A special preview offered invited guests an exclusive first look at Abu Dhabi’s first-ever Arabic Opera, showcasing exceptional orchestral performance, powerful vocals, and striking scenography that set the stage for an unforgettable three-day run.
The preview evening highlighted the production’s artistic depth, with the Lanzhou Symphony Orchestra delivering a rich musical score that intertwined seamlessly with expressive performances, choreography, and immersive visual storytelling. The scenography drew particular praise, combining lighting, projection, and cinematic staging to reimagine the legendary love story of Antar and Abla through a contemporary operatic lens.
The opera’s scale reflects a deep artistic ambition. In only 10 days, the team reshaped the International Tennis Centre at Zayed Sports City into a grand operatic setting, integrating a 300 sqm stage and expansive LED backdrops crafted through intensive visual design. This immersive environment allowed the poetry, music, and heritage of Antar & Abla to unfold with striking clarity and contemporary flair.
As part of the UAE’s Year of the Community, Arabic Opera: Antar & Abla welcomed the public free of charge across all performances. Opening the doors to the community enabled families, culture lovers, and new audiences to share in a meaningful cultural moment that celebrates Arab heritage in a modern artistic language.
The timeless story of Antar and Abla, long celebrated in poetry and folklore, is reimagined in Abu Dhabi through a boldly modern vision. This landmark production marks the first opera performed entirely in Arabic using an Arab operatic technique, presented as an open- air hybrid spectacle that blends cinematic scenography, martial arts choreography, and the powerful presence of a live Chinese orchestra.
The opera won the Mohammed bin Rashid Arabic Language Award. It was recognized as Best Cultural or Artistic Work Serving the Arabic Language for its unique contribution to preserving and promoting the beauty of classical Arabic through the arts.
