"Bilias and Melissand".. historical cooperation between the Abu Dhabi Festival and the Paris National Opera Festival

Paris on the first of March / WAM / The Abu Dhabi Festival in partnership with Paris National Opera revealed their joint production of the “Bilias and Melissand” opera, the great international musician Claude Debusi, in a first global show on the Pastel Opera in Paris from February 28 to March 27, 2025.

This joint production is an exceptional cultural achievement, as it brings together one of the most ancient international opera role and one of the most important cultural festivals in the Middle East, which constitutes a new bridge for artistic and diplomatic dialogue between France and the UAE.

This cooperation confirms the pioneering role of the Abu Dhabi Festival in presenting ambitious artistic projects that enrich the global cultural scene and enhance civilized exchange between East and West.

With the signing of the Lebanese Canadian director Wajdi Mawad, this work re -introduces the opera with a modern dramatic vision that preserves its classic spirit, while global maestro Antonilo Manakorda is leading the Orchestra, with the participation of the French Soprano Sabine Devil and British Preton Hugh Montago Renndal in the main roles.

Production is characterized by a stunning visual design with the signature of Emmanuel Close, as it combines dim lights and mysterious visual symbols to create a magical legendary world in harmony with the atmosphere of the story that deals with love, destiny and tragedy.

Hoda Ibrahim Al -Khamis, founder of the Abu Dhabi Group for Culture and Arts, and the technical director of the Abu Dhabi Festival, described this cooperation as a qualitative shift in Arab artistic production on the global scene.

She said that art is not just a luxury, but rather the strength of peoples gathering and making bridges of understanding and this cooperation is evidence of the ability of culture to overcome borders, and it is a living testimony of the UAE’s commitment to consolidating global cultural dialogue through creativity and joint production.

For his part, His Excellency Fahd Saeed Al -Raqbani, the country’s ambassador to the French Republic, stressed that this work represents the peak of cultural diplomacy, explaining that through this production, the UAE once again proves that it is not only a supporter of the arts, but an active partner in formulating its future.

His Excellency added that this cooperation strengthens French -Emirati relations, and confirms that art is capable of uniting peoples and stimulating dialogue between cultures.

For his part, His Excellency Nicolas Nimcheneo, France’s ambassador to the state, praised this exceptional cooperation, considering that it is a natural extension of the prosperous cultural relations between the two countries, which were strengthened by projects such as the Louvre Abu Dhabi and others.

The opera events revolve in a mysterious world that overflows with contradictory feelings, where Prince Gulod finds himself in a conflict with his brother Bilias on the love of mysterious Melissand, which leads to a series of tensions that end with an inevitable tragedy.

In this production, Wajdi Mawad is keen to preserve the deep dramatic essence of the opera, but it re -presenting it with a modernist theatrical vision that reflects immortal human conflicts.

Thanks to this cooperation, the Abu Dhabi Festival confirms its continuous commitment to reshaping the global cultural scene, through strategic partnerships with the most important artistic institutions in the world.

This production is not just an opera show, but rather a cultural statement that confirms the UAE’s ability to be a key player in formulating the future of arts at the international level, as the audience is unanimously agreed that “Bilias and Melissand” is not just an opera, but rather an eternal artistic message that confirms that art is the only power capable of breaking barriers and making a brighter future for humanity.

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