Yanni performing in Jeddah
Renowned Greek composer and musician Yanni has dedicated a musical piece to Saudi Arabia ahead of his performance at the Winter at Tantora festival, a series of eight consecutive weekends of musical, sporting, and agricultural events that is taking place in the historic region of Al Ula, known to many as the capital of the ancient Arabian kingdom of Lihyan. According to Saudi Gazette, the piece entitled “When Dreams Come True” was composed in 60 different cities and has never been played live by the musician before.
“I have prepared a piece of music that I would like to dedicate to them, to all the Saudis, my friends,” he said in a video message that he posted on his Twitter page. “I want to remind them of their Vision 2030. It’s their dream, it’s what they hope their country would become, what they want to see their country become […] I think it is very appropriate to play it at Al-Ula and remind, encourage and inspire the Saudis to go after their Vision 2030, to go after their dreams.”
While speaking to the news site about Winter in Tantora, Yanni described the festival’s historic venue as “absolutely stunning” and said that he was “very honored” to be performing in Al Ula. Located in the north western region of Saudi Arabia, Al Ula provides this year’s Winter in Tantora festival a stunning location known for its golden sandstone and mesmerizing oases. Indeed, this over-five-thousand-year-old region is home to centuries of rich culture and history, and is the first site in the Kingdom to be nominated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
As part of the line-up of international artists for this year’s landmark event, renowned pianist Lang Lang, celebrated Italian opera singer Andrea Bocelli, Lebanese vocalist Majida El-Roumi, French violinist Renaud Capuçon, and multiple award-winning Egyptian composer Omar Khairat were all announced as performers at the 2019 edition of Winter in Tantora.
