Recent events in Riyadh demonstrated Saudi Arabia's growing soft power: the grand opening of the world’s largest Arabic opera in Riyadh, its hosting of the World Economic Forum (formerly in Davos), and a key six-party meeting of Arab states on the Gaza war.
“Zarqa Al-Yamama"—the world’s first and largest grand opera in Arabic—debuted at the King Fahad Cultural Centre in Riyadh.
The opening show offered a unique experience from start to finish and took the audience on a musical journey through one of the best-known folkloric tales in the Arabian Peninsula. It also showed just how much Saudi Arabia has invested in culture and arts.
Diverse tapestry
In my row sat a French musician, a Canadian artificial intelligence expert alongside his Estonian wife, a British tourist, a visitor from Bahrain, and a young Saudi couple, reflecting a diverse tapestry of nationalities.
We enjoyed the show together in a cultural nexus that intertwined the West with the East and the local with the international.
Scripted by Saudi poet Saleh Zamanan and featuring Saudi soprano Sawsan Al-Bahiti in a leading role, the staging and special effects were devised by internationally renowned stage director Daniele Finzi Pasca.
Read more: Meet Sawsan al-Bahiti, Saudi Arabia's first opera singer
The music—composed by Australian Lee Bradshaw—was brought to life under the baton of Spanish conductor Pablo Gonzalez, with sound techniques managed by a French team.
British mezzo-soprano Dame Sarah Connolly portrayed Zarqa Al-Yamama—the character and also the title of the opera— infusing her with a regal presence accentuated by her remarkable voice and striking blue eyes.
From start to finish, the show was a legendary spectacle. It seamlessly blended Arab cultural motifs, fashion and calligraphy with Western musical compositions.
