When a show has played to sold-out audiences in the US, Europe, the Far East and Australia, it’s a pretty safe bet to assume that it’s worth checking out.

That’s why we are rather excited to hear that the BBC’s Blue Planet in Concert, which has done exactly that, will be opening the Abu Dhabi stopover of this year’s Volvo Ocean Race (VOR) on December 12.

The show consists of spectacular, specially cut, high-definition scenes from the award-winning Blue Planet TV series, combined with a powerful and evocative musical score performed by a 78-piece live orchestra led by a celebrity guest conductor.

And as if that wasn’t epic enough, the footage will be shown on a 10-metre-wide screen placed on a purpose-built floating stage in the waters off Abu Dhabi’s Corniche.

By the sounds of it, the show will be a fitting curtain raiser to the three-week Abu Dhabi stopover of the VOR, which will see sailing teams race to 11 cities in 11 countries separated by more than 70,000km.

As well as the two 90-minute performances of the Blue Planet in Concert, the stopover, which will take place in a 30,000-square-metre, purpose-built village on the Abu Dhabi Corniche, will also feature a whole host of other events including dhow racing, pearl diving showcases and ocean conservation exhibitions.

Details: for more information visit Volvooceaonraceabudhabi.com