Royal Opera House Muscat's new season includes Verdi's La Traviata and Majida El Roumi

Programme of more than 50 productions and concerts in Omani capital from October to May will involve artists from Middle East, Europe, China and beyond

Giuseppe Verdi's opera La Traviata will feature in the latest season of the Royal Opera House Muscat. Photo: Royal Opera House Muscat

Lavish operas, eclectic concerts and a tribute to an influential Arabic music composer are part of the new season of the Royal Opera House Muscat. Running from October to May, the programme features more than 50 events with artists from the Middle East, Europe and Asia.

The big names include popular Lebanese singers Majida El Roumi and Ragheb Alama, as well as the large productions of classic operas La Traviata and Un Ballo in Maschera by Giuseppe Verdi as well as La Fille du Regiment by Gaetano Donizetti. Family-friendly shows include Beauty and the Beast on Ice and opera Robin Hood. Here are the highlights.

The operas

La Fille du Regiment by Opera Monte Carlo. Photo: Marco Borrelli

The new season opens with a vigorous take on Verdi's 19th-century opera Un Ballo in Maschera, also known as The Masked Ball. Russian soprano Elena Stikhina and Polish tenor Piotr Bezcala head an international production staged by Argentine director Hugo de Ana and accompanied by China’s National Centre for Performing Arts Beijing. Known for its dramatic composition and the timeless aria Eri Tu, Un Ballo in Maschera runs from October 3 to 5.

That passion and melodrama will make way for some mischief and comedy with Opera Monte Carlo’s production of Donizetti’s La Fille du Regiment on December 5 and 7.

Power and politics are explored in another Verdi opera, Simon Boccanegra, performed by Russia's Mariinsky Orchestra and Chorus. Under the baton of influential conductor Valery Gergiev, the production takes place on January 23 and 25.

Younger audiences are in for a treat with the family opera Robin Hood on April 18 and 19. Created by modern Italian composer Michele Dall’Ongaro, it will be staged by Italy’s Petruzzelli Theatre Foundation.

The season’s final opera sees the revered tenor Placido Domingo returning to the Royal Opera House Muscat, this time to conduct a version of Verdi’s La Traviata led by opera stars Yusif Eyvazov and Juliana Grigoryan. Taking place on May 1 and 3, the production also features the orchestra and chorus of Italy’s Teatro Carlo Felice.

The Arab stars

Lebanese singer Majida El Roumi will perform at the Royal Opera House Muscat. Reuters

Ever since launching in 2011, the Royal Opera House Muscat has provided opportunities to see some of the Arab world’s biggest musical acts perform in a relatively intimate and refined setting.

The new season is no different with Lebanese singer Majida El Roumi headlining an Omani Women’s Day Concert on October 17 along with Al Nour Wal Amal Orchestra, an Egyptian all-blind female ensemble.

El Roumi will then return with her own backing band and orchestra for two more concerts on October 18 and 19. Emirati star Ahlam will also perform at the opera house on November 14.

The life and music of 20th century Egyptian composer Mohamed Abdul Wahab will be celebrated in two shows on February 15 and 20 with guest artists soon to be announced, while Lebanese crooner Rageb Alama will close the performance season with two shows on May 23 and 25.

Classical music and ballets

A world premiere will also take place in Muscat.

Commissioned by the opera house, Spain’s Antonio Andrade Flamenco Company will present Memories of Alhambra on May 8 and 9. The dance show celebrates the cultural links between the Arab world and Andalusia with choreography influenced by Arabic, Berber, gipsy and Iberian music and traditions.

Some of those musical cues will also be heard in the retelling of Fikret Amirov’s ballet, One Thousand and One Nights by Russia’s Primorsky Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre on February 6 and 7. The original 1979 production by the Azerbaijani composer is renowned for infusing the Levant and North African musical elements into a rich score inspired by Amirov’s past concert tours of the region.

The best and brightest talents from China’s classical music scene will also be on display at a concert called A Musical Night from China on October 4. The event features soloists and the choir from the National Centre for Performing Arts Beijing, including star baritone Liao Changyong.

Other concerts and world music

Indian sitarist Nishat Khan will perform with the European Philharmonic Orchestra. Photo: Royal Opera House Muscat

The opera house’s well-regarded jazz programming continues with the regional debut of pianist Anthony Strong on November 28 and 29. Known as the “English Gentleman”, Strong will be joined by the Latvian Radio Big Band for a set of solo songs, as well as jazz standards by Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra.

Indian master sitarist Nishat Khan will also make his Omani debut on October 30 and 31 with the European Philharmonic Orchestra.

One of the great voices of Fado music, Cristina Branco, will showcase the passionate storytelling of the Portuguese genre on November 5.

Something for everyone

The Royal Opera House Muscat also has several family-friendly events. Beauty and the Beast On Ice, from January 2 to 4, will feature ice skaters, contortionists, fire breathers and acrobats.

The Folk Music Festival, an annual event celebrating the music and instruments inherent in Omani culture and traditions – and those of guest nations Bulgaria, South Korea, and Paraguay – will also return on January 16 and 17.

The season will also celebrate the music of Yemen. Taking place on April 24 and 25, Traditional Symphonies: A Journey through Yemeni Music aims to be an enchanting evening of local folk music and poetry.