Pakistan’s first Sufi-opera singer

Saira Peter hopes to spread teachings of Sufism by combining it with operatic music

KARACHI: With its roots in Italy, opera singing has largely remained a Western preserve. A form of classical music, it is something quite alien to South Asia on the whole, let alone Pakistan. Our musical landscape is filled with different eastern and western styles but no one ever thought about branching into opera music. That is, at least until Saira Peter came along.

As the first opera singer of the country, Peter wants to combine operatic music with the teachings of Sufism to share its richness with the rest of the world. Accompanied by her mentor Paul Knight, the London-based pianist held a press conference in Karachi on November 24 to speak about her future projects and mostly, introduce opera to the local audience. Syed Waqar Hussain Shah, the custodian of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai’s shrine, was present at the event to grant Peter his blessings.

According to the singer, opera, as a form of art, is Sufi in nature and conveys deep, spiritual concepts. Peter added that she is proud to spread Sufi teachings across the West. Knight – a successor of Benjamin Britten, the central figure in British classical music of the 20th century – told The Express Tribune he saw a unique talent in Peter. “Her voice has a unique mystical quality to it. The fact that she is well-versed in eastern as well as opera music is also quite rare. It makes her special.”

Shah encouraged the idea of singing Bhitai’s poetry in operatic style as it helps spread the message of peace. “At shrines, there are no sects or any kind of divisions. Everyone is united,” he said. “About 300 years ago, Bhitai talked about a global village where all lovers shall be united. Opera music is spiritual and that’s why it is going to help spread his message across the world and realise his dream.”

Peter and Shah first met back in 2014 to discuss how they could promote Sufism to the Western world. Once he came to know she sang opera, he thought it would make it easier and thus, their brand of Sufi Opera came into being. “Pakistan is a land of Sufi shrines, not particularly maulvis, pundits or priests. Saira is going to carry that legacy of peace to the world,” said Shah.

The day after the press conference, Peter gave a live performance where she mesmerised the audience with bits from Amadeus Mozart’s Coronation Mass and Giacomo Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi, amongst others. She also performed a few Urdu and English songs, including Mere Dholna Sun and Celine Dion’s ever-popular My Heart Will Go On.  It is interesting to note that her operatic performances got better responses than the eastern ones, which lacked as much energy and charisma. Muneeza Basir, mother of Pakistani music icon Nazia Hassan was present at the event, as were Salma Waheed Murad, actor Faisal Qazi, Aamir Saleem and others.

Peter is planning to release an album titled Saira early next year, which will include Sindhi, Urdu and English songs in varying genres, including the Sufi-Opera crossover.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 27^th, 2016.

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