Piano Recital Series: 3 Concert Package

ARAB WORLD PREMIERE

Overview

Three nights. Three unforgettable recitals. One extraordinary musical experience.

From 9 to 11 December, Abu Dhabi Festival 2026 brings together world-class musicians for three consecutive evenings at the Cultural Foundation. Spanning operatic favourites, chamber music and Bach’s celebrated keyboard works, the series showcases the piano’s expressive range, from accompanying the human voice and partnering with the violin to taking centre stage in a solo recital.

The performances open with celebrated French tenor Benjamin Bernheim and Canadian pianist Carrie-Ann Matheson in an evening of operatic arias and beloved songs. The following night, internationally acclaimed violinist Lisa Batiashvili joins Georgian pianist Giorgi Gigashvili for a captivating programme spanning Beethoven, Prokofiev, Bardanashvili and Franck. The series concludes with Korean-American pianist Minsoo Sohn performing Book One of Bach’s The Well-Tempered Clavier, a masterpiece of musical depth and invention.

Experience the complete Piano Recital Series with an exclusive package offering 33% off the combined individual ticket price, bringing together three distinctive musical experiences in one booking.

Piano Recital Series ticket holders will receive a complimentary nightly programme for each of the three performances.

Programme

9 December 2026 | Benjamin Bernheim and Carrie-Ann Matheson
French tenor Benjamin Bernheim joins Canadian pianist Carrie-Ann Matheson for an evening of operatic favourites and expressive song. The programme features works by Duparc, Tchaikovsky, Bizet and Gounod, alongside celebrated arias by Donizetti and songs by Puccini. The recital concludes with beloved French chansons by Charles Trenet, Joseph Kosma and Jacques Brel, including Douce France, Les feuilles mortes and Quand on n'a que l'amour.

10 December 2026 | Lisa Batiashvili and Giorgi Gigashvili
Internationally acclaimed violinist Lisa Batiashvili and rising piano star Giorgi Gigashvili unite for a riveting recital exploring the expressive possibilities of violin and piano. Beethoven's Sonata No. 3 in E-flat major and Prokofiev's powerful Sonata No. 1 in F minor lead into Josef Bardanashvili's To Gia Kancheli (P.S.), before the evening concludes with César Franck's celebrated Violin Sonata in A major.

11 December 2026 | Minsoo Sohn
Korean-American pianist Minsoo Sohn presents Book One of Johann Sebastian Bach's The Well-Tempered Clavier. Comprising 24 preludes and fugues across all major and minor keys, this monumental work combines extraordinary technical invention with expressive depth. In Sohn's hands, Bach's enduring masterpiece becomes a captivating journey through one of the foundations of the keyboard repertoire.

Artists

Benjamin Bernheim, Tenor
French tenor Benjamin Bernheim is one of the leading lyric tenors of his generation, appearing regularly on the world's foremost opera stages, including the Opéra national de Paris, Metropolitan Opera, Wiener Staatsoper, Teatro alla Scala, and Royal Opera House.

An exclusive Deutsche Grammophon artist, his accolades include Opera Singer of the Year at the Victoires de la Musique in 2020 and 2024, Male Singer of the Year at the 2024 International Opera Awards and the 2025 Opus Klassik.

Carrie-Ann Matheson, Piano
Canadian pianist, conductor and educator Carrie-Ann Matheson is Artistic Director of the San Francisco Opera Center and the Merola Opera Program. After beginning her career on the music staff of the Metropolitan Opera, she joined Opernhaus Zürich in 2014, where she also made her conducting debut.

A sought-after recital partner, Matheson has performed with leading singers including Jonas Kaufmann, Piotr Beczała, Diana Damrau, Joyce DiDonato and Rolando Villazón.

Lisa Batiashvili, Violin
Born in Georgia and based in Germany, Lisa Batiashvili is an internationally acclaimed violinist with long-standing relationships with many of the world's leading orchestras, conductors and musicians.

An exclusive Deutsche Grammophon recording artist, her honours include the MIDEM Classical Award, Leonard Bernstein Award, and Beethoven-Ring. She was named Musical America's Instrumentalist of the Year in 2015 and founded the Lisa Batiashvili Foundation in 2021 to support talented young Georgian musicians.

Giorgi Gigashvili, Piano
Born in Tbilisi, Georgia, Giorgi Gigashvili has emerged as a major international talent, winning prizes at leading competitions including the Vigo International Piano Competition, Géza Anda Piano Competition and Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition.

His debut album, Meeting My Shadow (2023), received critical acclaim. A BBC New Generation Artist from 2023 to 2025, he was also selected as an ECHO Rising Star for the 2025–2026 season.

Minsoo Sohn, Piano
Korean-American pianist Minsoo Sohn is known for his musical intelligence and masterful virtuosity. He has toured extensively throughout North and South America, Europe, and Korea, appearing at major concert halls and festivals.

Particularly celebrated for his interpretations of Bach and Beethoven, Sohn completed an ambitious four-year Beethoven project encompassing the composer's 32 piano sonatas. Sony Classical released his nine-album recording of the complete sonatas in 2020. He joined the faculty of New England Conservatory in 2023.