Saudi Arabia' premier music and cultural festival, "Winter at Tantora", will return to to AlUla, the gem of civilization and human heritage, this December. The six-week event will kick off on December 21.
A highlight of the festival will be the sophisticated new event Hegra Candlelit Classics. Located in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hegra, an atmospheric set up with hundreds of candles lighting up the 2,000-year-old intricately carved Nabataean tombs will provide a unique backdrop for a series of musical events on December 24 and 31.
The event will be accompanied by special music curated by Stefan Lombard, renowned South African classical pianist. He will be leading a team of global musicians to perform an exciting set of classical, contemporary and Arabic music including violinist David Best, cellist Dorette Roos and oud player Simon Stengel. The event promises an emotional and elegant experience where east meets west.
"Winter at Tantora" will offer an exciting new experience for cinema-goers, with the new Cinema ElHoush featuring an outdoor setting in the AlJadidah district adjacent to AlUla Old Town. The cinema will operate Tuesday through Saturday nights offering a choice of two movies per evening.
Movies will include those recently shown at the Cannes and Venice Film Festivals and will be premieres for the Kingdom, in addition to a number of Saudi and Afghan movies, international classics, contemporary films, and a wide range of documentaries.
On January 29, 2022, the competitive Fursan Endurance Cup returns for a third time. It is an international CEI2,120km endurance four-phase competition through the desert organized in collaboration with the Saudi Arabian Equestrian Federation.
On February 11 and 12, the Royal Commission for AlUla supported by Saudi Polo Federation is delighted to host a polo event during which four teams will compete in the Desert Polo Arena.
Other immersive experiences in the heritage sites include theater with a twist, taking place in nature or in the streets such as the Path of Poets performance in the cultural oasis, and The Traveller Ibn Battuta in Old Town. The AlUla Citrus Festival on two successive weekends in January will be a vibrant celebration of AlUla's best produce. Festivities will include artisan market stalls and music, and local farmers will showcase and sell their products.
At AlUla's Maraya Theater, concerts will continue with an exciting mix of Arabic and international names making up the music program for Winter at Tantora. AlUla favorite Andrea Bocelli returns to perform this year, alongside improvisational composer and singer Abdulrahman Mohammed, the Saudi artist who launched a YouTube channel in 2008 to share his artistic experience in the world of improvisational and experimental alternative music.
Maraya will also host the prolific Egyptian composer, conductor and pianist, Maestro Omar Khairat, followed by a special concert by the Lebanese soprano Magida El Roumi.
They will all be performing at Maraya Social, the new rooftop restaurant headed by international Michelin starred chef Jason Atherton.
Dates of musical performances are as follows: Abdulrahman Mohammed – 7th January; Omar Khairat – 14th January; Andrea Bocelli – 21st January, Magida El Roumi – 28th January.
Tickets for Maraya concert series for Abdulrahman Mohammed, Omar Khairat and Magida El Roumi went on sale as of November 25.
