Nothing beats getting dressed up for a night at the opera, and for its 2023-2024 season Dubai Opera is giving even better reason to throw your glad rags on.
Markings its 7th anniversary, the season ahead is a ‘A celebration of the cultures of the world’ – extending its influence beyond the region to the global stage, as an iconic ‘House of Cultures’. What this means, is that even more international talent will be treading the boards, with 40 different performances taking place over the next season.
So, let’s take a look at the line-up…
The season leaps into gear with Tchaikovsky’s immortal ballet Swan Lake, running until September 10, which features the iconic choreography of Rudi Van Dantzig – one of the greatest choreographers of the twentieth century – followed by Puccini’s heart-rending operative narrative Madame Butterfly, from September 12-13, produced by director Miklós Gábor Kerényi. The masterpieces are brought to life by the Hungarian State Ballet and Hungarian State Opera.
Next, we’ve got some milestones to celebrate… On December 1, 2023, Dubai Opera marks an extraordinary cultural milestone with the historic debut of the celebrated Orchestra of the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, which will present a gala concert called A Concert for Tomorrow. Aiming to unite audiences in a powerful display of solidarity and hope, the concert is timed during the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 28) and features a spectacular repertoire by Italian maestros, such as Verdi, Puccini and Mascagni. It’s conducted by Michele Gamba, and stars world-renowned soprano Aida Garifullina and acclaimed tenor Piero Pretti.
From April 27-28, we have a ground-breaking regional first, as MusicAeterena – one of the world’s most celebrated ensembles – performs two concerts dedicated to Tchaikovsky and Wager, led by world-class conductor Teodor Currentzis.
The following month, from May 25-26, 2024, the Rome Opera Ballet takes centre stage to make its UAE debut, with the exceptional performance of Les Deux Nuits, complete with Dior-crafted costumes featuring the exquisite and opulent designs by Maria Grazia Chiuri, Dior’s creative director since 2016.
For some ballet immersion, Dubai Opera will be showing The Nutcracker from December 15-17, 2023, performed by the Ballet Theatre and State Opera Orchestra of Astana (Kazakhstan), while the La Scala Theatre Ballet School from Milan will make its Dubai Opera debut from February 17-18, 2024.
You can also get the kids involved with the season’s line-up of shows and musicals. First up is Matilda, presented for the first time in the GCC region, running from October 3-15, 2023, which offers a blend of whimsical storytelling and memorable tunes that the whole family will love, followed by Slava’s Snow Show from December 8-10, 2023, which is a fun-filled performance filled with silliness and laughter. And next year, you can take them to see The Little Prince – a spellbinding and imaginative adaption of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s timeless classic – from January 26-28, 2024, followed by The Phantom of the Opera, which makes its return from February 22 – March 10, 2024, with its soul-stirring music and dramatic storytelling.
Perhaps most anticipated is the launch of the first ever Film Music Week presented by Dubai Opera. A vibrant celebration dedicated to honouring iconic film composers. Launching the series on May 9-10, 2024, is the Official Concert Celebration of Ennio Morricone, paying tribute to one of cinema’s most revered composers, directed by Andrea Morricone, the late maestro’s son. There’s also screenings of Star Wars: A New Hope and Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of The Black Pearl on May 10 and 11 respectively, which are accompanied by the live performances of John Williams’ and Hans Zimmers’ iconic scores.
For music lovers, there are concerts galore: Legendary Brazilian artist Gilberto Gil takes to the stage on September 29, 2023; Jazz virtuoso Kenny Garrett will unveil his new album on stage on October 28, 2023; Ali Seth brings his unique blend of traditional South Asian melodies and modern rhythms to Dubai on November 11; on December 12, Tinariwen - a collective of Tuareg musicians from the Sahara region of northern Mali, will play a blend of West African traditional music and electrified rock'n'roll; and Ludovico Einaudi returns for a three-night performance from January 19-21, following previous sold-out shows in which he captivates his audience with an evening of ethereal piano compositions.
And trust us, this is just scratching the surface of the new season! There are also chamber music performances, an international jazz day, Macbeth, concerts from Matteo Bocelli and Jethro Tull, the 2024 Dubai Comedy Festival, and a brand new innovative training programme to empower the next-gen of performing arts professionals, and so, so much more.
Check out the new season programming and get booking! www.dubaiopera.com
