A festival, unlike, say, a concert or exhibition, is a contained, utopian world, with a focus on a set of circumscribed pursuits. Like a highbrow summer camp for adults, festivals offer a jot of escapism, a chance to turn our attention away from some of the weightier issues of the past year. What makes them stand apart from other events is the joy of sharing the same fascinations with other festivalgoers. The feeling of being pushed along by a current of wonder and awe, in a school of like-minded fish.
Some of the most-popular cultural festivals celebrate their 70th, 75th or even 85th anniversaries this summer. Here are some events to mark in your diaries.
Music
Tanglewood is a celebration of classical music, opera and a bit of dance in the Berkshire mountains in Massachusetts, United States. As the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, it's the standard-bearer for American classical-music festivals, drawing crowds as much for its line-up as its bucolic surroundings. When the festival was founded in 1937, the first two concerts honoured Beethoven and Wagner. To commemorate its history, this year's festival features these composers, with Symphony No 9 and Das Rheingold. Headliners Yo-Yo Ma, Joshua Bell and the Mark Morris Dance Group round out the programme.
June 18 to September 4
www.bso.org
Temperate weather and the ever-present Alps make Switzerland an ideal host for many summer festivals, despite eye-popping prices – €10 (Dh40) for a grande Starbucks, anyone? On the shores of Lake Geneva, the 51st Montreux Jazz Festival’s broad interpretation of “jazz” includes rock and pop, with two weeks of headliners such as Grace Jones, the Pet Shop Boys and George Benson.
June 30 to July 15
www.montreuxjazzfestival.com
Aspen, Colorado, draws classical-music fans in the summer with the same force that magnetises skiers in the winter. America’s biggest classical-music festival presents chamber music, philharmonic orchestras, baroque, dance and opera. The Aspen Music Festival has a double function as a training ground for musicians of all ages. There’s even a Listener’s Master Class for those who participate by listening. This year’s theme is “enchantment”, which runs the risk of being redundant in a valley bursting with flowers and melodious chords.
June 29 to August 20
www.aspenmusicfestival.com
Opera is adapted for a floating stage in the middle of Lake Constance for Austrian festival Bregenz, a setting so striking that it was featured in the James Bond movie Quantum of Solace. Opera and classical music fans have been gathering at the shore since 1946. With orchestral performances in addition to opera, this year's list of shows include well-known productions such as Carmen and lesser-known operas such as Virginia Woolf's To the Lighthouse.
July 19 to August 20
www.bregenzerfestspiele.com
At a higher altitude in a mountain resort in Verbier, Switzerland, choirs and orchestras take the stage for 17 days with a bounty of classical-music performances at the Verbier Festival. Known for its solo performances by classical-music headliners as well as its academy and student orchestra, Verbier Festival gives aspiring musicians a rare opportunity to perform with seasoned professionals.
July 21 to August 6
www.verbierfestival.com
Founded by Wagner in 1876, the Bayreuth Festival in Germany showcases the composer's operatic oeuvre exclusively. For four weeks, diehard Wagnerians take in contemporary stagings of operas such as Tristan und Isolde or Siegfried. Seats are reserved by post or email only, five to 10 years in advance, and if you forget to apply one year, your name is moved to the end of the list.
July 25 to August 28
www.bayreuther-festspiele.de
Theatre, dance, comedy and performance art
Throw a black turtleneck and some skinny jeans in your suitcase for the five-week avant-garde Vienna Festival, which features performances, music, visual art and theatre. With new artistic director Tomas Zierhofer-Zin starting this year, the boundary-pushing festival expands further with 44 productions from 28 countries, and three new additions: lectures at the Academy of Unlearning; Performeum shorts on a former railway site; and an exhibition-slash-celebration of club culture called Hyperreality.
Until June 18
www.festwochen.at
Devotees of contemporary dance have been flocking to Jacob’s Pillow in the Berkshire mountains of upstate New York for the past 85 years, where international modern dance and ballet companies – with a bit of tap dance thrown in – stage shows for four days each. Headliners this year include Paul Taylor, Trisha Brown, the Miami City Ballet and, from the United Kingdom, Aakash Odedra. Jacob’s Pillow also runs a summer programme for young dancers.
June 17 to August 27
www.jacobspillow.org/festival
Grahamstown in South Africa has been hosting the National Arts Festival since 1974. Aficionados of African music, art or comedy in the style of Trevor Noah will revel in the vibrant, often politically charged comedy, theatre, dance and jazz. A fringe festival multiplies the offerings with a focus on children, a film festival and a Think!Fest that picks up where TED Talks leave off. Don’t forget to pack a scarf and a jacket, because July in Cape Town means winter, not summer.
June 29 to July 9
www.nationalartsfestival.co.za
For a performing-arts festival that prioritises innovation and abstraction, head to the Avignon Festival in southern France. Now in its 71st year, the intimate festival sets dance, theatre, music and video performances in venues like the medieval Palais des Papes, at dawn, to maximise the effect of the region's summer light. There are 60 shows, such as a performance-art piece called The Great Tamer that takes place on a stage that's continually changing shape, shrinking or growing, throwing the performers off-balance, while Grown Ups is a dance show for children that pokes fun at being an adult. Unlike other European theatre festivals, Avignon has many shows for children.
July 6 to 26
www.festival-avignon.com
The Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland throws open its arms to anyone who wants to take part, making it a bubbling, unedited melting pot of theatre, comedy, circus, dance and more. Walking around the city, you might pass a performance in a telephone booth or whizzing by in the back of a taxi. Recently, up-and-coming comedians have hogged the spotlight, launching careers in Edinburgh’s narrow alleyways. This year, the three-week festival celebrates its 70th anniversary.
August 4 to 28
tickets.edfringe.com
Fine arts
As the touchstone of the global zeitgeist for fine arts, this year's Venice Biennale in Italy highlights the role of art in calling attention to crises of conscience around the world, from the plight of migrants to the reverberations of Trump's presidency. Many of the exhibitions feature live performers. In the German pavilion, young people crawl under a glass platform, while Dobermans bark at the entrance. The 57th group of selected artists push against the four walls of their allotted pavilions. Water, rerouted from fountains and pipes, pours from the ceiling in the Canadian pavilion. Neon lights illuminate the Korean pavilion, while two Finnish sculptures talk to each other and show each other videos. For the fifth year, the UAE is there, and this year's theme, Rock, Paper, Scissors: Positions in Play, features five artists across different generations who call the UAE home.
Until November 26
www.labiennale.org/en/art/exhibition
Keep the latest copy of Artforum and the Sotheby's catalogue close, because Art Basel in Switzerland is for the serious collector. While many art festivals claim to be the largest according to various criteria, Art Basel is the measuring stick; the world's largest art fair representing work from 4,000 artists in all media including film. Expect three frenetic days where the major players of the art world meet, transact and celebrate.
June 15 to 18
www.artbasel.com
weekend@thenational.ae
HEADLINE HERE
- I would recommend writing out the text in the body
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- That's about it
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
The specs: 2018 Maserati Levante S
Price, base / as tested: Dh409,000 / Dh467,000
Engine: 3.0-litre V6
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 430hp @ 5,750rpm
Torque: 580Nm @ 4,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 10.9L / 100km
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh132,000 (Countryman)
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Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
The Bio
Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Favourite place to relax in UAE: the desert around Al Mleiha in Sharjah or the eastern mangroves in Abu Dhabi
The one book everyone should read: 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It will make your mind fly
Favourite documentary: Chasing Coral by Jeff Orlowski. It's a good reality check about one of the most valued ecosystems for humanity
Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge – Rally schedule:
Saturday: Super Special Spectator Stage – Yas Marina Circuit – start 3.30pm.
Sunday: Yas Marina Circuit Stage 1 (276.01km)
Monday: Nissan Stage 2 (287.92km)
Tuesday: Al Ain Water Stage 3 (281.38km)
Wednesday: ADNOC Stage 4 (244.49km)
Thursday: Abu Dhabi Aviation Stage 5 (218.57km) Finish: Yas Marina Circuit – 4.30pm.
'Spies in Disguise'
Director: Nick Bruno and Troy Quane
Stars: Will Smith, Tom Holland, Karen Gillan and Roshida Jones
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
EXPATS
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Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
MWTC info
Tickets to the MWTC range from Dh100 and can be purchased from www.ticketmaster.ae or by calling 800 86 823 from within the UAE or 971 4 366 2289 from outside the country and all Virgin Megastores. Fans looking to attend all three days of the MWTC can avail of a special 20 percent discount on ticket prices.
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
Five famous companies founded by teens
There are numerous success stories of teen businesses that were created in college dorm rooms and other modest circumstances. Below are some of the most recognisable names in the industry:
- Facebook: Mark Zuckerberg and his friends started Facebook when he was a 19-year-old Harvard undergraduate.
- Dell: When Michael Dell was an undergraduate student at Texas University in 1984, he started upgrading computers for profit. He starting working full-time on his business when he was 19. Eventually, his company became the Dell Computer Corporation and then Dell Inc.
- Subway: Fred DeLuca opened the first Subway restaurant when he was 17. In 1965, Mr DeLuca needed extra money for college, so he decided to open his own business. Peter Buck, a family friend, lent him $1,000 and together, they opened Pete’s Super Submarines. A few years later, the company was rebranded and called Subway.
- Mashable: In 2005, Pete Cashmore created Mashable in Scotland when he was a teenager. The site was then a technology blog. Over the next few decades, Mr Cashmore has turned Mashable into a global media company.
- Oculus VR: Palmer Luckey founded Oculus VR in June 2012, when he was 19. In August that year, Oculus launched its Kickstarter campaign and raised more than $1 million in three days. Facebook bought Oculus for $2 billion two years later.
Fixtures (all times UAE)
Saturday
Brescia v Atalanta (6pm)
Genoa v Torino (9pm)
Fiorentina v Lecce (11.45pm)
Sunday
Juventus v Sassuolo (3.30pm)
Inter Milan v SPAL (6pm)
Lazio v Udinese (6pm)
Parma v AC Milan (6pm)
Napoli v Bologna (9pm)
Verona v AS Roma (11.45pm)
Monday
Cagliari v Sampdoria (11.45pm)
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
FIXTURES
All kick-off times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Brackets denote aggregate score
Tuesday:
Roma (1) v Shakhtar Donetsk (2), 11.45pm
Manchester United (0) v Sevilla (0), 11.45pm
Wednesday:
Besiktas (0) v Bayern Munich (5), 9pm
Barcelona (1) v Chelsea (1), 11.45pm
Three tips from La Perle's performers
1 The kind of water athletes drink is important. Gwilym Hooson, a 28-year-old British performer who is currently recovering from knee surgery, found that out when the company was still in Studio City, training for 12 hours a day. “The physio team was like: ‘Why is everyone getting cramps?’ And then they realised we had to add salt and sugar to the water,” he says.
2 A little chocolate is a good thing. “It’s emergency energy,” says Craig Paul Smith, La Perle’s head coach and former Cirque du Soleil performer, gesturing to an almost-empty open box of mini chocolate bars on his desk backstage.
3 Take chances, says Young, who has worked all over the world, including most recently at Dragone’s show in China. “Every time we go out of our comfort zone, we learn a lot about ourselves,” she says.
The specs
Price: From Dh180,000 (estimate)
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged and supercharged in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 320hp @ 5,700rpm
Torque: 400Nm @ 2,200rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.7L / 100km
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
Race card for Super Saturday
4pm: Al Bastakiya Listed US$250,000 (Dh918,125) (Dirt) 1,900m.
4.35pm: Mahab Al Shimaal Group 3 $200,000 (D) 1,200m.
5.10pm: Nad Al Sheba Conditions $200,000 (Turf) 1,200m.
5.45pm: Burj Nahaar Group 3 $200,000 (D) 1,600m.
6.20pm: Jebel Hatta Group 1 $300,000 (T) 1,800m.
6.55pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 Group 1 $400,000 (D) 2,000m.
7.30pm: Dubai City of Gold Group 2 $250,000 (T) 2,410m.
Company%20profile
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Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East