INAUGURAL OPERA IN PARADISE AT PANGKOR LAUT RESORT LAUNCHES IN OCTOBER 2023

YTL

In October this year, the renowned private island of Pangkor Laut Resort will host some of the best opera singers from across the globe at the inaugural Opera in Paradise. During this prestigious weekend, guests will be treated to unforgettable music performances and exquisite culinary delights while basking in the views of the magnificent rainforest and Emerald Bay.

Held from 20^th – 22^nd October 2023, Opera in Paradise will welcome world-class opera singers who have graced the most famous concert halls with its 3 headline acts – Andrea Griminelli, Belle Voci and Michael Austin.

Set along the Straits of Malacca, Pangkor Laut Resort is a piece of paradise located within an idyllic setting of sun, sea and sand amidst a 2-million-year-old rainforest. Guests can look forward to a remarkable island getaway as they enjoy marvellous opera performances on the inimitable stage that embodies the resort’s unique ethos of ‘one island, one resort’.

This special weekend is inspired by the semi-private performance by the larger-than-life tenor Luciano Pavarotti in 1994 – where the maestro performed to a glittering gallery of distinguished guests to commemorate the second phase of the resort’s development. During his visit, Pavarotti was so captivated by the location that he exclaimed, “This place is enchanting, it is paradise here. This morning, when I woke up, I went out (and) I was really moved, almost crying, to see how beautiful things have (been) done by God. Because this is really paradise,” and dedicated the song ‘O Paradiso’ during his recital as an ode to Pangkor Laut Resort.

To this day, the resort continues to honour the great tenor, naming its grandest suite in his honour. The acts chosen to kick off the Opera in Paradise weekend almost three decades later offer a fitting tribute to an invaluable chapter of Pangkor Laut Resort’s history.

Andrea Griminelli is an Italian flautist whose successful career has spanned 34 years. His sensitive interpretations and marvellous technique have earned him accolades worldwide, including a Grammy, the Prix de Paris, and an Italian Knighthood. Griminelli also worked with Pavarotti himself and, at the young age of 25, was invited by the tenor to perform at his concert in New York’s Madison Square Garden. Griminelli will also serve as the Musical Director of this event, which pays tribute to Pavarotti’s historic performance on the island and underscores the significance of this majestic weekend.

Belle Voci – Italian for ‘beautiful voices’ – is a double act comprising Emily Burnett and Sophie Rowland, who met at the young age of 22. Having accidentally applied for The Voice UK, Belle Voci progressed to the live final in 2018, performing to over five million viewers on primetime television, singing ‘My Heart Will Go On’ with their idol and coach, Jennifer Hudson. Since then, the highlight of their careers has been singing the National Anthem at the FA Cup Final in 2019 and supporting tenor extraordinaire Alfie Boe OBE, who invited them to perform a duet with him at his Scarborough and London shows. They aim to spread opera and classical music far and wide, bringing it to audiences anew.

Michael Austin is an American performer who received his Master of Music from New York’s Juilliard School of Music. As a theatre performer, he made his mark on the industry by performing as the only African-American Othello of this time and being the first non-Chinese performer to sing a leading role in a Chinese opera during a production of Mulan Palms.

The grand event will be followed by sunset cocktails and an enchanting dinner experience, where guests will feast on an array of culinary specialities while admiring the beautiful emerald waters and spectacular landscape. Guests will be able to experience paradise, just as Pavarotti encountered – relaxing under swaying palm trees, unwinding at YTL Hotels’ award-winning Spa Village and soaking up the sun at Emerald Bay beach.

To encourage guests to contribute to creating a paradise for others, a charity drive will be running at Pangkor Laut Resort during the Opera in Paradise weekend. The funds will be raised for Hospis Malaysia – a charity that works to increase accessibility to palliative care. This is achieved by providing palliative care to patients and families at no charge and offering training to extend this essential service to those who would otherwise be unable to access it.

The Opera in Paradise weekend runs from 20^th – 22^nd October (Friday – Sunday).

Prices start from MYR 6,500++ for a Garden Villa and from MYR 30,000++ for a 3-bedroom Hilltop Estate and include: