Why Pangkor Laut Resort in Malaysia launched an opera festival

The audience hushed as the maestro stepped on stage. The unmistakable opening strain of George Bizet’s Habanera from his opera Carmen filled the silence and just like that, we were drawn into the drama and sheer musicality of the moment. The familiar tune sounded fresh and powerful when performed by renowned Italian musician Andrea Griminelli, an accomplished flautist who has worked with the Royal Philharmonic and New York Philharmonic.

Then, Belle Voci ‒ the British double act who first garnered attention for making it to the finals of The Voice UK in 2018 and later sang at the 2019 FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium in London ‒ took their turn with a selection of iconic operatic tunes such as Piccini’s O Mio Babbino Caro and Time to Say Goodbye by Francesco Sartori.

Their haunting, harmonious rendition of Flower Duet by Leo Delibes aka “the British Airways song” had the audience scrambling to record a video on their phones.

With performances of this calibre, this concert could conceivably have been staged in any grand performing hall in just about any bustling city around the world, from London to Tokyo ‒ and some say Singapore’s Esplanade.

But somewhat incongruously, there are just about 200 of us gathered at Pangkor Laut Resort, a private island in Perak, Malaysia for this performance ‒ the inaugural annual Opera in Paradise weekend festival held in honour of the legendary Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti.

While modest in size, the line-up, which was curated by Griminelli who also serves as musical director for the event, was compelling enough for some guests to fly in specially from Singapore just for the concert (the resort is either a three-hour drive from Kuala Lumpur or a 90-minute drive from Ipoh, followed by a 15-minute ferry ride).

Also among the opera fans in attendance were VIPs including Dato Mark Yeoh, executive director of YTL Corporation's hotels and resorts division, which owns the resort; Rebekah Yeoh, corporate finance director at YTL Corporation; as well as their business associates.

It begs the question: Why would a private island resort go to such lengths to launch an opera festival?

As it turns out, holding a Pavarotti tribute concert on this idyllic tropical island resort is not as random as it may seem. In 1994, Dato Yeoh recounted, Luciano Pavarotti himself had travelled to the resort for a semi-private performance to commemorate the second phase of the resort’s development. Pavarotti was so captivated by the lush rainforest and emerald waters of this tranquil island that he exclaimed: “This place is enchanting; it is paradise here.”

Inspired, the larger-than-life tenor then went on to dedicate the song O Paradiso during his recital as an ode to Pangkor Laut Resort.

No wonder then that the third headliner, Michael Austin, a highly respected global performer whose most acclaimed role was Verdi’s Othello, belted out this number by Giacomo Meyerbeer during his turn on the stage.

Pavarotti went on to strike up a lifelong friendship with the Yeoh family, introducing them to various opera singers and musicians. He even returned to Pangkor Laut resort for one more concert in 2002.

But it was only during the pandemic that the idea for an opera festival began to take root.

“During that time, nostalgia struck and everyone began reflecting on the past. Then, last summer, when I travelled to Luciano’s hometown of Modena in Italy for a vacation, it brought me back to those times when he was alive,” reflected Dato Yeoh.

“So I thought, let’s start an annual opera festival at Pangkor Laut resort since he loved the island and the food so much. It is also a good opportunity to introduce today’s opera singers and musicians to the guests, like what he used to do.”

He went on to rope in Griminelli, who had been performing with Pavarotti since 1984, to helm this year’s festival and the rest, as they say, is history.

Moving forward, the Opera In Paradise festival is slated to run on the last weekend of October every year. Griminelli will return as musical director in 2024. The line-up of performers will be announced at a later date but word has it that the Belle Voci duo enjoyed their visit so much, they have already expressed interest in a repeat performance.

At the resort, it is easy to see what enchanted the legendary tenor ‒ and today’s opera stars too. Nestled within an ancient rainforest, its hill villas gently peek out among the foliage while its sea villas stand elegantly on stilts over the sea. Either way, one is practically cocooned within a healing, pristine natural environment.

On a sunny day, the surrounding waters really do sparkle like emeralds as fish of all sizes drift lazily by. The resort may be 40 years old, but its classic architecture is tasteful and timeless, and it is carefully maintained by a team of well-trained, responsive staff. In fact, its lived-in environs evoke a relaxed vibe and intimate atmosphere that encourages guests to kick back and relax without worrying about modern day concerns like getting that Instagram perfect snap.

Then, there is the food, which all the guests, bar none, rave about. While there are a range of dining options, including a beach bar and the usual international staples, it is an open secret that the resort excels the most in showcasing the diverse array of Malaysian cuisine.

At breakfast, the freshly made dosa and roti canai are popular favourites, as are the packets of banana leaf nasi lemak that are brought in fresh daily from the main island of Pangkor. If you manage to work up an appetite for lunch ‒ there is an option to take a guided hike into the rainforest ‒ head to Chapman’s Bar on the other side of the island for fragrant banana leaf rice that comes laden with various curries, vegetables and crisp papadums.

And if you are lucky enough to be at the resort during its themed pasar malam (night market) dinners, know that many of the dishes, such as the Ipoh chicken rice and pasembur (an Indian Muslim rojak with noodles drenched in a sweet potato dressing) are based on recipes taught by actual hawkers around Malaysia. No doubt about it, having authentic hawker fare in the comfort of a resort is certainly its own kind of luxury.