The Italian Consulate General in Jeddah organized a first-of-its-kind opera night in the city in celebration of the 14th Italian Language in the World Week.
The event, held at the open-air Italian Cultural Club last week, was dedicated to Expo 2015, which will be hosted by Milan from May 1 to Oct. 31.
A group of talented musicians that had come all the way from Italy graced the stage and caught audiences off-guard with their grand voices and familiar renditions of classics, from Verdi’s Macbeth to Andrea Bocelli’s “con te partiro.”
The team included Maestro Paolo Andreoli (piano), Elisa Maffi (soprano), Davide la Verde (tenor) and Riccardo Ferrari (bass).
Italian Consul General Simone Petroni welcomed guests on the second event held to mark the famous week.
“Tonight’s occasion is a crossroads between world-famous events,” he said.
“Expo Milan 2015, which will run under the slogan ‘feeding the planet, energy for life,’ will give visitors an unprecedented chance to contribute to the world’s betterment.”
Such a performance being held in Jeddah made the experience all the more special, said Petroni.
An exhibition about the literary locations of Milan, entitled “Milan: A place to read,” was showcased to audiences.
The exhibition, designed for would-be visitors and tourists to Expo 2015, is inspired by characters, events and places in Milan that highlight the fundamental link between the city and the literary world.
Many thematic videos and a short presentation of the exposition were screened during the evening.
The consul general said that world-renowned opera house “La Scala” would perform throughout the duration of the expo for the first time in history.
“As one of the most prestigious cultural institutions in the country, the ‘Teatro alla Scala’ will make its contribution to what will be a great event for both Milan and Italy at large,” he said.
“For countless people from all over the world, this will be an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness La Scala,” he said.
“We are thrilled to have been able bring to local audiences a glimpse of a great Italian tradition,” he said.
“We must not forget that the opera was born in Italy in the first half of the 17th century and has been performed in none other than the Italian language with few exceptions.”
“This is why professional singers or even opera lovers still find it useful to master the Italian language.”
The consul general expressed gratitude to supporters of cultural initiatives that have been organized over the past four years during his time as head of mission.
Events were organized by the consulate in collaboration with the Italian Cultural Club, the Italian School and the Italian Business Group of Jeddah.
Italian opera comes to Jeddah
Italian opera comes to Jeddah
Rebuilding lives: Saudi initiative gives fresh hope to amputees
- Baitureh Health Association has provided life-changing support to more than 1,000 people
- Prosthetic limbs can cost up to $76,000
MAKKAH: The Baitureh Health Association for the Care of Amputees has quickly become one of Saudi Arabia’s most impactful humanitarian initiatives, transforming support for people with lost limbs.
Established in 2020, the association deals with people’s physical, psychological and social needs and fills a long-standing gap in the national health system.
CEO Badr bin Alyan told Arab News that the initiative was created in response to a growing need, driven by amputations linked to accidents, blood disorders, occupational injuries and other causes.
Its operations were “based on service integration rather than fragmentation, enabling beneficiaries to return to their lives with confidence, ability and independence,” he said.
This holistic process covers everything from initial evaluations to psychological and physical rehabilitation, family support, prosthetic fitting and ongoing maintenance.
Its psychological support programs include group sessions led by certified mentors who have undergone similar experiences, as well as field visits to support patients before and after amputation.
More than 1,000 people across the Kingdom have so far benefitted from the association’s work, about 10 percent of them children, whom Alyan said were “the most sensitive and the most in need of intensive psychological and family support.”
Its specialist programs for children — My First Step and Therapeutic Entertainment — help young people adapt to prosthetics, overcome trauma and build confidence in a safe and supportive setting.
The association has completed more than 300 prosthetic fittings, including silicone cosmetic limbs, mechanical, hydraulic, electronic and 3D-printed models.
Alyan said the type of prosthetic selected depended on a number of factors, such as age, lifestyle, type of amputation, activity level and psychological readiness.
Children also have to undergo frequent adjustments to their new limbs to account for their growth.
Each prosthetic cost between SR20,000 ($5,300) and SR285,000, Alyan said.
The association funds its work through sponsorships, community contributions and strategic partnerships.
Despite its success, Alyan said there were still challenges to be faced, including the lack of a consolidated base for the provision of psychological support and therapy services and prosthetics development and maintenance.
There was also a shortage of local experts, he said.
In response, the association set up a rehabilitation center, which Alyan said would help to localize prosthetics manufacturing, reduce costs and accelerate fitting processes and create opportunities for local experts to develop their knowledge and experience.
But providing prosthetics was only part of the association’s work, he said.
“Rebuilding a human life is the deeper goal.”
