Royal Opera House Muscat opened its 15th Anniversary Season with the return of its acclaimed production of Giuseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto, bringing Franco Zeffirelli’s final operatic vision back to the stage in a powerful celebration of opera, artistry and theatrical heritage.

Under the baton of acclaimed conductor Evelino Pidò, the Orchestra Teatro Regio Torino and Camerata Musicale di Parma joined an exceptional international cast led by Franco Vassallo as Rigoletto, Maria Kokareva as Gilda and Enea Scala as the Duke of Mantua.

The production also featured the participation of the Omani Opera Choir, bringing an important Omani presence to the international ensemble on the ROHM stage. Zeffirelli’s distinctive staging, together with Maurizio Millenotti’s sumptuous costumes, brought Verdi’s enduring masterpiece to life once again.

The production holds a special place in the history of Royal Opera House Muscat. Zeffirelli’s Turandot inaugurated ROHM in 2011, while his Rigoletto, which first premiered at ROHM in 2022, marked his final operatic staging. Its return was therefore a fitting opening to a season celebrating 15 years of artistic excellence and cultural exchange.

As the curtain fell on an unforgettable opening night, the performance marked more than the return of a masterpiece. It opened a new chapter in ROHM’s 15-year journey, continuing its role as a meeting point for exceptional international artistry and meaningful cultural dialogue between Oman and the world.