ISLAMABAD, Dec 2: Saira Peter, a British-Pakistani soprano recognised as the Pakistan’s first Sufi Opera singer mesmerised the audience with her magical voice at musical evening in Pakistan National Council of the Arts.
Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture Jamal Shah was the chief guest on the occassion.Prominent government officials, Diplomats and large number of people were also attended the event.In his opening remarks, Director General PNCA Muhammad Ayuob Jamali welcomed the guests at PNCA Auditorium.On the occasion, Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture Jamal Shah appreciated the performance of Saira Peter and said that the people here love music.He termed Saira Peter as highly accomplished singer.
Saira Peter and her husband a music director Stephen Smith started the performance with classical opera receiving high applause from the audience. From there, Saira went on to perform Sufi Kalam.
Saira Peter has also the distinction to be the world’s first Sufi opera singer.
Saira Peter has received an overwhelming response to his live performance in jam packed PNCA Auditorium.Saira presented opera and classical songs, Urdu, Pashtu, ‘thumri’, ‘ghazals’, film, Sindhi, Balochi and Punjabi songs.
She also sang a special Arabic song during her performance.
Saira Peter and her enthusiastic audience shared lively interaction throughout the concert.She conveyed her love for the music of her homeland and thanked PNCA for showing so much honour.
Passionate about bringing together people of all backgrounds, Saira Peter identified music as a historical means of promoting a positive message.Simultaneously in the midst of studying Western Classical voice, she envisioned using her music to take Sufi peace poetry to the world stage.
She is currently working with a team of British artists to develop the world’s first full-scale “Sufi Opera”, a musical stage drama based on the story of Umar Marvi, one of Latif’s “seven heroines” of Sindh.
Saira Peter has also pioneered a fusion style of the qawwali genre in which she incorporates both Western operatic and South Asian classical styles of singing.
