A fresh UAE-production of Puccini's classic opera Madama Butterfly will play in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Among the Italian composer's most popular works, Madama Butterfly is ranked by Operabase as the sixth most-performed opera of the past two decades (Puccini also takes third and fourth with La Bohème and Tosca, mind).
Set in Nagasaki, Japan, in the early 1900s, this production promises to recreate an Oriental ambience with staging by Italian scenographer Massima Barone, and direction from Alex Broun.
The story of a young geisha who takes her life for love, Dubai-based Italian soprano Monica De Rosa McKay takes the title role of Cio-Cio San.
Tenor Gian Luca Pasolini plays BF Pinkerton, baritone Gianfranco Montresor is Sharpless and the mezzo-soprano Agata Bienkowska takes the role of Suzuki. The leads will be accompanied by pianist-conductor Piero Corradino Giovannini.
Throughout, an English-speaking actress will narrate her interpretation of the action, opening the door to an audience unfamiliar with the work.
The concerts are part of the five-week Italian Festival, the annual cultural, social and economic forum organised by the Italian Industry & Commerce Office in the UAE.
• Madama Butterfly is at Dubai's Centrepoint Theatre, Ductac on November 12, and Abu Dhabi's Emirates Palace Auditorium on November 14, both 8pm. Tickets are available from Ductac Box Office 043414777 or online at www.ductac.org and www.platinumlist.net. For the Emirates Palace's performance, tickets are available from www.timeouttickets.com.
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
Avatar%20(2009)
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Jigra
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
ACC%20T20%20Women%E2%80%99s%20Championship
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About Housecall
Date started: July 2020
Founders: Omar and Humaid Alzaabi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech
# of staff: 10
Funding to date: Self-funded
Forced%20Deportations
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Violence%20
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The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.9-litre%20twin-turbo%20V8%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E620hp%20from%205%2C750-7%2C500rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E760Nm%20from%203%2C000-5%2C750rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEight-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh1.05%20million%20(%24286%2C000)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
'Worse than a prison sentence'
Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.
“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.
“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.
“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.
“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.
“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
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The UAE squad for the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games
The jiu-jitsu men’s team: Faisal Al Ketbi, Zayed Al Kaabi, Yahia Al Hammadi, Taleb Al Kirbi, Obaid Al Nuaimi, Omar Al Fadhli, Zayed Al Mansoori, Saeed Al Mazroui, Ibrahim Al Hosani, Mohammed Al Qubaisi, Salem Al Suwaidi, Khalfan Belhol, Saood Al Hammadi.
Women’s team: Mouza Al Shamsi, Wadeema Al Yafei, Reem Al Hashmi, Mahra Al Hanaei, Bashayer Al Matrooshi, Hessa Thani, Salwa Al Ali.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Company%20Profile
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COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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ESSENTIALS
The flights
Fly Etihad or Emirates from the UAE to Moscow from 2,763 return per person return including taxes.
Where to stay
Trips on the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian cost from US$16,995 (Dh62,414) per person, based on two sharing.
In Full Flight: A Story of Africa and Atonement
John Heminway, Knopff
Meydan card
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 (PA) Group 1 US$65,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.05pm: Conditions (TB) $100,000 (Turf) 1,400m
7.40pm: UAE 2000 Guineas Trial (TB) $100,000 (D) 1,600m
8.15pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 1,200m
8.50pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 (TB) Group 2 $350,000 (D) 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (D) 1,900m
10pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
Match info:
Wolves 1
Boly (57')
Manchester City 1
Laporte (69')
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
The Light of the Moon
Director: Jessica M Thompson
Starring: Stephanie Beatriz, Michael Stahl-David
Three stars
