text Teresa Favi
The must-sees of the new season of Dubai’s Opera House
An epicentre of performing arts in the Middle East led by Italian Paolo Petrocelli
Dubai’s Opera House has become the epicenter of performing arts in the Middle East by attracting a global audience, but this year, under the direction of the new CEO Paolo Petrocelli (a young and talented Italian and a cultural management expert who combines a passion for music and culture with managerial skills), the theater is even more determined to be a place of culture and music that knows no bounds. The new season, rich in shows and productions ranging from opera music to ballet, from concerts to musicals, from jazz to plays, proves it. Here are the highlights.
The major event is the debut of Milan’s Scala Theater Orchestra performing the gala concert A Concert for Tomorrow scheduled for December 1st and conducted by Michele Gamba, a young conductor yet with great onstage experience in productions at the Scala Theater, and world-famous singers Aida Garifullina and Piero Pretti. This concert will be held at the same time as the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 28) and aims to bring the audience together in a message of solidarity and hope. Among the ballet performances is The Nutcracker, from December 15 to 17. On December 21, Matteo Bocelli, a rising star from the famed Bocelli lineage, brings his unique blend of classical and contemporary music, promising an evening of emotive and modern lyricism. Dubai’s Opera House presents its version of the New Year’s Day Concert, with Jerusalem’s Symphony Orchestra conducted by Julian Rachlin. Milan’s Scala Theater Ballet School, one of the world’s leading ballet schools, will debut on February 17-18.
This prestigious academy has produced renowned A-list stars such as Roberto Bolle and Jacopo Tisci, both former Bolshoi principal dancers. Also the Rome Opera Ballet, featuring Director and étoile Eleonora Abbagnato, takes centre stage in the UAE for the first time on May 25-26, 2024, with the exceptional performance 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 the first time in the Middle East, the ensemble MusicAeterna will perform two concerts on April 27- 28. In the musical field, The Phantom of the Opera will be staged from February 22 to March 10, 2024. But make sure to keep an eye on the weekly program and, above all, enjoy the theater!