Saudi Arabia’s First Opera Singer Made A Spectacular National Debut

Sawsan Al Bahiti is shattering the glass ceiling on expectations with her compelling performances

Saudi Arabia’s first classically trained opera singer made an unforgettable entrance onto a national platform when she performed a soaring rendition of the national anthem in Riyadh, alongside the orchestra of prestigious Teatro Alla Scala Academy. Her soulful performance roused an audience of around 3,000 people to a standing ovation.

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Sawsan Al Bahiti (@sawsanalbahiti) has vocal chords that, both literally and proverbially, break the glass ceiling. With her invaluable experience as a professional opera singer, she founded the Soulful Voice–a vocal training program with a central belief that everyone can sing. She made her Saudi operatic debut in Riyadh, singing alongside the renowned Italian orchestra of Teatro all Scalla Academy. #KSA #Gamechangers

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Al Bahiti first began training in operatic singing while she was studying at the American University of Sharjah, encouraged by her mentors in choir activities. Now, with more than a decade of singing experience under her belt, Al Bahiti is a certified voice coach. She is putting her knowledge to good use by coaching students at her own studio in Jeddah, aptly named The Soulful Voice.

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A post shared by Sawsan Al-Bahiti سوسن البهيتي (@sawsanalbahiti) on Jan 6, 2020 at 2:15am PST

Performing in French, Italian, German and English, Al-Bahiti has taken on many of the great classic roles in opera; her repertoire includes Habenera from Carmen, and All I Ask from You from the Phantom of the Opera musical. She is among a cohort of female trailblazers making records in Saudi Arabia as the country actively promotes female empowerment.

Lead image courtesy of Instagram/SawsanAlBahiti.