Zeina Barhoum Launches Amman Opera Festival as International Musicians Gather to Perform at the Roman Amphitheater in Downtown Amman

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Jordan Celebrates the 1st Opera Festival in the Arab World

Zeina Barhoum Launches Amman Opera Festival as International Musicians Gather to Perform at the Roman Amphitheater in Downtown Amman


Under the Royal Patronage of HRH Princess Muna Al Hussein, Jordanian Soprano Zeina Barhoum has unveiled plans for the first ever opera festival in the Arab world. Travel Talk MEDIA and Monaco Business Development announced that the Amman Opera Festival will debut with the full operatic production of Verdi's La Traviata on July 19 and July 22, 2017. The historic performance will take place at the 2000 year old Roman Amphitheatre in Downtown Amman.

Zeina's motivation behind this initiative is to plant the seeds towards growing the opera culture in Jordan and the Arab world, and perhaps inspire the building of a purpose-built Opera House in Jordan's Capital, Amman, joining the company of other Arab states such as Oman and the UAE.

The production will include over 150 International musicians and dancers from more than 10 countries, starring Zeina Barhoum as Violetta, Andres Versamendi as Alfredo, Simon Svitok as Germont and Ady Naber as Gastone, accompanied by the Sichuan Philharmonic Orchestra, featuring musicians from La Scala and local talent and musicians, The Batumi Opera House Choir led by Conductor Lorenzo Tazzieri and directed by Luigi Orfeo.

Amman Opera Festival is supported by Greater Amman Municipality, with the Strategic Partnership of The Ministry of Tourism and Jordan Tourism Board, Embassy of The People's Republic of China, Embassy of Italy and Embassy of Georgia in Jordan with Royal Jordanian Airlines as the official carrier. The official hotels include Marriott, Rotana Towers, Arjaan Rotana, The Sheraton and Crowne Plaza.

HRH Princess Muna Al Hussein, who is the Royal Patron of La Traviata said, "Zeina Barhoum has helped to put Jordan on the map with all her hard work that she does both here and around the world. It has always been delightful to work with her. I have had the pleasure of listening to Zeina at various concerts and also enjoyed her voice on CD's very much. I consider her a great Ambassador of Music for Jordan."

Zeina also promotes Music and the Arts for the Arab youth in the region. Her tireless work to promote women's issues, peace and healthy lifestyles are evident in her lengthy list of credits with performances in Jordan, UAE, London, Italy, Austria, France and Lebanon with renowned artists including Italian Baritone and tutor Walter Alberti and Roberto Alagna.

Previously, Barhoum was invited to take part in the International Peace Festival Tour with the Prague Youth Symphony Orchestra conducted by Riad Al Kudsi. She was also hosted for a concert at the UNESCO theatre in Paris, organized by the Jordanian Embassy in France and in honor of Dr. Irina Bokova in celebration of the listing of the Baptism Site in Jordan as a World Heritage Site.

Zeina Barhoum remarked, "Throughout my career, I have been blessed to work with people from around the globe. Through my music and art, I have realized the importance of cross cultural connections and I have seen first-hand how music provides an important bridge that unites cultures from all over the world. Through the use of music, we speak one language, a language we can all understand without interpreters,"

La Traviata in Amman will be on the 19th and the 22nd of July, 2017 starting at 8:30 pm. Doors open at
7:30 PM. Tickets can be found at: http://www.karasi.com and at Amman Opera Festival's ticket booth at Cozmo in Amman, Jordan or call: 00962 77 7980081 or 00962 6 5515383. For more information go to: http://www.ammanoperafestival.com.