Muscat: The Royal Opera House Muscat (ROHM) hosted a media briefing on Tuesday, 1 October, attended by Director General and Artistic Director Umberto Fanni, Vice President of the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) Beijing GUAN Jianbo, and renowned Director Hugo de Ana.
ROHM is set to launch its 2024/25 season with a remarkable production of Giuseppe Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera.
Marking its Oman debut, this Verdi masterpiece will feature the NCPA Beijing performing for the first time in the Sultanate.
The opera will be staged on Thursday, 3 October, and Saturday, 5 October, captivating both local and international audiences.
The production features leading opera stars, with most making their debut in Muscat, including Elena Stikhina, Piotr Beczała, LIAO Changyong, Agnieszka Rehlis, and Enkelada Kamani, all of whom were present at the media briefing.
Under the baton of Giampaolo Bisanti, the Orchestra Teatro Lirico di Cagliari will bring to life Verdi’s exploration of love, betrayal, and political intrigue.
As part of the opening weekend, ROHM will also present a special concert,
A Musical Night from China, on Friday, 4 October, featuring the Chorus and soloists from NCPA, conducted by LÜ Jia, Artistic Director of Music and Music Director of the NCPA Orchestra.
The media briefing also highlighted the broader theme of the season: Timeless Tales and Fabulous Journeys: An Opera Season Beyond Imagination.
This year’s programme promises world-class performances with beloved fairytales such as Fikret Amirov’s ballet,One Thousand and One Nights, under the direction of the prestigious Primorsky Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre in Vladivostok, along with other fairytales including Beauty & The Beast on Ice, the family opera Robin Hood, and a Harry Potter movie concert.
Part of the new season also includes new initiatives such as the Emerging Talents series and the upcoming Piano Duel bringing to the stage winners of international competitions and emerging artists.
In the coming months, ROHM will continue to showcase an exciting array of leading artists and performances, further solidifying its reputation as Oman’s premier cultural venue.
Commenting on the opening of the season, Director General and Artistic Director, Umberto Fanni stated: “We are proud to open the 2024/25 season with the NCPA’s production of Un Ballo in Maschera, a first for Oman. This opera underscores our commitment to offering an ever-evolving programme for both local and international audiences. The season ahead will feature a dynamic blend of opera, jazz, ballet, family shows, concerts, and Arab music performances, catering to a wide range of tastes. The Royal Opera House Muscat remains committed to its role in bridging cultures through the arts, welcoming performers and companies from around the world and showcasing Oman’s cultural heritage on the global stage.”
The Royal Opera House Muscat invites its audience to book tickets through its website, mobile app, or directly at the box office.