The Katara Cultural Village Foundation inaugurated on Monday the first joint Arab Festival of Arab Opera Houses, which it is hosting at the Katara Opera House. The festival, which runs until December 11, is being held in collaboration with the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO), with the participation of 15 Arab countries.
In his address on this occasion, Director General of the Katara Cultural Village Foundation, Dr. Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti, expressed his pride in Katara being chosen as the City of Arab Opera. He noted that this honor is the result of constructive cooperation with ALECSO, which has spared no effort in supporting the Arab cultural movement. He stressed that Katara considers the title of City of Arab Opera a major cultural responsibility and an incentive to continue supporting the fine arts and enhancing the presence of Arab opera in the region and the world.
He pointed out that Katara launched an initiative to hold the first Arab meeting of Arab opera houses in December 2024 under the slogan "Towards an Arab Operatic Renaissance," with the aim of coordination, exchange of expertise, and work on joint projects, reflecting the Cultural Village's commitment to ensuring that Arab art occupies its rightful place on international stages.
He added that the gathering of Arab opera houses has now established itself under an Arab operatic project, allowing for broader horizons of joint Arab action and fruitful cooperation to elevate the art of opera, which has played a role throughout history in intercultural dialogue, serving as a tool for building bridges of understanding between nations and reflecting the convergence of music, drama, and humanity in its most refined form.
He expressed his hope that the joint meetings of Arab theaters and opera houses will succeed in advancing Arab opera and placing it in its rightful position.
For his part, Director-General of ALECSO, Dr. Mohamed Ould Amar, affirmed that this event is not merely an artistic celebration but a declaration of a new phase in which Arab opera moves toward broader horizons, not only within the Arab world but also onto stages across the globe. He said it reaffirms that Arabs are capable of innovation and renewal in the most refined and demanding of arts.
He pledged that ALECSO will continue working with its partners, foremost among them Katara and all Arab states, to enhance the presence of Arab music on the global stage and to preserve and elevate Arab artistic heritage, ensuring its continuity between past and future. He explained that since its establishment, ALECSO has believed that culture is not a luxury but a fundamental pillar of human development and progress. Accordingly, the organization has launched ongoing initiatives to support Arab arts in their various forms, particularly Arab opera, which serves as a cultural bridge that combines authenticity and innovation and highlights the Arab artist's ability to achieve universal expression through language, rhythm, and heritage.
He noted that in recent years the organization has worked to build an integrated system for developing this refined operatic art, through supporting the preparation of Arab operatic texts, developing the artistic and creative capabilities of Arab talents, promoting joint productions among Arab countries, and, most importantly, launching the initiative to classify cultural institutions in the Arab world, which resulted in Katara being awarded the title of "City of Arab Opera" in recognition of its pioneering role and leadership in this artistic field.
The Director-General of ALECSO praised the outstanding organization, commending Katara's notable efforts in enriching the Arab cultural landscape, particularly in musical and operatic arts, and in driving them forward as a pillar of identity and a symbol of Arab modernity.
On this occasion, the Egyptian composer Omar Khairat was honored in recognition of his artistic career and his contribution to enriching the Arab musical scene.
The festival selected the Cairo Opera House as the guest of honor for its first edition, considering it the first Arab opera house and a historic cultural landmark that has played a pivotal role in shaping Arab musical culture, nurturing generations of artists and creators, and preserving an artistic heritage from its founding to the present day.
It is worth noting that the Arab Opera Project, the first of its kind in the Arab region, includes a variety of events featuring musical and operatic performances with the participation of the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra and the Cairo Opera Orchestra. It also includes a meeting of Arab opera houses to discuss the outcomes of the first meeting organized by Katara in December 2024.
In addition, an online platform for Arab opera houses will be launched, workshops will be held to introduce operatic singing and performance techniques, and a model of Katara as the City of Arab Opera will be unveiled.