MUSCAT — The Royal Opera House here will launch the first concert of its pre-launch season on September 20. The first concert will be by the Prague Chamber Orchestra which will be performing one of the 16 concerts the Opera Hosue will be hosting to mark the 40th National Day. The first season titled 'Musical Echoes' showcases diverse programmes and shows combing music, theatre and dancing. They will be staged at the Oman Theatre of the Al Bustan Palace Hotel and Shangri-La’s Barr al Jissah Resort and Spa.

The pre-launch season will give the public an idea about what they will be expecting from the Opera House in future with a vision to enhance the aesthetic appreciation and cultural awareness among the citizens and residents alike. The pre-launch season will see participation of the best international troupes, which include besides the Prague Chamber Orchestra, Antonio Najarro Dance Company with a work title Jazzing Flamingo, Naseer Shamma and Oriental Orchestra, Arab Music Ensemble led by Salim Sahab with Amal Maher, French Chamber Orchestra, China Disabled People’s Performing Art Troupe and lute and violin maestro Samuel Shaheen, accompanied by Qantra Troupe, Cairo Opera Orchestra led by maestro Nadir Abbasi, Al Kindi Troupe, Aida Junis Dance Troupe, Fire of Anatolia Troupe from Turkey and Warsaw Chamber Opera Troupe.

The construction work on Royal Opera House will be completed by this year-end. "The opera house will be a cultural landmark in the entire GCC as this will be the first one in the region", Hamid bin Abdulla al Ghazali, Project Director, Royal Opera House, The Royal Estates-Royal Court Affairs, explained. "We are immensely happy that Royal Opera House has already caused a ripple among the global opera houses which is apparent in the number of enquiries that we receive everyday for mutual collaboration", he said.

Built on the Royal orders by the Royal Court Affairs, government of Oman, the Royal Opera House will feature the theme that reminisce contemporary Omani architecture, and will have a capacity to accommodate maximum of 1,100 people. The project of Royal Opera House was first initiated in 2001, when theatre projects were commissioned by the Diwan of the Royal Court in Oman to advise on the viability and concept for a new 1,000-1,100-seat auditorium.

This would be extremely flexible, able to accommodate symphony concerts, recitals, chamber music, as well as fully staged productions of opera, dance, musicals and other aspects of more popular entertainment. The auditorium would be fully equipped to provide an ideal acoustic and theatrical environment for all types of musical performances. Traditional Omani desert rose stones would be adorning the external facade of the three-tiered auditorium while the interior decor would be distinctive with a touch of traditional Arabic design.

A highly supple stage which can accommodate theatre, recitals, symphony concerts, and chamber music, as well as fully-staged productions of opera, dance, musicals, and other aspects of more popular entertainment are some of the many distinct features of the Royal Opera House. A state-of-the-art acoustic and theatrical environment for various types of musical performances is yet another unique feature added to the 32-metre-high fly tower that facilitates theatrical effect during performances.

All set to be a monument, this will serve as a world-class performing arts centre with exceptional acoustic effect so that the finest nuances of jazz or strains of world classic music and the heaving and sighs of characters in a play can be enjoyed with the highest fidelity in sound technology. The total area of Royal Opera House is 80,000 sqm of which nearly 40,000 sqm is to be used for beautification and landscaping with graceful gardens.

Added to that, a traditional Arab souk adjacent to the edifice is also set to welcome the visitors. Hi-fi restaurants, coffee shops, boutiques for curios and other knick-knacks, and other lifestyle retail outlets, and an art exhibition gallery are some of the other additional attractions of the towering Royal Opera House. — By Kabeer Yousuf/Oman Arabic daily