PLÁCIDO DOMINGO TO PLAY THE FIRST CONCERT AT DUBAI OPERA

By Sarah Townsend

The soon-to-be completed Dubai Opera has announced its inaugural season line-up, with the first performance a concert by Spanish tenor Plácido Domingo.

Emaar Properties is building the new performing arts venue near Burj Lake in Downtown Dubai. The project is scheduled for completion in September, and Emaar on Tuesday announced the 49 performances of opera, ballet, classical music and family entertainment that will make up its inaugural season.

Described as the ‘king of opera’, Plácido Domingo is named in the Guinness Book of Records for the size of his repertoire and for having received 101 curtain calls after a performance of Verdi’sOtello at the Vienna State Opera.

His concert will be followed by Georges Bizet’s opera The Pearl Fishers; The Barber of Seville;Opera without Words (a collection of Italian opera’s greatest overtures and interludes performed by the Fondazione Teatro Lirico Giuseppe Verdi from Trieste); Giselle and Coppelia, both by the Russian State Ballet and Orchestra of Siberia, the Mozart Gala and Postcards from Vienna.

The line-up also includes Catalan tenor José Carreras, one of the renowned ‘Three Tenors’ alongside Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti; Emirati singer Hussain Al Jassmi, Spanish Flamenco star Sara Baras and sitar player Anouskha Shankar.

Bejart Ballet Lausanne is scheduled to perform Ballet for Life and a Ballet Gala of Seven Greek Dances, Piaf and Bolero.

And Dubai Opera will also host entertainment shows including Impossible, which features live performances from some of the world’s best illusionists, The Nutcracker on Ice and Slava’s Snowshow.

Designed to be a flexible, multi-purpose venue, Dubai Opera contains a moveable proscenium arch theatre, acoustic concert hall and 2,000 sq m flat floor event space.

Emaar chairman Mohamed Alabbar said: “With a world class line-up of performances in the opening year, Dubai Opera is defining its credentials as the cultural hub of the region.”

Jasper Hope, CEO of Dubai Opera, added: “The performances will be a revelation for culture-lovers in the city…appeal to residents and tourists alike, and help broaden the international appeal of Dubai.”

Further performances including a number of high profile names and productions will be announced in due course. Tickets can be booked online at: www.dubaiopera.com