The 20 Dubai Opera shows to see, from Hans Zimmer to Sophie Ellis-Bextor

Plus, this season includes odes to Mozart, Vivaldi and Beethoven and a contemporary Romeo and Juliet

The dance show Tango After Dark is set to run for two nights in April. Shutterstock

Tragic operas, hit musicals, classic ballets jazz greats feature in Dubai Opera's performance season over the coming months.

The venue has announced its full 2024/25 programme of shows starting on Friday, including the staging of Giuseppe Verdi’s celebrated opera Aida, popular musical Sweeney Todd, Beethoven’s Symphony No 9 by the National Polish Orchestra, French singer Carla Bruni and an intimate show by British pop star Sophie Ellis-Bextor.

Here are 20 shows to look out for with tickets available from the Dubai Opera website.

1. Aida, September 13 to 15

Giuseppe Verdi's masterpiece Aida will return to the Dubai Opera stage later this year. Photo: Dubai Opera

A tragic tale of forbidden love composed by Verdi, Aida follows the struggle and heartache between Nubian princess Aida and the Egyptian warrior Radames. The production will be performed by the Polish National Opera orchestra, choir and soloists.

Evening and matinee performances; tickets from D430

2. Eugene Onegin, September 20 and 21

Composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and based on a novel by Alexander Pushkin, the opera follows the escapades of the titular character who looks for love in a transforming Russian society.

Showtime and ticket prices TBC

3. Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, September 22

The National Polish Orchestra on stage. Photo: Dubai Opera

One of history's most famous classical pieces will be performed by the National Polish Orchestra. First performed in 1824 and composed over the three years prior, Symphony No 9 was Beethoven's last and marked a turning point in musical history, as the culmination of the Vienna Classical Period and the beginning of the 19th century's Romantic period. The words for the composition were taken from Ode to Joy, a poem by Friedrich Schiller, and they still represent values of humanity, tolerance and camaraderie.

Showtime is 8pm; tickets from Dh260

4. Carla Bruni, September 27

Former French first lady Carla Bruni will perform for the first time in Dubai later this year. Getty Images

The former first lady of France will make her debut UAE concert. Her subtle melodies and charming vocals promise an intimate atmosphere as she performs songs from a near two-decade career. Her debut album, 2003’s Quelqu'un m'a dit, brought her international acclaim and features fan-favourite songs such as Raphael and Le Ciel Dans Une Chambre.

Showtime is 8pm; tickets from Dh350

5. Umberto Tozzi, September 28

Veteran Italian singer Umberto Tozzi will stop in Dubai as part of his final world tour. Photo: Dubai Opera

The veteran Italian singer adds a Dubai stop as part of his final world tour. Ever since the release of his 1974 debut album Donna Amante Mia, home to the hit Io Camminero, Tozzi has built a celebrated career in which he's enchanting audiences with his mix of pop hits and emotive balladry.

Showtime is 8pm; tickets from Dh390

6. Brad Mehldau, October 10

American jazz pianist and composer Brad Mehldau. Photo: Dubai Opera

The impact of the American jazz pianist and composer will be heard on stage and screen. As well as releasing a number of seminal albums including 1994’s Introducing Brad Mehldau and 2019’s Grammy Award-winning Finding Gabriel, Mehldau also contributed compositions to films Eyes Wide Shut and Ma Femme Est Une Actrice.

Showtime and ticket prices TBC

7. Romeo and Juliet, October 17 and 18

Acclaimed choreographer Benjamin Millepied will direct a ballet version of Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet. Photo: Dubai Opera

A new ballet staging of Shakespeare's masterpiece from acclaimed choreographer Benjamin Millepied, known for his work on the Academy Award-winning film Black Swan, this show combines cinema, dance and theatre, with the production set to the original score composed by Sergei Prokofiev.

Showtime and ticket prices TBC

8. Il Volo, October 25

Gianluca Ginoble, Ignazio Boschetto and Piero Barone of Il Volo. EPA

The Italian trio, who describe their music as "opera", consists of baritone Gianluca Ginoble, tenor Piero Barone and tenor Ignazio Boschetto. Since arriving on the scene in 2010, Il Volo have performed with some of the world's top artists including Barbara Streisand, Celine Dion and Placido Domingo.

Showtime and ticket prices TBC

9. Sophie Ellis-Bextor, October 26

English singer-songwriter Sophie Ellis-Bextor will perform her greatest hits. Photo: Dubai Opera

Known for her chart-topping hits in the 2000s, the British singer kept fans entertained during the pandemic in 2020 with her Kitchen Disco series, where she performed from her UK home with her family. As a result of the viral fame, Ellis-Bextor cemented her resurgence by releasing a greatest hits album and a new single called Hypnotized.

When her song Murder on the Dance Floor was featured in last year's film Saltburn, the single climbed the charts once again, leading to Ellis-Bextor reportedly working on a new album.

Showtime and ticket prices TBC

10. Max Richter, The Four Seasons Recomposed: November 1

British-German composer Max Richter. Photo: Redferns

Based on his 2012 album, the experimental German-born British composer Max Richter will bring new life to Antonio Vivaldi's Four Seasons by fusing the baroque masterpiece with Richter's signature electronic minimalism.

Showtime and ticket prices TBC

11. New Year’s Eve 2025 with Parov Stelar, December 31

For those looking for old-school entertainment in a glamorous setting, check out the end-of-year gig with Austrian singer Parov Stelar and Armenian State Symphony Orchestra as part of a gala dinner event. Come midnight, crowds will be ushered to the venue's promenade for some of the best views of Burj Khalifa's fireworks.

12. The Limitless Orchestra, from Strauss to Zimmer, January 4 and 5

With the Oscar-winning German composer Hans Zimmer set to make a guest appearance, the orchestra will reimagine the work of composer Johann Strauss, regarded as the King of the Waltz, by blending with the cinematic compositions of Zimmer.

Showtime and ticket prices TBC

13. Modanse, January 15

Svetlana Zakharova, an internationally renowned ballerina, will perform in a double-bill ballet called Modanse. She will be joined by a cast of well-known dancers from the Bolshoi Theatre, as well as modern dance star Ildar Young-Gainutdinov. It will be split into two parts, with the second a tribute to Coco Chanel, called Gabrielle Chanel, which will feature more than 80 costumes.

Showtime and ticket prices TBC

14. Symphonic Rock Edition, January 17 to 19

The Armenian State Symphony Orchestra will return with a series of performances inspired by classic rock bands Led Zeppelin and Nirvana, as well as Michael Jackson. Over three nights, their music will be brought to life in a unique fusion of rock and symphonic music as performed by the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra. Richard Sidwell will conduct both the “Zeppelin Symphonic” and “Nirvana Reimagined” evenings while Sergey Smbatyan conducts “Jackson Symphonic”.

Showtime and ticket prices TBC

15. La Bayadere, February 14 to 16

La Bayadere is set in ancient India. Photo: Kiyonori Hasegawa

To be performed by the National Theatre of Brno from the Czech Republic, the classic tale set in ancient India chronicles the love and intrigue between Nikiya, a temple dancer, her rival, the Rajah's daughter Hamsatti and Solor, a noble warrior passionately loved by both women.

Showtime and ticket prices TBC

16. Mozart's Requiem, February 18

The Brno Theatre’s in-house orchestra will return to perform one of the greatest pieces of classical music. Left unfinished after Mozart's death in 1791, and completed by protege Franz Sussmayr, the work is characterised by its haunting choral and emotional score.

Showtime and ticket prices TBC

17. Bombino, February 22

Singer and guitarist Bombino. Getty Images

“Bombino”, real name Omara Moctar, is not your typical rock star. But once the tall and demure musician plugs in his Stratocaster and steps on stage, dressed in the traditional Malian garb of indigo-coloured kandura and white scarf, the shy guy transforms into a scintillating performer playing the suped-up version of African blues. He will make his debut Dubai performance on the back of his new album Sahel.

Showtime and ticket prices TBC

18. Max Richter, February 26

The German electronic composer will return for a show dedicated to his latest album In A Landscape, out on September 26. He will be accompanied by the American Contemporary Music Ensemble.

Showtime and ticket prices TBC

19. Tango After Dark, April 26 and 27

Conceived by acclaimed tango choreographer German Cornejo, the production will be a celebration of the dance form with all its blistering footwork and emotional intensity. Tango After Dark will also feature a full live band led by the sounds of the tango's signature instrument the bandoneon.

Showtime and ticket prices TBC

20. Stomp, May 29 to May 31

British dance troupe Stomp performing in Mumbai, 2016. Getty Images

The British percussion collective Stomp uses members’ bodies and everyday objects to create a theatrical performance. The collective, ranging in numbers from eight to 30, have performed in Europe, the US, South America and the Middle East with various productions.

Showtime and ticket prices TBC