As Dubai Opera Celebrates Its Fifth Birthday This Month, We Look Back At 5 Years of Standing Ovations
Bazaar follows the journey of the Middle East’s most spectacular performing arts venue…
If you’re a building in Downtown Dubai, it’s quite the task to stand out against the backdrop, charm and indeed architectural feat that is Burj Khalifa, but back in 2016, the dhow-inspired silhouette of Dubai Opera, a stone’s throw away, emerged to take centre stage. Rather than stealing all the glory, its visionary modern, maritime aesthetic and accompanying fountain plaza seamlessly complemented the world’s tallest building and its iconic surroundings.
But the exterior was only part of the story. Five years ago this month, the magnificent performing arts centre opened its doors to the general public, to reveal a breathtaking theatre space to experience opera, ballet, live music and much more – with the capabilities of converting the floor space to allow for banquets, weddings and exhibitions. Outside of the theatre, the spectacular Symphony chandelier spanning three storeys of the building quickly became a magnet for the region’s many Instagram influencers.
Phantom of the Opera, October 2019
The venue opened to deserved fanfare. The first night on August 31, 2016 was for VIP guests only and they enjoyed a performance by Spanish Opera maestro, Plácido Domingo. At the heart of the launch was Jasper Hope, Chief Executive at the time and widely credited as the man who brought Dubai Opera to life. “It’s a date that will forever be etched in my memory,” he says. “To open on time and in such a spectacular fashion took an enormous effort with many pressured moments. My fondest build-up memory was hearing Plácido Domingo sing essentially in private in rehearsal a day or two before opening – and hearing his endorsement. And then again, as the opening notes of the overture were played on opening night, and the first performance at Dubai Opera finally began with a full house and an electric atmosphere.” The following evening the venue opened to the general public amidst a global buzz – up until then, Dubai Opera had been the Emirate’s best-kept secret, with not a single picture of the interior being leaked to the press.
Swan Lake, October 2018
“That evening was the first ever full opera, a production of Bizet’s The Pearl Fishers,” remembers Jasper, who left a seven-year tenure as COO for the Royal Albert Hall in London to be at the helm of Dubai Opera. “Then followed a production of Rossini’s The Barber of Seville, the ballets Giselle and Coppelia before the programme broadened still further into rock and pop, flamenco and of course, Hussain Al Jassmi – the first Emirati artist to grace the stage.”
A sell-out three-week run of Les Misérables would come in the November, and many large-scale productions have followed over the years. Liz Coops, who is CEO of Broadway Entertainment, the production company that brought Cats, Evita, Ghost The Musical, Monty Python’s Spamalot, The Kite Runner, The Phantom of The Opera and many other shows to Dubai Opera, recalls how the venue was received. “People in the arts scene were craving an actual performing arts space to put on productions, and Dubai Opera came as the perfect addition – at a great time for cultural tourism growth in Dubai, and in the region,” she says. “Over the years, we worked on developing the audience base, and thus our programming choices at Dubai Opera have been able to foster its audience and be embraced by both expats and locals alike. The venue’s elegant ambience and seasons also draws many tourists.”
Liz goes on to recall some of the successes she’s shared with the venue: “We’ve had at least 100 standing ovations for our performances, and there’s nothing more rewarding than seeing this elation and delight, and for the cast and crew to be acknowledged,” she says. “One milestone achievement would be previewing the trailer of The Phantom of the Opera on Burj Khalifa and having it broadcast worldwide; that really put Dubai and the opera on the map.”
Swan Lake, October 2018
Jasper, who was in charge of the venue until December 2019, has a long list of memorable moments. “The first ever BBC Proms Dubai in 2017 was something incredibly special,” he recalls of the festival that took place over four days, and only the second time ever outside of the U.K. “We hosted six concerts plus a series of workshops and masterclasses featuring core classical music plus Emirati and British new music.” Alongside his nod to his British heritage he has a special place for South African singer Johnny Clegg’s performance in January 2019. “I was born in South Africa and he is one of my all-time favourite artists. He gave a truly outstanding performance in what was his final ever international tour.”
Cosi Fan Tutte, September 2019
And one thing that Jasper has always been celebrated for in his role, was his ability to keep the offering at Dubai Opera diverse and accessible to a multitude of audiences. “Some of the highest-profile and most enthusiastically received nights were by contemporary artists and groups,” he shares. “Special mention must be made of Rufus Wainwright, Ludovico Einaudi, Suzanne Vega, Status Quo and Mica Paris – but the one which perhaps stands out the most was Rag’n’Bone Man in 2018. At the end of a brilliant performance, he gave an incredible a capella encore.”
Status Quo, October 2017
He continues: “The standout dance performance for me remains the Houston Ballet’s production of Swan Lake in 2018, and in terms of spoken word, a new production of William Shakespeare’s Othello from the outstanding English Touring Theatre which played to packed houses night after night in January 2019.”
Evita, January 2018
But alongside the highlights, Jasper recalls some of the challenges that he and the team overcame to make Dubai Opera the success it is today. “Building a new venue, a new audience and a new reputation in a country not previously known for hosting a lot of quality live performances was always going to be an enormous challenge,” he explains. “So, I am incredibly proud of how I believe Dubai Opera was perceived both locally and on the international scene. From day one, I always intended Dubai Opera to represent the exceptional rather than the ordinary and I truly hope that’s how all those wonderful performances are remembered still.”
Gipsy Kings, March 2019
And as the venue enters its sixth year, Dubai Opera is firmly a global success. “Dubai Opera has really put Dubai on the cultural map and has become a place to aspire to present one’s production,” says Liz. “It is now an internationally renowned performing arts venue. It’s a great anniversary for Dubai Opera, and we are sure that there are many more great shows, standing ovations and anniversaries to come.” Here, Mark Field, Dubai Opera’s official photographer, who shot over 100 performances over three years, shares his favourite images with Harper’s Bazaar Arabia.
Photography by Mark Field
From Harper’s Bazaar Arabia’s September 2021 issue