Doha, December 05 (QNA) - Qatar Cultural Village Foundation (Katara) has announced it will host the first-ever meeting of Opera Houses in the Arab World on December 9th and 10th. The event will be held in coordination with The Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) and will feature the participation of nine Arab countries. The goal of the meeting is to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation between these institutions and create a unified strategy to promote the Arab opera scene both locally and internationally.

General Manager of Katara Dr. Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti highlighted that opera enjoys immense global popularity as a form of modern theater that blends drama, music, singing, and choreography. While the Arab region has seen a positive rise in number of opera houses over the past two decades, many still focus mainly on reproducing Western works, with only a few Arab opera houses making efforts to create original productions rooted in the region's cultural heritage.

Dr. Al Sulaiti added that, in light of this reality, Katara, in collaboration with ALECSO, has organized this meeting to explore ways to foster stronger cooperation between Arab opera institutions and develop a strategy for advancing the Arab opera scene.

The meeting will bring together opera house managers, symphony orchestra leaders, and well-known opera artists from across Arab world, alongside media professionals with an interest in opera music.

The first day of the event will feature a speech by Director of the Culture Department at ALECSO Dr. Hameed bin Saif bin Hameed Al Nofli then will provide an initial overview of the state of opera in the Arab world.

Over the course of the two-day meeting, participants will discuss ideas to strengthen collaboration, including joint production, training, and the shared distribution of works. They will also explore ways to organize annual cultural events such as festivals and training programs for opera professionals.

The meeting will include a performance by Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra at the Opera House, as well as a tour of Katara's cultural facilities for attendees.

At the end of the meeting, recommendations will be made, including the proposal for an annual Arab opera festival. (QNA)