Zarqa Al Yamama - the first Grand Opera produced by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - celebrates international premiere in Riyadh

April 26, 2024 02:19 PM CEST | By Cision
 Zarqa Al Yamama - the first Grand Opera produced by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - celebrates international premiere in Riyadh
Image source: Kalkine Media

LONDON, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Last night, inside the newly renovated King Fahad Cultural Centre, Riyadh, the Saudi Theater and Performing Arts Commission premiered Zarqa Al Yamama - the first-ever Grand Opera produced by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Zarqa Al Yamama Premiere - Dame Sarah Connolly as Zarqa
Zarqa Al Yamama Premiere - Dame Sarah Connolly as Zarqa

 

A groundbreaking new international production bringing to life one of the most iconic tales from pre-Islamic Arabia, Zarqa Al Yamama tells the story of the eponymous heroine's struggle to warn the Jadis tribe about the approach of an army threatening to annihilate her people.

Sultan Al-Bazie, CEO of the Theater and Performing Arts Commission, commented: "It is our privilege to unveil the legend of Zarqa Al Yamama to the world, and to use one of our most beloved national stories as the launch of the next chapter for Saudi Arabia's cultural prosperity. This production represents an achievement in international cultural exchange, and in bringing together outstanding Saudi-born talent with leading singers and technicians from all over the world, and we are delighted to have showcased the first performance in a new series of arts experiences inspired by the rich tapestry of stories from Saudi folklore.''

Zarqa Al Yamama is the first Grand Opera to feature international and local artists performing a libretto exclusively in Arabic, written by the award-winning Saudi poet Saleh Zamanan and adapted into an original musical score by Australian composer Lee Bradshaw, under the creative direction of Ivan Vukcevic.

The titular role of Zarqa was performed by world-acclaimed mezzo soprano Dame Sarah Connolly, alongside a principle cast of leading international artists including Amelia Wawrzon, Serena Farnocchia, Paride Cataldo, Aleksandar Stefanoski and George von Bergen. Of the nine main roles, three were performed by Saudi-born singers, including tenor Khayran Al Zahrani, and sopranos Sawsan Albahiti and Reemaz Oqbi.

Led by conductor Pablo González, the opera was performed by the Dresdner Sinfoniker featuring vocal accompaniments by the Czech Philharmonic Choir Brno. The transformative staging and special effects were devised by internationally renowned stage director Daniele Finzi Pasca.

Zarqa Al Yamama will run for ten performances, closing on Saturday 4 May 2024.

Tickets– starting from 100 SAR/£20/$26 – can be booked via: https://dc.moc.gov.sa/home/event-tickets/208/zarqaa-al-yamama-opera/.


Disclaimer

The content, including but not limited to any articles, news, quotes, information, data, text, reports, ratings, opinions, images, photos, graphics, graphs, charts, animations and video (Content) is a service of Kalkine Media Limited, Company No. 12643132 (“Kalkine Media, we or us”) and is available for personal and non-commercial use only. Kalkine Media is an appointed representative of Kalkine Limited, who is authorized and regulated by the FCA (FRN: 579414). The non-personalized advice given by Kalkine Media through its Content does not in any way endorse or recommend individuals, investment products or services suitable for your personal financial situation. You should discuss your portfolios and the risk tolerance level appropriate for your personal financial situation, with a qualified financial planner and/or adviser. No liability is accepted by Kalkine Media or Kalkine Limited and/or any of its employees/officers, for any investment loss, or any other loss or detriment experienced by you for any investment decision, whether consequent to, or in any way related to this Content, the provision of which is a regulated activity. Kalkine Media does not intend to exclude any liability which is not permitted to be excluded under applicable law or regulation. Some of the Content on this website may be sponsored/non-sponsored, as applicable. However, on the date of publication of any such Content, none of the employees and/or associates of Kalkine Media hold positions in any of the stocks covered by Kalkine Media through its Content. The views expressed in the Content by the guests, if any, are their own and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of Kalkine Media.
The content published on Kalkine Media also includes feeds sourced from third-party providers. Kalkine does not assert any ownership rights over the content provided by these third-party sources. The inclusion of such feeds on the Website is for informational purposes only. Kalkine does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the content obtained from third-party feeds. Furthermore, Kalkine Media shall not be held liable for any errors, omissions, or inaccuracies in the content obtained from third-party feeds, nor for any damages or losses arising from the use of such content. Some of the images/music/video that may be used in the Content are copyright to their respective owner(s). Kalkine Media does not claim ownership of any of the pictures displayed/music or video used in the Content unless stated otherwise. The images/music/video that may be used in the Content are taken from various sources on the internet, including paid subscriptions or are believed to be in public domain. We have used reasonable efforts to accredit the source wherever it was indicated or was found to be necessary.
This disclaimer is subject to change without notice. Users are advised to review this disclaimer periodically for any updates or modifications.

Top Penny Picks under 20 Cents to Fit Your Pocket! Get Exclusive Report on Penny Stocks For FREE Now.

Sponsored Articles