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The Dubai Opera has announced that the Armenian National Academic Theater Opera and Orchestra is set to bring two opera favorites, Carmen and The Magic Flute, to the Dubai Opera stage in September 2018.

The first of the productions, Carmen, directed by Naire Stepanyan, will be performed over three consecutive nights on 6, 7 and 8 September 2018. Carmen tells the tragic tale of Don José, who falls hopelessly in love with femme fatale, Carmen. José loses Carmen’s love to the matador, Escamillo, only to end in José killing her in a jealous rage.

Written by French composer Georges Bizet, Carmen premiered in Paris in 1875 after suffering negative reviews. Disconsolately, Bizet died during the preliminary performances, never to come to know that Carmen would rightly become one of the most renowned operas of all time.

Audiences at Dubai Opera can expect spectacular costumes designed by Cristine Avetisian and awe-inspiring set designs by Avetis Barseghian to augment the truly brilliant performance of Carmen, which will be performed in French with English surtitles. The performance will be conducted by American conductor Christopher Ocasek.

The second production, The Magic Flute, by one of the most celebrated composers of all time, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, will debut the following week, also for three consecutive nights on September 13-15, 2018.

The Magic Flute is a tale which illustrates the resplendent power of love, art and music, transporting audiences into a wonderful fantastical realm. The Opera tells the story of Tamino, a young hero, sent on a quest by the Queen of Night to rescue her daughter, Pamina, from the wicked wizard, Sarastro. Full of beautiful melodies and enchanting characters, Mozart’s beloved and final opera will be performed in German with English surtitles.

Audiences will be thrilled by the beautiful, intricately detailed costumes designed by world famous designer Alberto Spazzi, and magnificent set design by internationally renowned Italian opera Director Paolo Miccichè, who also serves as the director of the Armenian National Academic Theater Opera and Orchestra’s rendition of The Magic Flute. The superb cast will include award winning tenor Liparit Avetisyan, International prize winner Julietta Aleksanyan, soprano Alina Pekhlivanian along with soloists of the Armenian opera company.

Jasper Hope, Chief Executive at Dubai Opera, commented: “In Bizet’s Carmen and Mozart’s Magic Flute, Dubai audiences can enjoy two of the greatest operas ever written this September. Carmen is synonymous with passion and fiery tempers whilst the Magic Flute offers audiences utterly beautiful music set around a comic fairy tale – two wonderful autumn treats for everyone to enjoy.”