Meet Saira Peter, world’s first Sufi Opera singer
Soprano star all set to perform Sufi opera ‘Marvi’s Tears’
Her deep commitment to music and her audience is what grips you when you listen to Saira Peter sing in her soprano voice. The British-Pakistani opera star is officially recognised as the world’s first ‘Sufi Opera’ singer. The unique genre is a blend of Pakistani and Western classical music styles, which she is developing and “still discovering”.
Opera demands absolute commitment. You must commit physically, emotionally and mentally, to deliver the song and act powerfully.”
Saira Peter | British-Pakistani opera star
Her strong, enchanting voice and deep commitment to music are evident when Saira Peter sings in her soprano voice.
British-Pakistani opera star Saira Peter, a trained Western and Pakistani classical singer, is officially recognised as the world’s first ‘Sufi Opera’ singer.
This unique genre is a blend of Pakistani and Western classical music styles with Sufi poetry. “I was surprised to see the love from the audience for this genre”, which she performed the first time in Karachi in 2016, Saira said in an interview with Gulf News in Islamabad during her recent visit to Pakistan for fund-raising concerts for flood victims.
Saira, who has performed in the US, UK, Germany, Switzerland, Turkey and South Africa, credits her success to her teacher — British composer, actor, and musician Paul Knight. With Knight as composer, British opera director Jonny Danciger and a team of other professionals, Saira is currently working on her biggest and most fascinating project Marvi’s Tears, a fusion opera inspired by Sindh’s famous folktale Umar Marvi.
Saira’s father, a composer and Urdu scholar, is involved in the project as the librettist who writes the story or words sung in the musical. “This opera narrates the tale of Marvi as told by Sindhi Sufi poet and mystic, Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, some 300 years ago,” she said.
With Saira in the lead role, the Sufi opera would bring to life the inspiring character of Marvi — widely regarded as a symbol of resistance, courage, and patriotism. The opera depicts Marvi’s deep love for her homeland, longing to be united with her family, and her steadfastness in the face of offers of a luxurious life by a powerful King Umar.
Her husband Smith, says “It is exciting to see this Sufi opera become a reality after years. We can’t wait to share this enchanting story with good values from Pakistan on the international stage.”
Why opera?
Saira’s operatic journey began about a decade ago. “Opera demands absolute commitment. You must commit physically, emotionally and mentally, to deliver the song and act powerfully,” Saira said. “When I first performed, I knew it would be an expression of my heartfelt commitment to my art. I was ready to sing and act the opera on all levels.” The fact that “opera can only be experienced through a live performance” makes it even more magical.
Opera is a spectacle, a dramatic story told through songs with live vocal and orchestral music that combines music, drama, dance, and visual arts. The first opera was performed in Italy more than 400 years ago. Opera singers rely on their epic voices for live performances and not on microphones.
Saira is a soprano defined as the highest female singing voice in opera that often takes the leading female role.
Opera singers are extraordinarily disciplined. It is the long hours of daily practice that enrich their performances. Saira spends about five to six hours a day on vocal exercise along with gym visits.
This discipline and stamina allowed her to perform
live at Lahore Gymkhana for four hours continuously this month. They concluded the event because the musicians grew exhausted but not her!
Greatest achievement
Sharing her proudest moment as an opera singer, Saira said: “It was a huge honour for me as a British-Pakistani to record the new edition of the British national anthem ‘God
Save the King’ this year” in October at the request of the UK government in Hastings. The new edition, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, will be played at official ceremonies. She had previously recorded ‘God Save the Queen’ in 2018. While she has performed in several prestigious venues, her dream venue is the Royal Opera House in London.