Known as the ‘Karachi Girl’, she debuts at Royal Albert Hall with a 500+ ensemble, blending Sufi and opera
Saira Peter at Royal Albert Hall. Photo: Handout
Known as the “Karachi Girl”, Saira Peter is setting new benchmarks in the international music world. Recognised as the first artist to introduce Sufi Opera to Pakistan, Saira is set to make her debut performance at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday, alongside more than 500 musicians.
Accompanied by the All Souls Orchestra, Saira will perform alongside one of the largest ensembles ever assembled for an Asian artist at the venue. The orchestra comprises 525 musicians and singers, divided into four principal sections: strings, woodwinds, brass and percussion. These sections are further subdivided into around 30 parts across more than 20 instruments. The performance will also feature a 400-voice choir singing four-part harmonies.
Although Saira is not the only Pakistani artist to have performed at the venue, organisers describe her as the youngest Pakistani vocalist to present a solo performance at the prestigious hall.
She follows in the footsteps of legends such as Noor Jehan, Iqbal Bano, Abida Parveen and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. The venue has also hosted celebrated Indian performers, including Lata Mangeshkar, Zakir Hussain, Ravi Shankar and AR Rahman, who fulfilled his long-held dream of performing there in April.
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The scale of the production presents a significant challenge. Saira will be required to project her voice above the combined sound of a vast orchestra and choir while incorporating her own distinctive Pakistani vocal ornamentation, or thaan, into the performance, a style rarely heard in Western classical settings.
Like Saira, the All Souls Orchestra is committed to promoting global peace and reconciliation. The ensemble has collaborated with artists from around the world and sees Saira as a natural partner in advancing these shared values.
During the event, Saira will be introduced as the world’s first Sufi Opera singer and will represent Pakistan’s culture and Sufi traditions on the global stage. Holding British, American and Pakistani identities, she consistently pays tribute to Pakistan through her attire, language and musical style.
At the organisers’ request, Saira will perform an original composition promoting peace and reconciliation among nations. The work features Urdu poetry written by British-Pakistani author and librettist Zafar Francis.
Francis has also written the libretto for Umar Marvi, the world’s first Sufi Opera, Marvi’s Tears. Composed by Paul Knight and directed by Jonny Danciger, the production will feature Saira in the lead role of Marvi.
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Having established her name locally with her debut performance at PC Karachi in 2016, Saira earned acclaim from media representatives, diplomats, and audiences who had never heard anything similar before. For many, it was their first encounter with a ‘Sufi Opera’ singer, instantly recognising her unique role in representing Pakistan’s Sufi heritage while promoting messages of musical harmony and tolerance.
Saira has always believed that hard work is the foundation of achieving one’s dreams. Her educational achievements include an MSc in Physical Chemistry from Karachi and an MA in Islamic History from Queen Mary University of London. She not only understands the science of sound but also appreciates the cultural significance of using music to promote peace and tolerance among diverse communities.
As her profile grew among influential circles, Saira was increasingly invited to perform works celebrating peace and goodwill. Throughout her journey, she developed a distinctive musical style, performing in 17 languages and building an international following that transcends borders. Her unique fusion sound, carrying a message of peace and unity, has reached some of the world’s most significant venues under the banner: “From Karachi to the Ends of the Earth.”
In 2019, she performed her Sufi Opera composition at the Presidential Palace in Islamabad before an audience that included former president Dr Arif Alvi and international guests. Her repertoire included Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai’s Resplendent, an English translation of “Tou Habib, Tou Tabib.” In 2021, she travelled to Konya in Türkiye, where she appeared as a solo performer at Rumi’s Mystik Müsik Fest, organised by the Republic of Türkiye’s Konya Provincial Directorate of Culture.
Earlier this year, she was invited to perform Sufi Opera pieces for international dignitaries gathered at the US House of Congress, where she was formally recognised as an “International Woman of Distinction”. She also received the “She Leads the Nations” award for her efforts in promoting peace through music. Her work encourages nations to build friendships and goodwill through cultural exchange.
As a guest of the US State Department during her tour, she was welcomed by Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, who invited her to present a private concert for UN media representatives and members of the Pakistani community at his official New York residence. Following the performance, she was honoured with a special certificate of recognition.
Saira is preparing to take her message to one of the world’s most iconic and historic concert venues, the Royal Albert Hall in London. Performing on the evening of June 6, she joins a select group of Pakistani artists who have headlined at the venue. Designed to support the advancement of arts and sciences in line with Prince Albert’s vision for Britain’s cultural development, the Royal Albert Hall was opened in 1871 by his widow, Queen Victoria.
With a seating capacity of more than 5,200, the hall’s grandeur reportedly left Queen Victoria speechless at its inauguration. The opening address was delivered by her son, Edward, Prince of Wales. According to historical accounts, her only recorded remark was that the hall reminded her of the British Constitution.
Since its opening, the Royal Albert Hall has hosted some of Britain’s most significant cultural and national events. In 1965, it hosted the funeral of wartime leader Sir Winston Churchill. Renowned composer Sir Benjamin Britten, whose musical lineage connects to Saira’s vocal training through her coach, conducted performances there on numerous occasions between 1945 and 1971.
More recently, on May 8, the venue hosted celebrations marking the 100th birthday of celebrated natural historian Sir David Attenborough. Now, Saira prepares to add her name to the venue’s distinguished history as she brings her message of peace, cultural exchange and artistic excellence to one of the world’s most renowned stages.
The event will be attended by Pakistan’s Acting High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Haseeb Bin Aziz alongside other dignitaries.
