The Royal Opera House Muscat (ROHM) has had an eventful month of February with a diverse range of activities aimed at enriching the musical and cultural experiences of the community beyond its regular program.
One of the key projects this month was the Open Doors outreach initiative, which sought to introduce opera and music to a wider audience in the community through performances at various locations such as the Sultan Qaboos University Hospitals, Children’s Centre, and the Autism Centre of Muscat.
Renowned for its outstanding lineup of world-class performances spanning classical music, Arabic music, opera, and ballet, ROHM has seen a surge in popularity with all shows being sold out since January 2024, showcasing the strong interest from both local and international audiences for the 2023/24 season.
In line with its commitment to education and community engagement, ROHM hosted an Open House event titled ‘Making Music’ on February 24, offering a range of activities for both children and adults at different venues within the opera house. Participants had the opportunity to explore the art of creating music from everyday objects and learn about crafting instruments that produce melodious sounds. The event also featured special workshops by artists such as the Play Toy Orchestra, known for their unique symphonies created using toy-instruments, as well as Rosa Mazzei and Albert Hera, providing insights into the art of music composition.
Extending the reach of this event, the Open Doors initiative was established to enhance the accessibility and inclusivity of the Royal Opera House Muscat for all individuals. As a component of this community engagement project, the Play Toy Orchestra, accompanied by singer Albert Hera, showcased their talents from Monday, February 25th to Tuesday, February 27th at various venues in Muscat, including Sultan Qaboos University Hospitals, Children’s Centre, and the Autism Centre of Muscat.
This initiative has broadened the scope of opera house performances to encompass a wider audience, including those who may not have the opportunity to attend shows in person.
Umberto Fanni, the Director General of the opera house, emphasized the significance of such initiatives by stating, “In addition to the opera house's core mission of providing enrichment and fostering global cultural collaborations, we have consistently prioritized initiatives that engage with the community throughout the season's activities and programming. Bringing diverse performances to our communities, regardless of their circumstances, is a fundamental aspect of our role as a cultural institution. It gives purpose to our work and enables us to share the magic of the royal opera house's performances. This week, our performances have found new homes through our Open Doors initiative, marking a genuine partnership between our institutions that showcases the enduring value of art and culture.”
The Open Doors initiative has been seamlessly incorporated into ROHM's educational program, allowing for the dissemination of the opera house's performances to a broader audience in Muscat and beyond.
As part of the educational and outreach activities, ROHM recently organized a masterclass in February. This masterclass featured the esteemed duo of Violinist Elvin Hoxha Ganiyev and Pianist Cem Esen, along with the Muscat Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Additionally, educational talks and workshops were conducted, focusing on Shakespeare and Britten's opera, A Midsummer Night's Dream, which was performed on the opera house stage.
