As part of the UK/UAE 2017 year of cultural collaboration, Welsh National Opera (WNO) will perform in the opening season of the new Dubai Opera, the city’s first purpose built multi-format performing arts theatre, situated in the heart of downtown Dubai.
UK/UAE 2017 is a year of creative collaboration between the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a season of arts, education and cultural events aimed at building new audiences, creating new collaborations and strengthening relationships between the two countries.
Welsh National Opera, the national opera company for Wales, are celebrating their 70th anniversary this year and will perform for the first time in Dubai. They will present their award winning productions of the masterpiece Italian operas; Puccini's Madam Butterfly and La Bohème.
Pop-up performances, where members of the chorus burst into song with arias from these famous operas, will take place at the British Council in Dubai and Dubai Opera Plaza.
The British Council is pleased to be supporting a programme of learning activities including workshops, master classes and open rehearsals.
Young people at schools and colleges across Dubai will take part in workshops and master classes with singers and orchestral players from Welsh National Opera. They will get also have the chance to experience what goes on in the rehearsal room for one of these iconic operas. There will be a special celebration to mark St David’s day on 1 March 2017, at the British Embassy.