The Royal Opera House Muscat said its 2024/25 season will start in October with a series of activities headlined by a first-time performance by the National Centre of Performing Arts Beijing (NCPA), who will bring to life an 1859 opera by Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi.

The season opens on October 3 and 5 with Un Ballo in Maschera – a production featuring a stellar cast, including Elena Stikhina, Piotr Beczała, Liao Changyong, Agnieszka Rehlis, and Enkelada Kamani under the direction of the acclaimed Hugo de Ana.

The Orchestra Teatro Lirico di Cagliari, conducted by Giampaolo Bisanti, will bring Verdi’s powerful exploration of love, betrayal, and intrigue to life.

The audience can also look forward to a musical night from China on October 4, featuring soloists and the Choir of NCPA Beijing, directed by the world-renowned conductor Lü Jia. This concert offers traditional Chinese music in classical form, beginning with a performance of Zhao Jiping’s acclaimed Violin Concerto No.1 played by Mengla Huang.

Director General and Artistic Director at ROHM, Umberto Fanni, said: “It is a pleasure to welcome the iconic production of Giuseppe Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera to Muscat for the first time, presented by the National Centre for the Performing Arts Beijing to open our 2024/25 season.”

“This promises to be a truly unforgettable evening, and one of the standout events of our season.

“The fruitful collaboration between the Royal Opera House Muscat and the NCPA Beijing highlights our common role as leading performing art institutions in bridging cultures through artistic expression.”

The Omani Women’s Day performance on October 17 will feature legendary singer Majida El Roumi, the inspirational Al Nour Wal Amal Ladies’ Orchestra — the only orchestra in the world consisting of blind musicians playing classical and Arab music — ROSO Ladies’ Ensemble, and Moroccan pianist Nour Ayadi.

Lebanese singer Majida El Roumi will also remain in Muscat for two additional nights (October 18 and 19), with concerts showcasing her most famous songs, celebrated for their beautiful poetry on themes of love, humanity, and patriotism.

October will culminate with a performance by India’s greatest classical musician, sitar virtuoso Nishat Khan, who will be accompanied by the European Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Walter Proost for an original concert featuring his sitar symphony Gate of the Moon on October 30 and 31.

Complementing these performances, the Royal Opera House Muscat will also present a range of educational and outreach events, including the first Absolute Music show with world-famous soprano Joyce El Khoury, pianist Serouj Kradjian, and a Lebanese ensemble performing Scheherazade on October 21.

This concert will present two mirror worlds: the refined elegance of French songs by Maurice Ravel, set alongside Arabic songs inspired by the works of Arabic poets. Both repertoires belong to the tradition of “songs of salon”, where the delicate fusion of music and poetry creates a rich, intimate experience.

Other complimentary activities include Lunch Music at Opera Galleria on Saturday September 28, and Opera Talks on October 2 in the Music Library – both events centred on Verdi’s masterpiece.

Under the Open Doors initiative, which promotes further inclusivity, the Opera Talks will offer Omani sign language interpretation and simultaneous translation in both Arabic and English.

Later in the month, audiences will have a unique opportunity to meet Nishat Khan up close during a Coffee & Dates Q&A session on October 29.

Tickets are available for purchase on the ROHM website, app, or directly at the box office. - TradeArabia News Service