DUBAI: The Egyptian mezzo-soprano Farrah El-Dibany will return to AlUla to present a special evening of operatic music, on behalf of the prestigious Opera National de Paris, on Jan 17. The event is being supported by Villa Hegra, an increasingly influential Saudi cultural establishment. For the latest updates, follow us on Instagram @arabnews.lifestyle The Paris-based opera singer’s notable past performances include singing the French national anthem at the reelection ceremony of French president Emmanuel Macron and the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Most significantly, she also became the first Arab artist-in-residence at the Paris Opera.  El-Dibany first performed at AlUla in March 2023, and found herself spellbound by the “calmness” of the heritage site. “I felt like time had stopped,” she tells Arab News. “It’s as if you entered a bubble and it’s vacuumed. This was what I felt when I came to AlUla. The mountains and the red, earthy colors were incredible. I went for four days, but I felt I stayed longer. It was actually my first time singing in the desert, in the middle of nature, with a view like this.” Farrah El-Dibany performing in AlUla in March 2023. (Supplied) The upcoming one-hour concert at AlUla’s Maraya concert hall — the world’s largest mirrored building — will feature El-Dibany and three other select singers, including Saudi soprano Sawsan Albahiti, and French ballet dancer Alice Renavand. The concert is designed as a story-based, music-meets-dance show, presenting scenes from opera productions including the famed “Carmen,” composed by Georges Bizet in the 19th century.   “It’s an important show because this is the first collaboration between the Paris Opera and Saudi Arabia,” El-Dibany explains. “I was very happy and honored that the Paris Opera chose me to represent them. Another aspect is the fact that I’m Arab, and that was important for the Paris Opera. It allows me to be ‘closer’ to the audience here. In the end, it’s a nice bridging between these two countries and cultures.” El-Dibany also, unsurprisingly, supports the Kingdom’s cultural expansion in recent years. “I’m with any good development when it comes to culture,” she says. “It’s a good (choice) of direction and investment.”