Royal Muscat Opera

After more than seven years of existence and a season renewed each year, the Royal Opera of Muscat in the rich Sultanate of Oman has succeeded in its bet: to establish lyrical art, a Western tradition if it in the East, in the East and beyond to deliver a message of cultural harmony and world peace.

Address:Al Kharjiyah Street، Muscat 103, Oman

Lyrical institution hosted: Royal Opera House Muscat (ROHM)

Website: www.rohmuscat.org.om

Year of construction: inaugurated on October 12, 2011 after four years of work, from 2007 to 2011 and several years of study (the project was planned from the end of 2001; the choice of the architectural firm was decided in 2004)

Architect: the opera house was built with the help of the company Carillion Alawi, active in the Sultanate of Oman since 1965, and involved in many local initiatives – construction of prestigious buildings, roads and ports. The initial project was revised to align with the historic style of Omani civil architecture. The final result is the result of an intense collaboration with the Royal Affairs of the Court of Oman (understand Sultan Qaboos Bin Said, organist, lutenist and classical music enthusiast)

Architectural style: contemporary Omani architecture

Favorite repertoire: great lyrical repertoire and other forms of live performance (concert, ballet, jazz, flamenco, world music, etc.)

Education: A "young ambassadors" program offers students under the age of 18 the opportunity to benefit from four free places for them and their families, including a backstage visit, meeting with the artists and staff... educational school concerts are organized regularly. Administrative and technical internships are offered to students each year. A daycare service for children from 4 to 10 years old is set up during performances. Finally, a 30% reduction is granted to students and young people under the age of 17 (more unusual, seniors also benefit from reduced rates).

History: Born November 18, 1940 (since Oman's National Day) and Sultan since July 23, 1970, craftsman of the country's renaissance and great lover of classical music, Qaboos Bin Said decided in 2001 to build an opera house to house various musical initiatives under one roof. As soon as he came to power, particular attention had been paid to music. After the establishment of a first orchestral ensemble in Muscat and then a second in Salalah, the Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra was founded with the avowed objective of encouraging a first generation of Omanis to learn and practice music. The construction of the opera, completed in 2011, is part of this educational and artistic desire. The architecture of the building combines the massive style of Omani forts on the outside and the refined decor of Arab houses on the inside. The finest materials were used in its construction. In the huge foyer, punctuated by two large staircases, marble from Italy and wood from Burma, entrusted to the best Omani craftsmen, dialogue. A large gallery on the first floor allows, as at the Opéra Garnier, to assist the climb of the steps. This aesthetic bias is coupled with state-of-the-art technological equipment. Modular, the room offers a capacity of 1100 to 1200 seats depending on the desired configuration (opera or concert). The orchestra pit is removable, the projection of the dressing rooms and the stage frame are mobile. A screen on the back of each chair displays the surtitles. Marquetry wooden panels decorate the walls, ceiling and balconies. Some display the names of an opera, its composer and the year of its composition in the form of a rebus. Unique in the world, the back of the stage houses a huge organ (50 tons, 4,542 pipes), used if necessary during concerts. Since the beginning of 2019, a hall built in a new building connected to the old by a glass walkway, adds to the whole. Baptized Royal Opera House of Musical Arts (ROHMA), this new auditorium of a similar style but of a smaller size (approximately 500 seats) offers complementary programming: chamber music or world music in reduced formation, baroque repertoire, etc. . It is also intended to house a music library as well as conference and exhibition spaces. Since 2014, the ROHM has been directed by Umberto Fanni (57), former director of the Verona Arena. After using its address book to welcome the greatest artists on the planet and importing co-production shows, the ROHM has just taken a new step in March 2019 by offering its first production, Lakmé directed by Davide Livermore, in partnership with a dozen other international institutions

First opera performed: Rigoletto in September 2011 served as a trial run before the official inauguration on September 12, 2011 with Turandot conducted by Placido Domingo

Significant creations: the premiere of a first opera commissioned from an Arab composer is scheduled for 2020.

Better seats: The use of wood and cotton inside the walls makes the acoustics of the room exceptional whatever the seat occupied. Visually, the middle seats remain the best.

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Acoustics: exceptional, see above.

Prices: from 3 to 90 OMR (approximately €7 to €210 at the current conversion rate). Possibility to reserve a box (4 places) for a price varying from 200 to 400 OMR (460 to 925 €).

Anecdote: present in the hall on the evening of the inauguration, Sultan Qaboos now prefers to attend the performances on the big screen in his palace. His place in the royal box, however, remains unoccupied as a sign of respect. Funny detail, the red fabric of the seats has a pattern of small golden violins (see photos).

Cloakroom: useless in a region of the globe where the average annual temperature exceeds 28°. Conversely, the intensive use of air conditioning requires dressing – rather than undressing – once you have crossed the threshold of the opera house.

Toilets: on each floor, sufficient in number and exemplary cleanliness (for a bit, we would brush our teeth in the urinals)

During intermission: a bar on the ground floor serves non-alcoholic drinks including freshly squeezed fruit juices, for prices between 1 OMR (2.3€, local mineral water) to 2.5 OMR (€5.8, fresh watermelon juice, a must it seems). Short selection of sandwiches around 3 OMR (7€) Do not miss lounging on the first floor in the majlis, literally “places to sit”, a sort of traditional rectangular lounge lined with seats and sofas. Do not forget to take a look at the old musical instruments, often of French origin, displayed under the gallery on the ground floor.

How to dress? In Oman, as often in the Arab world, we do not joke with the dress code. Traditional Omani attire – dishdasha and massar or abaya depending on gender, male or female – is required for locals over the age of 12. Westerners must wear a suit or jacket for men, a dress below the knee for women. Bare shoulders, jeans, cargo pants and sports shoes are prohibited. The ROHM reserves the right to refuse entry to any offender without refunding the tickets.

The downside: the impossibility during the performance of turning off the screens on the backs of the seats if desired and the resulting light pollution.

The sharp: the beauty of the room and its comfort, acoustic but not only.

Accessibility: Elevators provide access to the floors.

Access: necessarily by car. In Muscat, as in many cities in the Gulf, you don't walk, you drive. The streets here are highways.

Shop: symbolic in the foyer on the left. Besides the program, there are some trinkets without much interest.

Where to dine nearby? Opera Galleria, a luxury shopping center, extends the building to the left of the main entrance. There, six restaurants including a Fauchon annex serve dishes before, during or after the show, with or without alcohol depending on the category of the establishment.

Where to sleep? The now tourist vocation of Oman has multiplied the number of hotels. If the Intercontinental near the opera is starting to date, the upcoming opening of a W hotel close by (you can even walk there!) should renew the offer. About fifteen minutes by car, the mythical Chedi continues to defy the most padded wallets.