Harry Connick Jr. to perform in Abu Dhabi

Harry Connick Jr. to perform in Abu Dhabi

Musical icon will perform at ADNEC’s Abu Dhabi Hall on May 16th during his world tour.

April 7, 2010 9:43 by Ben Flanagan

Abu Dhabi, UAE, April 7th, 2010: Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC) announced today the Live Performance of Musical Icon Harry Connick Jr. in the second of a series of Live Events staged at its recently launched Abu Dhabi Hall.

A star of music, films, and theatre, Harry Connick Jr is currently touring Australia, Europe, and USA. He will perform at Abu Dhabi Hall, ADNEC on May 16th. It will be the first time the three-time Grammy Award-winner has visited the UAE.

“I’m really looking forward to visiting your amazing country for the first time,” said Harry Connick Jr. “I know the United Arab Emirates is a country that enjoys music and culture and I look forward to sharing my music with you” he added.

Harry Connick Jr. who has sold 25 million records worldwide, is currently promoting his newest album “Your Songs” which is a compilation of 14 classic popular songs where he integrates a string orchestra and his big band, offering a distinctive approach. The album includes some of the best known work of contemporary song writers / singers such as Lennon-McCartney “And I Love Her” as well as immortal classics such as “Mona Lisa”, “All the Way” and “Bésame Mucho,” which is sung in both Spanish and English.

Harry Connick Jr. grew up in New Orleans surrounded by its rich musical heritage and he was only 5 when he began performing. He appeared on his first recording at age 10, and left New Orleans to try his luck in New York at the young age of 18. Within a year he released his self-titled major label debut for Columbia Records; however his first major success as a musician came when director Rob Reiner asked him to contribute to the 1989 film, When Harry Met Sally… The film’s success led to Harry’s first multi-platinum album, an accomplishment made even more impressive by the fact that it was also his first Big Band recording.

Connick has also built a successful film, TV and theatrical stage career. After making his acting debut in Memphis Belle in 1990, he has also appeared opposite three Oscar winning actresses in Hope Floats (Sandra Bullock), P.S. I Love You (Hilary Swank), and his latest film project New In Town (Renee Zellweger). As a television performer, Connick has starred in holiday specials built around his best selling holiday albums as well as Harry Connick, Jr.: Only You In Concert for which he won a 2004 Emmy. In addition, he starred opposite Glenn Close in the TV adaptation of the musical South Pacific. Connick made his Broadway theatrical stage debut in the 2006 revival of The Pajama Game as Sid Sorokin to sold-out audiences, rave reviews, and nominations for Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Drama League awards for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical. The Pajama Game received the 2006 Tony Award for Best Musical Revival.

Commenting on the event, Christina Anthony, Special Projects Director of ADNEC said, ‘‘We are delighted to have somebody of the musical stature of Harry Connick Jr. performing at Abu Dhabi Hall. This is a remarkable beginning for a series of Live Events which will take place at ADNEC. Harry has been very successful since the beginning of his career and this new album is set to be an additional triumph.”

The show will be held in partnership with ADTA, AEG, The Coast as the official radio station, The National as the official newspaper and Synaxis Media as the official digital partner.

Harry Connick Jr. will be an all-seated concert. Doors open at 6:30 pm and the show will begin at 8:30 pm. Ticket prices begin at AED395, AED495, AED549 and AED595 and will be sold at Boxofficeme.com, Timeouttickets.com, Ticketingboxoffice.com and Virgin Megastores. For more information on the event, please visit www.adnec.ae/harryconnickjr

About Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC)

Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC) is a strategic international venue development and management company. ADNEC’s venue portfolio includes one of the most modern exhibition centre’s in the world – the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, and the UK capital’s largest exhibition and conference venue, ExCeL London.

ADNEC is creating unique business districts to serve Abu Dhabi’s rapid expansion and emergence on the global stage.

Development projects surrounding the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre include Capital Centre (a mixed-use development of 23 residential, commercial and mixed-use towers adjacent to the exhibition centre), Capital Gate (an iconic 35 storey gravity defying feature tower, featuring the 5-star hotel – ‘Hyatt at Capital Centre’) and a 2.4km Marina zone.

In addition, ADNEC is expanding within the region, with The Al Ain Convention Centre, a residential and business micro city around a state-of-the-art convention centre.

For more information visit www.adnec.ae