Oman Culture: A November to remember at the Royal Opera House Muscat

Lifestyle Wednesday 26/October/2016 18:57 PM
By: Times News Service
Oman Culture: A November to remember at the Royal Opera House Muscat

November opens with Royal Opera House Muscat’s (ROHM) most popular annual event when thousands of people flock to experience Oman’s spectacular military music concert. This year the heart-stirring display of military pageantry is called ‘Oman and the World’ as hundreds of men and women from the Armed Forces of Oman, Korea, and Georgia march in dress uniform while playing rousing military music. This complimentary event held on ROHM’s great outdoor courtyard is free of charge to be held on November 3, 4, and 5 at 7pm.

Next, at 7pm on the 10th of November comes Ana Moura, a stunning, award-winning artist who is said to have a voice like no other Fado singer. She performs as successfully in Carnegie Hall as she does with famous rock bands like the Rolling Stones. Moura has updated Fado, a treasured Portuguese form of singing that is inscribed on Unesco’s Intangible World Cultural Heritage List. Among Ana Moura’s greatest hits is Desfado, an all-time best-charting album in Portugal, certified five times Platinum.

Practically everyone has heard of Don Juan, the legendary seducer. Mozart composed a wonderfully melodramatic and humorous version of this famous tale in his 1787 opera masterpiece, Don Giovanni. With disguises and clever strategies, the stealthy Don Giovanni walks a thin line between capture and triumphant deception. Brilliantly conducted by Stefano Montanari the opera is performed by the prestigious Opéra de Lyon, with renowned bass-baritone Simone Alberghini starring as the notorious nobleman on 24th and 27th of November at 7pm.

November closes with an exciting Family Concert on the 26th at 4pm with the Orchestra of Opéra de Lyon, featuring Handel’s gorgeous Water Music composed in 1717 for King George I for an excursion on the River Thames. The King was so pleased with the music that he ordered it to be played again and again. Also on the programme is The Elements, music by Baroque composer, Jean-Féry Rebel depicting the creation of the natural world. The double bass expresses Earth, while flutes imitate the flow and murmur of Water, and Fire appears with the shooting, flame-like brilliance of the violin. Meanwhile, video artist Grégoire Pont illustrates the music with live image projections on screen. —[email protected]