Muscat: The Swiss Embassy in the Sultanate of Oman is delighted to announce the commemoration of its 10th anniversary, highlighting a decade of robust and vibrant relations between the two countries.
Since its inauguration on November 12, 2014, the partnership has strengthened, achieving notable advancements in areas such as peace promotion, trade and investment, scientific collaboration, and initiatives in sustainable development, education, health, and culture.
To honor this significant milestone and the years dedicated to cultivating cultural, economic, and cooperative ties, the Swiss Embassy, in collaboration with the Royal Opera House Muscat, organized a week-long musical dialogue program titled Desert Bridges.
This initiative unites Swiss and Omani musicians to create a distinctive ensemble that fuses jazz with traditional instruments and musical traditions from both cultures.
The vision is for the Omani-Swiss “Desert Bridge” Ensemble to perform at a venue in Switzerland in the near future.
Key highlights of the celebration include:
National Day Gala: On December 10, the Embassy hosted a gala reception to commemorate Swiss National Day and the 10th anniversary, featuring performances by Swiss musicians.
Educational Masterclasses in Muscat: A series of masterclasses were conducted by Swiss musicians, focusing on jazz, modal music, solo repertoire development, and composition techniques using the dulcimer (qanun), aimed at inspiring and sharing knowledge with local Omani artists.
Community Engagement: On December 11, the Desert Bridges ensemble performed an Open Doors concert at the Social Welfare Home in Al Rustaq, fostering community connections.
Grand Finale Performance: The celebration concluded with a special concert by the Desert Bridges ensemble at the Royal Opera House of Musical Arts on December 12, highlighting the strong cultural ties and ongoing friendship between Switzerland and Oman.
