A Tribute to Frank Sinatra with Vittorio Grigolo 2026

A Tribute to Frank Sinatra with Vittorio Grigolo comes to Dubai Opera on Sunday 20 December 2026, with the Italian tenor singing newly arranged Sinatra classics backed by both a symphony orchestra and a jazz orchestra. The concert starts at 8pm and runs for about two hours including a break, making it one of the more unusual crossover nights on the Dubai Opera calendar this December.

Vittorio Grigolo, the “Pavarottino”

Grigolo’s story starts early. Discovered as a child, he performed alongside Luciano Pavarotti at the age of 13 and picked up the nickname “Pavarottino”, little Pavarotti. He went on to become one of the most celebrated tenors of his generation, known above all for leading roles in operas by Puccini, Verdi and Donizetti. Alongside that career he has always kept a foot in contemporary and crossover music, which is what makes a Sinatra programme a natural fit rather than a novelty.

His stage presence is a big part of the draw. The organisers describe an electrifying performer and an evening “filled with passion, elegance and cinematic charm”, bringing together the worlds of opera and classic popular music. In practice that means an operatic tenor voice applied to songs written for a crooner, which is exactly the tension that makes crossover concerts like this interesting to hear live. The billing promises a warm, charismatic and deeply expressive night of romance and nostalgia.

A concert built for the Ravello Festival

This is not a generic tribute night. The show was created for the Ravello Festival in Italy to mark the 25th anniversary of Frank Sinatra’s death, and Dubai gets the same concept: Grigolo’s own interpretation of songs from the catalogue of “The Voice”, with new arrangements written for this project. The aim, according to the organisers, is to honour Sinatra’s spirit while staying true to Grigolo’s operatic style, so do not expect an impersonation. The specific song list has not been published.

Two orchestras on one stage

The detail that sets this concert apart is the line-up behind the singer. A symphony orchestra and a jazz orchestra share the stage, which lets the arrangements move between lush strings and big-band brass in the same evening. It gives the familiar Sinatra repertoire a fuller, more cinematic sound than you would hear from a standard swing band, and it is the main reason to see this version rather than a regular tribute show.

Dubai Opera practicalities

• The building opens two hours before the show and the auditorium doors 30 minutes before the 8pm start.
• Latecomers are not admitted after the performance begins and can only enter at the interval; late arrival is not refunded.
• The dress code asks guests to avoid overly casual or provocative clothing, such as shorts and flip-flops.
• Guests aged 6 and over need a ticket, children under 6 are not admitted, and under-18s must be with an adult.
• Photography and recording are not allowed in the auditorium, and food and drink cannot be taken inside.

The nearest Metro station is Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall on the Red Line, about 10 minutes away on foot. By car, leave Sheikh Zayed Road towards Financial Centre Road, follow signs for Downtown Dubai and join Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard.

Who it suits

The night suits Sinatra fans curious to hear the songs reimagined, opera lovers who want to see Grigolo outside the opera house repertoire, and anyone looking for a dressed-up pre-Christmas evening in Downtown Dubai, five days before Christmas itself. For more ideas see our concerts in Dubai guide, our Dubai Opera guide, things to do in Dubai and the December events calendar.