Royal Opera House Muscat (ROHM) announced its 2026-2027 15^th Anniversary Season, celebrating a landmark chapter in its journey as Oman’s flagship performing arts institution and the first opera house in the GCC. With 28 unique shows across 43 performance nights from October 2026 to May 2027, the new season opens with Verdi’s Rigoletto, and spans opera, Arab music, concerts, ballet, jazz, world music and family shows, as well as an anniversary exhibition, and an extensive Education and Community Outreach programme.

Since opening its doors, the Royal Opera House Muscat has remained guided by a visionary mission to bridge cultures, foster international dialogue and contribute to the development of the performing arts in Oman and beyond.

Over fifteen years, the Royal Opera House Muscat has evolved from a landmark cultural institution into an internationally respected producing house, combining artistic stewardship with cultural diplomacy and creative exchange. Its journey has extended beyond presenting acclaimed international artists and companies to commissioning and producing original work, championing Omani heritage, nurturing local talent and creating meaningful opportunities for audiences and communities to engage with the performing arts.

The anniversary season reflects this evolution, featuring acclaimed ROHM productions, international artists and companies, original commissions, Arab and Omani music, exhibitions, education and community initiatives. Together, these programmes celebrate fifteen years of artistic achievement while reaffirming the institution’s commitment to cultural exchange, artistic excellence and inspiring future generations.

Opera

As part of its anniversary celebrations, the Royal Opera House Muscat will present a selection of its own opera productions this season. This reaffirms its mission not only as a leading venue for international artistic companies, but also as a contributor to the global creative landscape through the development and presentation of distinctive, signature productions.

The operatic season opens with Giuseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto, presented in ROHM’s acclaimed co-production with the Lithuanian Opera and Ballet Theatre. The production marks the final operatic vision of legendary director Franco Zeffirelli, with costumes by Maurizio Millenotti. Conducted by Evelino Pidò, it features Franco Vassallo, Enea Scala and rising soprano Maria Kokareva.

A defining expression of the ROHM’s growing creative stewardship is its original opera Sindbad: The Omani Sailor, with music by Hisham Gabr, libretto by Nader Salah El Din and direction by Csaba Káel. Produced in collaboration with Müpa Budapest, the opera brings together artists from across the Arab world and the Hungarian Radio Symphony Orchestra in a contemporary work inspired by Oman’s rich maritime heritage.

As one of the ROHM’s flagship original productions, Sindbad: the Omani Sailor represents a significant milestone in the institution’s evolution as a producing house. By transforming an important element of Oman’s maritime heritage into an international operatic work, the production carries Omani cultural identity and storytelling onto the global stage, demonstrating how local cultural equity can become part of the international creative landscape.

Returning as a hallmark of the institution’s innovative theatrical vision, The Opera! presents celebrated works by Verdi, Mozart, Bellini, Mendelssohn and Puccini in a distinctive theatrical experience. Directed by Davide Livermore and conducted by Francesco Lanzillotta, the production is inspired by the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice and has become one of the Royal Opera House Muscat’s signature productions.

Young audiences are invited to experience The Magic Flute: Defeating the Monsters, the Royal Opera House Muscat’s adaptation of Mozart’s masterpiece. Directed by Stefano Simone Pintor and conducted by Pietro Mianiti, the production features the Muscat Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra dell’Accademia della Scala and the Royal Opera House Muscat Children’s Choir, introducing a new generation to opera through an imaginative family production.

Arab Music

Arab music remains central to the anniversary season, celebrating renowned artists and the musical traditions of Oman and the Arab world. The programme reflects the Royal Opera House Muscat’s role as a platform for artistic dialogue across generations, cultures and musical traditions.

The programme opens with the annual Omani Women’s Day Concert, featuring the Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra and the Muscat Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Ladies’ Ensemble in celebration of the achievements of women in music and society, with the participation of Egyptian singer Marwa Nagy. The programme continues with a Kulthumiyat evening featuring Marwa Nagy and Yosra Mahnouch, celebrating the enduring repertoire and legacy of Umm Kulthum.

Gulf icon Nawal returns with a programme spanning defining moments from her distinguished career, while legendary Kuwaiti artist Nabeel Shuail presents an evening dedicated to the enduring traditions of Khaleeji music.

During Ramadan, Evenings of Sufi and Inshaad bring together ensembles from Oman and Syria for a series of reflective performances inspired by sacred musical traditions. This creates a space for musical dialogue and shared cultural expression.

One of Arabic music’s greatest voices is honoured in A Tribute to the Nightingale, where Medhat Saleh and Mohammed Assaf celebrate the enduring legacy of Abdel Halim Hafez over two distinctive evenings. The Arab Music programme concludes with acclaimed artist Aseel Abu Bakr, whose career has contributed to the evolution and continued appreciation of Khaleeji and Arab musical heritage.

 Concerts

The concert programme showcases internationally acclaimed artists, distinguished orchestras and collaborations that place Omani musicians at the heart of international artistic exchange.

Mezzo-soprano Elīna Garanča makes her Oman debut with the Orchestra of Teatro Regio of Turin under Karel Mark Chichon, while accordion virtuoso Ksenija Sidorova performs with the European Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Walter Proost.

The season also presents a Grand Opera Gala, featuring acclaimed soloists and the Bolshoi Theatre of Belarus Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Artem Makarov. The programme brings together celebrated arias, duets and orchestral favourites from European, Russian and Belarusian repertoire, offering audiences a rich synthesis of operatic traditions.

The annual Pipe Organ Concert once again celebrates one of the world’s most remarkable concert organs, reinforcing the Royal Opera House Muscat’s commitment to expanding appreciation of the instrument through performance and education. This year’s programme features a Pipe Organ recital by Cameron Carpenter, one of today’s most distinctive organists, whose virtuosity and imaginative programming have broadened audiences’ perceptions of the pipe organ. His performance offers fresh perspectives on the instrument’s expressive possibilities while contributing to the ROHM’s focus on organ performance and learning.

The programme also includes Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets™ in Concert, with the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra performing John Williams’ iconic score live alongside a screening of the film.

A major expression of artistic collaboration is Homage to the Qanun bringing together Omani qanun virtuoso Wahab Al Dhanki, the Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra, the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra and conductor Sergey Smbatyan. Featuring Khachatur Avetisyan’s Concerto No. 2 for Qanun and Orchestra alongside traditional Omani and Armenian music, the concert creates a synthesis of musical traditions while placing Omani musicianship within an international artistic dialogue.

Ballet

The anniversary season welcomes Rudolf Nureyev’s celebrated Don Quixote, performed by the world-renowned Teatro alla Scala Ballet and accompanied by the Hankyung Arte Philharmonic under Simon Hewett.

Renowned for its virtuoso choreography and theatrical brilliance, the production remains one of Nureyev’s defining interpretations and one of classical ballet’s enduring masterworks.

Jazz

The anniversary season celebrates The Golden Age of Jazz, honouring one of the world’s most influential musical traditions. Internationally acclaimed vocalist Stephen Triffitt joins the New York Swing Orchestra and special guest Mark Adams for an evening honouring the timeless music of the Great American Songbook.

World Music

The World Music series reflects the Royal Opera House Muscat’s commitment to cultural dialogue through performances that bring diverse musical traditions into conversation with one another.

Italy’s Milagro Acustico Ensemble presents Sicilia Araba: Songs from the Island of Light, tracing the rich cultural influences that have shaped Sicilian music across the centuries.

A Breeze from Lisbon introduces the distinctive sound of Portuguese Fado to Muscat through performances by Miguel Ramos and Beatriz Felício under the artistic direction of Pedro Jóia.

Shows

The annual Military Music: Oman and the World returns to the Royal Opera House Muscat Maidan, uniting Omani military and police bands with distinguished international ensembles in one of Oman’s most anticipated cultural celebrations.

The Folk Music Festival showcases Oman’s rich musical traditions alongside performances from Bolivia, Botswana and Russia, celebrating the diversity of folk music and the connections between cultures.

The festive season ushers in The Nutcracker on Ice, where the Imperial Ice Stars combine world-class skating with Tchaikovsky’s beloved story in a spectacular production for audiences of all ages.

The Butterfly Lovers, performed by the Guangzhou Acrobatic Arts Theatre, reimagines one of China’s best-loved legends through contemporary acrobatics, theatre, and music.

Beyond the stage

As the Royal Opera House Muscat celebrates its fifteenth anniversary, its mission extends well beyond the stage. Education, community engagement, audience development and exhibitions represent strategic investments in the cultural capacity of Oman, creating opportunities for young people, families, educators and communities to participate in and connect with the performing arts.

Education, Community and Audience Development

Education and community engagement remain central to the Royal Opera House Muscat’s long-term vision, with a year-round programme investing in youth development, cultural participation and audience growth. Utopia: Possible Horizons anchors this work through encompassing talks, workshops and participatory events, including Let’s Read, Lunch Music and Opera Talks, the expanded Backstage Pass, and The Best Within Us, which invites leading Omani figures from literature, the arts, film and sport to inspire new generations.

Young people remain at the heart of this mission. Opera Baby introduces music and creative play to children and families from the earliest years, while Opera Education continues its collaboration with schools, culminating in performances of The Magic Flute: Defeating the Monsters. The Royal Opera House Muscat Children’s Choir plays an expanded role across the season, and BEATS (Birth and Early Age Tonal Stimulation) extends the benefits of music into early childhood development.

Through Open Doors, music and theatre continue to reach hospitals, care centres, and social institutions across Oman. International collaboration remains central through Joint Orchestra, bringing Omani musicians together with leading world orchestras, and Emerging Talents, where young musicians perform alongside established artists, exemplified by Homage to the Qanun. Pipe Organ Factory returns for a second year, reinforcing Oman’s ambition to become a regional hub for organ performance and education.

The season concludes with the Royal Opera House Muscat Summer Camp, where more than one hundred young participants join professional artists in a new adaptation of Pinocchio. Accessibility remains a defining principle throughout, with Omani Sign Language interpretation extending access to education and community activities across Oman.

Exhibitions and Music Library

The anniversary exhibition, 15 Years of Stage and Splendour, traces the Royal Opera House Muscat’s artistic journey from its opening to its position today as an internationally respected performing arts institution. Original costumes, production artefacts, archive material and immersive installations reveal the creative process behind landmark productions including Turandot, Lakmé, Rigoletto and Sindbad.

Alongside it, Oman and the World: A Musical Journey explores music as a universal language, presenting Oman’s musical traditions alongside those of other cultures through film, sound installations, and interactive displays. The permanent exhibition reflects the Royal Opera House Muscat’s founding commitment to cultural exchange and its role in connecting Oman with the wider world through the arts.

The Royal Opera House Muscat Music Library supports students, researchers, and music enthusiasts through resources including the Naxos Music Library, rare facsimiles of original scores, performance archives, and an expanding collection dedicated to music and the performing arts.

Fifteen years after opening its doors, the Royal Opera House Muscat continues to shape the future of the performing arts in Oman.

Its journey has been defined not only by the artists and productions it has presented, but by its stewardship of culture, investment in people, commitment to artistic creation and ability to create dialogue between Oman and the world. Through original productions, international partnerships, education, community engagement and cultural exchange, the Royal Opera House Muscat has established itself as both a national cultural institution and a respected voice within the global performing arts community.

The 2026–2027 Anniversary Season celebrates this remarkable journey while looking confidently towards the future. From acclaimed international artists and masterworks of the global repertoire to original Royal Opera House Muscat productions, Omani artistic collaborations, Arab music and initiatives that invest in the next generation, the season reflects the vision that has shaped the institution over the past fifteen years.

As it enters its next chapter, the Royal Opera House Muscat remains committed to its role as a platform for artistic excellence, cultural dialogue and creative exchange, connecting Oman with the world, while bringing the world to Oman.