Interviewed by Irina Malkova DUBAI OPERA'S LONG-WAITED OPENING WILL BE HELD ON AUGUST 31. THIS EVENT WILL BE MEASURED BY THE SPEECH OF THE LEGENDARY SPANISH TENOR PLACIDO DOMINGO. THE DUBAI OPERA GENERAL DIRECTOR GENERAL JASPER HOPE TOLD US ALL DETAILS.
Opera lovers will be satisfied: performers from all over the world will perform on the stage of the new Opera House in Dubai. "I promise that in 2016 you will see the best world performances on this stage, including the English West End program," Jasper told us right away.
"The difference between the Dubai Theater and the centennial European theaters is that we can change the stage space as we please: we need an opera stage - there will be an opera stage, we need an ice arena - please," said Hope, who previously directed London Albert Hall. This means that you will not see such a variety of performances as in the Dubai Opera House, we will do productions of any genre and any style - because we have all the possibilities for this. Dubai is a multinational and multicultural urny city, and we need to reflect this diversity in our program. "
But will not 2000 stand idle? Hope is convinced that “once the site is completed, its potential will be used to its full potential. Sometimes we will give two shows a day. Already now we have planned at least 200 shows for next year, and a ticket will not cost more than going to a restaurant "
In addition to the Placido Domingo concert, the program includes performances by José Carreras, who will complete his world tour "A Life in Music" in Dubai, the sitarist Anushka Shankar, the daughter of the legendary Ravi Shankar, the flamenco dancer Sarah Baras and the popular emirate singer Hussein al Jasmi.
“I don’t think such a program is too ambitious. Many people show interest in our theater. Moreover, it has long become clear that Dubai just needs a concert venue corresponding to its status,” says Mr. Hope. “I want those who live and working in Dubai, they could be proud of our project. The Dubai Opera House will attract not only local residents, but also people from all over the region, moreover, from all over the world!
Among the planned family events are Tchaikovsky's “The Nutcracker on Ice” performed by world-famous skaters (most of whom are from Russia), as well as the family “Snow Show” by Slava Polunin, which is expected in December.
Connoisseurs of the opera will appreciate the Barber of Seville and the Opera without Words Rossini - the greatest works of Italian opera performed by the Giuseppe Verdi Opera Theater Orchestra.
Ballet lovers are expected by Giselle staged by the troupe of the Russian State Ballet of Siberia. On stage in Dubai, they will also present the ballet Coppelia.
“I understand that not all residents of the region used to be able to regularly go to the theater,” says Jasper Hope. “But we were encouraged by the idea that in all other major cities such theaters have existed for more than a century - London Albert Hall, for example , already 150 years. "
A concert of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, which will perform Mozart’s best works, is also planned for 2016, as well as a concert by Fabio Biondi and the “Gallant Europe” orchestra, which will perform with a masterpiece of classical chamber music - “The Seasons” by Vivaldi. To the question of what made an experienced professional leave London after 20 years of successful work, Jasper answered without a hitch: “Being the first is a very special feeling. In any other country in the world - in Germany, Australia, America, Russia - I never I wouldn’t be able to be the first. And here I will have the opportunity to develop classical art from scratch in the entire Middle East region. "
