Dubai Opera to Honor United Nations Climate Change Conference

The Teatro alla Scala Orchestra will debut in Dubai on December 1 to raise awareness for climate issues

The Teatro alla Scala Orchestra, from Milan, will perform for the first time in the United Arab Emirates at the Dubai Opera on December 1, 2023.

This gala concert, entitled "Concert for Tomorrow," aligns with the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai and aims to foster cultural exchange and raise awareness about environmental issues during COP28.

The Teatro alla Scala Orchestra, under the baton of Maestro Michele Gamba, will be joined by the soprano Aida Garifullina and Italian tenor Vittorio Grigolo performing works by Verdi, Puccini, Mascagni, and Donizetti.

Supported by Plenitude, in association with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Italian Ministry of Culture, the program will also feature symphonic compositions from Nabucco, interludes from Cavalleria Rusticana and Manon Lescaut, and beloved arias and duets from Traviata, Bohème, Gianni Schicchi, and Rigoletto.

“I am profoundly delighted that the Teatro alla Scala Orchestra will make its debut at the Dubai Opera," said Dominique Meyer, Superintendent of the Teatro alla Scala Foundation. "We look forward to presenting masterpieces by Giuseppe Verdi and Giacomo Puccini, whose centenary commemorations are on the horizon. These composers embody the tradition and essence of our theatre, and the Teatro alla Scala Orchestra shall render their works with an unmistakable resonance and fervour.

"On the podium, we shall have the youthful yet accomplished conductor, Michele Gamba, who has previously led numerous productions at La Scala and other eminent theaters. Additionally, internationally acclaimed vocalists, Aida Garifullina and Vittorio Grigolo, shall grace us with their exceptional talents.

"Equally momentous is the context of this concert: La Scala shares concerns about the perils of global warming and is steadfast in its commitment to an actionable plan for energy efficiency and resource optimisation, already bearing fruitful outcomes.”