Abu Dhabi, UAE, 30 September 2026 - Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi invited the wider community to experience 'Encounters of Intelligences', an immersive concert that brought together live music, artificial intelligence and audience participation in an exploration of the evolving relationship between human creativity and technology.
Held on 3 October at Zayed Theatre on the university’s Al Reem Island campus, the concert was led by soprano Isabel Cañada, joined by an internationally awarded string quartet, flautist Natalia Oddi Vergnani, guitarist Feras Rada, pianist Iryna Krainska and percussionist Inas Halal, for an evening combining acoustic performance, AI-driven technologies and real-time audiovisual projections.
The concert unfolded across three parts, beginning with a purely human and acoustic performance before gradually introducing interactions between the musicians and digital and artificial intelligence elements. The evening culminated in an interactive experience that invited the audience to participate in the creation of a song using artificial intelligence in real time.
Forming part of Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi’s Year of AI 2026, *Encounters of Intelligences* invited audiences to consider how technology is reshaping creative expression while exploring the possibilities that emerge when human artistic interpretation and artificial intelligence meet on stage.
Professor Nathalie Martial-Braz, Chancellor of Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, said: “At Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, we believe that the arts provide a powerful space to explore how technology is shaping our world. Through *Encounters of Intelligences*, we were delighted to welcome the wider community to our campus for an evening that brought together music, creativity and artificial intelligence in an engaging and interactive way. This evening also inaugurated our cultural season, running until May with a rich and vibrant programme spanning dance, theatre, film, music and much more.”
The event also reflected Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi’s role as an active cultural and intellectual hub in the UAE. Alongside its academic and research activities, the university regularly welcomes the wider community to public exhibitions, artistic performances, conferences and cultural events that encourage dialogue across disciplines, cultures and ideas.
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