By Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, Oct 5: Opera virtuosos will converge at the inaugural Borneo Opera Festival 2023 at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) Complex from October 12-15.
The festival will feature a gala opera, concert and opera orchestra performances, and among others, showcase renowned Italian baritone Maestro Alfio Grasso, along with Sarawak’s very own opera prodigy Jeanne-Marie Druce.
Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts, Dato Sri Abdul Kairm Rahman Hamzah, said that Borneo Opera Festival is a daring step towards putting Sarawak on the map as a hub for opera music in the Southeast Asian region.
He said the main objective of this event is to bring together aspiring and established opera singers from across the region.
Participants will have the unique opportunity to compete in a vocal competition, receive expert training and guidance through the masterclass, and unveil their extraordinary talents during the opera festival.
“This serves as a springboard for singers in the region, offering them invaluable experience, exposure, and international recognition within the opera scene,” he said during a press conference for the festival at his ministry’s office here today.
Abdul Karim said the ultimate goal of the festival is to create a sustainable ecosystem where music and tourism flourish hand in hand.
By doing so, he added, Sarawak will stand tall as a global haven for music and culture enthusiasts, offering diverse economic growth and development while promoting its unique identity and heritage.
Pauline Peck, representing event organiser Borneo Season Opera II Palcoscenico PLT, said their mission through Borneo Opera Festival is to make Sarawak the ultimate hub for classical music in Asia and beyond.
“We are dedicated to elevating opera and opera productions, instrumentals, orchestras, and choirs in the region, propelling Sarawak onto the global stage.”
“Borneo Season Opera II Palcoscenico PLT is dedicated to providing an unforgettable experience for all audience members to inspire a new generation of vocalists and music enthusiasts, thereby contributing to the growth and development of the music industry in Sarawak, Borneo, Southeast Asia, and beyond,” said Peck.
BOF2023 will also feature Romanian artiste Ioan Vrasmas, award-winning opera director from Egypt Abdallah Saad, Spanish soprano Beatriz Sylvan and violinist Bogdan Alexandru Costache, a shining virtuoso in the world of classical music.
Other world-renowned performers include Italian conductor Silvano Frontalini, Italian tenor Domenico Menini and Hungarian pianist Gabriella Gyoker.
For more information or to purchase festival tickets, visit www.borneooperafestival.com.
