The head of the Dubai Opera said on Sunday that he is seeking more musical and artistic collaborations with Chinese performers to strengthen cultural ties and attract more visitors from China.
“I see more and more great opportunities for Chinese artists and companies to showcase their talent at the Dubai Opera,” Paolo Petrocelli told Xinhua during the 7th edition of the Culture Summit Abu Dhabi, taking place from Sunday to Tuesday in the UAE capital.
Held under the theme “Culture for Humanity and Beyond,” the annual event brings together leaders from the arts, media, public policy, and technology fields, featuring more than 180 speakers from around the world.
“We have a very good dialogue and communication with our Chinese friends and different Chinese stakeholders,” Petrocelli said.
“There are a lot of conversations and a great interest from many Chinese companies to come to the Dubai Opera.”
He highlighted previous collaborations with the Chinese National Ballet, which performed twice at the Dubai Opera, and ongoing discussions with the National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in Beijing.
Opened in 2016, the dhow-shaped Dubai Opera is a 2,000-seat performing arts center located in downtown Dubai’s Opera District.
“The Dubai Opera is the main performing arts center in the UAE,” Petrocelli emphasized.
“We offer one of the most diversified programming schedules in the Gulf region.”
He added, “We want to celebrate all the cultures of the world and provide a platform for the community to connect with a full range of artistic expressions.”
