Nothing like a dame for

Mezzo soprano Dame Sarah Connolly tells Robbie Griffiths about a pioneering new project, and learning to sing in Arabic

- Robbie Griffiths

INSIDE the ornate Goldsmiths’ Hall near St Paul’s, one of Britain’s finest opera singers, Dame Sarah Connolly, is performing a snippet of a new work. As her powerful voice fills the room, busts of George III and George IV gaze on, and chandeliers filled with real candles flicker by the ceiling.

It’s mostly what you might expect of a western classical music concert. All except for one thing: the words Dame Sarah singing are in Arabic. Goldsmiths’ Hall was host to a showcase for the new opera Zarqa Al Yamama, the first grand opera to be produced by Saudi Arabia, and the world’s largest grand opera in Arabic. Connolly is playing the title role, a woman who can predict the future. The showcase was introduced by the Saudi Arabian culture minister Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, and also featured singing from Sawsan al-Bahiti, who has been called the “first Saudi opera singer", as well as London-based soprano Amelia Wawrzon. In a reception down the hall, dates and non-alcoholic wine were served, while journalists from Saudi Arabian television interviewed dignitaries in traditional dress.

Zarqa is set to open in Riyadh in April, but its creators have high hopes that it will return to London soon, and are planning an international tour. Connolly explains that she spoke to the Royal Opera House's departing music director Antonio Pappano about the idea of staging the show, who said it sounded a "fascinating project".

Connolly is under no illusions as to how unusual the opera is. "It's a totally new idea, which is as confusing to many people in Saudi as it is to people in the UK and elsewhere," she says.

Preparing for it has been an "extraordinary challenge". The singer has been having two-hour Arabic Zoom lessons every day, which leave her exhausted.