With some of the best conductors in the world leading the world’s finest orchestras, the concentration of orchestral talent appearing at ROHM this season is impressive. Among the most famous are Plácido Domingo, who will conduct the Orchestra and Chorus of Teatro Massimo di Palermo in Guiseppe Verdi’s blockbuster opera ‘La Traviata’, and Maestro Valery Gergiev, who conducts the Orchestra, Chorus and Ballet of Mariinsky Theatre in the opera ‘Prince Igor’ as well as in a symphonic concert featuring Stravinsky’s ‘The Firebird’ and Prokofiev’s ‘Alexander Nevsky’.
The new season, marking ROHM’s eighth year of operation will feature finest talents and productions from Oman and abroad, as well as new ventures that will help ROHM engage with the community.
Highlighting the important initiatives, at a press conference held recently to announce the new season, H.H. Sayyid Kamil Mahmood Al-Said, Member of ROHM’s Board of Directors, said, “It will include a new ticketing platform, low and uniform pricing schemes, guaranteed seats for outdoor events, a new refund policy, and a more efficient system for company block booking. Our education and outreach initiatives have also been revised with a new project for toddlers and childcare services during events. In addition, we hope to develop activities for children with special needs, orphans and children with cancer. We are also proud to announce the world premiere of an opera produced by ROHM and to introduce a major new ROHM co-production with leading international opera houses. There will, undoubtedly, be many more milestones as the Royal 
Opera House Muscat continues on its historic journey.”
Announcing details of the programme, Umberto Fanni, ROHM Director General said, “The great Maestro Plácido Domingo opens the 2018-2019 season this coming September 6th and 8th with a wonderful ‘Gala Zarzuela’ – and returns later in the Season, in February 2019, to sing in and conduct Giuseppe Verdi’s immensely popular opera, ‘La Traviata’.”
ROHM’s impressive roster of events also includes outstanding performers from a new generation of conductors. Marco Armiliato will lead the Orchestra of Ópera de Bilbao and Chorus of Gran Teatre del Liceu in Puccini’s ‘Madama Butterfly’; and, Daniele Rustioni, the compelling young Principal Conductor of the Opéra de Lyon, will lead that orchestra in Strauss’ operetta, ‘Eine Nacht in Venedig’ (A Night in Venice).
ROHM is presenting six outstanding operas by famous composers. From historic epics to comedies, romantic classics and beautiful tragedies from the world repertoire, these great operas cover the range of human passions with spellbinding plots.
- ROHM’s own production of Delibes’ ‘Lakmé’ and a new co-production of Strauss’ ‘Eine Nacht in Venedig’
- ‘Antar and Abla’, the first Arab operatic drama from ROHM
- A new genre blending ballet and flamenco, ‘Fuego’ and two classic ballets from the world’s best loved repertoire – ‘The Sleeping Beauty’ and ‘La Bayadère’ (The Temple Dancer).
- World premiere of an epic Arab ballet, ‘Al Hamama Al Mutawwaqa, The Ring Dove Story’
- ‘Opera on Ice’, an extravagant show featuring world class skaters and opera stars
- ‘Namaste India’, a spectacular theatrical musical from India’s Bollywood
- An evocative new voice in Portuguese Fado – Claudia Aurora – presenting the world music programme
- ROHM’s Jazz programme featuring British singer and songwriter Sarah Jane Morris and the Chucho Valdés Quintet with the phenomenal Afro-Cuban jazz musician, Chucho Valdés
ROHM’s stage will be transformed in a real ice rink for the breathtaking show, ‘Opera on Ice’, which combines the inspirational artistry of operatic singing with the virtuosic talent and grace of world class ice skating. ‘Namaste India’, described as an exuberant theatrical coup never before created outside the movies, will take the audience on an authentic cultural tour of India, capturing the searing beauty of Indian dance in a truly spectacular musical produced by the very best of Bollywood’s creative talent.
In one of the very special highlights of the season, ROHM will present a fabulous evening with superstar Zucchero, the multiple award-winning singer songwriter known as ‘King of the Blues’. Famed for his unique sound and gorgeous lyrical talent, Zucchero has sold over 80 million records and played in prestigious venues around the world.
In addition, ROHM’s tremendously popular Omani and Arab programme will include the annual women’s day celebration, the annual military music spectacle, and a wonderful line-up of nine concerts with some of the greatest names in the world of Arab music, such as Wael Kfoury and Kadim AlSahir. In another first for the ROHM, the Oman World Festival of Folk Music brings a host of exciting folk music groups from Oman and across the globe.
ROHM’s 2018-2019 Education & Outreach programme is presenting new projects, such as ‘From Russia With Love’, an exhibition of mementos from the Mariinsky Theatre; and ‘BambinO’, a ground breaking creation in music theatre for infants.
- ‘The Sleeping Beauty’: With the Orpheus Radio Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Alevtina Ioffe, and featuring dance and spoken dialogue, Tchaikovsky’s entrancing music is poetically woven into a magical show for children and people of all ages.
- ‘PAGAGNINI’: The genius of Niccolò Paganini, the most celebrated violin virtuoso of the early nineteenth century, is made accessible in the highly entertaining comic show, ‘PAGAGNINI’ which plays around with classical music and also throws in a little pop, rock and folk.
- ‘BambinO’: For the first time, ROHM will present a show for infants aged six to eighteen months.
- ‘Woodwind Presentation’: Expertly played by talented young artists from the Papageno Wind Quintet, ROHM’s Woodwind Presentation reveals fascinating aspects of the family of woodwind instruments.
The eighth year of world class programmes will continue to entertain, enlighten and thrill ROHM audiences. For further details and booking, please consult www.rohmuscat.org.om