What if the audience, rather than the conductor, could decide how an orchestral concert ends?
The UAE Philharmonic Orchestra is bringing an unusual new concept to Dubai on 7 November with Rhapsody of Fate, an interactive symphonic performance that will place the audience at the heart of the musical experience, giving concertgoers the power to determine the evening’s final piece.
Taking place at New Covent Garden Theatre, the concert will explore one of life’s most enduring questions: are our lives shaped by fate, or do we have the freedom to follow our dreams?
The programme brings together two contrasting musical worlds, with Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4 representing the dramatic and often unpredictable forces of fate, while George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue celebrates freedom, ambition and the possibilities of pursuing one’s dreams.
But it is the concert’s conclusion that promises something particularly different.
Rather than ending with a predetermined encore, the orchestra will invite every audience member to participate in a collective decision that will determine which of two specially prepared musical finales is performed.
Each guest will receive a voting card offering two choices: red for Fate or blue for Dreams. At the decisive moment, the audience will cast their votes into specially designated boxes on stage.
Once the votes have been counted, UAE Philharmonic Chief Conductor Nicolas Mann will reveal the winning choice.
Before him will be two folders, one red and one blue, each containing a different encore personally selected and prepared in advance by the conductor.
Only when the winning folder is opened will the audience discover which piece the orchestra will perform.
Both musical endings will have been rehearsed and prepared, but only one will be heard, making the audience an active participant in the performance rather than simply a spectator.
The concept is designed to introduce an element of suspense, storytelling and shared discovery to the traditional symphonic concert, while making orchestral music more accessible and engaging for audiences of different ages and musical backgrounds.
The evening will also feature internationally acclaimed pianist Olga Kirpicheva, founder of France-based Trio Medici, who will join the UAE Philharmonic for Gershwin’s celebrated Rhapsody in Blue.
Combining classical orchestral traditions with the rhythms and energy of American jazz, the composition provides a musical contrast to the intensity of Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony and reflects the concert’s central themes of freedom and destiny.
The performance will be conducted by Nicolas Mann, who was named Conductor of the Year 2026 at the BraVo International Music Awards, held at Moscow’s Bolshoi Theatre.
Alongside his work with the UAE Philharmonic, Mann conducts the youth orchestra of the Empowering Emirati Musicians initiative under Dubai Culture with Music District, supporting the development of young Emirati musical talent and creating opportunities for the next generation of performers.
For the UAE Philharmonic, Rhapsody of Fate represents another step in its ambition to challenge traditional perceptions of orchestral music and introduce innovative performance concepts to the region.
Now entering its third season, the orchestra has continued to build a reputation for combining internationally recognised musical repertoire with imaginative productions and unexpected moments.
Its recent season-opening production, Reel to Real – A Cinematic Symphony, featured a surprise appearance by a T-Rex seemingly conducting the orchestra, with footage of the performance reportedly attracting approximately three million online views within days.
