The Royal Opera House Muscat (ROHM) opens its milestone 15th Anniversary Season with its own acclaimed production of Giuseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto. Marking a defining moment in the House’s history, the season’s opening performances will take place on October 1 and 3, at 7 pm. This season celebrates “15 years of inspiration,” reflecting ROHM’s continuing journey as a beacon of artistic excellence and cultural dialogue between Oman and the world.

Zeffirelli’s Enduring Masterpiece

To honor this 15-year legacy, there is no more fitting centerpiece than Rigoletto, a signature staging that celebrates ROHM’s profound historical relationship with the legendary Franco Zeffirelli. His visionary staging of Puccini’s Turandot served as the inaugural opera at ROHM in 2011. Returning to the stage where it made its Muscat debut in 2022, this Rigoletto stands as Zeffirelli’s final operatic staging. Featuring his distinctive theatrical vision and sumptuous costumes by Academy Award-winning designer Maurizio Millenotti, bringing this masterpiece back to Muscat beautifully connects the opera house’s foundational history with its visionary future, said Umberto Fanni, Director General and Artistic Director of the Royal Opera House Muscat at a press conference.

Investing in the Omani Creative Community

A core pillar of ROHM’s enduring legacy is its profound impact on the local creative economy and talent development. This production of Rigoletto proudly integrates Omani artists as an essential part of the artistic fabric on stage. The esteemed Omani Opera Choir will perform alongside international artists, further supported by the vital on-stage presence of 30 Omani extras, showcasing the institution’s dedication to nurturing and elevating Oman’s creative community.

 The Production and Performances

Set to Giuseppe Verdi’s powerful score, the production features a distinguished international assembly. Conductor Evelino Pidò leads the Orchestra del Teatro Regio di Torino and the Camerata Musicale di Parma Choir. The principal cast stars acclaimed baritone Franco Vassallo in the title role, Enea Scala as the Duke of Mantua, and rising soprano Maria Kokareva as Gilda. The performance is further enriched by the special participation of the Leoncello Historical Dance Group, presenting a meticulously crafted, original reconstruction of period dances.

Adding to the opening week’s grandeur, renowned conductor Karel Mark Chichon will lead the Orchestra del Teatro Regio di Torino in an exclusive concert featuring star mezzo-soprano Elīna Garanča on October 2, perfectly bridging the two monumental opera nights.

Season Highlights Marking Fifteen Years

The sweeping anniversary programme features 28 unique shows across 43 performance nights spanning October 2026 to May 2027, encompassing opera, Arab music, concerts, ballet, jazz, world music, and family productions.

Upcoming highlights include:

• Sindbad: The Omani Sailor, an original Arabic Grand Opera production bringing Oman’s maritime heritage to the operatic stage, featuring music by Hisham Gabr.
• The Opera!, A modern reinterpretation of the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice in the form of an immersive opera -musical, returning on stage with works by Gluck, Verdi, Bellini, Mendelssohn, and Puccini.
• Don Quixote, Ballet by Rudolf Nureyev, performed by the illustrious Teatro alla Scala Ballet.
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets™ in Concert with the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra.
• Cameron Carpenter, making his highly anticipated Oman debut highlighting a spectacular Pipe Organ Concert.
• Homage to the Qanun, bringing Omani qanun artist Wahab Al Dhanki together with Omani and international orchestral forces.
• The annual return of Military Music: Oman and the World.
• Other Arabic shows include Nabeel Shuail, Nawal, Aseel Abu Bakr to name a few.

Beyond the stage, the anniversary will be commemorated through 15 Years of Stage and Splendour, an exclusive exhibition tracing ROHM’s artistic journey through original costumes, production artefacts, archive materials, and immersive installations from landmark productions including Turandot, Lakmé, Rigoletto, and Sindbad.