International Premiere of the Opera Tamerlano Featuring Uzbek Artists Held at Dubai Opera

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 10 January 2026, the Dubai Opera hosted the international premiere of the opera Tamerlano, staged by renowned Italian director Stefano Poda.

The project was initiated by the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation and presented a contemporary stage interpretation of George Frideric Handel’s Baroque opera, combining dynamic dramaturgy with careful preservation of the artistic and musical integrity of the original work.

Handel’s music was reimagined in an original interpretation by composer Kirill Richter and enriched with the sound of traditional Uzbek musical instruments, giving the production a distinctive intercultural dimension. The performance featured the National Symphony Orchestra of Uzbekistan conducted by Alibek Kabdurakhmanov, the Honored Choir of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Orchestra of Folk Instruments, and more than 160 performers in total.

The title role was performed by People’s Artist of Uzbekistan Zhenisbek Piyazov. The international cast of soloists also included Spanish tenor Juan Sancho, Argentine soprano Verónica Cangemi, and actress Yulduz Rajabova.

The premiere at Dubai Opera marked a significant event in Uzbekistan’s cultural diplomacy, showcasing the high level of the country’s performing arts and their organic integration into the global operatic landscape.