On June 3, the Qatar Youth Orchestra took audiences on a musical journey through the world of opera with their concert A Night at the Opera, held at the Pre-University Education Theatre. From the playful energy of Rossini’s Barber of Seville Overture to the elegance of Offenbach’s Barcarolle and the bold drama of Verdi’s Anvil Chorus, the evening was packed with iconic works. The program closed with a rousing suite from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera, bringing Broadway flair to the classical stage. Vocal soloists Mia Boucher and Elizabeth Bair brought extra sparkle with their expressive performances, and the evening also featured a delightful lobby prelude by the Ad Libitum String Quartet. The performance ended on a magical note with an encore of Puccini’s Humming Chorus, beautifully sung by the entire orchestra. 

The audience responded warmly, with plenty of smiles, applause, and a real sense of appreciation for the students’ hard work. Bravo to the whole ensemble and to the QYO coaching team—Rachel Seay (conductor and brass coach), Stefan Robu (violin), Harald Georgi (cello), Mateo Gaspari (bass), German Diaz Blanco (woodwinds), and Dobri Paliev (percussion)—for their expert guidance and support!