historical significance, SPA reported.

These efforts lay the groundwork for long-term preservation programs that safeguard its architectural and artistic features.
AlUla Old Town is one of the most significant elements of AlUla’s cultural history, with surviving structures estimated to be around three centuries old. More than one thousand residential units still retain the essence of traditional life, forming a living record of oasis culture and reflecting AlUla’s enduring cultural continuity.

The release added that the current phase includes the restoration of approximately 30 houses, in addition to interventions on selected elements and the mosque within the town’s boundaries. Work is centred on strengthening documentation and interpretation standards and enhancing preservation techniques that support the site’s long-term sustainability and reinforce its role as a leading cultural destination.

These efforts reflect RCU’s commitment to protecting and developing heritage sites in line with international best practices.

They also support the sustainable development of AlUla Old Town in alignment with AlUla’s long-term vision, enhancing its cultural and historical significance locally and internationally.

Culture

Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission Launches Jeddah Book Fair 2025

 This cultural event is regarded as one of the Kingdom’s major literary platforms, bringing together publishers, creators, and book enthusiasts - SPA
 This cultural event is regarded as one of the Kingdom’s major literary platforms, bringing together publishers, creators, and book enthusiasts - SPA
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Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission Launches Jeddah Book Fair 2025

 This cultural event is regarded as one of the Kingdom’s major literary platforms, bringing together publishers, creators, and book enthusiasts - SPA
 This cultural event is regarded as one of the Kingdom’s major literary platforms, bringing together publishers, creators, and book enthusiasts - SPA

The Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission launched the Jeddah Book Fair 2025 today at the Jeddah Superdome.

More than 1,000 local and international publishing houses and agencies from 24 countries are participating, with 400 booths, SPA reported.

This cultural event is regarded as one of the Kingdom’s major literary platforms, bringing together publishers, creators, and book enthusiasts.

CEO of the commission Dr. Abdullatif bin Abdulaziz Al Wasel stated that the fair reflects the commission's advanced efforts in developing the publishing industry, supporting creative talent, and enhancing the presence of Saudi publishers and writers.

The exhibition features more than 170 cultural events, ranging from seminars and panel discussions to lectures, poetry readings, and various workshops. The program includes presentations by prominent writers and thinkers, as well as a dedicated children’s area.
Visitors are welcomed daily from 12:00 PM to 12:00 AM, except on Fridays, when it opens at 2:00 PM.