On August 31, the dhow-shaped venue we’ve come to know as Dubai Opera will celebrate its first year of being alive and well in the heart of Downtown Dubai. It’s been a mighty productive year for the 2,000-capacity venue. Gulf News tabloid! rounds up its top ten moments thus far — from dinosaurs to Dh1 tickets.
1. When Placido Domingo brought the house down on day one
Placido Domingo will always be remembered locally for opening Dubai Opera on August 31. The Spanish tenor performed the venue’s inaugural show to a full house, and ended up on the receiving end of a very pleased and vocal crowd. Domingo, who has masses of loyal followers (Domingers? Domingonators?), seemed to be in a particularly good mood according to one mega-fan from Germany, Oliver Drews, who had seen him nearly 50 times before.
2. When Hussain Al Jassmi was the venue’s first Arab performer
What’s a Dubai-based opera house without a touch of Emirati talent? In October, Hussain Al Jassmi became the venue’s first Emirati performer, bringing his warmth and young heart to the stage. Fun fact: before Dubai Opera opened, chief executive Jasper Hope said that out of all the acts he booked, he was most excited for Al Jassmi: “Anybody who’s that popular in any market sphere that I have not heard live [and] I have not had the opportunity to enjoy… that’s the one I want to go and see.”
3. When Jean Valjean turned out to be a metal-head ahead of Les Miserables
Listen, we all know Les Miserables is terribly brilliant and terribly sad. But did you know that the guy who plays French peasant Jean Valjean listens to heavy metal while getting his make-up done? John Owen-Jones, whose been playing Valjean since 1995 — and played the character in Dubai in November — told tabloid! he listens to “Metallica, Slayer, Iron Maiden, really extreme stuff” to help him get pumped up. It certainly showed on stage.
4. When our favourite big cats roared into town
Honestly, it’s worth watching Cats just for the costumes and sassiness. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s popular musical about a tribe of big cats called Jellicles has as many emotions in it as it does striped leotards. The show came to Dubai Opera in January, and according to our review, the soundtrack was equal parts groovy (Rum Tum Tiger) and breath-taking (the world-renowned Memory).
5. When New York City came to our backyards
West Side Story is one of those shows that hit you harder because you realise they’re still tragically relevant, decades later. The 60-year-old musical, inspired by Romeo and Juliet, came to Dubai Opera in February, and dealt with themes of racism and xenophobia that are still alive and well. It’s a poignant show you won’t quickly forget.
6. When you could buy Dh1 for the 100th anniversary show
Before the big one year anniversary rolled around, there was the 100th show milestone. It was a 3pm performance of La Boheme, presented by the Welsh National Opera, on March 11; the venue sold 100 premium tickets for 100 fils each to celebrate. (Could we say 100 any more times in one paragraph? We’re 100 per cent sure we could.)
7. When BBC Proms made an exception for the UAE
This was only the second time ever that the BBC Proms travelled outside of the UK. The Proms, for those unfamiliar, is the name of an annual eight-week festival of classical music in London. Dubai got a little sampling of it in March. The schedule included six concerts over four days; there was classical repertoire, British music and the works of Dubai-based composers Joanna Marsh and Mohammad Fairouz.
8. When the WWE held try-outs at the Dubai Opera
Mohammad Munaf Farho at the WWE tryouts.
Yep, you read that right. Who said an opera house can’t be versatile? Plus, there’s nothing more theatrical than contact sports. In April, the WWE hosted a four-day try-out where 40 men and women from the Middle East and India were given the chance to become the next Sami Zayn. It proved that the Dubai Opera is more than just a one-trick pony.
9. When dinosaurs came to town for one weekend in April
Well, at least on the big screen. The scores to Steven Spielberg’s Raiders of the Last Ark and Jurassic Park were brought to life with the help of the 21st Century Symphony Orchestra — basically, people got to watch the film, but instead of the music coming through a loud speaker, it was played live by a symphonic orchestra.
10. When a magical umbrella-wielding nanny floated into our midst
The Mary Poppins show in Dubai made believers out of non-believers. The tale of the mysterious nanny, who has a literal bagful of tricks up her sleeve, didn’t lose its magic on stage in May. It brought a sense of wonder to its most cynical of audience members and taught us a few life lessons along the way.
