A Dream Night at Dubai Opera with José Carreras and Plácido Domingo

Some evenings are not simply attended — they are lived, felt, and remembered forever.
My night at Dubai Opera was one of those rare moments when music transcended sound and became emotion, memory, and history all at once.
The gala performance brought together two living legends of the operatic world — José Carreras and Plácido Domingo — alongside the extraordinary Russian soprano Hibla Gerzmava, in a celebration of voices that have shaped generations and defined the very meaning of excellence in classical music.

It was always one of my deepest dreams to see Maria Callas on stage.
But fate decided otherwise. When she passed away, I was barely about to be born — too young to witness the woman who defined an era, a voice, a legend.

And yet, during this extraordinary night at Dubai Opera, I felt something I never expected to feel again. I felt that I was witnessing Maria Callas of our time.

The Russian soprano, Hibla Gerzmava, was simply extraordinary — amazing, breathtaking, unforgettable. From the very first moment she appeared on stage, she carried with her the soul of a golden age: an age of pure emotion, real love, elegance, class, and true femininity.

She has so much. Her presence is powerful. Her voice is full of warmth and truth. Her femininity is natural, not forced.
Physically, she is very beautiful — not in the way Maria Callas was, but in her own unique way. Pretty, radiant, deeply charismatic. There is something magnetic about her physiognomy, something that captures both the eyes and the heart. I loved everything about her — her posture, her expressions, her grace, her strength.

She made me dream of a time when art was sincere, when emotions were lived fully, when women on stage represented dignity, passion, and soul.
One of the most magical moments of the evening was when Hibla Gerzmava, José Carreras, and Plácido Domingo came together on stage as a trio and  performed “Moon River”, I felt transported into another world. For a moment, I was no longer sitting in Dubai Opera. I was inside a dream. I imagined myself inside the film Breakfast at Tiffany’s, with Audrey Hepburn sitting by the window, watching the performance with us. That same softness, that same poetry, that same timeless elegance filled the hall.
Another unforgettable moment came when the trio performed “O Sole Mio” — “It’s Now or Never.” Oh my God.
This legendary song, interpreted by three of the most beautiful voices of our era, instantly awakened memories of another time — the time when Elvis Presley sang It’s Now or Never and became eternal.
“Kiss me, my darling…” echoed not only in the hall, but deep within the heart.
For a few magical minutes, time collapsed into itself. We were no longer in the present. We were transported back to the era of Elvis, to the era of great stars who no longer exist, yet live forever through music. It was not imitation — it was a revival of emotion, brought to life by voices that honored history while standing firmly in the present.

The Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra deserves a standing ovation. It was a grand orchestra, a beautiful harmony of ladies and gentlemen, with a strong presence of string instruments — violins, violas, cellos, and powerful contrabasses — all moving together as one living body. Their sound was deep, rich, and emotional, embracing the voices with elegance and strength.
And the maestro was truly amazing.
When the orchestra performed alone, without voices, it reminded us that great musicians still exist in our time — artists capable of creating harmony so pure that it transports you instantly to the golden ages of great composers such as Vivaldi and others.
There was something almost unbelievable about it. Perhaps because in our Arabic culture, classical opera is not always widely embraced. Perhaps because Dubai is often associated with speed, modernity, and spectacle. And yet, that night proved that Dubai also belongs to timeless art.
For this, I feel deep gratitude. A heartfelt thank you to Dubai Opera for offering such an exceptional experience. And special thanks to Mr. Evgeny Morozov of M-Premier, whose vision, coordination, and dedication made this extraordinary evening possible. It truly was a dream night at Dubai Opera.

And I sincerely hope that life will give me the chance to witness another such performance in the near future — before time moves too quickly, before I grow too old — so that I may once again sit in silence, listen, dream, and feel.
Because nights like this remind us why art exists. And why we need it.