To simplify operatic art, Amira Selim launches "Opera Remix"

Internationally acclaimed Egyptian soprano Amira Selim has launched her new program, "Opera Remix," broadcast weekly on her official social media platforms. The program aims to re-present the art of opera in a simplified, contemporary language, blending artistic documentation with a fast-paced approach suited to digital-age audiences.

The program consists of a series of 12 episodes aired every Tuesday. Each episode addresses a central theme that highlights an aspect of opera's history and development. The program intelligently connects these aspects to the reality of contemporary art, music, and drama, making this art form more accessible and understandable to modern audiences.

Episode 1: "The First Opera in History" The opening episode, titled "The First Opera in History," explored the origins of this art form in Florence, Italy, in 1597. A group of artists and musicians gathered at the Ducal Palace to present the first known opera, "Dafne," written by Ottavio Rinuccini and composed by Jacopo Peri.

Amira Selim considered this moment to be "the first turning point in the history of musical theatre," when the Florentine Camerata group decided to revive Greek theatre with a new spirit that blended singing and acting.

Salim explained that "Daphne" relied on a new musical style at the time known as "monode," a solo singing style in which the lyrics are accompanied by simple instruments such as the lute and the chitarra (a type of guitar), which gave the lyrics a special emotional depth.

She also noted that audience interaction was an essential part of the experience, as attendees did not remain silent, but rather participated through interaction, applause, and emotions, similar to daily interaction on social media.

Although the original score for Dafne has been lost, historians consider it a starting point for the art of opera, which later developed at the hands of great composers such as Monteverdi, to become the major dramatic and musical works it is today.

Simplifying opera and connecting it to the present Amira Selim emphasized that the program's goal is not limited to reviewing the history of opera, but rather seeks to dismantle the stereotypical notion that opera is an elitist art form or distant from the public. She pointed out that opera has always been a vibrant art form, reflecting people's feelings and stories, just as popular songs or television dramas do today.

The "Opera Remix" program is the first Arab initiative of its kind, aiming to simplify and modernize the art of opera and present it in a contemporary and attractive format. This experience is artistically led by one of the most prominent Egyptian operatic voices on the international scene, a step that serves as a new cultural bridge between global heritage and contemporary Arab audiences.