Things to sing about
5,798 m2
The area of the opera building
31
The number of boxes offering 184 seats
21
Dressing rooms with a capacity of up to 10 people
5,000kg
The weight of the chandelier which contains 2,900 LEDs
dubai — In just a span of decades, Dubai is a star on the world map as a high achieving destination. A place known for the world’s tallest buildings, world-class shopping malls and seven-star hotels.
The performing arts is one area where the country has been lagging behind, but now, that is a thing of the past.
Khaleej Times got a sneak peak of the much-anticipated landmark, Dubai Opera, officially opening on Wednesday. Rest assured, you will not need to go to Europe or the US for the best concerts anymore.
Like everything else in Dubai, the 2,000-capacity venue blends modernity with tradition. The building’s design is inspired by Dubai’s long maritime history, with its dhow shape and other architectural elements referring to the country’s seafaring traditions.
Once you enter, you are mesmerised by the glass building, situated right at the foot of the Burj Khalifa. Inside, the breathtaking venue is perfectly polished and ready to host international shows. The leather seating and dark wood hues will immediately put you in the mood for a performance, which can vary from classical music, flamenco, Broadway musicals, to even sporting events and art exhibitions.
The venue isn’t officially open yet, but over 70 performances have already been announced for the first four months, with the opening show by Spanish tenor Placido Domingo selling out in less than three hours after it was announced in April.
According to Dubai Opera’s chief executive Jasper Hope, a number of shows are already sold out, and everything else on the schedule is selling well.
But the question remains: is it just a reaction to the launch hype that will soon fade away?
Tailored for Dubai audiences
Much ink has been spilled over the question of whether the local audience will be accepting of opera music, considered to be new to the people here.
According to Hope, who previously managed London’s Royal Albert Hall, the venue is flexibly designed to accommodate different kinds of events to satisfy varied audiences. The opera will also be available for third parties to rent.
“The challenge is to give people what they want and make sure the artists that we host and the performances are ones that audiences here actually want to watch and enjoy,” said Hope. He added that while getting the right shows for the opening week is over, the real challenge is sustaining it going forward. “We have 365 days a year and more than 200 nationalities, so the skill lies in designing a programme that is perpetually different but has enough favourites to balance what local and international audiences actually want the Dubai Opera to represent.” Introducing a new venue with high anticipation is tough enough, but Hope said people’s reactions to the shows will help determine future choices.
Class acts in town
“I am well aware of the pressure of sustaining something as a source of quality entertainment,” Hope said.
And that’s the reason why Dubai Opera chose The Pearl Fishers, The Barber of Seville, and Opera Without Words to be the first three shows in Dubai opera, stated Director Davide Garattini Raimondi.
The Italian comic opera The Barber of Seville, for example, was changed to suit Dubai’s audience. While the play is three acts and four scenes, it has been shrunk to two acts without removing any parts. “The logic is to make it easier for new audiences to understand through setting and acting,” says Raimondi. According to Conductor Maestro Renzetti, music is an international language that transcends cultures. “We hosted [Italian] shows in the Royal Opera House Muscat and people’s reactions were fantastic. We are trying to open a new market for opera in the Gulf,” said Renzetti.
On showing local talent
As for hosting a resident orchestra, Hope said the country will first need to develop skills and train for a local orchestra.
“The best option for now is to invite international artists who can inspire the next generation to become the future Dubai Opera Orchestra. I believe this will be a longer-term, lasting benefit for Dubai,” Hope noted.
sherouk@khaleejtimes.com