Katherine Bryan is bringing the flute to the foreground.
After a series of engagements as the principle flautist for the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, the 35-year-old will kick off her first solo performance of the year – supported by Scottish pianist Scott Mitchell – as part of Dubai Opera's Music In The Studio series.
Held monthly at the venue's own studio, which seats up to 100 people, the programme runs until June and will feature six performances.
These kind of intimate settings suit Bryan, she says, as her show is as much exploration as a performance.
“It is definitely a way perhaps to get audiences more acquainted with the flute and show what it can do,” she says.
“In a way, this is why these solo shows are more important to me because I get to see people hear the flute as a solo instrument live for the first time and they often walk away really surprised.”
It is also a chance to break some misconception regarding the flute’s ability, which Bryan admits is often constrained within an orchestra.
“It is about listening to it in a different context when it comes to performance,” she says.
"In an orchestra it often takes on quite a lyrical or lighter role; this is entirely dependent on the repertoire but many composers never really looked at the flute in a deeper way when it comes to their work."
The main reason is that it simply wasn't popular. "If you go back 100 to 150 years a lot of the main composers at the time were mostly writing for strings and they didn't consider the flute as an instrument that could take on what the repertoire entails. Perhaps there weren't enough standout virtuoso players to create music where instrument could standout on its own"
It was the French composers, Bryan says, who embraced the instrument's soulful tones. She points to Debussy's 1894 piece Prélude à l'Après-midi d'un Faune as an example where the flute plays a central role in the work.
The main reason is that it simply wasn't popular. "If you go back 100 to 150 years a lot of the main composers at the time were mostly writing for strings and they didn't consider the flute as an instrument that could take on what the repertoire entails. Perhaps there weren't enough standout virtuoso players to create music where instrument could standout on its own"
It was the French composers, Bryan says, who embraced the instrument's soulful tones. She points to Debussy's 1894 piece Prélude à l'Après-midi d'un Faune as an example where the flute plays a central role in the work.
“It’s a beautiful piece and it shows the range of emotions the flute can provide. If you hear it, it begins with flute setting the tone of it all,” she says.
"It was the French that really understood and championed the flute, another example of that is in Daphnis and Chloé Suite by Ravel."
While Debussy will be featured in tonight's programme, Bryan will also take on well-known works, such Paganini's Caprice No 24, that were not written for her instrument.
“Now that’s a very popular violin virtuoso piece of music and I made my own version for the flute. It was challenging as there a lot of techniques in there for violin, things like pizzicato [plucking the strings], which I obviously can’t do but finding my own as a flautist to convey that,” she says.
"Another piece to look out for is Song for the Moon by Dvorak. That was an opera aria and what I enjoy doing here is putting the music on top of the words and kind of play them through the phrasing and the fragility of the sound."
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Read more:
Dubai Opera announces second edition of Music in The Studio performance series
Madalena Alberto on playing Eva Peron in Dubai Opera’s production of ‘Evita’
Ballet Under the Stars returns to Desert Palm Dubai
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It is the flute's proximity to the human voice that drew Bryan to the instrument as a seven-year-old.
“It actually began with me taking on the piano at the age of five and my parents only allowing me to take on another instrument a few years later. I remember seeing someone playing it and the sound was just so beautiful and real and the look of it as well. So I was like, yes, sign me up for that,” she recalls.
“My parents were absolutely delighted as the flute also fitted comfortably in the car.”
Katherine Bryan and Scott Mitchell will perform at Dubai Opera tonight at 8pm. Tickets begin from Dh150 from www.dubaiopera.com
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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Man of the match: Sadio Mane (Liverpool)
Where to apply
Applicants should send their completed applications - CV, covering letter, sample(s) of your work, letter of recommendation - to Nick March, Assistant Editor in Chief at The National and UAE programme administrator for the Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism, by 5pm on April 30, 2020.
Please send applications to nmarch@thenational.ae and please mark the subject line as “Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism (UAE programme application)”.
The local advisory board will consider all applications and will interview a short list of candidates in Abu Dhabi in June 2020. Successful candidates will be informed before July 30, 2020.
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The view from The National
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
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Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
