The private island resort, located in a secluded spot behind Pangkor Island proper, needs no introduction. Since it’s opening in 1985, the resort island has captured the hearts and minds of travellers, nature-lovers, and seekers of paradise alike with its charm.
Though the island spans 300 acres, only a small portion of it was developed for the resort, placing guests truly in the heart of untouched natural beauty. Alongside the clear blue waters and the unique green sea of Emerald Bay, native fauna accompany your mornings and nights too, as you wake up to birdsong, spend the afternoon with families of oriental pied hornbills, and drift to sleep to the sound of waves and chirps of the Malayan flying fox.
But we were on Pangkor Laut Resort not just to admire the lush greenery or soak in the waters – we were there to experience the second edition of Opera in Paradise, Pangkor Laut Resort’s annual tribute to the age-old musical art and to Luciano Pavarotti, who shared a special connection with the island ever since he first visited.
Pavarotti notably visited Pangkor Laut Resort for the first time in 1994, where he performed to commemorate the resort’s second phase. He famously said, “This place is enchanting. It is paradise here. This morning, when I woke up, I went out and was truly moved, almost to tears, seeing the beauty that has been created by God.” So, Opera in Paradise is a commemoration of Pavarotti’s paradise, bringing his chosen art form back to the island which he dearly loved.
Opera in Paradise is a three-days-two-night weekend getaway experience, which fully immerses you in the charm of the island. The weekend commenced with a welcome buffet dinner of Pangkor Laut Resort’s signature Pasar Malam Night. From street food faves like satay and fried carrot cake to local culinary classics like beef rendang and itik masak lemak, the welcome dinner was a feast for the senses as well as a great opportunity to meet our island mates, which helped us all settle into the weekend ahead.
On to the main event: a night of spectacular opera. This year, Andrea Griminelli, world-renowned flautist and friend of Pavarotti, returns as musical director and headliner, alongside famed soprano Cathy Di-Zhang and equally celebrated tenor John Longmuir from Australia. British mezzo-soprano Laura Wright was also set to perform but had to withdraw due to an unexpected family emergency, but the three performers worked flawlessly together to ensure her place was filled perfectly.
“It is an immense honor to pay tribute to Luciano here, where he found so much joy and inspiration. He was a dear friend and a mentor, and I cherish every moment we spent making music together. To be able to direct a performance in his memory at Pangkor Laut, one of his personal sanctuaries, feels like bringing his spirit back to life in the most fitting way,” said Andrea Griminelli on what it means to be directing a tribute performance to Pavarotti in Pangkor Laut Resort.
After cocktails at the Fisherman’s Cove, the bar that stands over the sea and gives a sweeping view of Pangkor Island ahead, we made our way to Samudra, the concert venue for the night. And what a venue it was with its open-air design built right into the rock face of the ocean and the panoramic view it afforded to all 200 guests. We think it’s fair to say that you won’t get a concert venue quite like that anywhere else in the world.
The intimate performance saw classic operatic pieces resonating around Samudra’s open walls, including Carmen’s Habanera, O Sole Mio, and Nessun Dorma. On the contemporary side, Leonard Bernstein’s pieces Tonight and Somewhere from West Side Story were among the highlights, alongside Andrea Griminelli’s rousing flute-led medley of American cinema’s greatest movie soundtrack pieces taken from Once Upon A Time in America, Once Upon a Time in the West, and The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.
After hearty applause and an encore performance of Time to Say Goodbye, we adjourned for the Gala Dinner featuring carefully curated Pavarotti-themed dishes, including Pavarotti’s own tuna pasta dish made using his recipe, and an aptly chosen Opera cake for dessert.
We also managed to briefly speak to the three performers after the show, and as a way to wrap up the night we asked them to summarise the experience in three words each. For Andrea Griminelli, his words were “inspiring, immersive, unforgettable.” Cathy Di-Zhang went with “guilty pleasures in opera” (which is four words, but we’ll let it slide), while John Longmuir finished with, “opera in paradise – it’s really all in the name!”
For those who missed this year’s edition of Opera in Paradise, fret not as the programme will return for its third edition next year, scheduled to take place from 24 to 26 October 2025. Along with a new lineup of some of the world’s best opera voices, you can look forward to a weekend of scenic relaxation, the best beaches, and a getaway like no other.
More details on Opera in Paradise 2025 will be announced soon on the Pangkor Laut Resort official website.
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