INTERNATIONAL OPERA FESTIVAL
IN THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA
Nov. 2 to 4, 2023
The second edition of the International Opera Festival is set to grace Riyadh from Nov. 2 to 4, 2023. Hosted at the prestigious Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, the three-day festival promises a spectacular showcase of various opera performances and an exhibition featuring iconic pieces from the world of opera. This musical extravaganza will bring together a constellation of the most renowned opera artists, with the distinguished presence of the World Philharmonic Orchestra.
A highlight of the festival includes an exhibition showcasing the opera productions of the legendary Franco Zeffirelli. The event aims to captivate music lovers of all ages and attract attention from local and international celebrities in the music world.
The vision behind the International Opera Festival is to establish an annual international event celebrating opera as a distinctive and timeless musical form. By presenting opera to local talents and diverse audiences, the Music Commission seeks to elevate it as a symbol of arts and culture.
The festival not only aims to support the music sector but also to enrich local culture and foster a deeper understanding of global musical traditions.
INTERNATIONAL OPERA FESTIVAL
IN THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA
18.06 - 20.06.2022
Saudi Arabia hosted its first ever International Opera Festival from June 18 to June 20 with several globally renowned artists participating in the event. For the first time international opera shows and performances from around the world were displayed in the Kingdom.
The festival’s lineup includes Australian-American lyric soprano Danielle de Niese, Armenian baritone Gevorg Hakobyan, and Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja, with the pioneering Saudi performers being Sawsan Albahiti, the Kingdom’s first professional opera singer; Khayran Al-Zahrani, Saudi Arabia’s first male opera singer; and Mostafa Shirah. Each day of the concert during the three-day festival featured a two-hour performance by a Saudi singer paired with an international opera singer beginning with Albahiti and Calleja on Saturday, who performed an assortment of classic opera pieces. The event will also include a special exhibition for opera with classic arts and associated possessions, such as fashion, and opera history with its musical instruments.
