ISLAMABAD: Saira Peter, a British-Pakistani soprano recognised as Pakistan’s first Sufi Opera singer, mesmerised the audience with her magical voice at a musical evening held at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) on Saturday.

Caretaker Minister for National Heritage and Culture Jamal Shah was the chief guest while government officials, diplomats and local dignitaries attended the performance.

In his opening remarks, PNCA Director General Mohammad Ayuob Jamali welcomed the guests at the auditorium.

Jamal Shah appreciated the performance of Saira Peter, terming her a highly accomplished singer.

Saira Peter and her husband, music director Stephen Smith, started the performance with classical opera receiving applause from the audience. From there, she went on to perform Sufi Kalam.

Saira Peter also has the distinction to being the world’s first Sufi opera singer and received an overwhelming response to her live performance in the jampacked auditorium.

She sang opera and classical songs in Urdu, Pashtu, Sindhi, Balochi and Punjabi and also rendered a special Arabic song.

Passionate about bringing together people of all backgrounds, Saira Peter identified music as a historical means of sending out 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.

Published in Dawn, December 3rd, 2023