With the announcement of its 2024/25 season, the Royal Opera House Muscat (ROHM) continues to impress with a stellar lineup of world-class performances and leading global artists. Revealed on ROHM’s YouTube channel in August, the new season promises an array of exceptional shows beginning in October.

The season kicks off with Giuseppe Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera, performed by The National Centre for Performing Arts Beijing (NCPA), making its debut in Oman from 3rd to 5th October. Among other shows in October, acclaimed Indian sitar artist Nishat Khan will present a two-part concert on 30th and 31st October, accompanied by the European Philharmonia Orchestra under the direction of Walter Proost. As part of his visit to Oman, Nishat Khan will also meet audiences during a special Coffee & Dates Q&A event at the Music Library on 29^th October.

Family-friendly performances are also a highlight of the season, featuring Beauty and the Beast on Ice (2nd-4th January), a screening of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone with live orchestral accompaniment (10th and 11th April), and Michele Dall’Ongaro’s family opera Robinhood by the Petruzzelli Theatre Foundation of Bari, conducted by Pietro Maniti (18th and 19th April).

The season’s diverse programming includes 50 performances across multiple genres: 5 operas, 9 Arab music concerts, 7 classical concerts, 4 family shows, 3 world music concerts, 1 extraordinary ballet, and a dazzling jazz concert. This rich lineup features leading Arab and Western artists and will run from October 2024 through May 2025.

Following the announcement, Muscat Daily delves into what makes ROHM a global cultural beacon, exploring how the venue seamlessly connects Oman with the world and vice versa. Since its grand opening in 2011, ROHM has established itself as a premier cultural destination, hosting top performers from around the globe. Praised for its exceptional acoustics and stunning architecture, ROHM continues to shine as a masterpiece of technical, cultural, and architectural design.

The venue’s in-house technicians, many of whom are Omani, received high praise from leading directors and artists for their efficiency in handling complex productions. Renowned opera singers have also celebrated ROHM’s acoustics and interior, considering it one of the world’s most beautiful opera houses.

Beyond its role as a performance space, ROHM contributes significantly to Oman’s cultural prominence on the international stage. It attracts over 90,000 visitors annually for tours and music exhibitions, and its architectural design echoes Oman’s heritage, drawing parallels with historical monuments.

This year, ROHM is also strengthening its existing educational and outreach programmes and introducing new initiatives such as Let’s Read, which will feature monthly reading groups for children and families and includes a special theatrical presentation by author Elisabetta Dami and her beloved creation, Geronimo Stilton, on 6th November. Special projects throughout April and May will spotlight shows such as Harry Potter: A World of Magic, La Traviata Project, and Welcome to Sherwood Forest with Robin Hood!

The season will introduce Emerging Talents, a series of three concerts showcasing international competition winners, including Ambassador of Song Thomas Hampson, Aristo Sham, Nikolai Kuznetsov, Simon Zhu, and Gile Bae. Additionally, ROHM’s Open Doors initiative will extend performances beyond its walls to institutions, hospitals, and nursing homes in Muscat, with new inclusivity measures such as sign language interpretation for some of their events, like Lunch Music or Opera Talks.

ROHM’s ongoing success embodies Oman’s ambition to be an internationally recognised destination for cultural excellence in the performing arts. As it continues to offer a remarkable lineup of global shows, ROHM stands as a testament to Oman’s rich cultural heritage and its dedication to artistic excellence.