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Isabel Cañada Luna brings Emotions to DUCTAC

The singer talks about her variety opera and flamenco show, running today and tomorrow

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Arriving in Dubai last August, opera singer Isabel Cañada Luna was not sure what to expect. Does Dubai have a mature music scene? Would she be able to make a living performing opera, an art form she had been perfecting her whole life from her early days in Malaga, Spain, through to the conservatoire in Madrid? Almost a year later it seems the gamble paid off. Appearing in productions in Dubai and throughout Asia, Isabel has made a name for herself.
Emotions, a variety opera and flamenco show, is her latest venture at DUCTAC Mall of the Emirates today and tomorrow.

What can we expect from your show at DUCTAC?
From our show - Emotions - the audience can expect an extraordinary performance, in which flamenco and opera will be mixed to achieve the perfect blend.
Naturally, a show of this magnitude requires a great deal of preparation, both artistically and logistically speaking. In addition to rehearsing daily, as is necessary to sing opera professionally, I am investing several hours a day working with the team in order to ensure that I am able to perform my role to my greatest ability.

What is the opera scene like in Dubai? With the opening of the new opera house, are you excited about the possibilities?
Dubai is indisputably the ideal place to develop virtually any career, although the opera scene is currently in its budding stage. I am excited about what the future holds for me here, as interest in the genre is growing with each passing day. I hope to see myself performing at Dubai Opera in the near future.

How did you get into opera? What age did you start and what advice would you give to others looking to become singers?
I took an interest in opera at a very young age - aged three to be exact - as my mother always used to sing to me as a child, particularly regional songs from the South of Spain where myself and my family originate from. Therefore, I have been singing almost all my life, having trained formally as soon as I was of age to do so.
I would encourage anyone aspiring to become an opera singer to do so, yet to keep in mind that it is a never-ending process in which there is always something more to learn and areas to perfect. It is important, however, to set reasonable short-term goals in order to reach the ultimate goal of being a professional performer.

Do you travel to perform? Where is the most fun place to put on a show?
One of the facets of being a professional opera singer is travelling. My profession has taken me to myriad places across several continents. As I am passionate about singing, performing anywhere is always a rewarding experience.

What is your ultimate musical ambition and your ambition overall?
My only ambition is to stay on the path, which I currently find myself, being fulfilled both in my personal and professional life.

Does singing keep you fit? How do you stay in shape in general? Do you have any tips?
Contrary to popular belief, singing opera professionally requires one to be in excellent physical condition. As a result, it is necessary for me to keep a strict diet and regular sleep schedule in order to be in optimum condition. I do not use any unconventional methods to stay in shape, though I cannot stress enough how important eating right is to our health.

Do you only sing in Spanish or do you like performing in other languages? What is your favourite opera?
As one can imagine, operas have been written in several languages, many of which I perform in regularly. These include Italian, French, German, and English, to name a few. My favourite opera is by far Tosca by the Romantic composer Puccini, which was composed in Italian.

Outside of the show, where can people hear your music? What else have you got coming up?
I certainly encourage anyone who is interested in seeing me perform to join us today and tomorrow at DUCTAC, Mall of the Emirates, for Emotions. Also, I have a wealth of material available on my website - isabelcanadaluna.com - where you can connect to my YouTube & Vimeo channels, as well as my social media accounts. Regarding upcoming events, I am proud to announce that I will be starting off next season by going on tour in China, which will be my first appearance there; I am really looking forward to it!
david@khaleejtimes.com